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From Janet Daly, Production Editor:

Hello, Tripod Readers. I've been on staff for one month, which means I'm no longer the new kid. Actually, Randy's arrival on May 20 made me a seasoned Tripod veteran after a full two weeks.

Sometimes it's easy to forget just how much you can learn in a short period of time -- a month, for example -- but when you move to a new town and start a new job, you remember. Quickly. Taking a cue from the grand prize winner of Tripod's Work & Money Smart Quotes Contest, I'd like to share with you the short list of what I learned from small town life and Tripod in this first month.

1. General kindness abounds in most small communities, particularly when you establish non-tourist status. There are a variety of ways you can do this, and not just in small places. For example, whenever dealing with folks giving me the "yuppie" snarl back in my native Boston, I'd revert to the dialect and accent of my suburban Boston youth. At Tripod, you can learn about our member community by plugging in to a list of resources they provide to all of us via their pages. No snarling or accent required.

2. Whenever possible, make arrangements and agreements in person. Make eye contact and smile. Let folks know you're new in town, and they're likely to give you a welcome, along with tips on getting around. At Tripod, our members can introduce themselves through Member Profiles, and share solutions to our Homepage Dilemma.

3. Always say kind things in public, because it's a small community.

4. Support the local economy. In Williamstown, that means patronizing the small family owned businesses and participating in a community agriculture project called Caretakers Farm. Members of the community contribute funds, share in the financial sustenance of this organic business, then reap rewards in the form of nearly year-round shares of the harvest. You can support Tripod's local economy by purchasing a Tripod T-Shirt. We make a modest profit; you receive clothing that is always in style, and shows your commitment to our community.

5. Never say nasty things in public, because it's a small community.

6. It's easy to get absorbed into a new workplace and forget about the world outside. Don't. Instead, make a daily break for the outdoors (Tripod Members tell you how in the latest Living Survey). Or, plan a longer hike -- Tripod's Hiking Handbook can get you started.

7. Oh, and make sure you bring cookies for your office mates: for me, that means oatmeal chocolate chip cookies for Mags and Tung.

Above all, embrace your second month. It's easy to do when the winter is over, new flowers open each morning, and you've got great readers.

Send me your typos, your grammatical errors, your broken links, and I will fix them.

A domani,

Janet Daly, Production Editor (6/7/96)

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Read more "Letters from Tripod" in the archive.

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