BellaOnline Forums Home and Garden Organization Organizing People-in-a-Group Records

I belong to a group that gets together to enjoy wine. The group is fairly far flung so I only see some of these people every 2-3 years. I am already awful with facial recognition to begin with. I am completely at a loss when I go to a dinner and people recognize me. I have no idea at all who they are.

So I decided to try to do SOMETHING about this. We take photos at these dinners. Bob's bringing me home a binder and I'm going to create a binder based on region with the names and photos of people I've met. That way I can scan the faces before I go to a dinner and try to memorize the ones I have met.

At least that might give me a tiny chance.

How do you handle names and faces for groups you only meet with occasionally? Or do you just remember them all naturally?

OK I have finished assembling the photos and notes into a binder - and I feel better! There's a dinner on the 20th and now I have at least a tiny chance of recognizing somebody. One tiny step at a time!

I love the idea of having photos and information to remember people by.

Usually, I just apologize and ask for their name again. It's fairly rare that the people are offended. Most of the time they have forgotten mine too.

I haven't quite figured out the best way to handle those people who are actually offended.

Dear Susan -

I think I've probably asked the same people multiple times now though At some point they're going to give up on me. I will at least try to do my part!

i like this idea! a nice visual aid.

Some people are great at remembering names, but most aren't. There is nothing wrong with coming right out and saying I completely remember your face, but your name escapes me. With that said, I love the photo binder idea. A visual aid is very helpful. Seeing the name next to the photo should help cement things into your memory. Personally, I am a big fan of name tags at any event where people aren't already truly intimate.

Lisa, what is funny is that i am one of those people who remembers the names of their pets but not them. So in my head (and sometimes out loud) i call them, "Chicha's Mommy"...

A friend of mine - who happens to be our children's eye doctor - can never remember the names of our children. BUT - he can tell you about every single eye appointment, the current prescription for the one with glasses, etc. He never gets the name right without looking at the folder.

I always say "nice to see you" - that way, if I'm supposed to know them, they think I do and if I've never met them before - it's still nice to see them.

Lisa, this is basically a dossier. They had one they were using in The Devil Wears Prada, where the new girl has several binders of names and faces to learn before her boss takes her to the soiree. It's her job to whisper the names of the persons approaching the boss once they get there. It's an amusing scene. This probably really does happen.