Getting back to the original subject suggested by greene, I'm still inclined to agree that some sort of "new members only" event would be nice, since there was this recent push to encourage new members. I'd suggest putting the "join" date back a bit before the new drive, so as not to make other recently joined members feel left out, but still gear it towards new members. A chance to get their feet wet and to see just how much fun this site can be.

I think that maybe like the new football play offs, now with four teams no. 5 and no. 6 feel left out.

Right, Seedfork.

Even without the drive, we have days when a larger website like redit or lifehackers feature ATP, and we get a flood of signups in one day. It's not at all unusual.
With the exception of one day during the "drive", the other days had a fairly normal number of new signups. Slightly higher for winter (which was the point), but still an average number.

I appreciate the sentiment, but it doesn't seem "fair". All members are special, no matter which week they sign up.

When I tell my local friends about ATP, they kind of look at me like I have three heads. None of them are true gardeners, can't understand why I'd spend so much time on such a "dumb" thing. That's part of why I like ATP so much- I have friends here with whom I share interests. Getting to "know" someone a little, sharing their personal trials and tribulations, is part of that.

Don't diss the sandbox. I live there.

Karen

Would love some type of print out, like something along the size of a business card or slightly bigger. That way I can hand them to folks I run into at nurseries or garden tours.

Great idea, Sue!

I made one at some point in the past and will see if I can find it.

I would certainly print out some and hand them out!

Here ya go! I also added a link to it from the Goodies area.

http://garden.org/special/prom...

Cool, thanks Dave, just printed them out! Will see if I have some blank card stock too.

Maybe DIY seed packets too some day, I miss those, they were handy.

@Calif_Sue someone did recently post a link for a seed pack template. I'll see if I can find it.

The thread "Template for making seed envelopes and labels" in Seeds forum

Here you go Sue

Regarding new members: I clearly recall my first experience with posting on a web site (DG, which I joined in 2006.) Even though I'm a people person and a talker, I found it very different and a bit overwhelming to chat freely and ask questions on some of the forums on that site. Many members were quite friendly and helpful but I found a few who made it clear that they didn't like to hear the same questions being asked over and over again by numerous newbies. I also got the opinion there were little "cliques" on some of the forums and that outsiders were not welcome. It is so very different here on All Things Plants where I've never, ever noticed that trait on any of the forums I've visited, whether it's one that I frequent regularly or one that I might only post a question on occasion ... everyone has always been kind and helpful.

I'm on the welcoming committee here on ATP and I try to respond to each and every new member tree-mail. I want to be as helpful as possible because I know if someone is made to feel welcome they will more than likely stick around. We need to help new members feel comfortable and let them know they shouldn't hesitate to ask questions on any thread and I tell them to feel free to contact me if I can be of further assistance with anything or answer questions they might have.

Oh, I like the idea of those ATP cards! I'll have to look around the office and see if I still have any card stock paper but meantime I've printed a sheet on regular paper! Wouldn't it be nice if every nursery and garden center included one with purchase!

I've been here for a long time and agree w/ most of your observations but have noted what I consider a 'cliques' type forum. Another member was also 'put off' by what said member perceived as a 'cliques' type mentality based on certain forum participators.
So, I don't think we're perfect, just that we're nearest to perfect as we can get..

I must say based on my web travels, this site has much less of that 'cliques' feeling than any I have been on.Maybe I just elbowed my way in and did not notice, my wife says I do that. But that is one of the main reasons I felt so welcomed here, of course I don't visit nearly all of the forums.

[quote="Seedfork"]I must say based on my web travels, this site has much less of that 'cliques' feeling than any I have been on.
I do agree w/ Seedfork's observation.

Those ATP cards are a great idea !!

I'd really like to see the thing that says "new member" by a person's screen name stay for a week or so regardless of how many posts they make... I encountered one today that mentioned she was new to ATP but it wasn't there; when I looked at her profile she had just joined 2 days ago.

I really feel terrible because from Thanksgiving to Christmas, I was pretty much Missing in Action on ATP due to that is the time when we are open to sell Christmas Trees, etc. I apologize for being so tardy with my welcomes, but I have only been posting on one or two threads just to say Hi and relax with friends a few days during that time and more in the past few weeks. I have however had my own membership drive going on with my internet stores as well as my plants I sell on the farm. I have over the years been sending out info sheets with joining ATP mentioned in them. I send one information sheet along in all my boxes with the plant orders with instructions on it and the last paragraph reads:

"If you have any questions about this or any other plants, you may want to visit AllThingsPlants.com and visit their forums. Great Information and nice people to talk with about plants, gardening and many other subjects. Have Fun!"

I also have another sheet that goes into my customers living in the MidAtlantic suggesting they not only join ATP but they also check out the MidATlantic forums. I suggest if any of you do any selling and shipping you may want to add ATP to your information inserts.

If you decide on one piece for everyone to use, I would be happy to download it and use it in my shipping. The more the name gets out the better. Count me in and give me a yell if you want some additional help. I am sorry, I did not even know there was a membership drive until a few days ago. I guess I had my head in the sandbox and no where else. Bad me.

Don't feel too bad, I was the same way. Just so many other things to do and gardening takes a back seat during this time period. Maybe Spring would be a better time for a new member drive, I missed the entire thing, but it may be spring generates enough traffic on its own, far more than we could do with any drive.