Suggestion regarding a Welcoming Committee

I would like to volunteer to set up a Welcome Committee . As posted in this thread

http://www.poems-and-quotes.com/discussion/topic.html?topic_id=130821
A member suggested it to curtail newbies from wrong placement of such "trivial" threads.
I will gladly head up a welcoming committee so that each new member immediately receive a PM.
This will be a daily task.

This is what I propose to say in the PM sent to each new member.

Hi, my name is Kay (Dixiedaisy) from the Welcome Wagon. I would like to welcome you on behalf of all the members here.

A few pointers for getting to know the site...
Please visit our Terms and Guidelines at this link

http://www.poems-and-quotes.com/terms.html

Also visit our Privacy Policy at this link

http://www.poems-and-quotes.com/privacy.html

Here are a few FAQ's at this link

http://www.poems-and-quotes.com/faq.html

Updated list of Site and Forum Rules

http://www.poems-and-quotes.com/discussion/topic.html?topic_id=130009

Also something you need to read is New User Guide and Moderator FAQ's

http://www.poems-and-quotes.com/discussion/topic.html?topic_id=90951

When you are finished reading the above links you can visit a few suggested ones below.

Link to Poetry Discussion

http://www.poems-and-quotes.com/discussion/

** In each venue of poetry discussion there are related tabs for poetry talk, community talk, non-poetry talk, and website talk.
You can meet the community members here

http://www.poems-and-quotes.com/discussion/list.html?topic_id=6

though most active regular members are found in our

Members Message Forum here
http://www.poems-and-quotes.com/discussion/list.html?topic_id=7

Please note it is the job of the Welcome Wagon to make sure you are happy, post your poems in the correct venue, post your questions, comments and concerns in the appropriate place. Any questions you can contact me or any member of the Welcome Wagon.

Anyone wishing to be a part of the Welcome Wagon please contact me via PM

I think this is a great idea, but I have a couple questions before I volunteer myself LOL

1. Poets only show up in the lists when they have posted a poem. How could we get those who are new but have not yet posted a poem? I suppose we could go by member ID#.... that could work?

2. How do you eliminate double PM's... say you have 5 people on the welcoming committee, how do you prevent three people sending the same people PMs?

Maybe it's common sense, LOL my brain isn't wrapping around that part, and to have multiple people do the same thing for the same person, the newbies might think we're nuts! haha

The Bob bit was a joke right? My sarcasm meter may be off but that's how I read it. Just want to be sure before jumping to conclusions :D

All in all I think this is a great idea and I think members will appreciate it.

Yes the Bob bit is a joke, he needs to lighten up. :)

Britt, I am not sure how it could work other than going to the new members list and sending out the pm. Not sure what you are talking about as far as the member ID is concerned.

I think it could be a great thing and perhaps broaden the quality of new members to the site.

Also another suggestion would be that like other sites that when writing a poem at the end of the poem if they would like in depth critique, light critique, praise only, or no comment at all would be helpful in determining what kind of praise each poet wants. Kind of killing two birds with one stone.

I thought the Bob bit was the only good part.

I jest...or do I?

How many new people do we get a week to justifiy a welcoming committee?

When I was doing activations, it was generally averaging 120 members a day. Of course I have no idea how many of those were spammers, but I'm willing to bet most of them weren't each day. I'd say probably 5 spammers a day.

We have received roughly 90 members just in the past week. Those are the ones that have posted poems already. I think if you haven't posted a poem your account doesn't show up. ( If I am not mistaken )

Besides one new member a week is enough justification if it enhances the site with the means we have. Seeing as admin can't/won't/hasn't implemented anything of the sort.

IMO it is too difficult for one to read/find all the different links with what they should read and what they should do first. The welcome letter is just a PM with all the information in it one would need. It would certainly need some additional information in it.

For crying out loud, Shank, why don't you just give it a rest? What is this penchant you have for bullying or embarrassing anyone you think you can? **

Now THAT is disrespect!

**Post has been edited by Sibyllene

Priceless ^

I like how you've taken this idea, Dixieday. Is there a good way we could ensure that each new member gets this message? We'd have to organize a team of people who would be willing to do this pretty often, and have a way of knowing who has already been "welcomed."

I would also be open to being on this team, if we can figure out the logistics.

-Sibyllene

I'd be on the team throughout the weekdays when I'm on the most :) I'm trying to think of a way we could figure out who has been welcomed. Maybe go by member ID and have a thread where the members just post who they sent through, like we did with the activations (Sib?).

Perhaps we could set up a universal Welcome Wagon account and have the info of who all has been welcomed set in draft or something on an email of the same name so that all the Welcome team knows where it left off.

Good idea, Britt.

I don't know if you'd even need a shared account... we could just have a running thread that everyone could access. That way, the new people would know a specific person they could ask questions of.

-Sibyllene

What are we talking about here? I'll be on the team if it means encouraging new members to be active. Sounds good.

Oh that's a great idea! I'm all for it, I remember going in circles round here when I first joined years ago. so it would be great to make the new members feel more welcome.

This is still going on? I'll be honest guys if this is serious about Bob, I've never seen him be rude to new members. The only time I've seen him 'bite' back is when he was provoked first.

While it was in jest at first if this was ANY other member you mods know you would have taken it down. Lets show the same respect to Bob here. Not but 2 weeks ago the shoe was on Janes foot. It got shut down IMMEDIATELY, new rules were enforced. Why is Bob any different?

Bob you can be impossible at times. I'm sure none of us meant any disrespect, neither me nor Kay. look at all the times you've called us airhead, wenches and whatnot. Lets say that just for those who don't know you, you can be rather a shock, so we will just let them know you're usually, er, controversial? that's all.

To be honest Amanda, I thought Bob enjoyed more humor than this. I bet Kay thought the same. at least he used to. I never knew him to call on the mods to shut everything down like this or address whatsoever. Not that Kay would ever disrespect him. so it's weird if you ask me. but if the shoe fits and that's what he wants. *shrugs*

EDIT:
------
Robert, you should stop reading things that aren't there. for all I know it's Kay's idea, Kay's thread and Kay's words. You should seize thinking everyone is on a plan or a mission to send disguised messages or disguised people your way. you were wrong about it before (when it came to me, if you recall) and for all I believe, you're wrong about it now. I honestly thinking you're stretching things a bit too much.

Kay and Bob from what I understand have never really seen eye to eye. At least from what I've seen on the main forums. So honestly I see where he's coming from. If it was someone who he was friends with then it'd 100% be taken as a jest and nothing more. But when someone who already doesn't see eye to eye with him says something like that is it really done in jest? You joke with friends, you can't really do that with people you dislike.

I guess the best way to explain this is if that was said about me by you or Bob I'd have a good laugh. If Jane said it I wouldn't be laughing. All in all was it really necessary to bring up Bob and no one else? Mention a few members at the very least. But just to mention him in the way it was worded, of course Bob will have something to say about it. Bob jokes with the best of them but with people he knows are going to take it as such. He's called me many names, but I know it's all been in fun. Here I can see where the line could be easily crossed or not depending on where you stand.

To me (if this was ever implemented into the 'welcome message') it would be considered 'bringing up the past'. An issue that was just recently dealt with. It's no different then saying "Watch out for x because of this." Let members formulate their own opinions, it's essentially labeling him. I know for a fact many on here wouldn't/ haven't liked being labeled in the past...

At the end of the day he personally has a problem with it. Members feelings should be respected as they have been in the past. If he has an issue with it the Mods should see that he didn't take it as a joke and perhaps ask that, that part be edited. It's only fair.. all things considered.

I assumed the part about Bob was just a joke for the thread, but that it wouldn't actually go into the message being sent out. I would request that the part be edited beforehand. Individuals can give their own hints and tips if they want, but statements pointing out a single member shouldn't be a part of the official first welcoming gesture of the site.

They don't? I don't know, Amanda. They go way back and I never got the impression they don't see eye to eye when we were all in RTVW. So no idea. but truth be said I've never known Kay to insult anyone.

I wouldn't call it bringing up the past either because one has to admit it happens daily that Bob picks on an issue or person, but I understand what you're saying. I don't think it would do good to add it in the welcome message either, I was teasing (although I myself did get warned years ago). I agree with you however that if a member sees parts addressed to them or about them as offensive they should be allowed to ask that part be edited.

Though I took the initial post to be in humor and not an attempt to purposefully upset or degrade anyone I did edit it in respect to rule numerical 1.

"They don't? I don't know, Amanda. They go way back and I never got the impression they don't see eye to eye when we were all in RTVW."

Then perhaps I'm speaking out of turn. If I am my apologies. I just don't normally see Bob get upset at a friends jest.

All in all in regards to the original idea. I think it's a great idea and I think all the new members will really appreciate it. Make them feel appreciated and welcome. I like how all of the links are given to important bits of info. Goodluck with that.

Well, both my post and Kay's were edited. Hope that makes him feel better.

I think it's an awesome idea as well. Kay if you need help or extra hands with this I am on vacation and willing to volunteer.

It WAS meant it jest, you're just to stuffy to realize a joke, and no we haven't met, just the same, if we have never been friends then why were you planning on coming to Georgia to meet me years ago? You have called me wench, and even talked to me on the phone etc We have all played and joked but surely you are the only one who can call if it is in jest or not your majesty, I apologize. How can I absolve myself your highness?

''and no Kay and I aren't friends, never have been. We've never met...''

Wow. This is about the meanest post I've ever read from you.

EDIT:
-------
You did say you'll go there and met Kay because your motorcycle club was supposed to be driving till there or something of that sort.

Thank you Norhan....
Exactly!

And you were supposed to cook to him, Kay, which is probably why I recall the whole incidence. Men have awful memories, never mind him.

Hahahahaha. Let it go, its done? Looks like you need to take your own advice. How do you know the intent? Is everyone out to get you, this whole site a conspiracy? Please.

Kay I am more than willing to participate in your welcoming idea. I'm going to brainstorm a bit and see what I can come up with too :)

Yes, he wanted liver and onions his favorite meal.

Excellent idea, Kay. I think new members will feel more at home when you actively welcome them.

Thanks Ingrid.

Britt, just let me know what you come up with, thanks.

"it was actually encouraged by another member so they could say something when i addressed it,"
^^^
In all seriousness Bob I really don't think Kay went through all that time and trouble to create a list and gather links and such just to be the "gopher" ... that would be insane not to mention silly when there are a tonne of other threads to address. Who would create that much work for themselves?

Consider this warning # one to drop the issue regarding Bob and Kay, jokes or otherwise.

It was not in good taste to post the jibe initially. That part has been edited. It serves no purpose to further analyze intent, friendship or the nuances of meaning arising from the issue.

You may send me the liver & onions, and I will judge their offensiveness.

These forums are a freaking joke.

^^
Ha ha ha, I will second that!

I bet we would make tons of money, if we turned this into a real life soap opera:0)

Me Big Chief and burn the welcome wagon, all you new squaws and braves come to Reservation. We will smokem Peace Pipe and get a Vision.

^^ I recommend the above be sent to all new members. None of this "links and rules" nonsense, nobody follows those anyway.

Or we can actually have another smokem Peace Pipe and get a vision wagon? just for the sake of variety, if not competition. something for everyone out there. Which reminds me, I should go find me one that offers chocolate and marshmallows.

These forums are a freaking joke.
^^
Since Ingrid seconded that I'll third it !!!!

Pffft *pops M&M in mouth and walks away for another 3 months*