| Are We Really Welcoming Our New Members? |
| You’re at your monthly Chapter meeting and there happens to be a new couple attending. The Chapter Director welcomes them to the meeting, and everyone says hello. Then the meeting progresses as usual; and at the end, folks mingle with those Members who they’ve known for months or even years. After all, the meeting is only once a month, and it’s good to chat with our friends. The new couple, a little overwhelmed with all the new faces and information, approach a friendly-looking Member and ask a couple of questions. This Member is very accommodating and answers their questions but then walks away to chat and laugh with his old friends. Was this Member rude? No, not by any means. Did he assist the new Members with their questions? Yes, he did. Did he do everything within his ability to make the new Members feel welcome? Probably not.
We’ve all been the new kid on the block at one time or another; either at school, work, church, or other associations. We’re looking for friendly faces, someone who will take us under their wing and introduce us to their friends and show us the ropes. Fast forward to next month’s meeting. The new couple arrive and exchange a few hellos with their fellow Chapter Members. But their fellow Members are busy once again chatting with their old friends. Although they are polite in acknowledging the new couple, no one really engages them in conversation. Now, let’s fast forward to the next monthly meeting. Where is the new couple? They’re nowhere in sight. They have chosen not to return. We wonder why but just figure GWRRA was not for them.
Many people within GWRRA are very gregarious and outgoing, who need little or no encouragement to make themselves comfortable within a group. But, as we all know, there are others, who are more reticent and possibly shy, that may need a little more help in feeling like a part of the group. We are hearing more and more from ex-members that the reason they didn’t renew is they were never made to feel welcome and, even worse, that no one ever contacted them about rides or meetings. Some have said that it appeared the Chapter Members had established friendships, and they had no interest or desire in making new ones.
Maybe we could make an effort to be sure that each Chapter Member not only introduces himself to the new Members but spends a few moments chatting and getting to know them as well. Or, possibly a Chapter Buddy could be appointed to the new couple for the first few meetings.
Whatever we decide to do, let’s make it a point to be sure we, as Chapter Members, do all that we can to make our new Members feel welcome. After all, they took the first step by attending the meeting. Let’s take the next steps necessary to aid them in their quest for “Friends for Fun, Safety, and Knowledge.”
Melissa Eason
GWRRA Executive Director
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