These are the letters I got from members after I sent mine out. And yes, I have taken out things that don't apply.

From Laurel:

This is a touching letter Cass. Congratulations on your success with the NW-- I don't think it could have ended up this great without you, our fearless leader ;)

>Lea/Laurel: Your input when the club first formed helped a lot and >why don't you speak up more???? *grin* Simple answer, m'dear.. I'm lazy. I barely read any mail these days, or if I read it, I rarely reply. I'm trying to kick the habit, since I love receiving e-mails that mention my name. Heh. You can't have those unless you participate so....... yeah. I'll try to become more actively involved in the NW, but I'm the kind of person who gets uncomfortable around a lot of people.. and the NW are uhh, a lot of people. Unity, Power of Leaf have I over thee, Laurel Quincey :)

Damon:

Thoughts on the anniversary (slight story):

Damon didn't think that time of the year had rolled around again. It was like every year when he was supposed to remember his brothers birthday, the dates he just forgot. Cassie came up to him the other day and reminded him, but still... He was walking stealthily through the forest when Elena jumped out of nowhere scaring him to life.

"Where are you going? We have a prior engagement!"

"So you finally dropped my infantile little brother and came to your senses?"

Elena rolled her eyes, she knew he was joking with her ever since last year this is how it had been between them. Ever since they had become Elders in the Circle Daybreak. Damon never thought it would happen, group of people trying to bring together the night people and humans? What an amusing thought! But with Cassie's hard work and her help from Elena, Faye, Jenny, Kaitlyn, Kestral, Poppy, Suzan, Sylvia, Thea and the interest of the other charter members Gabriel, Laurel, Mary-Lynnette, Rashel, Rowan, Julian, Janier, and Morgana the club was on it's feet. Damon jumped at the chance to discuss one of the most intriguing authors in the world. Every charter member had a chance to join the elite, the Elders, and a good portion of them did. They met almost every day with ideas, discussions, and joking around and finally got a foothold on the World Wide Web. It was founded for discussing LJ Smith's writings and one of the first rules established was that everyone would feel welcome and no one would ridicule any other member. So that is how it all started.

Since then things have grown. Newbie members brought new insights, ideas, and friendships into the group and the Daybreakers looked forward to the onslaught of new members. The existing newbie's reveled in calling themselves full fledged members and the Circle grew bigger. The FAQ went unread every month and the Elders put post after post up reminding everyone how things worked. It was all part of the Circle Daybreak. Everyone added to the group whether they lurked and waited for the right time to speak or whether they talked everyone's ear off every day with cool stories and input.

Then the anniversary snuck up on everyone and some of the Circle Daybreakers almost forgot about it. Damon knew the story, he had been here since the beginning, so he wasn't just going to let it pass by. He grabbed Elena's arm.

"Come on then! We have to go join the group. People will be writing and we won't even know it!"

They ran back to where the Daybreakers were meeting. Damon gave Cassie a hug.

"Congratulations Night World on a great first year of the Circle Daybreak!"

Unity/Power of blood have I over thee, Damon Salvatore

Nyala:

Excuse my spelling people.

In honor of NW's historic first anniversary, I am going to tell you about how I first joined the NW.

I'd looked on all the search engines I could find, and found no trace of LJ Smith. Few months later I went to the Simon Says website and griped at them because they had no pages there on her books, yet they had something for that Extreme Zone (is that right?) series which came no where near the level LJ is at. Eventually, they replied and said go look at yahoo. So I went and looked and found NW and another page (which is now a broken link). This is the first club I've ever joined, and I've felt really at home here. It inspired me to create one of those spawned clubs *trying to continue over groans* and it's nowhere near the success of NW (at least there are new ideas unlike a lot of the other clubs. Please note I used a lot and not all!).

So I'd like to express my everlasting gratitude and happiness over the fact that there was such a great club to being with. I feel that it's success has created a lot of new interests in LJ's works, as well as kept that passion going in those who have been fans of her work for a long time.

So bless all of you elders who make this club such a great club. I envy some of the ideas that you all have come up with, because many of them have been brilliant. I envy this club's success, but if any club deserves it, there is no better one than Circle Daybreak.

Unity, and HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!

Kaitlyn Fairchild of Fairchild Court (President of The Institute)
Nyala (NW)
Heidi Halsworth (IRL)
Christina Lyra Latimora (CSquare)

Poppy:

Oh my.... a year already?

It just crept up on me... which means that I've been on TMC for more than a year, but that's a different story.

I'm just going to add some of my thoughts as well....

My memory isn't really that good, so forgive me if I do make any mistakes. I remember Cassie asked who would like to join the new LJS club she was starting when we were in TMC. Naturally, I joined because I had just started to read LJS then. I remember there was a thread about LJS in TMC then, and my best friend, Kestrel, member of both clubs as well, sort of made me read LJS books... I got hooked. Anyway, the club started... the site was building up fine... I was working on several things then I *think*... and then I worked on the FAQ.

Anyway... Kestrel wanted to join the list, but she was then currently making a transition back home to the Philippines and getting everything back to order... it would be several months later before she joined NW. But that's her story... I don't know... being in the same club as my best friend means a lot to me...

Through NW, I've met plenty of wonderful people... Elena... who shared my love of Anuna among other things, Bonnie... who knew she loved Empire Records and Celtic music as well? I'm working on Anuna on you... Mary-Lynnette... I remember our lengthy emails of X-Files and other stuff... I mean, we were even on the same Romantics mailing list without knowing! And then there was James.... the original one... who so mysteriously disappeared... he made me laugh :) Finally... Cassie... I knew even before NW started.... and you're the first person I know to actually look like Gillian Anderson... you're one person I'm glad I had the chance to know :) And for the love of God... will you just let Aaron know that you're marrying him so I can rest in peace?

Overall... the club has been amazing... we've had our ups and our downs... had our share of wonderful people and crap.... I'm just glad that I've been a part of everything, and I just want to thank *everybody^ in the Night World, from the Elders to the members.... you guys are amazing.

Unity, Poppy

Power of Planets Have I Over Thee

Janier:

Sweetie,

Sorry I took so long about replying. At first I didn't think I was going to, but then I realized I wanted to...but then I had to think about what I wanted to say. I can tell you put a lot of thought and effort into that page. I was really impressed by all the people you thanked... I was happy you included me.

I know I don't really participate or like...do anything helpful whatsoever but I still think you're doing a really good thing with these clubs. In fact, *because* of these clubs (mainly SC though), I became friends with Beth and have gotten to chill with her "IRL." (Most recently last week when we went to the mall for her to school shop.)

I wish I had more time and energy so I could participate or help out, or whatever, I'm just not motivated to be on mailing lists any more (unlike how I was last summer...or was it two summers ago (could it really be that long ago?!?) when I was on like a million mailing lists and participated in every one of them).

Anyway, I haven't got much else to say. Hopefully we'll keep keeping in touch. Talk to you later,

Rachel (aka janier)

Mary-Lynnette
Hi, Cassie!
I can't believe the Night World has been together for a whole year. It seems like last week that we were just a handful of MC spin-offs just beginning to form our own club. I have to say, girl, it was all you. You did this. The club. The site. The 470+ screaming, crazed fanatics. You deserve a standing ovation...but, weeellll, that's not exactly possible over e-mail. (Just know that I'm standing here in front of my computer clapping.) :) Who would have guessed that from the 15 or so of us chatting casually last year, would spring a *huge* club with tons of stuff and *hundreds* of people? Certainly not those of us who got into the habit of answering our email only twice a week. :) I couldn't believe the Subject line that appeared on my screen last week-- The Night World One Year Anniversary!! Your letter was so touching! I'm not ashamed to admit that I got a little teary when I read it. Topping that off with reading the other letters on the Anniversary page made for extra-mushy emotionalness......hmmm...I think I'm gonna go write an extra- mushy fanfic.... Congratulations on making this the best LJ club ever, and thanks for giving me the privilege of belonging to it.
Here's to another year filled with Unity,
Mary-Lynnette (Molly)

Meredith:
Cassie-- You started it all and now thanx to you I'm in about 20 LJS clubs too many. But I enjoy it all so I guess I can't complain. I know I didn't do the whole I remember when thing when the NW was a year old and I kinda regret that. Is it too late to do it? :) Thanx for giving me responsibility in the NW. I always enjoy power. :)

Sapphira
I've just been reading some of the comments about the Anniversary on the NW page. I just wanted to comment.
I haven't been in the club since the start (I wish I had!), but I have been in the club for ages now. I joined near the beginning of the year and now it is October.
The Night World is wonderful! The people are great and they are happy just to natter about various things to do with L.J's books, as well as other assorted stuff.
Cassie, you're a marvel. You reply to everyone's requests, keep the whole thing running. Without you, there would be no NW, and the world would be a poorer place because of it. No one could possibly replace you in what you have done, and are still doing for this club. I mean, you must be a saint you put up with me asking you about things and pestering you constantly with my stupid ideas!
I am proud to be a member of the NW, and hope to be so for a long time to come. I am sure that many others feel the same way, so on behalf of them, I want to say this:
Cassie, you're one in a million.
Thank you for the Night World and KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!
Lots of care.
Unity.
Sapphira Rosewood.

Moon Wolf
First of all I'd like to congratulate you--It's a wonderful thing you have here--though the mail can get quite out of hand at times ; )
Second--I'd like to say I am completely touched ; ) I never even dreamed my name would be on the thank you list. It was so totally unexpected I almost cried. Thank you for the recognition (though the project has barely begun since I can't get it started till Bonnie tells me what's on the new soundtracks she's coming up with) So I am sorry to say it might still be a while--but then again--Good things come to those who wait.
Third-- I would like to thank you for the person you are. I was lucky enough to join the club (and pick a name out) right as the List Party started and you made me feel completely welcome. I felt "at home" even though it was my first time truly interacting with the crew. It was a blast and It was the best one I've been to (most of the ones other clubs try seem to die out in a day or so)
{{{{{HUGS}}}}}
Unity,
Moon Wolf (\O/)

And I even made some members cry! That wasn't my intent and so to spare them any possible embarrassment, I won't post their letters here. To all members: if you would like to post your thoughts here about the one year anniversary, mail me and let me know!