I think it would be good to have a 'WELCOME' area of the forum that new members are automatically directed to....where they go first to 'introduce' and tell a little about themselves.....and there the 'welcoming committee' could greet them, answer any questions they may have about navigating the forum and such. If there was a 'WELCOME' area, newbies posts wouldn't get lost in the 'General Discussion'....
just an idea....