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First of all, next months challenge is going to be hosted by Rossy.

Woot, Woot, Rossy!! I know you'll do a great job!


Another thing, is something Yz suggested, and I like it quite a lot to.

Yz wrote: "Actually, maybe we should rotate that challenge, you know, let somebody host it each month. The reason I thought of that, is that, each person might have his/her own style on how he/she would randomly pair people up. "

How do you guys like that? Would anyone be interested in hosting?

Hymmm.... No interest, really?

My thought was, with a different person hosting each month, it might be harder to ensure the same pairs aren't matched repeatedly. ??

Well, I have an excel spreadsheet where I keep track of that. So I was thinking I will pass it on to whoever hosts given month, that person would update it, and pass on again, to the next host.

So that should take care of that.

In that case, it could prove interesting. (although, I can't guarantee your spreadsheet would look the same after I had to reformat it for mac numbers and back again)

As long as it does its job ;)

Yay me!LOL

I think i have the same reservations as Melody, but am open to see how it goes. If nothing else it can be interesting to see everyone's different take regarding pairing.

Here is a question: In the long run, does it really matter if you end up choosing for the same person, say, in different months?

I'm with you, Rossy. I think it will be fun to see how people would do the pairing, and I really want to give Kasia a break, so she can experience the "surprise" of finding out who is her "pickee" and her "picker." : )

I'm willing to give it a shot. However, during the summer, my availability goes WAY downhill.

I don't take part in the pick-it for me challenge, but am willing to host it one month and pair others up. :)

I didn't get to participate int eh last one but it sounded like fun-- hopefully, everyone will be able to understand excel- not everyone does. thats the only problem I forsee.

This month i used a program that randomly paired groups of 2 based on a list of names.

Anyone has a different idea for pairing that they would like to implement for the next month's challenge?

Draw names out of a hat/bowl/container of some sort?

1. Everyone is ordered by number of books on the shelf. Each picks for the person who has read the next most. Finally, the person with the least picks for the most. I'd call this the mentor method.

2. Alphabetically and each picks for the next.

3. Rank by average book rating and each picks for the next. That way people who give lots of books four and five stars will be picking for each other and people who don't like much will be picking for each other.

4. Use the order people sign up for the challenge.

5. Chronologically, using the date they joined GR.

These are the first thoughts that came to mind. I'm sure there are others that are just as easy. I can think of many less practical methods already.

Less practical methods include:

1. Have each person list their height and order people in that method.

2. Same for birthdays.

3. Haiku competition in which you rank people by performance.

4. Shotgun PM's and rank people by how quickly they respond.

5. Use their trivia rank.

Mel W wrote: "Draw names out of a hat/bowl/container of some sort?"

Mel, i know you're just trying to be funny!LOL
Take a nap and think outside of the box. ^.^

Photojim wrote: "1. Everyone is ordered by number of books on the shelf. Each picks for the person who has read the next most. Finally, the person with the least picks for the most. I'd call this the mentor meth..."

You're right the last few are a bit unpractical. I do like 1, 3 and 5 a lot though.

Let us know here if you have any other ideas or anyone else for that matter. Later we can do a poll and see what members would prefer to try.
Whichever idea has higher votes, we can implement and the person that comes up with the idea can host the challenge for next month. I can implement it if said person is not interested or short on time.

Heh, sorry, Rossy :) Just couldn't help myself.

Mel W wrote: "Heh, sorry, Rossy :) Just couldn't help myself."

I know!LOL

FYI- The poll results are finally in for the pairing poll. Hopefully you all had time to vote.
It seems the majority would prefer for the pairing to stay the same and be assigned randomly, so that is what i'll be doing this month. Jim, may implement the mentor method if one of you have a very low amount of books in your shelf.

If you have an idea on a pairing method that you would like to see implemented. That is not on the poll, do let us know in this thread.

I will be running a poll again next month before the April challenge.

I'm kind of flaky, so is there any way we could receive an invite when new challenges are posted? I forget to check back at the beginning of the month and keep missing the "pick it for me" challenge.

You get an invite for the sign up. A reminder the day before the sign up ends. Lately, i have been sending also a reminder through PM to the absentee members that signed up, but have yet made the recommendations.

Make sure that notifications are set properly in your profile account. Perhaps you can check for a notification to be sent to you, for any invites or PM. That way you would be notified by GR through your regular email about it.

I am really interested in this challenge. But, very new. Can someone walk me through what I need to do to become a part of this challenge, please?

Tina - If you are a member of the group, you'll get an invite when the next one opens. Just make sure that the notifications are set in your account.

Sounds good. Thank you!

Tina wrote: "I am really interested in this challenge. But, very new. Can someone walk me through what I need to do to become a part of this challenge, please?"

What's a Pick-It-For-Me Challenge?
It's a group recommend a book thing - works just like a Secret Santa or Xmas Exchange, except that the gift is replaced by a book recommendation. Just like in Secret Santa, the givee-giver pairings are randomly assigned. So whomever you get, you recommend a book for them. Preferably it should be something new and unfamiliar to your givee, NOT a book from their to-read list - the point is to introduce new books and new authors. In return, you'll have a book recommended to you (sometimes you might get a few options to choose from). After you're done reading your Pick-It-For-Me book, a short post with some feedback - a mini-review of sorts would be appreciated.

For this challenge, you need either HAVE YOUR PROFILE SET TO PUBLIC (preferable) or make the person who'd be doing the recommending to you, your friend. On top of that, I strongly advise keeping your bookshelves updated, otherwise you might end up with a recommendation for something that you have already read.

Signing up period will remain open until the 29th. You'll have time until ~the 2nd to make your recommendations. Everything will be done in this thread so check it often. Also, please be sure you really want to participate. Once I pair up people, it makes it difficult to re-pair when someone decides not to participate.

Rules:

1. You need to go to the sign up thread, between the 20th of every month and the 29th. Even if you respond "yes" to the invitation, you will not be signed for the challenge unless you say so in that thread.

2. The pairing list is posted before the 1st of every month. The list is usually in the front page, but if not i will make sure to let you know in the first page where it's located.

3. You will need to make 8 recommendations to your partner before the 2nd of the month. 4 from their TBR (books they own but have not read), and 4 totally new to them author/book. Of course we are only committed to finishing 1 book recommended; but this will give your partner different options to choose from depending on their reading mood.

4. If i do not hear from you in the thread or through a private message by 11pm, i will assume you will not be participating. Therefore i will re-assign your partner to somebody else. In the event you still want to participate, even though you're late. I will leave it up to your original partner to decide wether or not they will like to commit to more than 1 book that month.

5. Everything will be done in the sign-up thread. You will need to make the recommendations there. Not through PM, as i cannot keep track of who has or not made their recommendations otherwise.

6. It's best to keep your profile set to public from the time you sign up, until the 2nd of the month. If i need to send you a reminder or simply contact you, but the profile is set to private i may not be able to send you the PM.

Rossy ~*~ Ehrotic ~*~ wrote: "Tina wrote: "I am really interested in this challenge. But, very new. Can someone walk me through what I need to do to become a part of this challenge, please?"

What's a Pick-It-For-Me Challen..."

Thank you for the information. I think I will hold off on this challenge right now. I am doing another challenge in the group.

haha...you can't stop at just one Tina..its like an unwritten rule...lol!! challenges are like pringles, once you start, you can't stop!

Delicious Dee the book slut wrote: "haha...you can't stop at just one Tina..its like an unwritten rule...lol!! challenges are like pringles, once you start, you can't stop!"

I am sure it will become addicting to me, no doubt. Just don't want to jump in too quick..lol.

Look at Tina, being all smart and organized! Soon you'll be like us trying really hard to catch up just to finish on time. LOL!

Rossy ~*~ Ehrotic ~*~ wrote: "Look at Tina, being all smart and organized! Soon you'll be like us trying really hard to catch up just to finish on time. LOL!"

I have my moments, Rossy. I try not to count on them since they are so few and far between, though..lol.

No Pick it for me in July, Rossy? :p

Don't mean to harrass you if you're busy!

LOL! I was just about to make the thread. I couldn't do it yesterday.

Sounds like a great idea.

I'd be happy to host one now summer is nearly over and my availability has increased. I have a few ideas for selection criteria and pairings.

Tania, send me a PM with your idea when you get a chance. I don't have anybody yet for next month so if you are up for it...LOL

Please sign me up I would to particpate.

Cinquetta, go to the thread for the April PIFM challenge and sign up there. We'd love to have you.

http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/5...