[CR]A special request, especially when dealing with new members

(Example: Racing:Roger de Vlaeminck)

From: Tom Sanders <tesanders@comcast.net>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Date: Thu, 12 Jun 2008 11:34:31 -0400
Thread-Index: AcjMoc7RW1VhQoGRRKCkW5dDcP3/1w==
Subject: [CR]A special request, especially when dealing with new members

Of late I have witnessed a few times when folks, nearly always new members, asked about things that have been discussed before. They have been greeted, at least a couple of times with a rather brusque "Look in the Archives". While the person responding may have been correct in pointing this out, I'd like to request that when counseling such things, especially to new members, that it be done in a manner that does not make them feel rejected by some sort of established Elite. We are at our best as a community when we are inclusive and at our worst when we are exclusive. Some of these folks who were less than cognizant of the Archives and their usefulness probably went away with hurt feelings.

Might I suggest a more gentle approach, perhaps even a pleasant note off line?

It is my thought that we should be very welcoming. Both for new members and for families joining in our activities. I was so glad to see Dale recently step up to someone making disparaging and untrue remarks about some attending Cirque. This group gets new members who enjoy our company or we die soon when all us old curmudgeons pass on. I thought the young folks and the new folks at Cirque the best news I had seen in some time for us. I thoroughly enjoyed them.

Tom Sanders

Lansing, Mi USA