Document:

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                                                                   Exhibit 10.36

[Synapse Group logo]                                         Synapse Group, Inc.
                                                            Five High Ridge Park
                                                         Stamford, CT 06905-1325

                                                                    203/595-8250
                                                               Fax: 203/329-8194

February 8, 2000

Doug Alpuche
12 Manger Circle
Pelham Manor, NY 10803

Dear Doug:

It gives me great pleasure to offer you the position of Executive Vice
President, Chief Financial Officer at Synapse Group, Inc. ("Synapse") and to
welcome you to our organization. I look forward to having you join our dynamic
and dedicated work team.

This letter sets forth the terms and conditions that will be incorporated into
the Employment Agreement you will enter with Synapse as promptly as practicable
after your start date. The terms and conditions of your employment are as
follows:

 .    Your effective employment date is to be determined, but may not be later
     than 3/1/00.

 .    Your will be paid an annual salary of $200,000 paid in accordance with the
     Synapse payroll policy.  (Listed in the Employee Handbook and currently
     paid 2 times a month.)

 .    In addition, you will have an annual bonus incentive opportunity of
     $100,000 (prorated to 11/12ths in 2000) based on the 2000 VP & EVP Bonus
     Plan.

 .    You will be given 100,000 stock options at a strike price of $8, that vest
     over 4 years with 1/4 vesting 1/1/01, 1/4 vesting 1/1/02, 1/4 vesting
     1/1/03 and 1/4 vesting 1/1/04. In each of 2001 and 2002, an additional
     50,000 options (the "Additional Options") will be granted to you (total of
     100,000 future options) as long as your performance is considered
     satisfactory by the CEO. The strike price for the Additional Options will
     be determined at the time of the grant, but in no event shall the strike
     price exceed the fair market value of the stock on the grant date. The
     Additional Options shall vest 12,500 per year beginning on the first
     anniversary of the grant date and continuing to vest 12,500 per year on
     each anniversary date thereafter until the Additional Options are fully
     vested.

 .    In the event of termination of your employment other than for "Cause" (as
     defined below), (a) on or prior to January 1, 2001, you will immediately
     vest in 50,000 of the options with respect to which you would have vested
     on 1/1/01 and 1/1/02 and, if the aggregate value above the exercise price
     of such options plus any additional options with respect to which you may
     have vested is less than $100,000, you shall receive in cash the difference
     between such aggregate value and $100,000 and (b) after January 1, 2001,
     you will immediately vest in 100,000 of the options with respect to which
     you would have vested on 1/1/01, 1/1/02, 1/1/03 and 1/1/04 and if the
     aggregate value above the exercise price of such options plus any
     additional options with respect to which you may have vested is less than
     $200,000, you shall receive in cash the difference between such aggregate
     value and $200,000 (for this purpose, "aggregate value" shall mean the fair
     market value of the Synapse stock that is subject to your vested option
     rights). This provision shall not deprive you of the benefits of any
     additional vesting of your options should the Board of Directors elect to
     take such action in connection with a change in control. As used herein
     "Cause" shall mean a material breach of your employment agreement with
     Synapse or misconduct involving misappropriation or dishonesty or criminal
     conduct; or failure to perform the reasonable and customary duties of a CFO
     as assigned to you by the Board of Directors, President and CEO or other
     officers senior to you.
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 .    In 2000, you will receive 10 paid days off in your Time Bank to be used in
     accordance with the Synapse Time Bank program outlined in the Employee
     Handbook. You are eligible to take time off after three months of
     employment. If you leave the company before three months of employment,
     your accrued vacation and any pay for those days will be forfeited. In
     2001, you will receive 17 days in your Time Bank.

 .    You are entitled to holidays according to Synapse policy (there are 9 in
     2000, see Employee Handbook for schedule).

 .    You may elect medical and dental coverage; eligibility begins on the first
     day of the month following the completion of the 30 day waiting period.
     Employee coverage is offered to you at no charge. A small premium
     contribution is required for dependent coverage, see the Employee Handbook
     for contribution schedule.

 .    You may join the Synapse 401(k) Plan; eligibility begins after three (3)
     months of employment. You will be eligible for Profit Sharing in accordance
     with this plan as described in the Employee Handbook.

Enclosed are copies of various forms which should be completed prior to your
orientation on your first day. Please send back the completed tax forms, life
insurance enrollment card, and the Buddy Program Questionnaire to the attention
of Tracy Sharkey as soon as possible so we can match you up with an appropriate
buddy and process your tax forms for payroll purposes. Tracy will review our
benefits package in its entirety with you during your orientation at 9:00 a.m.

Doug, if you have any additional questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to
call me.

Please sign below indicating your acceptance of this Employment Agreement.

Welcome!

Sincerely,

/s/ Michael Loeb
Michael Loeb
Chief Executive Officer

I agree to the terms of this Employment Agreement with Synapse Group, Inc.

/s/ Douglas Alpuche                                 2/17/00
------------------------                            --------------------------
Signature                                           Date

                                       2<PAGE>

                                                                   Exhibit 10.37

                         SUBORDINATED PROMISSORY NOTE

$1,000,000.00                                                       STAMFORD, CT
                                                        25/TH/ DAY OF MARCH 1998

     FOR VALUE RECEIVED, NewSub Services, Inc., a Connecticut corporation (the
"Borrower"), hereby promises, subject to the subordination provisions set forth
below, to pay to the order of Michael Loeb (the "Subordinated Lender") at his
office located at #4 High Ridge Road, (or at such other place as the
Subordinated Lender may designate) in lawful money of the United States of
America, in immediately available funds, the principal amount of One Million
DOLLARS ($1,000,000.00) and to pay interest from the date hereof on the unpaid
principal amount hereof, in like money, at said office at the rate per annum one
percent (1%) above the Base Rate (as defined in the Credit Agreement referred to
below). Interest shall accrue and be added to the principal amount due hereunder
monthly on the last Business Day of each month, commencing on March 31, 1998,
until the entire principal amount of this Note and all accrued interest
hereunder shall be paid in full.

     Reference is made to the Credit Agreement dated as of March 5, 1998 (as
amended, supplemented or modified from time, the "Credit Agreement"; capitalized
terms not otherwise defined herein having the meanings given to such terms in
the Credit Agreement) among the Borrower, the Lenders parties thereto,
NationsBank, National Association, as Agent, and General Electric Capital
Corporation, as Documentation Agent.

     This Note and the indebtedness evidenced hereby is subordinate and subject
in right of payment, to the extent and in the manner hereinafter set forth, to
the prior payment in full of all obligations of the Borrower now or hereafter
existing under or in respect of (a) the Loan Documents, whether for principal,
interest, fees, commissions, expenses or otherwise and (b) any and all
amendments, modifications, extensions, refinancings, renewals and refundings of
the obligations referred to in clause (a) of this paragraph (all such
obligations under clauses (a) and (b) of this paragraph being, collectively, the
"Senior Indebtedness"). For the purposes of the provisions hereof, the Senior
Indebtedness shall not be deemed to have been paid in full until the latest of
(i) the date of payment in full in cash of all of the outstanding Loans and all
interest accrued thereon, all fees and expenses then due and payable in
connection therewith and all other Senior Indebtedness then due and payable,
(ii) the termination, expiration or cancellation of all Letters of Credit and
(iii) the Facility Termination Date.

     So long as the Senior Indebtedness shall not have been paid in full or
deemed paid in full, the Subordinated Lender shall not, without the written
consent of the Required Lenders (a) ask, demand, sue for, take or receive from
the Borrower, directly or indirectly, in cash or other property or by setoff or
in any manner (including, without limitation, from or by way of collateral),
payment of all or any of the indebtedness evidenced by this Note (the
<PAGE>

"Subordinated Indebtedness"), including any payment of principal or interest
hereunder, (b) commence, or join with any creditor in commencing, or directly or
indirectly cause the Borrower to Commence, or assist the Borrower in commencing,
any Bankruptcy Proceeding (as defined in the next paragraph) or (c) challenge
the validity or priority of any lien or security interest granted by the
Borrower or its Subsidiaries to the Agent or the Lenders.

     Until such time as the Senior Indebtedness has been paid in full, if any
bankruptcy, insolvency, arrangement, reorganization, receivership, relief or
other similar case or proceeding under any federal or state bankruptcy or
similar law or upon an assignment for the benefit of creditors or any other
marshaling of the assets and liabilities of the Borrower or otherwise (a
"Bankruptcy Proceeding") is commenced by or against the Borrower.

                 1.    the Agent is irrevocably authorized and empowered (in its
                    own name or in the name of the Subordinated Lender or
                    otherwise), but shall have no obligation, to demand, sue
                    for, collect and receive every payment or distribution in
                    respect of the indebtedness evidenced hereby and give
                    acquittance therefor, and to file claims and proofs of claim
                    and take such other action (including, without limitation,
                    voting the indebtedness evidenced hereby) as it may deem
                    necessary or advisable for the exercise or enforcement of
                    any of the rights or interests of the Agent and the Lenders
                    hereunder; and

                 2.    the Subordinated Lender shall duly and promptly take such
                    action as the Agent may request (i) to collect the
                    Indebtedness evidenced hereby for the account of the Agent,
                    for the ratable benefit of the Lenders, and to file
                    appropriate claims or proofs of claim in respect of the
                    indebtedness evidenced hereby, (ii) to execute and deliver
                    to the Agent such powers of attorney, assignments or other
                    instruments as the Agent may request in order to enable the
                    Agent to enforce any and all claims with respect to the
                    indebtedness evidenced hereby, and (iii) to collect and
                    receive any and all payments or distributions that may be
                    payable or deliverable upon or with respect to the
                    indebtedness evidenced hereby.

     All payments or distributions upon or with respect to the indebtedness
evidenced hereby that are received by the Subordinated Lender contrary to the
provisions of this Note shall be received in trust for the benefit of the Agent,
for the ratable benefit of the Lenders, shall be segregated from other property
or funds held by the Subordinated Lender and shall be forthwith paid over or
delivered directly to the Agent in the same form as so received (with any
necessary endorsement) to be applied (in the case of cash) to, or held as
collateral (in the case of noncash property or securities) for, the payment or
prepayment of the Senior Indebtedness in accordance with the terms of the Loan
Documents.
<PAGE>

     Subject to the subordination provisions set forth above, this Note shall
become immediately due and payable on demand, without presentation, protest or
notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower.

     This note may not be sold, assigned, conveyed, pledged or otherwise
encumbered or hypothecated by the Subordinated Lender without the prior written
consent of the Required Lenders.

     In the event this Note is not paid when due, the Borrower agrees to pay, in
addition to the principal and interest, all costs of collection, including
reasonable attorneys' fees, and interest thereon at a rate two percent (2%)
above the rate set forth above.

     Interest hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a 365 day year for the
actual number of days elapsed.

     Protest, notice of protest, notice of dishonor, diligence or any other
formality are hereby waived by all parties bound hereon.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Borrower has caused this Note to be made, executed
and delivered by its duly authorized representative as of the date and year
first above written, all pursuant to authority duly granted.

                                 NEWSUB SERVICES, INC.
WITNESS:

-------------------------           By: /s/ Robert D. Bock
                                       ------------------------------
-------------------------           Name:   Robert D. Bock
                                         ----------------------------
                                    Title:  Secy.
                                          ---------------------------

[CORPORATE SEAL]

THE PROVISIONS OF PARAGRAPHS 3, 4, 5, 6 AND 8 HEREOF
ARE ACKNOWLEDGED AND AGREED BY THE UNDERSIGNED
THIS 9th DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 1998, WHICH AGREEMENT IS
FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE AGENT AND THE LENDERS.

 /s/ Michael Loeb
-------------------------------
Michael Loeb

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