Thoughts on Community Nurturing

As we plan a project which will involve the cultivation of a user community, I've found myself looking around for best and worst practices on the subject. I found the newbie issue interesting. Here' a few things I've learned.
Support Newbies
Have a community manager actively support new arrivals, like any social situation they need to feel at home. The conversion of new members to established members is a critical transition point for any social system.
Newbies Need a Low Risk Environment
Once the threshold has been crossed, and the hero's journey begins, there is a lot of unease and fear of failure. A bad experience or negative connection can cause a user to detach, and possibly become a detractor. Establishing a sense of belonging and attachment at this point is THE MOST CRITICAL, if you explore attachment theory.
Newbies Must be Comfortable to Ask Stupid Questions.
'There are no stupid questions' has to be one of the commandments, respected by community managers and the group at large. Get a friendly FAQ going immediately, make it readable. The Slashdot community has a great one, it's a full education.
Get the Community Supporting Each Other
I suppose this is the essence of self organization, but the sooner newbie get involved in helping, the more solid the community will become. There's a great story about the Delancy Street Foundation from the book Influencer. The mission is one of the most successful 'rehab' communities in the world. Mission Director Dr.Daniel Silbert discusses how she quickly throws new members into a supporting role for even newer members. This causes them to learn, commit and attach faster to the values of the community. This self organization is key to the health of your community.
Social Intelligence Coaching
There must be strict 'be nice' policies in place, ecouraging the kind of emotional and social intelligence that any real or virtual community thrives on. Documentation on 'how to help' or teach or learn can be helpful, and celebrating the top helpers goes a long way. This documentation can be a white paper or ebook that has value beyond the specific community.
Look at Reward Strategies
Establish levels of rewards for people who are active in supporting and facilitating. Badges are one idea. Or reward them with funded 'real world' meetups. The support community should be a micro community in it's own right.