Since I started my tenure as Moderator of the South Park Booster Club, I have, in addition to receiving letters about South Park – have gotten many e-mails from Booster Club Members praising me for my work, asking me for my picture – and calling me everything from their “Mod With The Bod” to a celebrity. From the first time I received a compliment like this to the most recent – I still can’t believe it. I have always been very thankful that the members of the Booster Club feel this way about me and appreciate what I do, I just never realized how they felt until certain recent events have given me a much clearer indication then ever before that they like me – they really like me.

One recent event that made me realized how much the Digesters liked me was ever since the E-Lections, which gave South Park viewers the opportunity to vote on-line for their favorite episode – the Digesters have formed Factions, or groups of members who share an affection for a the same character. There’s the “I Squeak For Tweek Faction”, the “I Flip For Craig Faction”, “Ze Mole Underground”, and dozens of other Factions dedicated to a particular character of South Park containing members that share the same affection for a certain character. Well recently, one of the Digesters named Harold asked me if they could form the “Paul Wein Faction”. He said that for all of the hard work that I do, I deserve to have a Faction full of those who appreciate the effort I put into the Digest. Since he started the “Paul Wein Faction”, another member named Wendi offered to co-lead it – and so far, at least 30 members have joined – and more are joining every day. I have always blushed when anyone would include me in the same sentence as someone from South Park because its still hard for me to grasp the fact that I work for my favorite TV show, but to have a group of people I never met form a sort of fan club about me is something I never believed it would ever happen to me. In my wildest dreams I never thought that I would do something that would bring me enough recognition to have fans – I guess I was wrong – thanks Harold and Wendi!!

Another recent event that has made me realize how much the South Park Booster Club members appreciate me was the recent requests for my picture. As someone who “talks” to people on-line every day – I have always been fascinated by the fact that we can interact with people we never met or have never even seen. But some of the Digesters have, over time, asked for my photo so they can see what their Moderator looks like. This random picture request has now turned into me sending photos of myself out to people all over the world at least once a day. Again, this shocks me because growing up, I couldn’t get people to even look at me – now – people all over the world are asking me for my photo.

Even more amazing and unbelievable are the letters I get from the female members of the Booster Club. Some tell me that they heard that I am cute, so they want to see for themselves, some call me their “Mod with the awesome bod” – and some tell me that they have my picture on their wall. As unrealistic as this may sound – it’s true – and I find it hard to believe myself, but then another letter comes in with the same request. The funny thing is that these types of letters never swell my head, they only amaze me more and make me realize that I must be doing something right. As for being the “Mod with the awesome bod” – apparently the ladies who call me that haven’t seen my stomach lately.

Of all the ways that the members of the South Park Booster Club have shown me their appreciation – it has been the personal gifts and letters that have touched me the most. An e-mail is one thing – but to sit down and write me a personal note thanking me for what I love to do anyway is more of a paycheck then this job could ever pay me even if they tripled my salary. The nicest gift I ever received was a 24x36 framed poster of a scene from South Park from a fan named Pig in Australia. But whether it’s a poster or just a note to say thanks – getting “fan mail” from the Booster Club members is the best part of the job.

So while my job as Moderator of the South Park Booster Club is to bring its members a daily dose of South Park – it is them who have brought me so much more. They have brought me the joy of never opening my e-mail box without getting a note of thanks, they have provided me with a feeling that I am someone they regard very highly – and most importantly – they have made me realize that what I do for them is enjoyed and appreciated by so many. And that they not only like what I do – but they like me as well.

And the feeling is more then mutual.