I joined QG 6 months ago. The 2 members I know had “duties” so don’t sit. I discovered members are happy to have you sit with them when I asked permission, but when they saw other friends, they moved and let me sit alone. This happened two months before I found members that included me & now I look forward to it, but before I was tempted to quit. I believe I look “normal” and don’t have hygiene problems, it’s just that people can be rude and not even know it. I wasn’t brought up that way.

Good idea. I would not have thought of that.

Wow. I wasn't brought up that way either. When I joined this guild last year I knew no one at the first meeting. I had talked to one woman on the phone beforehand. Everyone was very welcoming.

I believe the way to get friends in a guild is to join a small group or bee. There are also possibilities in community sews. It is just easier to get comfortable with people when you are working together or visiting in small groups. At a guild meeting there isn't much social time - with the business meeting, show & tell, speaker - I consider the guild meetings more like going somewhere to hear a speaker. No excuse for anyone being rude though.

As far as new member assimilation goes, I think the best way is to invite the new person to participate in whatever charity work sessions that you have regularly. We put that info in the new member packet, plus make personal invitation. The new member may not want to work in that group forever, but there is time and opportunity to visit and get to know people.

Another effective thing to do is to introduce new members to other new members or members who have been there a few months. They will confide in each other and not feel stupid asking each other about things they don't understand or just heard, but have no clue about.

Great ideas. We don't regularly scheduled charity work sessions but maybe we can plan to have one on a Saturday within a week or two after the open house.