Some of my contacts are gone.   Do you keep your notes about them or throw them away?  I know it's easy to keep if it's on your computer but mine are in a notebook and it's getting messy.

We keep ours in an accordian folder.  If you notice, some are back for the 5th tour now in Iraq and Afghanistan.  You never know when they will show up again.  That's why we started keeping our old contacts.  Two of ours are repeats that we remember.

Gran

I keep all my old contacts in a file in my desk as well as folders on my computer. Going on three years,now. So far I have not had a repeat, or  if  they have returned to the war zone I don't know about it.  I do keep in touch with a few of them after they come home.  It is always a thrill to hear from them and how they are adjusting to life in the good ole USA.  A couple I have met. Edith

I don't use disks so when my last laptop died I lost everything.  I do have an new accordian file in a closet and I use a notebook that I can tear the pages out of. I think I'll do that and that way I can remove all the pages that are bugging me!

 I can keep all the letters I've gotten in there too!

Thanks to you both!

You organized folks are amazing! More inspiration.

Thanks, Mom

I keep a notebook and carry it with me to work so I can write while on my lunch hour,or anytime I happen not to be busy. I carry a tote bag with my notebook,stamps,note cards,post cards,writing tablet,envelopes and anysoldier pens!  Sometimes I share my day,just writing about things that happen at the workplace and putting a humorous spin on them. I also found some confetti patriotic colored stars that I will add to the letter....just a little surprise when they open it up. I tried to printing out the address page, but I was going through so much ink I went back to the notebook. I make notes about them so I have a point of reference when writing. I have a big box of all the letters and little surprises I have received back and eventually I hope to organize into scrapbooks.

I keep electronic files by contact name.  Every soldier has their own folder.  When I save a letter to their folder, it is titled by name, date and what was sent, i.e. "Lancaster 06 12 07 magazines and drink mix".  This is a quick reminder of what was sent when.

When it's been a boring week around the house and I have little to write about, I tell funny stories about the family or pets.  I have even written letters from the dog and cat to soldier.  I also save these seperately so I can use them later. 

 

Wow! You guys are so organized! I'm like cat......I have all my stuff in a notebook with dividers in it. Have everything separated:: one for addresses, one for each contact with info from their post so I know what they have/don't have (electeicity or not, etc) or what they are requesting, one with all of the wonderful websites that everyone has been so gracious enough to post and share of where they find great things to send & great deals, one for my shopping lists at the grocery store, one for my shopping lists at Sams's Club, one for my shopping lists at smaller stores and one for when I mail out a letter or package (and what I sent). I use the pockets in the binder to hold all of my receipts from shopping and the copies of sent customs forms and receipts from the post office. I think I'm going to have to invest in one of those accordian folders 

This is why I've mentioned in another thread that I'd really like a uniform page that we could print out on our computers.  I'm getting tired of transfering every single thing - everytime!

I'd buy a three-ring binder and three-hole printer paper. That way I could keep people in alpha order or by branch and alpha order and be able to snap the pages in and out as needed. I really don't want to have to keep several notebooks.

I keep a list on the computer with all information [that gets updated pretty regularly when we get letters or emails with requests]. And I have a printed out list that I usually keep in the car that has first names only and the *want* list so I have it when I go to the store.  When I am done with the printed list, it goes in the filing cabinet in an AS file so I can refer back to it if need to.  [Like one soldier requested a candy that is not sold in NC. I had to really search for it, but I finally ordered it directly from the company. But it stayed on that list for almost a month before I figured out what to do.]

I have a regular size spiral notebook that I write my contacts iin with their requests.  Then I update that page when I send packages and/or letters, pictures, etc.  I try to also write in what I sent.  I started out with a little notebook, but had to switch to a giant size job because I kept adopting more and more soldiers.  I have slowed down on that respect now and concentrate on the ones I have.  I also have a computer list of Generic requests from all soldiers that I print out and keep in both our vehicles so if we're in the store we can pick up things that are requested a lot.  My husband even uses the list.  I could probably computerize everything, but I am NOT a computer whiz.  So I try to keep it simple.

Mary