Leaders have control over some of these things and no control over others. We can only hope to lessen the impact. The First Impression With a little planning and effort. Leaders can make the newcomer feel welcome from the moment she walks in the door. It helps to have a sign outside the meeting location to assure the newcomer that she is in the right place.
Greeters can serve a number of useful purposes.
First having a greeter is a wonderful way of welcoming a new mother. The greeter lets her know where to sit, where the library and refreshments are, etc. The greeter can pass along this information to the Leader in charge of the meeting so the Leader has a better opportunity to address the needs of the new mother. Third, by getting to know the greeter a bit before the meeting, the new mother may be more likely to open up to others. The greeter may be able to introduce the new mother to another mother in a similar situation for mutual support.