Date: Sat, 27 Mar 2004 14:08:09 -0500 (EST)
From: "Keith F. Lynch" <kfl at KeithLynch.net>
To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at KeithLynch.net>
Subject: [WSFA] Re: New people and old-timers
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at keithlynch.net>

Sam Lubell <samlubell at verizon.net> wrote:

> Keith, I'm confused by this list.  When you say 2 in 1984, do you
> mean two new people joined in 84 or that two new people who joined
> in 84 are still around today?

I mean that of the 85 people who have attended at least three meetings
in the past two and a quarter years (i.e. since the beginning of 2002),
two were first mentioned in the WSFA Journal in 1984.  Specifically,
Erica Ginter and Meridel Newton.  (Meridel was born that year.)

(Actually, Erica was first listed in the January '85 issue, but in the
"Additions & Corrections" to the "1984 WSFA Xmas List," so I gave her
credit for 1984.)

Please tell me how I could have phrased it more clearly.

> So yes, what we should try to figure out what we did in 2001 and
> 2002 that brought in so many new members, ...

I'd love to take credit for it, with the web page and the emailed
directions.  But I think that spike is an illusion, i.e. that we
would see a similar spike for 1991 and 1992 if we looked at those who
attended three or more meetings in 1992 and 1993.  Unfortunately,
nobody took attendance in 1992 or 1993, so we'll never know.

Anyhow, it wasn't just 2001 and 2002.  We got more in 2003 than in
2002, and, adjusting for this year being only 1/4th over, it looks
like 2004 will be a record year.  That is, if you ignore the
likelihood that many of each year's people will drift away.  Some
in a year, some in two years, some in five.

> but I don't think there are two different populations in WSFA other
> than active and nonactive.

I agree.

> As for being nominated for president, I'd be honored to serve.

You show up to almost every meeting, you've done lots of work, you
know how things are done, you have a reasonably loud voice, and nobody
else has expressed any interest in running, so you're the trustees'
candidate for president, unless the other two trustees object.