Troublesome members
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URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1778
Printed Date: 5/02/24 at 10:27pm
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Topic: Troublesome members
Posted By: gapeachinoh
Subject: Troublesome members
Date Posted: 3/31/06 at 1:21pm
 Has anyone had experience in asking troublesome members to leave the organization? We have a small group of people who constantly find fault with our shows, directors, other cast members, awards, our bylaws. We are a 66-year old non-profit with core members having 20-30 years experience. We are profitable and have wonderful backing of our city. A small house, we have a good audience following and manage to sellout most shows. We must be doing things right, yet this group of less than 6 keeps making waves and wanting to change everything to their liking. A couple are good workers, but they are not worth the aggravation they present.
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Replies:
Posted By: tristanrobin
Date Posted: 3/31/06 at 7:03pm
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When they are no longer asked to participate in any way (including giving
money or buying tickets), they'll find another group to torture. "Sorry, don't need any help on this one," goes a long way. |
Posted By: gapeachinoh
Date Posted: 3/31/06 at 8:44pm
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trisanrobin-- I wish it were that easy; between them they get each other elected to the board and to direct and produce. They think nothing of overruning budgets and alienating old and new members. As mentioned they are talented and jump in to do many jobs, but their personalities and dictatorial manner in trying to change our organization have chased many other valuable members away. |
Posted By: Theatrestation
Date Posted: 3/31/06 at 10:53pm
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I understand EXACTLY what you are dealing with. We had the same thing happen at our arts center. The troublemakers were clickish, clandestine and always tried to stir up trouble. Management was inches away from filing harrassment complaints. Other volunteers were bullied. It was miserable. For years they mainly harrassed management and quietly pushed other volunteers around. They always wore the "concerned for the sake of the arts center" face and used that as an excuse to try to turn people against management and some of the other volunteers. Fact was they liked to make people think they were in charge. They had real issues with "power". Finally, these people became so brazen they pushed too many people around and started showing their true colors too frequently. They had keys to the building and when the building was "re keyed" a decision was made to not give any volunteer a key except on a temporary basis. The bullies fussed (they used having the keys as a way to pop in any time and start bullying) but when they found out they really weren't getting new keys they literally took their toys and went home. This is just an extremely short version of it all, but it was miserable and took a long time until everyone caught on to their ways. If you want to share some blind specifics perhaps those of us that have dealt with this may be able to offer more advice. Good luck! I know how miserable this sort of thing is! |
Posted By: POB14
Date Posted: 4/04/06 at 10:16am
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How does a group of less than 6 exert this kind of power? Can't you put a bloc together that's large enough to keep them off the board, or is this one of those situations where the board picks their own successors instead of the membership voting? This situation is the most common way for new theatres to get started. I don't know if that's viable in your situation or not. Good luck. ------------- POB Old Bugger, Curmudgeon, and Antisocial B**tard |
Posted By: Theatrestation
Date Posted: 4/07/06 at 9:15pm
When they are sneaky, conniving and have an ulterior motive they keep hidden from casual observers you would be amazed at how much damage a small group of people can cause.
------------- http://www.castbuilding.com http://www.theatrestation.com |
Posted By: Gaafa
Date Posted: 4/08/06 at 1:10am
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Being just a POHMY/Aussie! I?m sure wether your Association Incorporation Act, has a Model Constitution, for non profit organisations to comply with. In ours there is a section covering "conduct Unbecoming a Member, with procedures, expulsion & appeals, for bringing this about. However it is not a good road to go down & invariably ends up with generating bad feelings & toe to toe infighting. Your situation almost goes in cycles, especial with the influx of Baby Boomers, who have less than nothing to do & wishing to justify their existence. [I?m a baby boomer my self] However unless you have a tight budget regime & policy in place, normally us arty farty?s will blow this out, like a bloke with no arms. Taking up POBs suggestion of an Bloc, in most cases it only requires targeting the apparently week one, who makes all the bullets for a stronger ons to fire. With sheer numbers of quiet objections, points of order, requests of justification &/or further details. directed at the week one, during meetings. Will destabilise to the point of them seeking back up, from the stronger one. Especially when it comes to paper work or receipts. Invariably the stronger ones ego will force either him/her to jump to the week omes assistance & put their foot in it altogether. To try & dismiss the question each time & as the meeting becomes bogged down, which would be caused by the inability of the week one to be able to answer questions! The stronger in the group may distance themselves by stabbing the weaker in the back. Thus splitting their alliance & ranks. Forcing individuals to change sides, spit the dummy & walk or hopefully pull the pin on mass. In fact you don?t have to a large number Bloc only one fairly versed in meeting procedure & a good copy of a Chairmanship Book, along with the current up to date constitution on hand. In most cases it does not take an organised planed or scripted action Bloc, just a quiet low profile group, that allows situation to evolve it self. Like jungle warfare spiked by the odd heat seeking missile questions. A good theatre of operations is in a General meeting of all the members. Low key is the criteria, not full frontal attack. Quietly quietly catchee monkey! Be prepared to fall back to a safe position until the next opportunity arises later or at another time. This should give them something to stew about & make ammunition to cover their backsides, but let them run out of wind & be exasperated, because there is no Bloc attack! Honestly if you do nowt more than just sit there, take the homiys from the Chair & smile, but keep asking questions, will rattle them to boiling point. If it is reached & the bubble bursts! keep smiling! It is surprisingly easy for them to look like wombats, they will help to do it themselves. I don't know if this helps? ------------- Joe Western Gondawandaland turn right @ Perth. Hear the light & see the sound. Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"} May you always play to a full house} |