Some of you have noticed that a few of my colleagues and I have been
very quiet lately in the Google Webmaster Help Group. I can assure you
we haven't been hunting wabbits ... and though we've continued to spot
and escalate many situations in the background, that's not all we've
been doing, either.

Aside from sharing information via interviews and chatting with
webmasters in person around the globe (Australia, China, Germany, the
U.K., the U.S.), we've been learning how to bring this Google Group to
the next level. This has involved online communications workshops,
training in spotting issues, and even (eeek!) a review of important
legal issues.

The one thing we haven't had to gain, though, is an appreciation for
webmaster concerns and an eagerness to address them. Over the next
weeks, you'll start to slowly but surely see posts from Googlers who
are new to the Group. What's notable is that these aren't customer
service folks we've newly hired for this role; these are experienced
Google Search Quality team members who came up to me and Vanessa Fox
asking to spend part of their work time participating here.

You'll be able to spot and verify these folks' status as a Googler by
the "G" badge you see next to their name on posts. And while they
clearly know their stuff, it may take them a short bit to get their
"Group legs," so welcome 'em and be nice, okay? :)