MoT #3: Fellowship, Variety, & Communication

2. Why Does FVC Matter?

To get a sense of why these factors matter, let's consider two clubs. Club Blah doesn't care about FVC, while Club RDG does.

Club Blah has the same meetings week after week. Its members are rather insular, broken up into a few different sub-groups that have lingering conflicts that often surface during meetings in the form of verbal jabs (or worse). The club does little to foster communication between members, and the officers don't bother announcing much beyond upcoming meetings. Club Blah then wonders why its members feel unmotivated to participate, unprepared for meetings, and guests unwilling to join. 

Club RDG, in contrast, hosts at least one special meeting per month, and regularly has different members (or special guests) rotating through roles. Meetings are more than just "themed"; they involve different, creative roles and really engage the audience. Conflicts are addressed and resolved, using a mediator if necessary, as appropriate. Tools to facilitate communication such as instant messaging and phone lists are provided. Expectations for communicating meeting setup and other issues are made clear; problems and roadblocks are communicated as early as possible so solutions can be implemented sooner and save everyone stress. Officers announce major initiatives such as contests, conferences, elections, and renewals up to two months ahead of time, and do so repeatedly through all the channels available. The club is challenged to meet monthly goals, and has a fun get-together if these goals are met. Club RDG has vastly more motivated members who are prepared for meetings, and guests want to be a part of it - and they know it's because they value FVC factors and actively work to evaluate and improve them.