Club particpation?

[Queen Bee]

I have a question for those who are members of clubs or org,

Do you particate in the club or do you just go to the meetings?

If you don't particate WHY?

I have been in lots of clubs and/or org. In each one there is/was always a few people who carry the club. Others come to the meetings and when are asked to help -they either refuse or they stop coming! What's the deal????

I am an officer in our local bee org. and every time I call people, they are 'cooking dinner and will call me back (Which they don't), would I email them it's easier to read, have a bad connection, will need to ask their SO, they work, they have kids, they have a cold, it's too soon/ too far out to commit, etc etc.. NO one wants to be an officer, no one wants to head a committee or bring refreshments.. SO why are they members? I am at a loss..

I need someone for refreshments 10 months--that's 10 people--light refreshments and drinks. There are at least 50 members.. That is about once every 4yrs!!! and they are blowing me off!! I want to ask if they are 10yrs old... The club provides a place to meet (Ag building), we provide the plates, cups and flatware, we print out hand outs/info and we provide a speaker for each meeting.... Why would it be so hard to bring chips/dip or a pk of cookies, a pound cake and tea/coffee or drinks?????

[ejagno]

We have been active members in way too many organizations to count. Your situation is nothing new my friend. In every organization we've been in this is completely normal. Maybe it's time to shake things up because it sounds like people are losing interest at an alarming rate. Get some new faces, fresh ideas and get people excited again.

[Queen Bee]

Thank you. This club is 26yrs old. I have been a member for 12 yrs.. Our club has more than doubled w/ in that time... It hasn't helped... Just more --non 'active' members.

[indypartridge]

Originally Posted by Queen Bee

I have been in lots of clubs and/or org. In each one there is/was always a few people who carry the club. Others come to the meetings ...

This is as close to a Universal Truth as you'll ever find. I'm still listed as vice-president of an organization I haven't been part of since I moved away 8 years ago.

[Alice In TX/MO]

As a former speech communication teacher who taught Group Dynamics, what you describe is the textbook explanation of groups/clubs/faculty organizations, etc.

Normal. People are people.

[GREENCOUNTYPETE]

this is typical, we belong to a number of organizations and are active in them all. with the same results. one of our groups is a non profit music festival that the board of directors (5 people) pours their hearts and souls in to all year round... this year we had more trouble than normal getting volunteers for the fest weekend, we heard a lot of grumbling that for the 2 hours we are asking them to donate they should get more than a t-shirt. many wanted free admission, if we gave our volunteers free admission, we would be sunk.

the rest of our organizations we are getting burned out by this type of response... with a church of 800 families there isnt one other person besides dw that can run our silent auction. everyone else is too busy, yeah and she's not.. she only homeschools our three kids, volunteers at 3 or 4 organizations and has a part time christmas job...

[Windy in Kansas]

I fully know what you are saying. I belonged to a club and on a set work day sometimes only two of us would show up. Once it was only me and I was certainly disappointed with my fellow club members.

For the US Bicentennial we were to paint every fire hydrant in town red, white, and blue and use reflective glass beads on the white portion. Thankfully it was in a small town with a limited number of fire hydrants.

Sad to say it, but I no longer belong to any club due to past experience.