Welcome Home

SUZANNE MEYER, FAR LEFT ON THE BACK ROW, FOUNDED THE WELCOME COMMITTEE IN 1998.

BY JEAN SPANGLER PHOTOGRAPHY BY LISA CRATES

Longtime committee helps newcomers settle into their new homes

Suzanne Meyer, the founder of The Welcome Committee, can be described as a high-energy people person. It shows in her face and in her enthusiasm for helping people feel welcomed in a new town or city.

“Research indicates that moving is considered to be the third most stressful experience after death and divorce,” says Meyer. “I found it to be extremely helpful when someone welcomed me to the community almost 30 years ago.”

Meyer, a native of Long Island, is a mother of three adult children. Soon after moving to the Lake Norman area in the 1990s, Meyer went to work for Welcome Wagon where she enjoyed meeting new people and putting her degree in mass communications from Boston University to use. When Welcome Wagon sold their name and switched formats to direct mail, Meyer incorporated to continue the face-toface business model of connecting newcomers with local businesses.

It was through the encouragement of sponsors that allowed Meyer to found The Welcome Committee in 1998 serving Huntersville, Cornelius, Davidson, Mooresville, Denver, Stanley and Iron Station. Today, Meyer, along with 10 Welcome Committee “Greeters,” call on newcomers to the area with a beautiful basket of gifts including valuable coupons from local businesses and service providers. Newcomers also receive specialty products, along with physician directories, restaurant menus, special offers from sponsors such as hospitals, medical practices, hair salons, veterinarians, auto dealerships to name just a few.

“Newcomers really appreciate receiving community information and special offers from our sponsors who wish them a warm and genuine welcome. It also saves newcomers a significant amount of time by having everything in one neat package.”

The welcome basket also contains state and local maps, information on area sites and attraction, a N.C. Travel Guide, N.C. Wine Guide and much more. “It’s so much fun to represent and promote our beautiful state’s tourism attractions as well,” says Meyer. “After they settle into their new home, they can’t wait to start exploring what their new community and state have to offer!”

To learn more about The Welcome Committee visit www. thewelcomecommittee.net.