Post by drazzl on Oct 6, 2014 7:23:55 GMT
We all know that what makes our guild special is Community. But what does that mean? It's not just the friendships we develop here. It is our ability to welcome new people and make them our friends that sets us apart from other guilds. It is too easy for a community to become closed off to others, content with those already members. To counter this, we make the concerted effort to reach out to our initiates with the goal of helping them become members and one day veterans. We continually re-create our Community. That is what the Buddy System is all about, it is the name of our outreach program for our initiates.
We can't reach everyone, there's too many of them and not all respond when we try. Our only option is to focus our efforts where they will do the most good. Each month we'll put out a new and updated list of initiates we've seen promise in, those who have shown an inclination or desire to get involved or respond to our initial efforts. We'll try to include their interests and some basic info that we've garnered to give you something to work with when you approach them.
In the past we've looked for volunteers to help us with this program, and while they've met with some great successes, it also burnt out those who devoted themselves. We don't want to see that happen because it's not fair to those so willing to give, but it's also impractical because there's always new members incoming we want to reach. We've tinkered with this program for a year now, and each time we find it works better the more open-ended we leave it.
If you're still reading this, you probably didn't volunteer for this program and we know that. We've included all guild members of rank veteran automatically into the group that can see this forum, it remains hidden to others. Some people with the member rank may still be here if they've volunteered.
We don't want any herculean efforts on anyone's part or to enforce some obligation to do stuff. We ask that you be aware of the guild's most promising prospective members and if an opportunity arises to reach out, to please take it. We think that if the effort is shared around by more people with little acts, we'll get more done then by a handful of people going out of their way. This outreach may be inviting them to events that may interest them, asking them along on things you're already doing, or even something as simple as saying hi and asking how they are.
We can't reach everyone, there's too many of them and not all respond when we try. Our only option is to focus our efforts where they will do the most good. Each month we'll put out a new and updated list of initiates we've seen promise in, those who have shown an inclination or desire to get involved or respond to our initial efforts. We'll try to include their interests and some basic info that we've garnered to give you something to work with when you approach them.
In the past we've looked for volunteers to help us with this program, and while they've met with some great successes, it also burnt out those who devoted themselves. We don't want to see that happen because it's not fair to those so willing to give, but it's also impractical because there's always new members incoming we want to reach. We've tinkered with this program for a year now, and each time we find it works better the more open-ended we leave it.
If you're still reading this, you probably didn't volunteer for this program and we know that. We've included all guild members of rank veteran automatically into the group that can see this forum, it remains hidden to others. Some people with the member rank may still be here if they've volunteered.
We don't want any herculean efforts on anyone's part or to enforce some obligation to do stuff. We ask that you be aware of the guild's most promising prospective members and if an opportunity arises to reach out, to please take it. We think that if the effort is shared around by more people with little acts, we'll get more done then by a handful of people going out of their way. This outreach may be inviting them to events that may interest them, asking them along on things you're already doing, or even something as simple as saying hi and asking how they are.