Originally Posted by jgriinke
Give guilds a chance. I am currently president of our guild, for the second time. I do ask if there are any visitors or new members present at every business meeting. I may expand that to have that new person tell us about themselves.
I try to talk to the new person after the meeting is over, but they have usually dissapeared by the time I am done with my duties.
Give it more than just one meeting to try. I do feel that we try to make any new person welcome, but that person needs to make an effort also. We are all there because of our love of quilting. Most quilters are caring and generous people, give us a chance. ;-)
I'm not sure if you were replying to me but in my personal experience I gave it nearly a year. In fact I stepped up to be secretary when no one else would take the position.
I think from Junior High/Middle school on girls/women, in my experience, can be cliquish...whether it be a guild, a church group....we feel comfortable with established friendships and forget at times to be warm and welcoming to someone new. It's not that we aren't friendly we can without being even aware seem to be cliquish.
I'm guilty of this too in that seeing someone new I should step out of my comfort zone and say hello and welcome. This discussion has given me food for thought...in re evaluating my actions when I attend gatherings, especially should it be in a group of women.