Penpals via Snailmail and Email

Craft Cabinet

2011-07-21T10:04:00.001-07:00

I got this cabinet from my neighbour Tibor and at the moment it is missing the hardware to put the doors on, but hopefully I can put the doors on in a few weeks. Spending every spare moment I have trying to find work at the moment.

Twitter

2011-07-10T12:55:00.000-07:00

I don't have a lot of experience with Twitter and still have a lot to learn but thought I would add their button to my blog.

Follow @Pen44Agent

International Pen Friends--Contact Information

2010-10-06T06:42:00.000-07:00

International Pen Friends
Head Office:
P.O. Box 430
Paynesville VIC 3880
Australia
Email: admin@ipf.net.au
Web: www.ipf.net.au

Writing Obsolete?

2010-02-17T11:07:00.000-08:00

In January I saw a report on CNN that states that writing is now obsolete, along with catalogs, fax machines, dial-up internet and the list goes on.

Well I guess at my age I am obsolete as well, but so long as I am around I will always prefer the good old fashioned method of writing. Snailmail may be time consuming and yes its hard to find the time to sit and write...but those you love and care for are worth creating something Personal and Special for.

Is Writing Obsolete?

2010-02-09T10:34:00.000-08:00

According to a CNN report, Writing is now obsolete with the exploding popularity of computers!

Computers are great in my opinion, but sadly far too many people prefer the new & impersonal touch.

Don't know about you, but I will always prefer the old fashioned (even if out-dated) mode of writing & delivery of such writing (snailmail!)

FriendLINKS

2009-12-01T13:57:00.000-08:00

This entry to be devoted to the interests and respective LINKS of my penpals/friends. Now all I need to do is inform my friends of the page & see what happens....

Karin, you are first up!
http://menopausalmutteringsfromfrance.blogspot.com/

Noreen's Link:
http://www.mygc.com/noreenbyattgrassi

Friendship Whispers
by Heidi
http://members.optuszoo.com.au/~heidima/index.html

Requesting IPF information

2009-10-10T16:13:00.000-07:00

For International Pen Friends (IPF) I serve the region of Canada & the United States.

However, to better serve those Internationally requesting information about IPF, its helpful if I have the following:

An email address
A phone number where I can contact you.
The Currency of your home Country (to calculate payment for the Services you request...)

The World's Best Currency Converter
http://www.xe.com/

An Agent For IPF

2009-03-19T14:55:00.000-07:00

I am happy to report that I am now an agent for International Pen Friends.

I serve Canada and the United States

All fees are in $Canadian Funds

http://www.ipf.net.au/

International Pen Friends

2009-03-12T08:34:00.000-07:00

International Pen Friends
- Write Around the World!

Media Release

International Pen Friends Celebrates its Second 21st Birthday!
42 Years – 1967-2009

While many people are putting fingers to the keyboard and communicating in record speeds with friends across the globe via the Internet, you might think the art of letter writing was dead. But you’d be wrong. Just ask any of the thousands of people worldwide who join International Pen Friends (IPF) each year.

IPF was founded on 7 April 1967 by Neil O'Donnell from Dublin, Ireland. Neil's vision was to give people in all age groups, from every country, the opportunity to make friends and promote world peace through sincere correspondence. Forty two years later that vision is still IPF’s major goal and its strength has resulted in IPF providing more than 1.5 million people aged from 8-80+ with pen friends.

Today IPF is located a long way from its birthplace. On 1 February 2001 IPF moved to Australia when Neil O'Donnell retired and Julie Delbridge from Australia became IPF's new President. Julie's passion for the pen friend hobby is strong, having first joined IPF as a 19 year old in 1979 and being appointed the Australian Coordinator for the club in 1982.

"I’m still writing to three pen friends from the very first list of pen friends I received from IPF," said Julie. "Hanni from Switzerland was on that list. Together with the hundreds of letters we have exchanged over the years, Hanni and I have travelled in Australia from Kangaroo Island to the Outback during her five visits. I've also explored many mountains and chocolate delights of Switzerland with Hanni during my four visits.”

The pen friend hobby has many exciting dimensions. “I’m sure I wouldn’t have discovered as much of the world if not for the friends I’ve gained through IPF. It is an educational adventure of friendship and fun. Even though it’s very special to meet pen friends, the intrigue of writing to friends you may never meet is equally rewarding,” said Julie.

IPF encourages members to use both e-mail and traditional letter writing. However, Julie highlighted that despite the many forms of communication available today, the most common feedback IPF received from members was how much they enjoyed receiving letters in the mail. It’s an experience that puts ‘The World in your Mailbox’.

"It’s hard to match the anticipation of waiting for letters to arrive, the stamps, postmarks, fancy writing paper, postcards, photos, tokens of friendship, the time and care people have taken to write the letters, sitting quietly and reading the letters time and time again, and possibly keeping them for many years as part of personal history. It’s also great to receive something in the mail other than bills and junk mail," said Julie.

Further details can be obtained from:
Shirley MacDonald
International Pen Friends
City Centre Postal Outlet
Unit 379-25 Peel Centre Drive
Box 51081
Brampton, Ontario
Canada L6T 3R5
Email Address: murry44@hotmail.com

The Joy of Penpalling

2009-01-30T07:08:00.000-08:00

Writing & The Lost Art

I have been so profoundly blessed to have made wonderful friends through penpalling.

Its hard to explain to people who do not write to anyone the sheer pleasure of opening up your mind, your imagination & putting pen to paper. To introduce yourself to a total stranger in a foreign land and your own Home soil may not be the easiest thing--we all want to be accepted--and to have Genuine Friends in our lives, but I can promise you that if you have the courage to open up & take a chance, you will not regret it.

Everyone has a story--a history--and a need to share their life with someone, and penpalling is one fabulous avenue!!! Go on, open up your heart, your mind and you might find it to be the greatest thing you have ever done.

To get a letter from someone instead of the usual Bill in the mail is the most fun & rewarding thing for those who love to write letters. Going to the post office to post a letter to a dear friend has been a lot of the best exercise I've ever had--my penpals (and a few now Family members) have said the same.

Emailing has its place in society, but its sad that writing has become a lost art. Having that letter in your hand from a friend, a loved one, evokes a fond memory and something special that you can share with others.