Apathy – the Silent Killer
At some point in time, apathy seems to strike every club regardless of the type club. This terrible affliction can appear without warning or can slowly but inexorably take the heart and soul from a club like a thief in the night. Why does it happen? What are the warning signs of impending apathy? Can it be stopped or cured?
Why it happens is relatively simple to develop an answer for – people no longer care about the club, it’s people , it’s goals or the running of it’s business or at least, in the club as it presently exists. There can be a wide range of reasons club members develope an attitude that the club is no longer important to them. Their perception might be the club is no longer fun or it’s too much work, or the politics within the club are distasteful or they are among the very few that ever volunteer to work and are tired or some club members are trying to change the original intent of the club or since no-one else seems to care, why should they keep trying to make the club successful.
Some sign of impending apathy certainly can be seen at membership renewal time when not only is the club not getting new members through out the year but renewals are declining year after year. Other signs might include lack of attendance or participation at Board Meetings or Membership Meetings, lack of member attendance at social events, no volunteers to help at social events, members who don’t participate in elections or serve on the governing group, members who don’t appear friendly, and those who always ask “What value do I get for my dues”.
Can apathy be stopped or cured? Maybe so – maybe not. There are some things that can be tried – none guaranteed to work but maybe worth the effort. Perhaps members might want to be more involved if they thought their input to the club was important. To often I think, members have ideas or suggestions for the club that are casually cast aside by the governing body as too much trouble, never been done in the past, was tried 10 years ago and didn’t work then, etc. Any reason will work but eventually, the member will perceive that his /her ideas are no good in the view of the Board so why bother. While that may be true, those same members might dissuade others, with perhaps good ideas, to save their energy because “the Board has their own agenda and really don’t want your ideas.” Maybe the club could be more friendly and less cliqueish, maybe the club would be better served to hold close to the reason they formed and stop trying to be every thing to every body. Maybe the Board could show appreciation to members who help and remember that just because they are in power, they don’t have control of all the good ideas.
Lastly, every club member is a volunteer and became so when they voluntarily joined the club. Since volunteers aren’t paid, no-one can expect a volunteer to stick around when they are not made to feel appreciated or needed.
These are just my thoughts and opinions about apathy. I hope there is something here to help a club remain a viable vibrant entity in the Dance Community.