I think the 'new member' flag disappears after a set number of posts.

It's both a number of posts and a time. The badge shows for people who joined within the past 2 weeks and have posted less than 11 times.

Would it be possible to have a badge to say something like "Members first post" even if it comes much later?

greene and I were thinking the same thing about members who don't get caught up in the conversations or stay inactive for a long period of time. I was curious about the percentage of active members myself. But, I understand now what everyone is saying now about members who choose not to post. There are all "kinds" of members And I guess in some cases, sad to say, some members become ill or pass away and we never even know it.

I tried to get some of my family and friends to join ATP, but I guess they didn't since I didn't get any messages relating to it. I hope others had better luck than I did.

I asked somebody, a vegetable grower, who was coming to my house for dinner next week, to join ATP and I wonder whether she joined because she was afraid I would spike her food if she didn't...

Talk about paranoid??? So, what did you spike it with?

I think new members sometimes join and ask questions or lurk and then they may get busy, or change schedules or run across other websites. Some just check it out for a while but may not have a real reason to stay, that's not to say there were not welcomed or wanted.

I also think that there probably are many who sign up and then dwaddle on and as a result of that, when a new member posts a question it is easy to ignore it -tempting to not put the time or effort into helping them with their issue, because afterall they will probably move on...
We should be careful to not just 'welcome' them, but to actually include them even if it means going out of our way.

I always assume that even if a new member asks a question, but doesn't come back to see the answer, it may still help someone else later on. Every little bit and all that.

I welcomed new members and answered their questions on the Amaryllis forum and then never heard from them again.

Don't feel bad, I'll rush right over and absorb it all. Thanks in advance.

When I was new I got the standard 'welcome' message and that was nice (the same member who welcomed me is keeping an eye on me and gives me lots of thumbs!). But it was other folks, most especially @Sharon who really made me feel welcomed; who encouraged me to find my voice and become an active participant here at ATP.

Just a thought. Hosting some kind of event with acorn rewards may give other new members, those who joined during the membership drive, the feeling that they, too, are a part of our family. Maybe the older/more established members could contribute the acorns so that everyone can be involved.

Lurking is fine. I only 'watch' 6 forums here on ATP; I admit I am a lurker on several more .

Yeah, to me, Sharon is real special that way. Mentor material...

Sharon is real special. Period.

Greene called me over and now I'm wordless. Wow. Thank you all.

Some people just have the knack for making people feel welcome and knowing just what to say. Sharon, you deserve an award for that!

Besides, she's cute.

That too!

Get over it girls or you're gonna end up in the Sandbox.

Aw, Dave wouldn't do that for us only giving you your just due.

Thank you, I do appreciate all of it.