RamVA
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Jun 2, 2000
- Messages
- 475
Last year after the September pin event there was some discussion about how daunting it was for "newbies" to manuever the trading aspect of the event; they didn't know anyone to ask for help, didn't know how to just jump into trading groups, were too shy to do so, etc.
I remember reading that a few people took their trading bags back to their rooms and never brought them out again during the remainder of the event there were so overwhelmed and intimidated.
At that time, and ever since then, I have had this idea
in the back of my mind of how we could help our fellow "freshman" pin traders, by having some sort of network of "pin-trading" ambassadors.
My thougts (pretty loose ones, I'll admit) are that those interested would volunteer to be identified in some manner (a badge of some kindJ) during the event, and be willing to help a newbie in any number of ways; answer questions, introduce them to people you know that are "safe" or "friendly" to trade with, maybe spend a certain amount of time as they start trading, help them with advice about trades that are proposed to them, make sure they know about pin meets that are held elsewhere (All Stars, Contemp, etc) and so on. The point is to help them, and to include them, so they don't all go home disappointed and think that we're all members of some private trading "clique" that they don't have access to.
Since I've never been much of an organizer, I'm not sure I would know everything that would need to be done logistics-wise to implement this, if even there is enough interest among my fellow traders to do this; I definitely don't know a way to inform these "newbies in need" that we "are there", other than to have a badge that very clearly identified who we are and what we do..........???????
So, I would really appreciate your comments,thoughts and feedback on this idea, whether it's organizational advice or that you would like to help by being a "newbie ambassador" (and we'll have to think of a name"), or if you think it's too large an idea to be feasible, or just plain stupid!
Thanks for your time, everybody!
I remember reading that a few people took their trading bags back to their rooms and never brought them out again during the remainder of the event there were so overwhelmed and intimidated.At that time, and ever since then, I have had this idea
in the back of my mind of how we could help our fellow "freshman" pin traders, by having some sort of network of "pin-trading" ambassadors. My thougts (pretty loose ones, I'll admit) are that those interested would volunteer to be identified in some manner (a badge of some kindJ) during the event, and be willing to help a newbie in any number of ways; answer questions, introduce them to people you know that are "safe" or "friendly" to trade with, maybe spend a certain amount of time as they start trading, help them with advice about trades that are proposed to them, make sure they know about pin meets that are held elsewhere (All Stars, Contemp, etc) and so on. The point is to help them, and to include them, so they don't all go home disappointed and think that we're all members of some private trading "clique" that they don't have access to. Since I've never been much of an organizer, I'm not sure I would know everything that would need to be done logistics-wise to implement this, if even there is enough interest among my fellow traders to do this; I definitely don't know a way to inform these "newbies in need" that we "are there", other than to have a badge that very clearly identified who we are and what we do..........???????
So, I would really appreciate your comments,thoughts and feedback on this idea, whether it's organizational advice or that you would like to help by being a "newbie ambassador" (and we'll have to think of a name"), or if you think it's too large an idea to be feasible, or just plain stupid!
Thanks for your time, everybody!
),) have done for me in the past 3 years--you all have traded wiith me when I had nothing to trade, taught me the ropes, given me advice about trades, and just generally taken me under your wing and shown me nothing but kindness and friendship. I am so excited about doing this; it's a way for me to promote all that positive pin karma that I've experienced from all of you. 
))
Maybe you could have tshirts made. They would be highly visible! 
