Pen Pals United 1996

PPU--THE WORLD'S LARGEST SLUMBER PARTY FOR PEN PALS!!

This article tells you all about Pen Pals United 1996.

By Janie Schmidt

One might think of a slumber party as a bunch of giggling girls, sitting in circles, eating popcorn, watching movies... talking the night away. Certainly an affair with memories to remember, special surprises planned by the organizer, and decorations to fit the theme.

Pen Pals United is much of that...on a much larger scale, and in this instance an event spanning 4 solid days -- but to the linger longers, one, maybe two days extra. 102 registered pen pallers gathered together for this 3rd event at the Hampton Inn, Colchester (Burlington suburb), Vermont on July 15-19. And what a time it was!

While the businessmen came and went on a daily basis, pen pallers "hung-out" at the hotel, enjoying the amenities provided by the Hampton Inn: Breakfast, Cookies and Milk at 8, and friendliness and courtesy. They also enjoyed hour after hour of conversation with friends new and old, prize give-aways, workshops and inspiring talks about letter writing, pen pal etiquette, newsletter editing, envelope making and many more! On a large scale, banquets - with special themes were held.

Bridging Friendships, the theme of PPU '96, was accented with a noon buffet featuring delicious food, covered bridge table favors and placemats, and a talk about the covered bridges (over 80) that Vermont has. An evening filled with talent featuring PPU members treated the participants to even more good food, stars in the sky, and a prize-give away of movie and television related goodies--scripts, posters, press kits, books.

Those in attendance knew the made the right choice for their summer vacation, and everyone went home with special rememberances -- both materially and those of the heart. Totebags of newsletters, film to be developed, travel brochures, autographs and prizes...toted by folks with smiles on their faces who we'll see each other once again in Banff, Alberta, Canada for PPU '98, in May.