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The Fine Art of Thank-You Notes S TAFF R EPORT S OCIAL NORMS ARE CONSTANTLY SHIFTING . A LITTLE MORE THAN A YEAR AGO A HANDSHAKE WAS NOT ONLY AN ACCEPTABLE FORM OF GREETING , IT WAS THE MOST COMMON . B UT DUE TO AN UNEXPECTED PANDEMIC IT IS NOW SEEN BY SOME AS TABOO . s chat rooms replace the board room, drive- by bridal showers replace traditional teas and parties, and social distancing has changed the way strangers interact, many rules of etiquette, once debated, no longer even need to be addressed. Hopefully good manners and courtesy will never go out of style. Additionally, in “The Amy Vanderbilt Complete Book of Etiquette,” Ms. Vanderbilt argues that an understanding of traditional etiquette is both practical and reassuring: “There’s a certain satisfaction that comes with putting our best foot forward.” According to Vanderbilt, “The single most important charac- teristic that separates man from beast is the gift of language.” But in today’s world, where texting and tweeting are the dominant forms of communication and emojis are now used to express meaningful sentiments, many dread the idea of having to sit down with pen in hand to write a note. A hand-written thank you note, however, is simply the right thing to do when a gift or kindness has been received. Plus, a hand-written thank you is an opportunity to connect to the people in our lives in a meaningful way. Handwritten notes convey a warmth that a computer screen does not. A few simple guidelines clarify what to do and make this task less daunting: C HOOSE Y OUR S TATIONERY According to Vanderbilt, a person’s stationery should reflect his or her personal style, “People are using imagination when it comes to their choice of stationery. … And just as their clothes reflect their personal styles, their stationery ‘wardrobes’ tell a great deal about them and their particular tastes.” The thought and effort is the most important aspect of a hand written note so if it brings you joy, be creative when choosing your stationery. However, if you want your thank-you notes to give a nod to tra- dition, Vanderbilt has very particular recommendations. The folded note is the most appropriate stationery for a thank-you note and should be approximately 5-1/4” wide by 3-1/2” tall. Pale blue, 22 AL/ Metro 360 www.almetro360.com CULTURE .............................................................................................................................................. The Thank-You Note Formula: A basic thank- you note has seven basic parts and knowing the formula makes the task simpler: 1. Date 2. Salutation 3. Expression of gratitude 4. Identify the gift 5. Identify the benefits of the gift 6. A warm closing 7. Signature