Overseas Coupon Program... ROLL OUT!
Just in time for the Fourth of July... ok, the timing is only good because I've been too busy to get the complete info out before now...We have gotten clearance from the OCP to adopt the AF base in Alconbury, England. Chris's family was stationed there from 1975-1980, which is the main reason we decided to pick this base out of the dozen or so available on the site. The rest of this email will be more or less a FAQ on how to participate and the award program I'm planning.
Clipping coupons:- Please clip coupons out of the circulars- The base exchange can take coupons up to 6 months expired. I recommend mailing coupons no more than 3 months expired.
Sorting coupons:- Sort into FOOD and NONFOOD categories. Non-food is anything inedible, plus pet foods. Food is everything else. When in doubt, stick it in non-food.-
Total each bundle. Some coupons have max prices that you may have to look for with the buy one/get one sort of deals.- I don't recommend sending along rebates or merchandise coupons, unless they specifically say that the company will ship to an APO.-
Put the bundles in ziplock baggies or seal them in small letter envelopes, and label the bundles.
Mailing coupons:- The cheapest way to bulk mail is using a Priority Mailer from the post office. As coupons are light, you can stuff a ton of coupons in the envelope for about the minimum price, and they'll get there fairly quick.-
Note from the OCP: The U.S.P.S. also requires Customs Form 2976-A be attached to the outside of the mailer if you're sending directly to a base overseas. Use the description "Coupons" and record the value as "--$0.00--". Be sure to check the "Gift" box on the form.-
Mailing address for our base:
RAF Alconbury, 423 ABS/DPF, APO AE 09470
Reporting your progress:-
Please email me (terpette@comcast.net or xo@ussredbaron.org) your totals each time you mail out a shipment. Also, include the date you mailed it.- I will report our complete ship totals to the OCP approximately once/month.- Please track your participation for promotion points.
The points guidelines spreadsheet can be found on our YahooGroup site: click Files, then click the Membership Handbook folder.
Under the current guidelines you get one point a month for participation.
Awards:- The Richthofen clipper with the highest donation total will receive a Golden Scissors award at the "end of the year".- Since we're rolling out the program in July, the program will run annually from July 1 - June 30.
Awards hopefully given out at Shore Leave (starting in 2007).
Tips:- Hit up co-workers, neighbors, friends, family, church members, etc. All you have to do is mention doing something to support troops and folks are usually in. If they don't personally get a newspaper with coupons, they can always turn around and ask one of *their* friends.- I will report our chapter totals quarterly, unless folks really want me to post them monthly. I don't want to innundate the list with email about the coupon project, especially if we've got folks who choose not to participate.And that's about it.
If you've got questions, please contact me... and GET CLIPPING! =)Karen
Clipping coupons:- Please clip coupons out of the circulars- The base exchange can take coupons up to 6 months expired. I recommend mailing coupons no more than 3 months expired.
Sorting coupons:- Sort into FOOD and NONFOOD categories. Non-food is anything inedible, plus pet foods. Food is everything else. When in doubt, stick it in non-food.-
Total each bundle. Some coupons have max prices that you may have to look for with the buy one/get one sort of deals.- I don't recommend sending along rebates or merchandise coupons, unless they specifically say that the company will ship to an APO.-
Put the bundles in ziplock baggies or seal them in small letter envelopes, and label the bundles.
Mailing coupons:- The cheapest way to bulk mail is using a Priority Mailer from the post office. As coupons are light, you can stuff a ton of coupons in the envelope for about the minimum price, and they'll get there fairly quick.-
Note from the OCP: The U.S.P.S. also requires Customs Form 2976-A be attached to the outside of the mailer if you're sending directly to a base overseas. Use the description "Coupons" and record the value as "--$0.00--". Be sure to check the "Gift" box on the form.-
Mailing address for our base:
RAF Alconbury, 423 ABS/DPF, APO AE 09470
Reporting your progress:-
Please email me (terpette@comcast.net or xo@ussredbaron.org) your totals each time you mail out a shipment. Also, include the date you mailed it.- I will report our complete ship totals to the OCP approximately once/month.- Please track your participation for promotion points.
The points guidelines spreadsheet can be found on our YahooGroup site: click Files, then click the Membership Handbook folder.
Under the current guidelines you get one point a month for participation.
Awards:- The Richthofen clipper with the highest donation total will receive a Golden Scissors award at the "end of the year".- Since we're rolling out the program in July, the program will run annually from July 1 - June 30.
Awards hopefully given out at Shore Leave (starting in 2007).
Tips:- Hit up co-workers, neighbors, friends, family, church members, etc. All you have to do is mention doing something to support troops and folks are usually in. If they don't personally get a newspaper with coupons, they can always turn around and ask one of *their* friends.- I will report our chapter totals quarterly, unless folks really want me to post them monthly. I don't want to innundate the list with email about the coupon project, especially if we've got folks who choose not to participate.And that's about it.
If you've got questions, please contact me... and GET CLIPPING! =)Karen
posted by Trisha at 5:42 PM
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