FAQs:
Have questions? Great, let's see if I can answer them! And if I can't, feel free to reach out at thebutterflyguild@gmail.com
About the Butterfly Guild:
1.) What is The Butterfly Guild?
The Butterfly Guild is a community built for chronically ill/disabled people to connect, create, advocate, and learn from each other. Whether you're looking for new friends, a guide to doing your own research on your medical conditions, a space to vent about that appointment gone wrong, or an opportunity to bring more joy into your life, the Guild has something for you! But I know that answer may be a little vague, so let me break it down even more.
The Guild offers:
- Free virtual monthly events
- Blog posts about chronic illness/disability featured on Substack
- A monthly mail club subscription focused on disabled joy and resistance
- Downloadable guides and worksheets for sale
- A free to join Discord community
2.) Who runs the Guild?
The Guild is run solely by Faye Perez, aka me. So hi! Nice to meet you! I'm queer, Latina, chronically ill and disabled, and gen-z. And man, I felt so alone when I first got sick. So, I wanted this create a space to share my knowledge and experiences while reminding you that you aren't alone. What experience you ask? Well, on top of my own personal experiences, I have a BA in sociology with a focus in disability studies. I've worked with the "Mother of Disability Rights" Judy Heumman, founded my university's disabled student advisory board, and formerly worked for both the University of Michigan and Planned Parenthood as a peer educator. Plus, I'm an author, content creator, and all around creative.
3.) How do I join?
Great question! There isn't one all encompassing membership that signals that you're part of the Guild. Whether you sign up for the newsletter, join the Discord, attend a "Craft and Chat" call, submit your pet to the Good News Gazette, or purchase a guide from the shop, you're part of the Guild! So, feel free to participate in the things that interest you and forget about the things that don't.
About the Good News Gazette/Mail Club
1.) What is the Good News Gazette?
The Good News Gazette Club is a mail club exclusive to The Butterfly Guild. Each month subscribers recieve a physical copy of "The Good News Gazette," an art print, low-moderate energy activities, a themed quote, a signed letter, and other surprise goodies! All of the content is focused on showcasing disability/chronic illness in a joyful way, highlighting talent within our community, and bringing joy to your mailbox.
The "Good News Gazette" itself is a magazine-like publication. It features an adorable pet of the month, good news from the guild's members, creative spotlights, an advice column, international news stories worth celebrating, journaling prompts, and more! Even if you aren't signed up for the mail club, you can still read the Gazette virtually each month by signing up for the Guild's newsletter!
2.) Can I be featured in the Good News Gazette?
Yes! The Guild is always looking for submissions for these sections:
- Pet of the Month
- Good News from the Guild
- Creative spotlights
- Ask the Guild
Anyone who self-identifies as chronically ill and/or disabled can submit to the Gazette at any time. Simply click on the "Submissions" tab under "Good News Gazette" and fill out the applicable form! Please be sure to read all of the rules on the form entirely.
3.) How does the mail club subscription work?
I'm glad you asked! Once you subscribe, you're subscribed forever-or until you decide to cancel your subscription. The price per month you see at the time you sign up is the price per month you'll pay forever. That means that even if the price increases for new members, you won't pay more! Then, once you're signed up, you just have to sit back and relax. Easy, right?
But let's chat logistics:
- All subscriptions must be purchased between the 1st-15th of the month. Subscriptions close on the 15th at 6pm CST.
- You will recieve a digital copy of the Good News Gazette automatically when you subscribe, and on the 1st every following month.
- Mail is sent out between the 20th-22nd of the month, so your physical copy and other goodies should arrive between the 3rd and 4th weeks each month.
4.) I don't see an option to purchase a subscription/the store listing is gone. What happened?
On the 15th of each month at 6pm CST, I unlist the Gazette from the store to pause subscriptions for that month. The listing will return on the 1st of every month and the next month can be purchased then. If you're already subscribed this will not impact your subscription and you will continue to recieve your mail.
This practice is because subscriptions are sent out the third week of the month and if you were to purchase a subscription after they were sent out, you'd be charged for a month you'd never recieve. Unfortunately, this platform does not allow for me to close the listing temporarily or offer a "pre-purchase" option, and all alternative web platforms I've found with these features do not align with my morals. If you missed this month's subscription and would like to join in the future, be sure to join the email list to be reminded when the listing opens again!
5.) My mail is missing/damaged/lost/stolen. Help!
I'm sorry to hear that! Unfortunately, there is always a small risk when mailing an item. In order to keep shipping costs low, mail is not tracked and I am therefore unable to locate any missing or lost mail. However, I'll always do my best to help you! Please contact me immediately at thebutterflyguild@gmail.com for assistance.
The Butterfly Guild is not responsible for missing, lost, stolen, or damaged mail after it is shipped. Refunds and/or replacements are given at the owner's discretion and are not guaranteed.
6.) How do I cancel my subscription?
Sorry to see you go! In order to cancel your subscription, head to your product download page and click on your payment details. From there, you should see a "Cancel my subscription" button.
If you do not cancel your subscription prior to being billed for the following month, you will still recieve that month's mail.
7.) How is the Gazette and all of the art created?
I create all of the materials including the "Good News Gazette," the art prints, the quote prints, the activities, and other surprises. I utilize Canva Pro to format and design the Gazette. Most included prints are collages of Canva Pro assets, commercial-use assets, and my own original assets that have been changed and arranged by myself. Artists may be comissioned on special occasions to produce an art print and will always be given full credit for their work. No AI is used in any part of the creation process and all of my Canva's AI powered features have been disabled.
However, I can't take credit for everything! Many parts of the Gazette are powered by member submissions. Those members retain ownership over any creative work they submit.
About the Shop
1.) How do I access my purchase?
A link to your digital downloads will be sent to the email on file. You will then be able to download your purchase onto your device. Be aware: You can only click on the link sent to you a maximum of 5 times, so be sure to download it so you can access it forever.
2.) Why do I have to type in a price when trying to purchase an item?
Many items in the shop are designed to be "pay-what-you-can" in order to be as affordable and accessible as possible, while still compensating for the time and labor it took to create them. The price listed on the item is the minimum price. If you are facing financial hardships and are unable to pay more than the minimum suggested price, that's fine, don't worry! However, if you're in a comfortable financial place, please do consider paying more than the minimum as it allows me to continue doing this work.
3.) Who created these materials and how?
I created them myself! I utilized my own experience, knowledge, and design skills to make all of the books and sheets available for purchase. No AI was used in the process.
4.) Can I get a refund?
I am unable to offer refunds for any purchased digital downloads. If there is an issue with your order, please reach out at thebutterflyguild@gmail.com