Forums / Q and A with Children International / Letter Codes (CW, CR, etc.)

Letter Codes (CW, CR, etc.)

10 posts
Missing user
June 14, 2015
I'm new to this so I haven't figured out what some of the codes mean on the stickers that CI puts on the letters.

The 3 welcome letters I received so far (from Daniela, Noris and Shaira) all have "CW" on them. I just got a scan of another letter from Daniela in my account with the code "CR". I'm guessing the R in "CR" stands for required or something like that, but since this is my first non-welcome letter, I don't know for sure. I recently wrote her a letter, which I'm not sure she received yet, because she didn't answer my questions or mention my name or the photos I sent her with my letter. Are there different codes for the letters all children are required to send their sponsors twice a year and the letters they write voluntarily - maybe as a response to a letter they received from their sponsors?

What are all the different codes that are used for the different types of letters? Can someone please explain them? Thanks in advance! :)
Missing user
June 14, 2015 in reply to Missing user
CW - Child Welcome (first letter), CR - Child Requirement (one of the 2 yearly letters), CP - Child Participation (a voluntary response to one of your letters)

Those are the only ones I know. I can't remember if there are different letters on the direct package or special needs gift letters.....
Missing user
June 14, 2015 in reply to Missing user
Thanks for the explanation! :)
debbies
June 15, 2015 in reply to Missing user
The codes can be confusing...and we have a great section in the FAQ on this site that explains the letters codes and more, check it out when you have a chance.  For now, I can tell you that: 

CW: Welcome letter
CR: Child Participation (required semi-annual letter)
CP:  Child Requirement (response to a sponsor letter)

I know it looks like CR & CP are backwards, but they're not...crazy, I know!  
Missing user
June 15, 2015 in reply to debbies
LOL So I've had them backwards all this time! Thanks for clearing that up!
Missing user
June 21, 2015 in reply to debbies
Thanks, debbies!

That is an extremely strange way of naming them. Let me see if I understand it correctly: The semi-annual required letters are marked "CR", and the voluntary letters are maked "CP". Those abbreviations seem to be correct, but then for some reason the R stands for "participation" and the P stands for "requirement". Could it be that the person who wrote the FAQ simply switched that part around accidentally?

And it should be:

CW: Welcome letter 
CR: Child Requirement (required semi-annual letter) 
CP: Child Participation (response to a sponsor letter) 

... with the middle parts switched?
grandpaNicky
June 22, 2015
Oh geez, my head is hurting.
APINK1
June 22, 2015 in reply to grandpaNicky
take care of yourself.  I hope you feel better soon
debbies
June 22, 2015 in reply to Missing user
Poor nickystye, please don't start the week with a MSC headache!  

Here's a little more insight:  We've had CR (semi-annual letters) since the beginning of time (or at least the 24 years I've been here, which sometimes seems like the beginning of time - lol). The were named CR because the children/families must agree to write two "Requirement" letters to "Participate" in our program.   

We've only had CW (Welcome letters) for about 5 years and naming them CW was easy, because they are "Welcome" letters.

CP's (response to a sponsor letter) started about 7ish years ago when we began asking the children/families to respond to a sponsor letters once every 90-days. Since CR was already in use, the letters that REQUIRE a response are marked as CP on the label. 

I know it seems confusing, but it all makes sense to us. 

Just a tasty tidbit:  Sponsor letters that don't require a response are marked NR on the label.  
Missing user
June 22, 2015 in reply to debbies
Thanks for the clarification! As long as it makes sense to the CI staff, I'm all good. :P

It's funny how it ended up the way it is. I'll just remember that R stands for the semi-annual letters and that way I think I'll manage to keep them straight. 
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