Next generation

[Leslie Miller]

HL Octavia de Verdon said:

> I wholeheartedly agree that newcomers should be greeted and made to feel
> wanted.  Everyone needs to feel accepted.
> But some folks are better about speaking to strangers than others.  Contray
> to popular belief, I am very shy and feel uncomfortable around people I don't
> know.  While I work very hard at this "quirk", many times I just don't feel
> up to it.  Now if that makes me a BAD OLDTIMER well so be it.!  I'm willing
> to bet that there are many of us out there.  

Thank you, Octavia, for saying what I have been thinking throughout 
this discussion.  I have held many offices in my shire, but 
hospitaler is not one of them, and there's a reason for that.  I am 
*extremely* uncomfortable talking to strangers most of the time.  
It's not something that comes easily to me, and frankly, it's not 
something that I'm particularly good at.

I realize that this does not relieve me of my responsibility to be 
open and friendly to newcomers (and yes, I do think of it as a 
responsibility, particularly as an officer), and I do try.... but 
people should understand that some of us oldtimers may appear a bit 
distant and unfriendly not because we don't care, and not because 
we're really snooty and clique-ish, but rather because we're simply 
shy and uncomfortable around strangers.  That's not an excuse; just 
an explanation.

One thing my shire does occasionally is introduce everyone at 
populace meetings.  I don't know if this would be feasible for large 
groups, but it seems pretty effective in a smaller setting.  It gives 
newcomers a chance to introduce themselves in a formalized setting 
and announce that they are new, if they so desire.  (Sometimes I 
think newcomers are overlooked simply because people who attend 
meetings off and on may not realize that they *are* newcomers, 
especially if they show up in garb and look like they have a clue 
about what is going on.)  I don't know if I wouldn't find 
this a bit intimidating, personally, but it does give everyone their 
moment in the spotlight with an opportunity to learn names and faces.

HL Gunhilda