A guest post by Susanna Davison

Because of the recent influx of new residents, the KRA-sponsored Welcome Committee has scheduled two New Resident Coffees: A successful one was held October 6 and the next one will happen from 9:30-11:30 am on Tuesday, December 13.  (Interpersonal sparks struck during these events will ideally lead to future, more leisurely, dinner table meetings.)

Committee chairperson Margaret Lutley has invited six households to come to the Main Dining Room at 9 am on December 13 to settle in at tables marked with their names.  Each table has a centerpiece of a yellow rose—a tradition inaugurated by Sally Worth in 1973—which the honored residents are invited to take home. They will also leave with sign-in sheets, autographed by the residents who sat down to greet them during the event.

Led by committee chairperson Margaret Lutley, a dozen volunteer Greeters will provide traffic control and replenish the buffet of coffee, tea, fruit and pastries during the morning. 

Pairs of Greeters are assigned in advance to be in touch with each newcomer, preferably by phone or email, before their move-in date.  Working with the Admissions Department’s Move-in Coordinator, a Greeter shows up on Move-in day.  Volunteers identify themselves as “go-to” resources for questions, deliver a folder containing useful information and arrange to join the newcomer(s) at a mutually convenient meal in the Dining Room.  Nearby neighbors also become auxiliary greeters, sometimes alerted by friends who learn from official Welcome Committee Greeters when the moving day has been set.

After a settling in period, another KRA Committee on Orientation invites newcomers to tour the campus and meet in small groups to discuss “how Kendal works.” Mary Alice James and Susan Snyder coordinate the Orientation Committee.  Both committees would welcome new volunteers among residents who would like to promote the goal of getting to know each other in the post-pandemic era.