[Businessmtg] Business - Newcomers

[LindaLee H]

Hi Friends,
I've been thinking about this off and on since our last business meeting.  When the Greeters present a newcomer, I have never personally contacted them to welcome them to the meeting, my thought being that they are probably inundated with emails from others, doing exactly that.  I was very surprised to hear from people at the last meeting that was not the case when they came in.  There's my example that "assuming" is not a good practice.

I am not enthusiastic about yet one more committee.

Remembering how things were when I joined ASP a few years ago, the only thing I remember being confused about was all the information available if one only knew how or where to look for it.  I was already a long time member of Al-Anon, so I didn't come here with the confusion of a newcomer to the program, rather as a newcomer to technology, so I can't compare the experiences.

However, I clearly remember the welcome at face-to-face meetings when I was new, and seeing my face-to-face meetings still practice the warm welcome and special attention to newcomers warms my heart.  I was trying to think how that could work in ASP.  Alison's comments spoke to me in this regard.  I had been wondering if it would work to have a member, or couple of members, volunteer (perhaps a month at a time) to contact the newcomers one-to-one, taking them under their wing that first month - being their contact person for questions and answers.  It would be a "warmer" more personal contact than having more to read and digest.

And I'm always 100% in agreement with keeping things simple.
Hugs, Linda