After working out a basic plan and running it by Kiss, I have the OK to get an IC Welcoming Committee started. The Welcoming Committee will basically go around greeting new characters, answering questions, and helping them to get settled in. They'll also invite characters to the upcoming Block Party log that will go up after applications close.

Anyone can join. Social characters, anti-social characters, business owners, lazy bums, trolls... As long as they go out and greet new people, they're gold. 
 

The welcoming committee will also invite everyone to and set up a block party that will take place the day after applications close. I'd like to give it a full 24 hours to allow revisions and such to get sent in first. This will be an open log for everyone. That means, this time, the log will be posted 8 September after applications close.

At the party, business owners and organization/club leaders are welcomed and invited to have booths advertising for new members/employees. This will help new characters get situated into the game by finding IC jobs/clubs/etc and creating new CR opportunities for them.

Since the block party is, you know, outside, characters are obviously free to leave the party and check out the rest of Holly Heights. Maybe, after they make some friends at the party, they decide to check out the Shopping Gate to get new clothes or go to the Alumni Gate to see their new school.

Here is an example of how the log would be set up initially for now.

Check it out guys, the log will also have it's own tag at shadygates ! There's nothing there right now but for future reference, it will be &welcome log!
 

Join the welcoming committee! If you have a character that loves making friends or sharing information, this might appeal to you! Or, hey! If you have an anti-social character that you're struggling to get out there, this would be a good opportunity to get the to meet new characters too.

I need you to comment to this post just so that I know what I'm working with.

I have an IC post here trying to get initial interest started for both a committee and a party. You don't have to comment join-- you can always assume your character heard through word of mouth or a flyer.

If you won't be joining the committee then please look out for our block party log on the 8th! I'll be giving the link to Kiss to post on the mod plurk when it goes up!

Also, for those of you with plurk, please replurk this to get the word out.

If anyone has any suggestions for everything, let me know, please. I know this isn't a 100% perfect situation but it's the best I could get together for now. This is more like a trial run to see if we can get this to work and how it will go.