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05/22/2019 08:23 AMThose interested in making Clinton a welcoming place for new residents may be interested in joining Clinton’s newly formed Clinton Welcoming Crew.
The seven-member committee was officially formed in February to help people who are new to Clinton find out what the town has to offer. Committee member Mari Lee said that the group tracks new arrivals to Clinton through publicly available information on any new registered voters or real-estate transactions from the town clerk. The group then sends the new residents letters welcoming them to Clinton.
The committee plans to host quarterly get togethers so that new residents can meet one another and become familiarized with the different things the town has to offer.
The committee held its first of such gatherings on May 9, which Lee said received about twice as many visitors than the group had hoped for. In addition to Lee, the committee members are Sarah Borgnis-Tobin, Jane Scully–Welch, Lynn Hidek, Nancy Stone, Jessica Robinson, and Dylan Walter.
Thanks in part to donations from local businesses, the committee is able to give gift bags to the newcomers. The bags include information on local businesses, nonprofits, upcoming events, and emergency resource information.
“We also like to encourage people to give back to civic groups,” Lee said, by sharing information on volunteer opportunities in town and upcoming functions. “We have a lot of great events in town where you can meet new people.”
Lee said that the committee could use more volunteers, whether they be someone interested in joining the committee itself or a business owner interested in getting involved.
“We are in our infancy, so anybody interested could send any info or volunteers would be great. It makes our town better the more people we have involved,” said Lee.
Interested parties can send an email to clintonwelcomingcrew@gmail.com.
“I think when more people feel like they’re part of a community they are more apt to get involved in making positive changes for growth,” Lee said.
Lee recalled the struggle she felt as part of living somewhere new when she arrived in Clinton 17 years ago.
“I moved here from Texas in 2002 and I had a hard time connecting with people, finding resources,” Lee said.
Lee said she had periodically approached different people to gage their interest in starting a welcoming committee similar to other communities, but nothing ever materialized. However, after a change in career left Lee with more free time, she revisited the idea with more success.
“I recruited a bunch of great women who are all involved in the town,” Lee said.
Lee said she spoke with First Selectmen Christine Goupil about the idea, and the idea was sanctioned by the Board of Selectmen at Feb. 13 meeting.