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Hey guys,

Rhapsody raised an excellent question over at the staff list: when
will the winners be announced?

If you look at the schedule, you'll see that the award results will be
announced on October 15, which is tomorrow. I'll try to make an
announcement tomorrow night. Also, if you're an author expect an email
from mefasupport@gmail.com . I hope to have those sent out by Tuesday
of next week.

Thanks, everyone, for all your help this year. We're not quite done
yet, but we're really close.

Cheers,
Mata

--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, "Marta" <melayton@g...> wrote:

>
> Thanks, everyone, for all your help this year. We're not quite done
> yet, but we're really close.
>
> Cheers,
> Mata
>

And thank *you* Marta, along with Ainae, Anthony, Sulriel, and all the
other volunteers and voters who made the MEFAs a success. As a
first-time participant I want to say that I enjoyed the whole
experience very much. A review-based awards program is just such an
open, inclusive, friendly--and, I think, fair--process, and a great way
to encourage the writing and reading of new fan fiction. Looking
forward to next year's MEFAs!

Kathy (Inkling)

> > Thanks, everyone, for all your help this year. We're not quite

done> > yet, but we're really close.

> > > > Cheers,> > Mata
> >
>
> And thank *you* Marta, along with Ainae, Anthony, Sulriel, and all

the > other volunteers and voters who made the MEFAs a success. As a

> first-time participant I want to say that I enjoyed the whole
> experience very much. A review-based awards program is just such an
> open, inclusive, friendly--and, I think, fair--process, and a great

way > to encourage the writing and reading of new fan fiction. Looking

> forward to next year's MEFAs!
>
> Kathy (Inkling)

'You're Welcome'and 'Thank *you*' to Kathy and all who have thanked me
and the rest of the staff and volunteers both publically and
privately. It's been a heck of a whirlwind at times, but I'm glad to
have been able to be a part of it, and glad I could help in some
ways. Real credit goes to Ainea, our founder, Anthony for the
database and all his work with that and to Marta, who's pulled more
than her share of the weight.

But without the authors, the artists, the nominators, and most
especially the readers and reviewers, there wouldn't be a MEFA - you
are the ones who have made this a success.

Sulriel

I'm going to try and say this as tactfully as possible, but I'm not real
world reknowned for my subtelty so, just in case, I'm sure all 15,439 of us can
keep this hush hush.

But seriously, I'd like to thank the four of you, Ainae for all the e-mails
you've had to answer ad nauseum for those of us who never get it the first
time, Marta for being gone alot, lol, Sulriel, you worked your tail off, girl,
Anthony is just right up there with the guys who know how to fix the stuff we all
can't do without, the a/c repairman, the teacher's aide who finally bangs the
concept of linear math into your child's head, and the cable guy who goes the
extra mile and finally makes your vcr clock stop flashing 12:00. They may
not be brain surgeons or politicians, but I've never wished I had a politician
around at 3a.m. when I couldn't sleep and wanted something to read.

But my biggest hats off goes to all of you guys for your incredible talent at
bringing a virtually b.s. (I won't use the 'w' word here in defference to
those with ties to other awards) free experience to us for the past three months
or so. This is my first experience with fan fic and awards and so on, and I
was tickled beyond belief when I got the e-mail from "leaward", my lovely
author liaison, that someone, anyone had thought enough of my work to suggest it.
That in and of itself was such a wonderful feeling. Then the cynics showed up
and I heard all the deep, dark, freddy krueger caca about the process and I
was really sad. But I have to say, I neither saw, nor heard tell of anything
that would suggest that this whole process was anything short of dignified and
well put together. So either you managed to keep it away altogether, or you
managed to shield us from having to deal with or witness it, either way, same
result, happy participants.

On to of that, I have been really pleasantly surprised by the attention paid
to authors and the almost embarrassing way we have been catered to by the
liaisons. I mean, essentially, we were told at one point not to overtax our font
and to let our liaisons take care of all of our on site needs. The treatment
was simply amazing and, though I had nothing come up requiring much
assistance, until voting time, that is, grrr, lol. I felt really respected and honored
by everyone. Then, as a voter, I had the pleasure of begging for assistance a
bit more often, for the same problem, over and over. Amazingly enough, I
never once got asked which position I held on Darwin's chart or if I would prefer
my instructions be sent in a series of grunts and gestures rather than in
Arial 10 pt. Its just been a really wonderful experience all around, and as I
discovered recently with the very first mail I received regarding another award,
likely to be the only one with such a relaxed, participant friendly
environment.

Seems like the only people who haven't been exceedingly pampered throughout
this process is the four of you and all the liaisons, so take turns giving each
other foot massages and resounding congratulations for a classy event well
executed.

Thanks again, everyone.

Ghettoelleth
Moderator/TolElannon

Feanor: "No, no, no boys, it goes like this ; 'If you're Noldo and you know
it, slay your kin! Slay your kin!



In a message dated 10/14/2005 5:19:17 PM Pacific Standard Time,
Sulriel@htcomp.net writes:

> > Thanks, everyone, for all your help this year. We're not quite

done> > yet, but we're really close.

> > > > Cheers,> > Mata
> >
>
> And thank *you* Marta, along with Ainae, Anthony, Sulriel, and all

the > other volunteers and voters who made the MEFAs a success. As a

> first-time participant I want to say that I enjoyed the whole
> experience very much. A review-based awards program is just such an
> open, inclusive, friendly--and, I think, fair--process, and a great

way > to encourage the writing and reading of new fan fiction. Looking

> forward to next year's MEFAs!
>
> Kathy (Inkling)

'You're Welcome'and 'Thank *you*' to Kathy and all who have thanked me
and the rest of the staff and volunteers both publically and
privately. It's been a heck of a whirlwind at times, but I'm glad to
have been able to be a part of it, and glad I could help in some
ways. Real credit goes to Ainea, our founder, Anthony for the
database and all his work with that and to Marta, who's pulled more
than her share of the weight.

But without the authors, the artists, the nominators, and most
especially the readers and reviewers, there wouldn't be a MEFA - you
are the ones who have made this a success.

Sulriel


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi Kathy,

On 14 Oct 2005, at 14:22, Kathy wrote:

> --- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, "Marta" <melayton@g...> wrote:
> >
> > Thanks, everyone, for all your help this year. We're not quite done
> > yet, but we're really close.
> >
> > Cheers,
> > Mata
> >
>
> And thank *you* Marta, along with Ainae, Anthony, Sulriel, and all the
> other volunteers and voters who made the MEFAs a success.

You're welcome!

> As a
> first-time participant I want to say that I enjoyed the whole
> experience very much. A review-based awards program is just such an
> open, inclusive, friendly--and, I think, fair--process, and a great
> way
> to encourage the writing and reading of new fan fiction. Looking
> forward to next year's MEFAs!
>

I'm so glad you enjoyed it. I think the problem with a lot of awards is
that those people whose writing is good but not quite top-tier are left
feeling a bit jilted. In these awards eryone who gets at least one vote
gets feedback, and those whose stories get more votes get more feedback
- with the winners obviously getting the most, but those who are just a
few points out of honourable mention are also getting a fair amount.
For this reason I don't really mind voting for other pieces in the same
category as my own, knowing that by doing do I'm really voting against
my own stuff.

I could go on about what I like so much about the Mithrils, but I
suspect I'd be preaching to the choir. :-)

Marta

Hi Ghettoelleth,

On 14 Oct 2005, at 22:27, ghettoelleth@aol.com wrote:

> I'm going to try and say this as tactfully as possible, but I'm not
> real
> world reknowned for my subtelty so, just in case, I'm sure all 15,439
> of us can
> keep this hush hush.
>

LOL. I've grown a lot in the tact and subtlety area the last two years,
mostly thanks to these awards. My own slips of the tongue are all too
vivid in my memory.

> But seriously, I'd like to thank the four of you, Ainae for all the
> e-mails
> you've had to answer ad nauseum for those of us who never get it the
> first
> time, Marta for being gone alot, lol, Sulriel, you worked your tail
> off, girl,
> Anthony is just right up there with the guys who know how to fix the
> stuff we all
> can't do without, the a/c repairman, the teacher's aide who finally
> bangs the
> concept of linear math into your child's head, and the cable guy who
> goes the
> extra mile and finally makes your vcr clock stop flashing 12:00. 
> They may
> not be brain surgeons or politicians, but I've never wished I had a
> politician
> around at 3a.m. when I couldn't sleep and wanted something to read.
>

Thanks, I appreciate it. And I echo what you say about Ainae, Sulriel,
and Anthony - I appreciate all your work, too. Very much!

> But my biggest hats off goes to all of you guys for your incredible
> talent at
> bringing a virtually b.s. (I won't use the 'w' word here in
> defference to
> those with ties to other awards) free experience to us for the past
> three months
> or so.  This is my first experience with fan fic and awards and so
> on, and I
> was tickled beyond belief when I got the e-mail from "leaward", my
> lovely
> author liaison, that someone, anyone had thought enough of my work to
> suggest it. 
> That in and of itself was such a wonderful feeling. 

I'm glad! I have heard from several other people that they enjoyed
getting their pieces nominated. I know it gave me a real "attaboy".
(That is, when I wasn't the nominator too :-P ).

> Then the cynics showed up
> and I heard all the deep, dark, freddy krueger caca about the process
> and I
> was really sad.  But I have to say, I neither saw, nor heard tell of
> anything
> that would suggest that this whole process was anything short of
> dignified and
> well put together.  So either you managed to keep it away altogether,
> or you
> managed to shield us from having to deal with or witness it, either
> way, same
> result, happy participants.
>

I think there will always be cynics. The important thing is to look at
why they're cynical. They may have legitimate reasons, but they also
may just be looking for attention. A lot of people seem to enjoy that
kind of drama.

For the record, if there's anything that anyone is dissatisfied about,
I'd love to hear it. I'm not so naive I think the MEFAs can please
everyone, but if there is a legitimate problem we can't even address it
unless we know about it. That's why we're going to have a post-mortem
in a little bit, to discuss these things.

> On to of that, I have been really pleasantly surprised by the
> attention paid
> to authors and the almost embarrassing way we have been catered to by
> the
> liaisons.  I mean, essentially, we were told at one point not to
> overtax our font
> and to let our liaisons take care of all of our on site needs.  The
> treatment
> was simply amazing and, though I had nothing come up requiring much
> assistance, until voting time, that is, grrr, lol.  I felt really
> respected and honored
> by everyone.  Then, as a voter, I had the pleasure of begging for
> assistance a
> bit more often, for the same problem, over and over.  Amazingly
> enough, I
> never once got asked which position I held on Darwin's chart or if I
> would prefer
> my instructions be sent in a series of grunts and gestures rather
> than in
> Arial 10 pt.  Its just been a really wonderful experience all around,
> and as I
> discovered recently with the very first mail I received regarding
> another award,
> likely to be the only one with such a relaxed, participant friendly
> environment.
>

I can't speak for all the liaisons and other volunteers, of course, but
I'm happy to "pamper" people as you put it. I don't think insulting
someone with an earnest question ever does anyone any good, and it
usually creates more of a problem than addressing the problem instead
of insulting the questioner would have done.

I think I'm a reasonably good judge of character, and I can generally
tell whether someone is trying to cause trouble or whether they're
trying their best but have a question or need help. I have little
patience for the former, but am more than happy to help out with the
latter.

> Seems like the only people who haven't been exceedingly pampered
> throughout
> this process is the four of you and all the liaisons, so take turns
> giving each
> other foot massages and resounding congratulations for a classy event
> well
> executed.
>

*blush* Those thanks mean a lot.

> Feanor: "No, no, no boys, it goes like this ; 'If you're Noldo and
> you know
> it, slay your kin! Slay your kin!
>

*snork* This made me laugh -- hard.

Marta

--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, ghettoelleth@a... wrote:

>
> I'm going to try and say this as tactfully as possible, but I'm not
> real world reknowned for my subtelty so, just in case, I'm sure all
> 15,439 of us can keep this hush hush.

*grin*

> But seriously, I'd like to thank the four of you, Ainae for all the
> e-mails you've had to answer ad nauseum for those of us who never
> get it the first time, Marta for being gone alot, lol, Sulriel, you
> worked your tail off, girl, Anthony <snip> and the cable guy who
> goes the extra mile and finally makes your vcr clock stop flashing
> 12:00.

Anthony did so much, also for the liaisons and/or categorisers to make
things as easy as possible. For example I asked for a small thing to
categorise stories in ms excel and in no time he came up with
something so incredibly nifty... and didn't rest until everything was
tested and working.

Marta has been the, and this is meant in the most positive way:
walking and breathing MEFA FAQ. I know at the staff site we (as in
liaisons) came up with things or feedback from the authors, but there
was always some way or creative solution found that we could
communicate back and made everyone happy.

Sulriel... well she encouraged me to get involved in the first place
and explained in clear, but also passionate words, to me what the MEFA
spirit is/was about: receiving and giving feedback to fellow authors.
A big thank you for that.

Ainea simply lives and breathes the word patience.

Anyhow... *coughs* it's been quite a ride.

> On to of that, I have been really pleasantly surprised by the
> attention paid to authors and the almost embarrassing way we have
> been catered to by the liaisons. I mean, essentially, we were told
> at one point not to overtax our font and to let our liaisons take
> care of all of our on site needs.

Well, but sometimes it did happen that the author did the work for the
liaison. You got an e-mail back that said: well I went to the site and
I changed the things to my liking. So, sometimes the liaison got
pampered as well and only had to tick a box. :)

What I personally enjoyed was the responses to the nomination e-mails.
It was so much fun to get a message that the author was so excited,
you know, it made me smile. Also, before the e-mails to the authors
were sent out, we checked the stories and I discovered, for me, new
authors. I often found myself reading the story already ;) I told
myself: later.. later.. first make the author happy with the nomination.

I discovered a lot of beautiful stories and author's because of these
awards and I tried to capture that feeling in reviews.

For me overall, everyone who participated, authors, nominators, admin,
and fellow liaisons/categorisers: we all made this happen. It gave me
the feeling of Fellowship. That makes the MEFA, imvho, special.

Rhapsody