AWC Welcome Committee

One of the things we do very well at the AWC is interact, create dialogue, and earnestly seek to help one another and anyone who joins.

An area that I have observed opportunity for us to do this better is with our new visitors. We have had several visitors who either A) don't find a space to ask questions or interact and B) when they do, find absent a community to respond: often due to inexperience or off topic questions or a lull in the activity on a specific day.

To address this, I think identifying several regulars to bring into a "welcome committee" (name pending) could be a big add. These folks would do what they normally do: interact, give insight, coach- with one additional account: when they see an orphaned post from a new member- take ownership to address it, like they might a new client: heightened care, heightened tact, and a warm welcome to the community. It is possible (and likely) that they wouldn't be the expert or have personal experience around every post from a new member, then their role would be to suggest someone who might have that experience (generate engagement) or help refine the question or topic (ie: "we aren't as focused on X, but if you are curious about Y, you would likely get more insight").

I don't expect this to prevent the regular rotation of folks popping in and popping out of the server, but it might help to create some engagement for new members and help build confidence for new members to engage.

If we executed on this, I would know it was successful if: we had more, regular engagement from new faces and new names. Success doesn't require them to stay engaged, just to be- for a time- more engaged.

I am open to other ideas for addressing this opportunity, or tangential opportunities.