Not a Meme - a question for you

I figure there's a lot of different folks with a lot if different experiences who might be reading this. So. A question for you, brought to you by a late-night conversation with my husband.

If you had a new, smart & vivacious person join your orgainsation/group and they asked you "How can I gain the respect & trust of this group?" What advice would you give them? Beyond, "Try to help", what, specifically, do you think makes the difference between those who shine and make an impact and those who get sidelined or discouraged?

YAY!

My doctor's nurse just called... X-rays do NOT show any signs of arthritis. It means that there is something else causing my knee pain& weakness, but whatever it is, it is not a life-long debilitating thing. (Or shouldn't be, with proper rest, exercise, and care).

I like that! Given my age and my weight, I was not expecting that at all and had been braced for the worst.