April G. (tailyanker)

April is one of those wonderful people who bring light into the lives of all around her! She created the “Share and Care Tailyghan” program in the “Share and Care” forum here at PBS – when she learns of someone having a difficult time she sends them a care package, including a hand-crafted “Tailyghan” (afghan).   Many members wrote in about April:

“I couldn’t believe that she made me an afghan. It really brightened my day!”

“She is such a sweet lady who makes lapghans for members going through some crisis.  She does this at her own expense. Truly worthy of the honor of MOM.  I cannot think of anyone who deserves it more.”

“Tailyanker cares so much about other people.  People like her make PBS more than a club – it’s like a family.”

“Sometimes it really matters to know that someone cares and is thinking about you. I am reminded of that every time I look at the handmade afghan from April.  It’s a blanket but it means so much more.”

April, you and your afghans have brought so much warmth into the lives of other members.  You are our Member of the Month for August.  Congratulations!

Cathy W. (Firefly)

Cathy is another of our wonderful Tour Guides, whose grateful “newmems” have been writing in to us for ages, singing her praises.  She’s been a PBS member for over four years, and has swapped hundreds of books from her home in Alaska.  Reports from her fans included these comments:

“She has been so helpful and friendly since I joined. I couldn’t have asked for a nicer or more knowledgeable tour guide 🙂“

“She helped me with my first year of mishaps, glitches, and misunderstandings. I’m sure that without her help my swap membership might have ended soon after I signed up! Thanks, Cathy!”

“I got totally confused with my first swap but Cathy showed me how easy it really was to figure out.  She’s a cool head in a crisis!  Do you think she’d accept the nomination for President if we submitted her as a write-in?”

Firefly, you are a guiding light at PBS!  You are our Member of the Month for May.  Congratulations!

Melanie  D. (melanied)

So many members have written in to tell us about Melanie.  She’s been a member for nearly three years, and is a terrific Tour Guide. Even before she became a Tour Guide, she extended herself to offer help to others in Forums.  Her friendly voice has improved the bookswapping experience for many! Some of their comments:

“…she is always willing to help other members (both as a Tour Guide and in the forums) and comes up with helpful FRIENDLY advice, complete with Help Center references in order to better assist others!”

“…Her answers are…clear, concise, with the right info and right amt of detail. Please add my vote to your files on Melanie!”

“I was confused about how to cancel a swap and Melanie explained it all so it was easy!  Many thanks!”

Melanie, you have gone above and beyond to help others enjoy Paperbackswap.  You are our Member of the Month for April.  Congratulations!

LeAnne G. (Gracious-Granny)

Unfortunately, this honor is being given posthumously to LeAnne.  She was a tireless “giver” to the club, and brightened everyone’s day. Everyone who interacted with her was better for having done so.  She sent almost 700 books, with never a problem swap; she was one of our Tour Guide Assistant Coordinators and helped other Tour Guides and members alike; she had many, many friends in the club.

In LeAnne’s honor, we have set up a special Book Donation page for a school of LeAnne’s family’s choosing.   We love the idea of such an ardent reader continuing to foster the love of reading in children who will grow up and carry that love forward into their lives, to pass along to children of their own.  In that way and so many others, her spirit will never die.

We will miss you, LeAnne!  Thanks for gracing the club, and for all you did each and every day.  You will be deeply missed.

Robin D. (Sianeka)

Robin is one of our fabulous Tour Guides, and the members she helps write in about her all the time.  Just a couple of their comments:

“I am so lucky that Robin is my Tour Guide.  I asked her a question and her answer was very clear, very detailed and very helpful!“

“Robin is super helpful! She’s been so patient with me. Is there some way she can get an official pat on the back from PBS?”

Yes, indeed!  Robin, your “guidees” love your guidance.  Thanks for being there for them.  You are our Member of the Month for February.  Congratulations!

Cheryl G. (Poncer)

Cheryl is one of our terrific Tour Guide Leaders – she has helped a lot of members, new and experienced, navigate and use the site.  We get their grateful messages on a regular basis.  Even Tour Guides write in to let us know she is something special.  Just a taste of the comments we got:

“She helped me in Live Help with what I thought was an impossible problem.  She made it all very easy to understand.”

“She is helpful and very friendly. She makes being a Tour Guide fun!”

“I am lucky to have Cheryl assigned as my Tour Guide.  She is very patient and clear when I have a question.”

“Cheryl (poncer) helped me find my way through something I messed up…she helped me get things all fixed! I would still be trying to figure things out if she hadn’t been there.”

Cheryl, the people have spoken!  Thanks for doing so much behind the scenes to help other members enjoy the club.  You are our Member of the Month for January.  Congratulations!

Valli A. (ALbookbugg)

Members have been nominating Valli for a couple of years, but the votes came flooding in recently!  Valli is a longtime member who is very active in the Historical Fiction genre Discussion Forum; she’s also one of our Tour Guides.   We got so many great comments about her that we can’t begin to share them all here. Just a SMALL portion of the comments we got:

“She is a great organizer and a very considerate, caring person. I think that I can honestly say that those of us who participate in the HF forum love her. Anyone new to that forum is graciously welcomed by her.”

“She is always willing to lend a credit, send out free books to those in need, or just chat with you if you need some feedback about books in our genre.”

“She…does wonderful, short & quick book reviews. There are many books I have picked up just because she reviewed them.”

“This is my first year at PBS. Valli has been very helpful and made my time here enjoyable.”

“When I have a question, Valli has the answer (or finds it for me). She organizes activities for us at the HF Forum – read alongs and challenges. She spearheaded our 2009 Historical Fiction Challenge, which was a huge success.”

“She has a great sense of humor. She makes everyone feel welcome. We love discussing books, and Valli often leads such discussions.  She’s a natural born leader and worthy of your MoM award.”

Valli, you have a mandate!  The sheer volume of praise we got about you was…historical.  Thanks for doing all you do to make PaperBackSwap a better place.  You are our Member of the Month for December.  Congratulations!