How to Ruin an Association

A cautionary fable culled from the web by Martin Price

Once upon a time, the Midtown Chapter was one of the most active chapters in the association. It was a smooth-running, efficient organization that enjoyed great prestige in the community.

Then one day, things began to change. One of the members said to himself, "No-one will miss me. I have so many other things to do, I think I'll drop out of the chapter's activities."

So hx bxgan to avoid chaptxr functions. Hx rxfusxd to accxpt his rxsponsibilitixs, and thx chaptxr had to limp along with onx lxss mxmbxr. Of coursx, thx chaptxr could gxt along without him, but it mxant that onx of thx rxmaining mxmbxrs had to doublx up and do twicx as much work as bxforx.

Thxn, onx morx mxmbxr dxcidxd to givx up his sharx of chaptxr activitixs. This mxant thzt two mxmbxrs hzd to do doublx duty.

Thxn z third mxmbxr droppxd jut, znd thrxx jf thx jthxrs hzd tj wjrk hzrdxr thzn xvxr.

Thxn z fjurth drjppxd jut, znd mjrx jf qhz rxmzining zctivx mxmbxrs sqzrqxd wjrking hzrdxr thzn xvxr.

Zs qimx wxnq jn, mzny mjrx jf qhx chzptxr mxmbxrs ljsq inqxrxsq, znd prxqqy sjjn

qhx chzptxr wzs bxing run by jnly z fxw mxmbxrs, znd iq ljjkxd likx qhis: Qkj kzqxx kzjxq jxk jzkxqk kqjz xjq kzjx xjz. Zkxq kqx zkkxq, kjz zkzxjqk zkk xkkq x

xkziq kzjxq.

Martin Price is a consultant operating in South Wales and moderator of the ACT website. Martin’s website is at http://www.martinprice.com

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Updated 23^rd November 1999