What activities to organise for annual dinner and how to do a gift exchange?

We had an auction last year and as for the gift exchange we had something call secret santa whereby the receiver of the gift do not know who is the gift from.Kindly help me out suggesting something different from last year. Thank you so much.What activities to organise for annual dinner and how to do a gift exchange?Just please DO NOT do that gift exchange when people have numbers and you can pick from either a wrapped gift under the tree or take a gift from a coworker. I've had soo many jobs do that. All it does it make people feel insecure when their gift isn't traded 5 times. Or people get pissed when they open a great gift early b/c they aren't going to get it in the end. In a group of 20, only one person goes home happy. Everyone else wishes they had those 2 hours back.



Plus I've had it happen once where we got to pick 3 different numbers so that everyone would have two chances to steal a gift. Problem was that several of us ended up with low numbers and went home with no gift at all. Yeah. That sucked.



Also don't make things unisex. Most gifts appeal to either a man or a woman.



If you are going to allow gag gifts, make that the rule. All gifts must be under $15 and must be humorous. Or make a no gag gift rule. Between $10 and $20 and no gag gifts at all.



I like Secret Santa as long as you know each other. I hate buying gifts for people I don't know at all and have never met. Especially if the person in charge doesn't help at all. If you are going to run a secret santa, have every participant fill out a survey. The survey can change to different things. If you had any job, what would be your ideal job? What do you need for this job? This can allow a person to describe how they enjoy gardening, camping, or knitting. Include Things You have enough of (please no more bath products), favorite scent, favorite restaurant, favorite store. That way people can at least make an effort to Santa something they would like.



We did a 2 round Secret Santa. You pick a name. Go get the survey and get them a gift. Then check off the question that you got (for example--check off Favorite Scent). Put survey back. Then draw names and do it again. That also gives you the opportunity to regift that 1st round gift.



My sister's company did a Christmas ornament exchange. It was great b/c no one had expectations. Everyone just got a simple ornament and hung it on the tree. Make sure you do not have non-Christians in the office when starting this tradition.



I think the best idea is a gift card exchange. Everyone bring a $20 gift card to different places. Then you can pick a new card or switch with someone else. You can only be stolen from twice. Everyone gets a gift card. Everyone will be happy with getting to pick something out at Best Buy, PetSmart, Target, etc.