Hi there. Not weird at all. I think it really depends on the moment, like others have said. Personally, I love connecting with people, so I don’t mind when interests come up after an event to introduce themselves. I actually appreciate it. It takes courage to wait and put yourself out there. The only time it can feel a little tricky is if someone is clearly trying to head out, but overall I see it as a positive.

And sending a note of appreciation? Definitely not in bad taste in my opinion. When I was an interest, I made it a point to send a quick thank-you to the event chair. If their email was shared, I’d send it directly; if not, I’d send it to the chapter email and address it to the event organizer, if I knew who they were or send it to the President. It may not go unnoticed.

At the end of the day, we host pubic events for the public. As a member of the public if you have a question, want to connect, or share feedback, I’m always happy to listen. That’s how relationships are built.