quote:

ORIGINAL: MasterFireMaam

Two words: benevolant dictatorship. This gets things done in a timely manner. Be sure to actively practice the benevolant part. Listen to what the members have to say, incoporate what they want if possibly...but ultimately, have just one, two or at most three, people make the decisions. The downside to this is that the group gets built around this structure/person.

Don't financially support the group out of your own pocket (if your are the leaders). Dues and fees for events are necessary. Pot luck works best for food.

While Bilaws may not be necessary, written rules about what is and isn't acceptable behavior are important. Put it in writing somewhere that prostitution, for example, isn't tolerated within the group.

If you want Bylaws, steal a blueprint from another group, then fix them to reflect your group. No need to reinvent the wheel.

The group I helped found even has a written policy about how Dominants should treat other Dominants. The group is a support group for Fem Doms. We felt it was important to have this document in order to really solidify that we're a Sisterhood.

Master Fire

quote:

ORIGINAL: MstrssPassion

If this is an informal group that is to remain an informal gathering of like-minded individuals then there really isn't a need for a lengthy list of rules & such

A munch is simply a gathering for people to come together in a very vanilla atmosphere. If you plan to hold these in public locations then you can always meet as the "computer group". Ive seen these held in banquet rooms at buffet style eateries & even in food courts at a mall. The location really depends on how much privacy you feel you require & most restaurants have small rooms or sections available for private parties.

As to the drama or possible conflicts between two groups. You might as well get use to the idea that there will always be drama. You can have 20 groups & still have drama. One group can say that another group is pulling THEIR members away... one group can say that they weren't welcome at another group thus creating a rumor of elitism. Drama doesn't get better when people branch off.... in fact, it gets much worse. (I've been faced with this whole scenario where fences were put up & everyone in the community had to pick a side & if you didn't, others placed you in one... it wasn't pretty)

If it isn't drama then it is grievances that the group is stagnant & too predictable or there aren't enough people my age attending, or as a recent post about munches mentioned-- there isn't a diversity of races-- the list could go on.

I have a question: are the issues with the first group so bad that they can't be resolved? The best way to resolve conflict is to address it. Drama is like a wildfire, you have to put out the flames before they get out of control. If you start spreading out the area where the flames were then all you end up doing is creating new wildfires that were stoked by the flames of the original fire.

quote:

ORIGINAL: ScreamerGirl

omg don't do it.

Running two different groups killed BDSM community for me in California.  Seriously.  I no longer belong to any community because it burnt me out so bad.

I know you're trying to get away from drama, and you might for awhile, but I can almost guarentee it'll pop up in your new group, too.  It always does. 

I find that sad.  But it's my experience.  /shrug