I don't know when it left, but I liked it.  How do I get it back?

Ruth

The apple comes from donating to the schools program, but it disappears after a year.

I think the donation program restarts sometime before Thansgiving. (at least, that is what happened the past 2 years)

AHHH !  Okay, I get it.  Didn't realize that.  I'll go check out the donation page.  Didn't realize it had been that long!

Thank you!  ;D

Ruth

Same thing happens if you donate to the military program (the little wings).  They disappear after a year, and as there's no military program right now, I can't get my wings back until they start one up again.  Pat

Yep, it's rather sad. I especially liked my little apple.

ETA: We'll have to see if we can get our wings back as well, if they start that program again.

Too bad the last round of the school donations were at a really bad time for me. But, I'm trying to keep at least a couple credits set aside for it this time. Hopefully I'll be donating far more than a couple, but it depends how many credits I have when they start it again. With college, I haven't had as much reading time lately.

I wrote to the PBS people about  the wings and apples disappearing.  I felt they should stay there indefinitely.  I was told they last a year which is ridiculous IMHO.  If you feel that way, maybe you could send them a PM about it.  Why remove them?  If you give to PBS, that stays, like the silver/gold coins and the diamond.  All donations should be like that.

I like the fact that mine phase out.  It reminds me it's time to donate again.

But there isn't a place to donate right now.

Priscilla > I think it makes sense for the icons to disappear. It encourages people to keep donating. I know I plan on donating the next chance I get so that I can keep my little icon. If I never had to worry about the icon disappearing one day, there is a very good likelyhood that I would only donate the one time and then forget to ever do it again. I'm perfectly happy with the icons disappearing because it is added incentive to donate.

It makes sense that the PBS one doesn't go away since it is a cumulative system.

The rest, meh, its their badge system, if they want them to expire its their call. Everything but the MoM and the PBS donations expire or go away if you don't continue to use them or participate in the programs.

Interesting. I have 2 apples " i guess I better look to make sure that they are still their" and had been back to the site to donate more credits, but it said there were no schools at the time that were taking books/credits?  Or something to that nature.  I donated to our beloved Tracey Mast who passed away and I would be crushed to see my apple's gone "and not know why" after all the fun times that she and I shared and talks on the phone until well after midnight. I would feel cheated in a manner of speaking I guess mainly because it was in the Loving Memory of a very very special friend that i loved and adored and miss more than words can say and it was her Mom's wishes to donate to that particular school and to the school of her choice was my main reason to donate all those credits just for her and in honor of her.. I am glad that this has been brought up as i would  wigg out not knowing why my friends apple that I got due to the school choice had come up MIA. Actually, her mom Linda had also talked about the school with me via email

In loving Memory of our special (((( Sexy Pineapple)))). For those of you who loved and adored her as I did "and I know there were many" or were just a friend or traded boxes with in swaps. I have kept her Guest Book going for another year if anyone wants to go back and sign it again.  I will keep it going in her Honor again next Nov. as well. I hope that the ILM will still be up when my apples go MIA so, that I can earn what I call them "her wings" back again.

Our Angel watches over us still to this day and forever more.

Personally, I'd like to see the icons stay permanently, but I "get it" that their disappearance helps remind people that it is time to donate again.  Only, I wish they wouldn't disappear at a time when it is IMPOSSIBLE to donate to that specific cause again...

I guess I'll send in Feedback about it, that's the only way the site administrators can hear about my opinions... they don't always read the forum discussions...

ETA:  I sent in Feedback.  My theory is that "the squeaky wheel gets the grease" and if enough members make their feelings known, the site admins may actually consider changing things.  My suggestion is that before the icons disappear, a member is given an option to "renew" and if they say yes and the program isn't re-opened yet, the icon stays until the program IS actually reopened.  THEN the icon can disappear, if a renewal isn't sent in...