Ha ha! Matt Zapitello and I had this exact discussion several months ago at lunch. My answer’s the same: Everyone needs to be the newbie greeter. Now, just to be clear, I think that we kick ass as a grotto, and we have a lot of beginner trips and a lot of great opportunities that are presented at every meeting (Colorado Bend with Crash, various cool Peter Sprouse expeditions etc.). It’s the social component (welcoming, conversation, Posse talk, etc.) where I think we can be more mindful, and that involves everyone in a collective effort. ~~T
--- On Fri, 12/12/08, Terri Sprouse <posada...@yahoo.com> wrote: From: Terri Sprouse <posada...@yahoo.com> Subject: [Texascavers] Thomas - UT Grotto Newbie Herder To: "Cavers Texas" <texascavers@texascavers.com>, dreadfl...@yahoo.com List-Post: texascavers@texascavers.com Date: Friday, December 12, 2008, 8:30 PM Thomas, Sounds like you just volunteered to take over the role of Newbie Herder for the grotto. Should we vote on it at the next meeting? I agree, the reality is that the best way to get to know cavers is to go on a caving trip with them. I wonder how many people who come to the grotto meeting have not been on a caving trip. We need a point person for the UT Grotto to follow-up with our newbies to ensure that they GET ON A TRIP, even if its just locally to Whirlpool. That is really what opens the door, socially. After a series of training trips, most newbies either bond with other cavers, or they won't. It's up to them. Not that the rest of us won't have to make an effort too but, in addition, I think we could really use someone who is designated to follow-up - to absolutely make sure that the invitation (and possibly follow-up invitations) to go on trips is personally made to each of the newbies. Could that person be you, Thomas? --- On Fri, 12/12/08, Thomas Sitch <dreadfl...@yahoo.com> wrote: > > It was very hard to “break in” and feel welcome at the > UT Grotto. There were some people who went out of the way > to do so (such as Jean, or Aimee) and I will always feel > incredible gratitude to them for that. Now I know lots of > people and count many friends and it’s a good time, but I > see a lot of new people show up and sit largely excluded. > <snip> > > The tough stick it out, sure. Once people go on trips and > gain the trust of the Old Guard they, too, have a common > frame of reference. But we lose a lot of good people long > before that, and we lose the other good people that they > would refer to the world of the dedicated adventuring caver. > > My point here is that for the good of the caving community > we should do more to seek out and welcome new blood. If > everyone makes an effort – a conscious effort- to engage > new people, we’ll grow and be better for it as a > community. > > Best Regards, > > ~~Thomas > --------------------------------------------------------------------- Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com
