Carolingia

[elizabear]

I'm sad that the Baronial Great Council meeting has now dropped to an average of 15 people attending. Almost always the same people.

Council used to be a don't-miss event. 60-70 people regularly attended. Things were handed off, stuff got done and discussed, and connections were made.

Can it be fixed? Does it need to be fixed? Is it a relic of the past and not necessary to hold the group together?

Comments

[marysdress.livejournal.com]

There have been three reasons to go to Council over the years -

1) to find out what is happening - there are other ways now
2) to have a voice in what happens - things of import are rarely discussed there anymore (for a variety of reasons ranging from there isn't much to discuss anymore to the decision making process changed)
3) to see people - if #1 and #2 go away, then so do the people

Personally, I think there probably are ways to get people to come to Council again, but I could be wrong. Some things have been tried and failed.

Does it matter? I think so, but once again I could be wrong. When you get a bunch of people in a room together, it's organically different than people reading notices online. I think it makes for a healthier, more vibrant group but it's just a theory.

A boring, underattended Council doesn't mean the group will die, but it doesn't help the group either.

[siderea]

I think it makes for a healthier, more vibrant group but it's just a theory.

What I know of the sciences of these things, from social network analysis to group dynamics to social psychology, suggests it's a pretty darn good theory.

I would add that the health of any one part of an organization should be examined in light of the whole. For instance, it may be true that there are other ways than to find out what is happening and participate in decision making, but it wouldn't seem that most of the Barony's online resources aren't that either -- the Carolingia list's volume of traffic has plunged (if people want actual hard numbers, I should be able to prepare a report for the last decade with ease), the LJ isn't being used, etc. So if the same coordinative function as Council used to have is being served by another forum/medium, it's not immediately obvious to me what that is.

And, as I've pointed out, if I can't tell, with my rich insider knowledge and deep social contacts, passers-by prospective members haven't a prayer of figuring it out.

ETA: Slight edit for improved sense.

[brokk.livejournal.com]

You forgot my reason for attending the many years I went. As an officer, it was your duty to go. I was an officer most of the time I lived in Carolingia and was active there. So I felt compelled to attend. Generally I was bored, but I went to fulfill my duty.