Thanks to all who completed the 2007 Membership Survey. This feedback has given us a lot of great ideas, and has identified many areas that we will improve right away. I will be huddling with the programmers next week, and hope to get all changes implemented well before the Christmas Holidays. I expect improved Instant messaging and chat, Video and Audio messaging, a Video Gallery and improved graphics and photos. Stay tuned.

I read each and every survey and was familiar with the contents of each and each persons name. So to choose the two winners in an impartially, I enlisted the assistance of my 10 year old. I stacked all of the surveys into two piles, one for men and one for women. Then asked my son to close his eyes and stab the each pile with his pen. Thus the winners !!! I hope their luck in this contest carries forward to good luck in finding their perfect matches.  
 
Elle has won 6 months Silver Membership. 

Click here to view her profile. http://www.heartofasiaonline.com/view_profile.php?flag=1&member_id=20869
 
cdawg has won 6 months Silver Membership. 

Click here to view his profile.
http://www.heartofasiaonline.com/view_profile.php?flag=1&member_id=12322
 

What NOT to Say in Your First Emails  (Part 1)

After you have spent the time working on your online descriptions of yourself and of the kind of person you are looking for, be prepared to receive a number of hits that appeal different aspects of your profile. Take some time to familiarize yourself with each person who seems to be of interest to you and narrow down the list to just a few good prospects. After all, once your relationships move into email phase, having too many people to keep up with can get overwhelming. Therefore, it could be helpful to make a primary and secondary list. Use the primary list of interesting profile to begin an email relationship with and save the secondary list for a backup in case the primaries don’t work out.

 Initiating an email relationship usually happens when two people have seen the profile of the other, have decided to pursue the relationship further and begin communicating on their own via emails. Although you have already made your first impression through your online dating profile, it is still important to maintain a certain level social distance from the person you are just starting a relationship with.

 Remember, even if you are trying to be funny or coy in your initial emails, your sentiments can be misunderstood. Emails and online communications are notorious for not being the best facilitators of true meaning, so certain jokes and comments that you intend one way, may be taken in a completely different manner. Until you are able to gain a real sense of confidence in the relationship, there are certain things you should NOT say in your first, introductory emails.

 Too Much, Too Soon

 The very first email communications in an online relationship should be kept very light hearted. The “atmosphere” should be clear of any demands, intentions or plans. Even if the person you are communicating with seems perfect, like everything you’ve ever wished for, keep those thoughts to yourself for a while, possibly a long while.

 Talking about marriage, babies, the “future” or even meeting up someday is too much, too soon for the initial emails in a new relationship. Don’t be impatient with the process. You may find yourself having to hold back your eager anticipation, but if you do, you’ll be better off in the long run when the person you didn’t bowl over with the crazy-talk sticks around for the chat you’ve been waiting for so long to have.