I wonder what you would do .......

That’s why I never join these women’s groups! Some can be such bitches. Power hungry too! 🙄

I always wonder in these cases what the other people on the committee or society say. Surely they know what is going on.

Go and sing your heart out in the new choir, free of all responsibilities

You should feel glad that you're no longer connected to an organisation that allows serious classical music to be degraded by this awful person.
Send best wishes and hopes that your health doesn't suffer more and that singing in the new choir brings you joy.

I was a member of a choir for 9 years. Not any kind of office bearer but did help out at concerts, charity fund raising days, visits to care homes, local shopping areas at Xmas. A relatively new member was elected to the committee and then to me we were being treated like 5 year olds. Shouted at that the member didn't think we were "pulling our weight" eg helping in the kitchen at break time, putting chairs back at the end, loads of little things that seemed to annoy her. I along with another member always cleared and cleaned the kitchen, I helped not only put chairs back but helped stack them, collected any music at the end but this person just shouted out orders every week. I told a committee member tge otger oerson was being very inconsiderate and rude not only in what she was expecting but the way the members were being spoken to. Said she'd mention it. Nextvwerk we were told not to bother bringing in anything for the forthcoming event tombola but we were to donate £10 in cash and Committee would buy the prizes.I didnt go back.

Sorry this has happened to you, I am going through something similar.
If or when you do leave, will she be able to get someone to do the job you have been doing, also a minimal cost?Maybe dont leave but take a step back and watch it unfold.

It is sad to see how often this happens.

I can relate and empathise with you OP.

I would say maintain your quiet dignity - as best you can.
You probably can’t see it now, but in time this will become easier.
Find it helpful to process by writing it all down (eg in Notes on ipad - can keep updating/amending)
If you wake with intrusive thoughts in the night - listening to BBC Sounds helps me (Archers / short stories).
Could you go out for coffee and cake and a catchup with some of your trusted friends from the original choir?

It’s been a long 10 months of suffering for me after something similar, but the burden is now easing, no one knows the true depth of despair I lived through, but now I can sit quietly in social situations and just listen - and I’m privately uplifted and sometimes pleasantly astonished just by quietly noting what other people are saying among themselves - about the perpetrators (with no input at all from me). I just listen and make a mental note.

I too am being quietly dignified, but I know with certainty that when they eventually approach me for help, they want to talk to me face to face in a social setting, or want to approach me by telephone, or to ask me for something - they will be totally and utterly blanked. I feel some comfort and satisfaction in that knowledge, I hope things feel better for you in time.

"Time heals all wounds" ..

It is terrbily painful when "phishers" move in and take over the known "WHAT WORKS" and create a new order ..

Stay where you are and wait this out.

I believe that this phisher shall evenutally be pushed out and your return will be asked for ..

In the meantime, make a couple of true friendships in both choirs !

This shall prove fruitful in the future.

All our best wishes.

It's horrible, I understand you are hurt, but to be honest I am surprised that you had ten good years. In my experience of committees there is usually someone, sooner rather than later, who is hungry for petty power and who moves to take control while the others are too apathetic to step in. Try not to take this personally, or to devalue all that you have done. You have done great and this woman is no doubt jealous. Walk away and take your talents elsewhere. (I am on the point of doing similarly from a Committee where I have been a committed Chair, for far less reason than you have. Life is too short.)

I have come across this type of person both personally and in my career. They are the ones with the problem and something to prove. Unfortunately there are always repercussions when they trample all over other people's feelings to satisfy their egos. Best ignored and hopefully karma will do the rest.

I think your treatment has been disgraceful and the choir deserve the person they now have, they must be well suited! It will not be long before they realise just how valuable your contribution has been over the years but, hopefully, by then you will have moved on to new, and happier, pasture! Good luck for the future and every good wish in rising above this sad and hurtful experience.

Of course you are right to be hurt.. Where are the other members and why are they not backing you?

People can be vile and too often they are the ones who seek positions of power and authority over others, one of the reasons I love being retired. I'm my own boss and so are you. Personally I'd just walk away with a smile, if I sent a letter it would wish the choir well and would say nothing about my reasons for leaving because I'd be confident that old friends in the choir and the "jingle telegraph" would be sufficient for anyone who mattered to know why I'd left and people love to gossip. I bet Ms Mountshaft has put the backs up of plenty of people. They always do!
It's really difficult to write a letter of resignation that contains criticism and feedback without it sounding petty and whining. It also gives the Chair the opening to give reasons for her behaviour without you being able to defend yourself. Enjoy your new choir and there will be other ways that you can use your talents without having to deal with unappreciative people. Life is too short to bother about them. Good luck and keep well.

FoghornLeghorn

A similar thing happened to me. I was a manager in a charity and I was always moaning about the sloppy proofreading of our quarterly magazine as it reflected badly on our professionalism. I offered to proofread it and thereafter there were no spelling or grammar errors and all was well. I may have many faults but one thing I can do is spell. A new CEO then arrived and relieved me of this task informing me that a professional proofreader would be undertaking the task so I just shrugged my shoulders and thought more fool them for paying for something I’d done for free. Call me petty but imagine my joy when the next issue came out and was full of errors. I sweetly relayed these to said CEO who was less than grateful which amused me no end. 😂

Sweet revenge!!

Luckygirl3

From now on I will call this lady Miss Mountshaft!

That's the spirit!!

FoghornLeghorn

A similar thing happened to me. I was a manager in a charity and I was always moaning about the sloppy proofreading of our quarterly magazine as it reflected badly on our professionalism. I offered to proofread it and thereafter there were no spelling or grammar errors and all was well. I may have many faults but one thing I can do is spell. A new CEO then arrived and relieved me of this task informing me that a professional proofreader would be undertaking the task so I just shrugged my shoulders and thought more fool them for paying for something I’d done for free. Call me petty but imagine my joy when the next issue came out and was full of errors. I sweetly relayed these to said CEO who was less than grateful which amused me no end. 😂

Oh dear! I hear your frustration!

NotSpaghetti

The trouble with anything design based is that it's arty and as someone else who did publicity for a charity I know how much time and effort doing it well takes.
Being emotionally attached to the choir also makes the work super-important and a work from your heart.
I also have invested hundreds of hours making my work as perfect as possible and in a way that has something of the "look" of the group.

It's too easy to just bung posters etc together quickly- especially now everyone has a design program of some sort on their laptop.
It's disappointing that the artistic effort isn't noticed by many individuals but sadly the truth is that lots of people don't have any sort of "design eye".

I do feel for you. I kept copies of all the work I was really proud of. Nobody can take that away from you. Be proud of your beautiful work and gently draw a line under the volunteering.
I did.

I admit I am free now.
I have been approached by others to do wedding stationery (for example) where it really matters to the couple but they still can't always see the small differences between similar fonts or the balance of text on a page or the weight and glaze of the paper chosen.
Most people don't even seem to realise that paper has a top and bottom.

I loved getting something just right.
I think this is in your heart and can't be taken away.
You will have a special talent for grouping, placing, spacial awareness, use of colour etc and will go on using this, one of your special talents, to make or example, your home and garden satisfying and beautiful.

Take a moment to enjoy arranging your mantlepiece or shelf, your books, your kitchen...
Love your choice of colour in your life.

Just find your joy elsewhere.
Continue being creative - but do it for yourself now.
❤️
...after all you will have more time to do this.
Don't volunteer to do this again elsewhere.
Thinking of you 💐

You have definitely hit the nail on the head. The music we perform consists of inspiring choral works and I have worked hard to make sure the publicity reflects this. A clear "house style" with carefully chosen tasteful images that reflect the music. I used deep bold coloured backgrounds with white writing and white logo, and local people knew that these represented the choral society. Miss Mountshaft has been seduced by a seriously tacky piece of software called Canva that is full of prepared templates that are appropriate to advertising raves, car boot sales etc.
One of the items was so awful that it beggars belief ... we were performing Elgar's Dream of Gerontius which is a very serious spiritual work beloved of many and she proposed an item for the website that was flashy and jokey and and described by my DD as "The Muppets do Gerontius"!!

A similar thing happened to me. I was a manager in a charity and I was always moaning about the sloppy proofreading of our quarterly magazine as it reflected badly on our professionalism. I offered to proofread it and thereafter there were no spelling or grammar errors and all was well. I may have many faults but one thing I can do is spell. A new CEO then arrived and relieved me of this task informing me that a professional proofreader would be undertaking the task so I just shrugged my shoulders and thought more fool them for paying for something I’d done for free. Call me petty but imagine my joy when the next issue came out and was full of errors. I sweetly relayed these to said CEO who was less than grateful which amused me no end. 😂

The trouble with anything design based is that it's arty and as someone else who did publicity for a charity I know how much time and effort doing it well takes.
Being emotionally attached to the choir also makes the work super-important and a work from your heart.
I also have invested hundreds of hours making my work as perfect as possible and in a way that has something of the "look" of the group.

It's too easy to just bung posters etc together quickly- especially now everyone has a design program of some sort on their laptop.
It's disappointing that the artistic effort isn't noticed by many individuals but sadly the truth is that lots of people don't have any sort of "design eye".

I do feel for you. I kept copies of all the work I was really proud of. Nobody can take that away from you. Be proud of your beautiful work and gently draw a line under the volunteering.
I did.

I admit I am free now.
I have been approached by others to do wedding stationery (for example) where it really matters to the couple but they still can't always see the small differences between similar fonts or the balance of text on a page or the weight and glaze of the paper chosen.
Most people don't even seem to realise that paper has a top and bottom.

I loved getting something just right.
I think this is in your heart and can't be taken away.
You will have a special talent for grouping, placing, spacial awareness, use of colour etc and will go on using this, one of your special talents, to make or example, your home and garden satisfying and beautiful.

Take a moment to enjoy arranging your mantlepiece or shelf, your books, your kitchen...
Love your choice of colour in your life.

Just find your joy elsewhere.
Continue being creative - but do it for yourself now.
❤️
...after all you will have more time to do this.
Don't volunteer to do this again elsewhere.
Thinking of you 💐

I think we've all come across a Miss Mountshaft or two in our lives, Queen Bees driving bulldozers roughshod without regard to anyone else. Unfortunately many people will take the line of least resistance and cave in.

I can understand how you feel, Luckygirl and would definitely be moving on to another choir because I know how much your music means to you.

The Spice Girls sound excellent - do you sing too? 🎶🎵🎶🎵
I belonged to a quiz team with a very similar name years ago!

Esmay

I also would feel upset and insulted.
Just move on and do something else which you enjoy.
I really feel for you .
For the second time since volunteering (something that I swore never to do again ) I've also been moved aside for a scheming highly manipulative person .
Last weekend after being called as the group concerned needed me I joined in again .
It was obvious to me that I'm the object of speculation and gossip.
I smiled through it.
My name is already down for Christnas volunteering.
I'll do it but my heart isn't in it anymore .
Next year I'll devote more time to my artwork and writing .

That is a shame. I feel so sad because I have done nothing but work my tripe out for them all and now I seem to have become a villain.
I guess the people who muscle in and destroy something good have their own needs.

I also would feel upset and insulted.
Just move on and do something else which you enjoy.
I really feel for you .
For the second time since volunteering (something that I swore never to do again ) I've also been moved aside for a scheming highly manipulative person .
Last weekend after being called as the group concerned needed me I joined in again .
It was obvious to me that I'm the object of speculation and gossip.
I smiled through it.
My name is already down for Christnas volunteering.
I'll do it but my heart isn't in it anymore .
Next year I'll devote more time to my artwork and writing .

You are definitely not wrong.

Miss Mountshaft is very forceful indeed. I do not blame the other members of the committee ... she will have bulldozed them. She is only in that position cos a chair is needed for the Charity Commission and noone else came forward.
My letter about leaving is very measured and I will send later in the week.