Classen-Ten-Penn NA

Sure-Fire Ways to Kill a Group

Apr 25, 2003

Don?’t attend meetings. If you do go, arrive late. If you don?’t like the weather, don?’t go.

If you do go, criticize the work of the officers and members.

Never hold an office, as it is easier to find fault with others than to get involved.

Get upset if you?’re not appointed to a committee. If you are appointed, never attend committee meetings.

When asked for your opinion, say you have nothing to say. After the meeting, complain and say it all.

Don?’t do anything unless it is absolutely necessary, but when others attempt to get things done, complain the organization is controlled by ?“them?”.

Don?’t attempt to get new members - let someone else do it.

When an event is planned, complain loudly that the organization is wasting money. When nothing is planned, complain that the organization lacks life.

Don?’t pay your dues (or at least hold back from paying as long as possible). If you?’re not asked to pay them, don?’t pay them.

Don?’t let the organization know how it can help you, but if it doesn?’t, complain.

Only stay involved in the organization if they are doing something that directly benefits only you.

If you can get some benefits without officially joining, don?’t join.

Keep looking for something wrong in the organization. When you find it, resign.

At every opportunity, threaten to resign. Get your friends to resign too.

When you do go to a meeting, vote to do something and then go home and do the opposite. Also, you can leave the meeting, saying you?’ll do something, but just forget to do it.

Delay replying to communications from the organization, or better yet, don?’t reply at all.

Agree to everything that is said at the meeting, then disagree after the meeting is over.

Sounds familiar, doesn?’t it? Do we have people like this in our neighborhood association?
You bet we do. Every organization does.

A contribution in part of Edith Silva,
A Neighborhood Association President