8/14/12
"Members may NOT be on Special Notice only. You may choose any of the other mail-reading options yahoo provides."

The reason we decided to add this rule is--if someone is on Special Notice, it means they are missing out on everything. I've had people miss swaps, resins orders and other fun things, and then complain to me because they didn't get notified in time.

What can you choose? Here are yahoo's options:

Individual Email
The option to choose if you want to get each group message and special notice individually and immediately, as it is posted.

Daily Digest
The option to choose if you want to see all messages but limit the amount of email you receive. We'll compile an email of up to 25 messages and send daily (special notices too!).

Special Notices - Receive only important email notices from the group moderator. NOT ALLOWED ON THIS LIST

Web Only - Don't get notified of the latest happenings. Read messages only on the web.

As a privately owned space within the Yahoogroups Lists, we are permitted to make our own rules, providing they do not clash with yahoogroups rules. Therefore, while you will of course be able to be on Special Notice on any list that is NOT under the hittygirls umbrella, you cannot choose that option on our lists.


8/22/12

This group is a discussion and play list for Hitty, a small wooden travel doll.  In order to understand our play and to join in you will need to read Hitty: Her First Hundred Years, by Rachel Field.  You can borrow this book from the library or purchase it online for a reasonable fee.  Other modern books about Hitty have been written by Ellen Weiss and Rosemary Wells.

Why did we decide to require members read the book?  Because Hittygirls and her umbrella lists are not just about 'doll play'.  Any list on Yahoo can be about doll play.  But our list is specialized--we center around one single doll with a history and a background that has been clearly written out for us!  If one doesn't know that history and background, how can one even begin to understand how to play with us?

Our policy on Hittygirls has always that our Hittys are not the Real Hitty (because there can only be one and she resides in Stockbridge, MA). Instead, we decided very early on that our Hittys are her cousins/sisters.  This is why we always choose the name 'Hitty' as part of our Hittys' names, and yet, each one has a personal name also.  And, as the Real Hitty's cousins/sisters, we are under an obligation to carry on the fun, excitement, and joy the Real Hitty has brought to us in word.

If you are a member and have never read the book, please do so.  It is, indeed, the focus of our Hitty play.

8/27/12

"No privately promoted charity events or benefits, unless approved by the Mods.   Charity events will be limited to catastrophic events we wish to help, such as our Tsunami and tornado relief auctions of the past.  Any member may suggest a charity event to the Mods at any time, and the Mods will make the decision to make it a list activity.  Our Hittygirls-Real-Life can be used to promote any charity events or benefits, as this is the list we set up to discuss Real Life events."

Honestly, we Mods spent a lot of time trying to hammer this one out.  We finally came to the decision that activities that can't be monitored by a Mod can't be allowed.  Why are we doing this?  In the past ten years we have had many, many successfully run private swaps, challenges, and charity events. However, it's always the one or two that go bad, or peter out with no conclusion, or even just disappear never to be heard from again that spoil it!  Hittys lost, items stored in someone's home without any resolution...these are just two of the problems we don't want on our lists any more--and the Mods just don't have the ability, time, or even power to prevent this from happening.  And it's not that we are against anyone's favorite charities--it's just that there are hundreds (maybe even thousands!) of yahoo groups that are perfect for these events, and hittygirls is not one of them.

However, anyone is free to suggest to any Mod a charity or fund/raising event, as long as it features Hittys, of course.  And Hittygirls RL is another forum for these charity events, remember.  Our RL list is filled with the hittygirl members who do want to be involved in RL activities!