[HANASHIR:6215] Welcoming Newcomers

[Roslyn Schwartz <rs4...>]

Another suggestion to help address the problem of welcoming newcomers:

Have volunteers from returning people act as mentors, one on one, for
each of the newcomers.  The role of the mentor is to greet the newcomer,
sit with them for the first meal or two, show them around camp, talk
about what the program is like, what they can expect, answer their
questions, introduce them to others, etc. etc. etc.  Very informal and
unstructured.  

Only a small amount of organization would be required for this.
1.  A call for volunteers as mentors
2.  A sheet, distributed to both mentors and newcomers, outlining the
role of the mentor, along the lines of what I have written above
3.  A "preferences" sheet, for both newcomers & mentors to complete,
enquiring about any particular preferences as to age, gender, geographic
location, etc. of the match.  (My prediction is that for most people,
this would make absolutely no difference at all, but that a few people
might feel much more comfortable with a particular age group or gender
at first, and that these preferences should be accomodated).
4.  A matching sheet, distributed _ahead_ of the program if at all
possible - so that newcomers / mentors can communicate in advance if
they wish.


Very simple yet immensely powerful.

- Ros


P.S. My sister phoned as I was composing this e-mail.  Her comment was: 
Besser iz nit keyn sof - There's no end to better.

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