Check out this great project by Leeann at The Butter Compartment:
I wanted to do something that would bring a little World Diabetes Day
celebration to everyone. The rules are simple:
1) Send your mailing address to leeann@thebuttercompartment.com
2) I will send you an address
3) Use the blue circle and as much creativity as you can fit on a
piece of 3.5" x 5" card stock. Complete the mini D meme (below) on
the back of the postcard.
4) Mail it to the person whose address I sent you, ideally in time for
them to receive it by Nov. 14th.
5) You will get a postcard in the mail from someone else in teh world
living with diabetes!
The meme:
1) Your name:
2) Where you live:
3) Your connection to diabetes:
4) Type of diabetes:
5) Year of diagnosis:
6) One thing you do to Act On Diabetes:
7) One Word:
Also, visit this FB page to help promote the exchange, and post
pictures of the postcards you receive!
https://www.facebook.com/wddpostcardexchange
I'd LOVE to get lots of international participation so blue circle postcards will be spinning
around the globe!
This is a very creative idea! I love it. Will certainly participate.
Judith, the “I” you ask about is Lee Ann at the Butter Compartment. She is the person behind Diabetes Art Day. If you read the full article on her blog, she talks about those who are skeptical about sharing their address (which you should be).
Yes Judith I am doing it. I forgot to add that on my post, sorry! I emailed Lee Ann right after I read her post the other day. In a lot of other settings, I would probably be very fearful of doing this. I have been reading Lee Ann’s blog for awhile now, and I think she has a good heart so I am going to trust her. I have shared my address with a few of my “live in my computer friends” just because of the connection with diabetes. I hope our postal system doesn’t go away either. I can understand why they would cut back to 5 days a week and even close some of the smaller Post Offices if there is another one close by. Where I used to live near Harrisburg there was one area that had about 5 Post Offices within a 5 miles radius.
I kind of wondered if that “I” was confusing! Sorry about that. It was a sloppy cut-n-paste on my part 
I love that you’re talking about our dear USPS, Kelly and Judith! Although my job is almost all online, in my personal life I’m very low-tech, so this project really speaks to me. I’m a big fan of “actual”, as a balance to our world of “virtual”.
Lee Ann, love this idea!! So cute!!!
I am glad that you decided to do it Judith! You won’t even have to worry about picking up a card since you already have some. Just get a stamp. Other than Christmas & my birthday, I mostly get junk mail & bills. I keep saying that I should take my glasses with me when I go over for my mail and then instead of bringing it back to my apartment, just toss the junk in the dumpster while I am near it. Would save me a trip back over with it but the dog loves going over for the mail & taking the garbage over to the dumpster (too bad I can’t actually get him to do it for me!).
Emily, I am kind of a mix of low & high tech. I like actual too and it is nice to get some stuff in the mail instead of just looking at it online.
Great idea! good way for people to reach out
Oh wow! This sounds like a really great project! I’m in =)
Leeann, of The Butter Compartment, is posting updates and "how to" videos on this project on her site. Take a look!
We’re officially up to 472 participants in the Postcard Exchange! I’d love to see that number get to 500… and beyond! This isn’t just for T1’s and T2’s either, so get your T3’s signed up too. We have children, siblings, parents, spouses, aunts, nieces, grandmothers and friends of people with diabetes signed up. We also have a couple of children with MODY. Everyone is welcome!
Also, if you haven’t become a fan on Facebook, I’m posting regular updates there, so that’s a great place to get quick information: https://www.facebook.com/wddpostcardexchange
Does this mean we can still submit our addresses?
If so, I might think about it again… I like the idea but I’m not sure whether I want to give any private information to a complete stranger!
I am a little strange, but I’m perfectly harmless, I swear 
Seriously though, I can appreciate your concern. I’m glad you’re willing to reconsider joining though. Based on the emails I’m receiving from participants who want to join, I think everyone is genuinely excited to connect with someone else with diabetes through actual mail, and it seems they all have the best of intentions and hopes for taking part in this project… for what that’s worth. I know the joys and gift of connecting online, but there’s something magical about having something to physically hold in your hands that is a gift from someone somewhere affected by diabetes. For not being much, a little handmade postcard sure can bring a big smile and warm your heart. I do hope the tuD family will take that leap of faith and join
Just one more question: What do you mean by “use the blue circle”?
Do you know the blue circle that is the symbol for World Diabetes Day? Use that circle as part of your postcard design/image.
Sounds like a great project! I’m in too!
LOL I got my name already and it’s a friend of mine. It’s all good, my roommate is participating too so we traded names. Gotta love having a roomie/best friend with D!
Oh, no!! That’s funny, but I’m sorry! I’m glad y’all were able to trade though. I did worry a little that people would get postcard buddies they knew since people know lots of people in the DOC, and for some, also IRL. Hopefully next year, there will be more people participating, so the chances of getting someone you know will decrease. Also, I only had the idea for the exchange the first week of October, so there hasn’t been much time for word to spread. Next year, I’ll be able to start asking people to join a lot sooner, which will hopefully mean more people will join. I’m even working on a form to fill out so it will be more standardized. I need to streamline the process. I should also add something to information particiapants receive that if they get a buddy they know, to request a new buddy, lol
