"Manners are a sensitive awareness to the feelings of others.
If you have that awareness, it doesn't matter what fork you use."

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Lizzie Post and Daniel Post Senning have launched their new Awesome Etiquette podcast!

In their podcast, the two cover etiquette in their lives, delve into historical and traditional aspects of etiquette and salute individuals and organizations who are shining examples of good etiquette. Tune in to hear what they've got to say!
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ASK PEGGY
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Read more of Peggy's advice each month in Good Housekeeping.  
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THE WELL MANNERED WEDDING ARCHIVE
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Read Peggy Post's thoughts on today's most nuanced wedding dilemmas in the archive of her New York Times column.
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THE DINNER PARTY DOWNLOAD 
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Lizzie Post and Daniel Post
Senning are monthly guests on
The Dinner Party Download
a weekly culture and arts show hosted by Rico Gagliano and Brendan Newnam, and produced
by American Public Media.
You can listen to the whole
show, or scroll down to pick and choose segments.

To see previous episodes, check out The Dinner Party Download.
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ETIQUETTE AT WORK
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Read Peter Post's blog
The Job Doc Blog.

Encouraging an atmosphere of consideration and respect, the result is a positive, civil work place where the focus is on getting the job done.



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Digital Manners no Dan head

Problem with a co-worker?
Greetings!

 

Happy New Year! January always brings with it renewed energy and excitement to start the year out fresh. Did you make an etiquette New Year's resolution? Here are some quick ideas for ways to incorporate etiquette into your fresh start for 2016: Commit to hosting dinner with friends once a month to improve your hosting skills. Decide to make the magic words a priority in your everyday vocabulary. Keep your political discussions civil. Improve your sense of gratitude by sending a thank-you note to one person each week (remember they don't have to be for gifts, thank-you notes can be written for favors, or just because you're grateful to have a friend in your life).

Regardless of how you choose to kick off 2016 we hope this month's newsletter inspires your fresh start. Our newsletter is now all about you, so don't be shy. If you have an etiquette question to propose for us for next month's newsletter, or if you have any thoughts or comments for us please, write to us at newsletter@emilypost.com and include the word "Question" in the subject box. We look forward to hearing from you!

 

 
 2016 TRAIN THE TRAINER PROGRAMS    
Early-Bird Discount Deadline for April Programs is January 25, 2016
 
 
We offer three training programs - Business, Children's & Wedding - in beautiful Burlington, Vermont, for individuals interested in starting their own etiquette business or being the etiquette trainer at their company. 
 
Our 2016 programs are scheduled for April 25-30 and September 19-24. In April only, we're offering a special opportunity to take all 3 programs in one trip.
 
The 10% Early-Bird Discount is available for registration for the April programs when payment is made by January 25, 2016.
 
For further details, questions and forms, please contact our Director of Sales, Steven Puettner, at steven@emilypost.com. 
 
BUSINESS The Office Kitchen       
         

Dear Emily Post Newsletter, 
I feel as though I am the only one in our office who cleans the kitchen. I don't just mean taking care of my own food and dishes, but wiping down counters, cleaning the sink, sweeping the floor and emptying the trash. Is there any way to bring this up with my co-workers without nagging?

Best, 
Not The Maid

Dear Not The Maid,

Thank you for writing in. You are not alone and I'm sure many of our other readers will appreciate this question.

First, we would like to recognize that it is very thoughtful of you to clean more than just your dishes in the office kitchen. It's easy simply to take care of what you use and not consider the space as a whole. Our guess is that you are not the kitchen monitor in the office and therefore you do this simply to keep the kitchen clean.

It would be best to bring up with a supervisor that you've noticed the kitchen isn't being taken care of by all the employees and ask that he or she mention something about it at the next staff meeting. Even though work is a place to (of course) work, it's also a space we all have to take care of. If the staff meeting option doesn't happen, requesting that others participate is perfectly appropriate. However, how you make the request will make all the difference in finding a solution.

Try something like, "Kate, I was hoping we could talk about taking care of the kitchen. I've noticed that while people are great about taking care of their own things, it doesn't seem that more communal kitchen chores are being done (sweeping, wiping the counters, cleaning out the microwave). Do you think we could come up with a system so that everyone helps out keeping it a clean space?"

We hope this helps and that your office kitchen stays clean with the help of many hands. 
 
For more information on business etiquette, check out Emily Post's The Etiquette Advantage in Business, 3rd Edition or visit www.emilypost.com.
 
WEDDING Gift Suggestion  

Hi,
I enjoy your newsletters. My wife would like to know what would be a good wedding gift. The bride was her son's girlfriend years ago. Her son does not have a relationship with the bride any more. However, my wife is still friends with her. Please let us know what a good gift might be.

Thank you,
Michael S.


Dear Michael,

Thank you so much for writing in, and we're very glad to hear you like our newsletter. How nice that your wife still has a friendship with this young woman, despite the fact her son's romantic relationship didn't work out. Sending a gift is expected if your wife was invited to the wedding, but it's also a lovely gesture on it's own, especially at a time when this young woman is celebrating such a big milestone.

I would suggest something simple. A picture frame engraved with their wedding date is a great gift that is always appreciated by a newly married couple. Another idea might be a serving tray or platter, or a glass vase or bowl (either engraved with the wedding date or not). Small, decorative items such as a small silver box or practical items such as a wine coaster also come to mind.

We hope that gives you some ideas!  
 
 
LIFESTYLE Hostess Follow Up



What is the correct etiquette to follow, by the host, after guests attend a special birthday party?

Warmest regards,
Vancouver

Dear Vancouver,

What an excellent question, and thank you so much for sending it in! We often give advice to guests for how to follow up after a special party be it a birthday, other celebration, or just a fun dinner party. When it comes to the host, there isn't a whole lot the host needs to do. Obviously if anyone has left anything, or brought a dish that they did not take home with them you would want to return these types of items.

If you are both the host and the person being celebrated, you should send a thank-you note for any gifts that you did not open at the party. Of course you can always send one even if you did open the gift in front of the giver at the party.

If you hosted a party for someone else, but a guest gave you a hostess gift, even though you thanked them in person, you may want to follow up with a note as well.

Should any of your guests, call, text, or write to thank you for a lovely time, you'll want to respond by letting them know how happy you are that they enjoyed the party.

However, outside of those few things, a host just needs to sit back and enjoy having thrown a successful party!

I hope there are many great parties in your future.  
 For more information on table manners, check out Emily Post's Etiquette, 18th Edition or visit www.emilypost.com. 
 
Business Conversation


     
Peter Post shares where your focus should be during a business meal. For more videos visit our youtube page EmilyPostProductions.
AWESOME ETIQUETTE WANTS TO HEAR FROM YOU!

The "Awesome Etiquette" podcast, hosted by Dan and Lizzie is looking to hear from you! So give us a shout. Send in your etiquette questions, awesome etiquette salutes, etiquette confessions, or any suggested topics you'd like to hear about on the podcast to awesomeetiquette@emilypost.com. You can also post questions to our Facebook or Twitter page using #AwesomeEtiquette so we know you want your question answered on the show!

And don't forget to subscribe via iTunes - IT'S FREE!

Awesome Etiquette is a part of The Infinite Guest Network from American Public Media.

 

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EMILY POST & ETIQUETTE IN THE NEWS

 
Lizzie Post 
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Please visit our contact page to reach us, or you can find us on Facebook and Twitter. We love hearing from you, so feel free to post to our social media and join in the conversation. We may not always be able to respond, but we read every question and comment. From our family to yours we hope you have a wonderful start to 2016! As always, thank you for your continued interest in etiquette and The Emily Post Institute.      

Sincerely,

The Posts