Stewards, cooks and deckies will all start the same day at Raleigh. Don't fret about getting to know people, it's part of the Sunday evening ritual. You go there with a bond with one other already formed it can isolate you from all the other newbies.
Just relax, I wrote everyone's name down as I introduced myself, with their home town as well.
Within 24 hours you'll know everyone no probs.
From a previous thread about joining!