Blew the Intro

Hubby and I actually took two Evening College courses this semester. Besides wine class we had “Personal Power Tools: How to Work a Room.” It was three hours on a wintry Saturday and covered basic manners and do’s and don’ts for working a room.

We had our first chance to put it into action at a reception for the new library foundation director this week. Former Governor Blanchard and his family held a party at the country club to introduce her to the community in her new position. The last time I was in a country club I was about 8. A little friend’s father was a doctor and they belonged to the country club in Harrisonburg, the town in Virginia I grew up in. I had a hamburger and french fries with a cloth napkin. I was blown away by the fanciness.

This time there was a general invitation for library staff and a specific invitation from some colleagues to attend with them. We arrived on time – no fashionably late for us. Governor Blanchard and his wife formed a receiving line at the entrance to the room and I offered my and and said, “Snakelady and Hubby,” and he returned the greeting with his own name and that of his wife (very good thing, I didn’t know his wife’s name). The new foundation director stepped in and told them we were from the library. So, I blew the intro. My 3 seconds of fame with Governor Blanchard and I forgot the basics of telling him where I’m from. The guest list was large and there were over 200 people there so there was no way he was going to remember my name from the RSVP list.

I did remember some other basics – keep your hands free (so, don’t eat). Keep loose business cards handy in your pocket so you don’t have to fumble for them in your purse. Not that that was necessary. The judges there didn’t need my business card. It really was something of a high brow affair. Dress appropriately (no one could see the big hole in my sock). Don’t keep anyone too long and make a point of introducing yourself to multiple people. Mainly we stuck with our own peeps. It was just easier and more comfortable that way. There was something of a dividing line, albeit a very friendly one for the evening, between the governor’s peeps and the library staff. Hopefully the new foundation director will be able to pull in the largesse of this group of people for the benefit of the library.