Thanks Steve!!

You were actually the very first club member with whom I'd interacted at my first convention. I still remember how welcome you made me feel at an otherwise overwhelming initial CC>CC convention and appreciate the kind words. I really hope that my comments are taken in the spirit by which they are meant. I do know that there are many friendly people in the club. I just wanted to point out that, being a newcomer to the club, it is sometimes difficult to insert one's self into an already established group. I don't doubt that many of the people you mention are friendly and "easy to approach". But, as I mentioned earlier, that does place the burden on the new member to seek acceptance to the club rather than the club itself finding ways to welcome new members.
Some people, myself included, are somewhat intimidated by the close network of chip collecting friends and find it awkward to just jump into a group conversation or approach a club member with whom I've had no prior contact. I would like to see more outreach from the existing club members to those newcomers as a tool for inclusion. Maybe an announcement at the convention of those new members who are in attendance (easily identified by the registration record), calling them up to a visible place on the showroom floor and welcoming them as a group? That way, all new members are properly introduced and then those members who are more outgoing can identify or approach them at the convention? Or a "New Member Luncheon/Dinner/Social Hour" where existing members mingle with new members to ease the transition of meeting new friends? I just think there are ways to break through the perceived barrier of inclusiveness that don't always rely on the new member to do the heavy lifting.
I agree the mentoring program is a great idea and maybe that is something I need to explore. I'm not trying to remove all responsibility from a new member to create new friends but I do think that the club could do more to reach out to new members who may not want to play blackjack or poker. The Splashbar may be something similar to what I'm describing but, to one who visits the ChipBoard, that too seems like an inclusive club.
As you stated in your post, "Sometimes all it takes is cracking that door open just a little." It's worth noting that the door swings both ways. If a new member (or someone contemplating becoming a new member) is not willing to go through the door, the club should have some visible processes in place to crack that door and guide that person inside. It benefits the club by having more members, it creates a more friendly atmosphere for those people who aren't already long-time members and, most importantly, it shows that the "The Club" IS the members. Recent posts on this board (from both sides) seem to forget that fact. People bash "The Club" and people defend "The Club", treating it like an entity instead of the community for which it is supposed to be. I'd like to be a MEMBER of the club and not just a registration number. New members will be the future of this club and, as such, have great value. By addressing that value, the club increases its own value. I fear that by missing this opportunity to cultivate and grow the new member base, the club seals its own doom. If it is unwilling to explore new ways to reach out to new members, it only reinforces the belief that it is an inclusive club that doesn't want to grow or change.

Just my two cents. Again, I always appreciate your willingness to discuss these things. In my eyes, you've always been one of the club members who embodies what I want the club to be instead of what the club frequently appears to be from these message board posts.

Thanks again,
Scott