Welcoming new members...we should remember to wear name tags

At a meeting this week, we learned that of the 399 active members of Queen City Yacht Club, something like 160 of them have joined in the last four or five years. The Benson's are doing a great job, and after the economy emerged from the Great Recession (and we offered some attractive incentives) many people took the opportunity to join Queen City.

Because we tend to socialize in specific sub-groups within the club, it might appear to incoming new members that it's difficult to "break in" and make friends at QCYC. That's not accurate, but we need to make a conscious effort to be more inclusive of new members- and that can start with calling them by name. I will be the first to admit being absolutely *lousy* with names. Out of the 160 newer members I probably wouldn't even recognize at least half of them, and I wouldn't be able to call more than a couple of dozen by name.

Whose fault is that? Well, part of it is mine. I never bother to wear my name tag. If new members get the impression that most of the longer term members aren't wearing name tags, they might not bother to wear theirs, either. It can be hard enough for me to remember the name of somebody who is a long established member if I only see them 2 or 3 times a year, and it's harder yet to learn the names of new members when a dozen join at a general meeting and then some of that dozen are only rarely seen again.

I'm going to try to remember to wear my name tag. I would encourage others to consider doing the same.

New members, please 1) come to events and meetings  and   2) wear your name tag as a means for fostering introductions and conversation.