<html xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" = xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" = xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"> <head> <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; = charset=us-ascii"> <meta name=ProgId content=Word.Document> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 10"> <meta name=Originator content="Microsoft Word 10"> <link rel=File-List href="cid:filelist.xml@01C611F7.C7624BA0">  <style>  </style>  </head> <body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple = style='tab-interval:.5in'> <div class=Section1> Jeanni</fo= nt> wrote:<o:p></o:p> It might take a while of attending meetings before people will = respond to your needs.  The members may not jump up and come to your rescue = just because you showed up. Give them a chance to see how serious you are = about learning, to get to know you and appreciate you as a person.  I've = seen it happen time after time..... after this = "getting to know you" period, someone may just step forward and take you = under his/her wing.  PTG is a great resource, but like anything else, = it's up to you to make most of the effort to learn.  = <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Jeanni</fo= nt> had some excellent things to say but I wanted to comment on = this. It is always difficult to “break in” to any kind of group, = particularly one that is exclusive and closed. Add to the mix someone inexperienced = in the craft who is suffering perceived intimidation = from the other expert attenders and it is especially difficult. I had been in the business almost 20 years before I joined my = “local” chapter (80 miles local) so I was not inexperienced in the craft but I = still felt intimidated and like an outsider. Not that the others in the = chapter are snobbish, far from it. It is just the nature of things. = <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> It would behoove all of us involved = in local chapters to take steps to minimize this breaking in period. It has = to be intentional; it won’t happen automatically. Name badges are a very = good first step. They are cheap and they work. It is hard to develop any kind = of friendly relationship when every time you see someone you are = embarrassed because you can’t remember their name. A photo directory would = also be good. <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> And then old timers have to go out = of their comfort zone to make newcomers feel friendly and welcome. This = involves conversation, guys. That’s the thing we see women doing with each = other when we see their lips moving. ;-)  There were 2 or 3 regulars in my chapter that did this for me, = and it works. <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <div> Dean<o:p></o:p></fon= t> Dean May       &nbs= p;     cell 812.239.3359<o:p></o:p> PianoRebuilders.co= m   = 812.235.5272<o:p></o:p> Terre Haute = IN  = 47802<o:p></o:p> </div> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> </div> </body> </html>