How do I make someone who is different feel more welcome in an organization?
I, along with my daughters, belong to AMVETS Auxiliary, a support organization for Veterans composed of the female non-veteran relatives of the Veterans. The group is composed of older white ladies who do not warm up to others well. My daughters and I are the youngest members of the group. My daughters are 20 & 21, I am 47.
The lady that had visited our group was probably late 60's to early 70's and black. She told the President of the group that she found the group largely unwelcoming.
I see no difference in the color of people. My best friend has a black husband and mixed kids. My friend's kids call me their other mother and people often think her kids belong to me. My daughters have grown up with her kids. We have lived with my best friend on different occasions, and I feel fortunate to be blessed with these friends.
I am a rather shy person, and just said Hi to her, my daughters went up and had probably a three minute conversation with her.
She will be at a social event that we will be attending next month. How can my family make this lady feel our interest and friendship towards her?
We really want to try to make a good impression this time.