Chairperson-Me?

I know exactly how you feel, many years ago juggling work along with wrangling five child I stepped in as Chair of a local charitable organisation, within ten years I was part of the National Committee 🤣🤣🤣

I so empathise with you.

Lots of things in our village are gradually disappearing because no one is interested. I could offer to help with thi gs too but I have done loads. We have lost the Open Gardens, the village magazine is in trouble and the events committee is struggling.

But, other things are getting going that might be more relevant nowadays.

Sorry, that didn't answer your question but maybe the organisation has run it's course?

It has always been so. People are very happy to turn up, enjoy what has been organised, and go home. They are quick to complain if something isn't to their liking, but if it is suggested that there is a vacancy for someone to take it on, they melt into the background. Some do volunteer to 'do an hour' behind the table at the annual sale, where they can be seen by friends to generously give their time, but are nowhere to be seen for setting up or clearing away.

I think you're just a chair, these days, too. 🤭

It is a tricky one.
One of the organisations I belong to has committee members who have been doing the job for years, which rather inhibits anyone else from coming forward. Only the Treasurer wants to stand down, but nobody wants or has the skills to do that job. The current chair is hopeless in public, and poor at chairing meetings in a timely manner. So nothing changes.

I nearly offered to do a once a year low key task for another group, but it involved using spreadsheets, which I have failed to master, so that ruled me out.

I’m about to become President of an organisation I am involved with for the third year running. No one else wants to do it and it will fold if we don’t have one. I think it is actually one of the easier jobs . The worst is Secretary followed by treasurer, speaking from experience. President just requires some public speaking and writing a few reports ,one per month. There are 80 odd people in that club but out of that 80 only about 7 or 8 of us are willing to do the hard yards and go on the committee. C’est la vie I suppose.

I have just no, to taking on more committee work.
I agreed to join the Parish Council, but said did not want to be secretary etc.
I already do lots of Parish work, but can hardly keep up with that.
Very few people are willing to volunteer, but are quick to complain.

It’s always the same people sadly, who volunteer for everything. Folk are just not able or willing to commit these days. I, like many others, have done my fair share of committee work, minute taking, washing-up, lugging tables about, manning stalls, serving food, cleaning toilets after events 🤢, pounding the pavements with leaflets…….. but have felt for the past few years that enough is enough and time for younger, keener more active volunteers to step up! It’s exhausting, but great fun. Sad that gradually events and associations fold due to lack of woman/man power.

We have the same in our u3a committee. Several people have given up for different reasons. We do have 2 new people who have lasted more than a month, and others who haven't.
I have been producing our magazine for over nine years, and I want to pass it on. But I don't know if there will be ny volunteers

Always been the same. The same people doing all the work and organising but many talking about how it could or should be done.
If you need something done ask a busy person.

There are those who do, and those who like other people to do everything for them; join groups and expect to be entertained, and nothing will persuade them to help in any way whatsoever.
Sad but becoming more and more common.
You have done your stint as Treasurer, another thankless task, so don't let guilt, completely foreign to other members, drive you to taking on another onerous role.

Chairperson would be less onerous than Treasurer or Secretary.

DH gave up being Secretary of one organisation and there was a keen Treasurer. However, no younger people come along to take over and it has now folded.
He was Chairman of another organisation and someone younger took over a few months ago (thank goodness) but he has to turn up for every meeting because, more often than not, the younger person never turns up and DH has to step in.

I've been a charity Chair, society Treasurer and Parish Council member at different times. It's difficult to get people to do these voluntary jobs for a whole variety of reasons too many to list. I feel I've done my bit and I'm not doing it again but I do still get asked.

I have done plenty of committees and chaired groups , but decided never again . I have done my job and in most cases it is a thankless task! My advice is stick to refreshments washing up and giving a vote of thanks. Do listen to your inner self and don't do it if you have reservations. If you say a definite ' no' people get the message and usually someone perhaps younger will step up. In the unlikely event the social group can no longer function that will be sad but not your fault - just be determined and brave!

Would it be possible to have a joint chair with someone else. making the load lighter?

Some times it has to be accepted that a group/club/organisation has run it's course and needs to end. Maybe ask God for guidance.

I have the same problem with our NWR branch. I started off saying I would organise the monthly lunch meetings, then I was roped into being local organiser and now I find myself single-handedly organising the programme as well.
When I say I want some one else to do the programme I get lots of sympathetic looks but total silence.

I have also organised our Christmas dinner in the next village. This involved acquiring menu choices and the money.
When I asked who would organise a taxi for a group of us I was met with total silence.

I realise now that if I don't do it nothing will get done and we may fold.

I have been Secretary of our local WI for eight years. I told the committee a year ago I would be standing down March 2025.The President is also standing down but her friend is replacing her. I was asked if I would stay on the committee and help the new person. I said I wouldn’t - I wasn’t born yesterday. I said I would give my replacement a tutorial at my house and hand everything over. My predecessor didn’t stay on the committee. From memory, the members choose the President and the committee chooses the Treasurer and Secretary.

Our branch of Merched y Wawr membership had been reduced to 14. Youngest member 74, oldest 92. It was impossible to find anyone who would take the job of Secretary. Our income did not allow us to pay for the meeting room and pay guest speakers. I would willingly have done chair as it is secretary who has the burden. We have closed our branch to move to boost the numbers of a nearby group. All's well that ends well.

It happens everywhere, people enjoy the benefits but are noticeably absent during the AGM when new committee members might be elected. This is why organisations fold because people in general want the benefits but will not do the work

I had to become chairperson and secretary of our management company at one stage, exactly for the reasons above. I left when I moved

Everyone should do a stint, do their bit and there should be a time limit on being in office

Our u3a has over 300 members and our Committee of 10 organise monthly Speaker meetings and coffee mornings, 6 or more outings a year, learning workshops, and lots of social events as well as overseeing nearly 40 special interest groups. We have a few people who help us but trying to get new committee members is like pulling teeth.
I have always believed in doing my bit and progressed through running/helping with a Toy Library, Brownies, PTA, fundraising groups and am now vice chair of our u3a.
There will always be givers and takers and I am proud to be in the latter category, however, when I decide it's time to step down, I shall do so in the certain knowledge that I have served my Community well and done more than "my bit" and therefore should not feel guilty about it. It will be time for others to step up and if they don't, it is others who are allowing the organisation to fold, definitely not me.
Stick to your guns and don't feel guilty - you have also "done your bit"

The same happened to a group I used to attend. I had to rely on being taken in a car by a neighbour who asked me if I would go with her for company, but when she became 85 she didn't want to go anymore and it was too far for me to get taxis and no bus route so I also stopped going.

The problem with some groups is that they are mainly widows in their 70's, (I was then in my late 70's) who go for company and then when the chairperson etc, wants to retire, they feel they are too old to want to start volunteering.

I found that the meetings I attended, also attached to a church, was at the other end of the city and unless you had a car or was on a direct bus route it was not posssible to get there unless someone took you which made it impossible to volunteer in case the person who took you could not go one day.

I find myself as secretary of my Durham college alumni association after five years on the committee, after which I wanted to step down. As others on this thread say, there is a shortage of people willing to take on these responsibilities. In the case of my college committee, I feel it is much too important to falter now for want of people (there being a dearth of volunteers after Covid). We are possibly the oldest female (now both sexes) alumni society for female graduates in England, Durham Uni having opened its doors to women in 1899: firstly, in a damp, miserable little hostelry on Claypath, followed by the " Dovecote"(!) on Palace Green (now the theology department), followed by St. Mary's College in The College as the cathedral close is called, (now Durham School), and, finally, in 1953, a purpose-built classical college, the 1st to be built south of the Peninsula & loop of the River Wear.
So it's a great privilege to serve this historic body, even though I live on the south coast at present & travel up every year in September on a northern pilgrimage which includes our annual reunion in college. Other committee meetings thankfully take place on Zoom now.

DH is exactly the same (I found I wasn’t a group/committee person a long time ago - others were in danger!) and feels guilty about everything he doesn’t do in his church. He does so much and has so much responsibility already …