How about name tags for everyone attending monthly Seattle WOS meetings?
There is nothing more frustrating when someone knows you, and you feel you
should know them but can't remember or put a name with the face. There are
also many of you who I wish I could recognize but even asking around, "who
is...?" or "do you know...?" and no one does, is frustrating. There was
wonderful turnout for Dennis Paulson's program on Argentina last night, ~130
by my best estimate, yet so many faces were namelessly familiar and a lot
more that were not.

I am encouraged to post this because in mentioning this last night to several
people, they themselves echoed my sentiments. For one who can only attend a
fraction of the monthly meetings and even less frequently, annual
conventions, these are the only times I ever see most of you folks, hardly
often enough to get to know most of you.

I must admit that I have had several false starts over my 15 years here,
often retreating with feelings that the organization was a bit cliquish. I
believe now that that is not so much the case, rather that we in the PNW are
just a bit shy when it comes to contact with others. A solution certainly
seems simple enough. Seattle Audubon (SAS) provides those stick-on name tags
one fills out at the door. East Lake Washington Audubon (ELWAS) goes a step
further. Someone computer generated name tags which are handsome, and are
arranged alphabetically on a board at the entrance door. You simply take
your name tag when you enter, then return it upon departure (if you, unlike
me, can remember to do that).

It would also be nice to get to know the faces that are behind many of the
postings here on *tweeters*. On the other hand, perhaps some of us would
prefer NOT to be known in real life :)

The venue at the UW Horticultural Center is certainly much more accomodating
for a large crowd over the space limitations at the Burke, although even last
night's turnout stretched that facility to a degree. It was heartening to
see so many of you lingering around for a bit of socializing after the
program. I hope this trend will continue. With the 7:30 start, even a social
period commencing a half-hour before would be pleasant, which actually
happened, if not by design, just in the fact that the evening commuter
traffic was lighter than expected. Thanks to those who provided the
refreshments.

If there are others who share these feelings, please reflect them here, or
even send a post to our wonderful President, Michael Carmody
<legacy at halcyon.com>, and this seemingly simple solution can be brought
before the board if necessary.

Richard Rowlett <pagodroma at aol.com>
Bellevue, WA, USA