Hey all, wondering if anyone has had to deal with drinking casually at collective meetings, and has a good policy for how to set limits without ostrasizing people and looking like a tightass. Let us know, thanks, Ariel @ bikefarm
I had to chuckle when I read this one, but in all seriousness....
In Salt Lake we get more done when we start drinking _after_ our meetings. However, one beer during a meeting doesn't seem to make a huge difference. Make sure that if there is beer, there is food too to lessen the effects. The shy people start talking and the talkers kick it into overdrive.
I would say play it by ear. If you have people that aren't coming because of the drinking, then you should have dry meetings and those interested can hit the pub afterward. If you have minors or some people can't keep it to one beer a meeting then go dry for those reasons too.
On 10/15/07, Jonathan Morrison jonathan@slcbikecollective.org wrote:
In Salt Lake we get more done when we start drinking _after_ our meetings.
Heretic. In the number of activist groups I have been involved with over the year, I have never seen a problem when there was alcohol involved, at least when it was moderately involved. I have never seen anyone alienated because there was alcohol present.
Yeah, at the Bike Kitchen in SF we buy the adult beverages as volunteer appreciation, but save the drinking till after the decisions have been made...
On 10/15/07, ronald ferrucci ronald.ferrucci@gmail.com wrote:
On 10/15/07, Jonathan Morrison jonathan@slcbikecollective.org wrote:
In Salt Lake we get more done when we start drinking _after_ our meetings.
Heretic. In the number of activist groups I have been involved with over the year, I have never seen a problem when there was alcohol involved, at least when it was moderately involved. I have never seen anyone alienated because there was alcohol present.
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if you're going to have beer at meetings, make spaghetti while everyone gathers and socializes. start the actual meeting as soon as everyone's served and seated. (beer or no, this is a great way to start any meeting, imho.)
usually, this should give anyone but the lightest of weights the stomach to have even a couple-three drinks during a meeting without losing the thread. and if a meeting that begins with carbo-loading gets to the point where too many beers have been had, it's probably gone on too long anyhow.
that said, dry meetings are--in my experience--shorter, crisper and (arguably) more productive... in a purely outcome-oriented sort of way. but adding spirits and food to the mix make meetings less work (there's enough of that in the world as it is) and more sociality. and that's "productive" of human relationships--which must be at least as important as foundation funding and shop operations.
of course if you have a willing and tolerant teetotaler (or a gently domineering lush) on hand, asking them to facilitate may get you the best of both worlds!
grease, lugs, and rubber, benB chi bike project
Mario Bruzzone wrote:
Yeah, at the Bike Kitchen in SF we buy the adult beverages as volunteer appreciation, but save the drinking till after the decisions have been made...
On 10/15/07, ronald ferrucci ronald.ferrucci@gmail.com wrote:
On 10/15/07, Jonathan Morrison jonathan@slcbikecollective.org wrote:
In Salt Lake we get more done when we start drinking _after_ our meetings.
Heretic. In the number of activist groups I have been involved with over the year, I have never seen a problem when there was alcohol involved, at least when it was moderately involved. I have never seen anyone alienated because there was alcohol present.
Thethinktank mailing list Thethinktank@lists.bikecollectives.org
http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.o...
Thethinktank mailing list Thethinktank@lists.bikecollectives.org http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.o...
participants (5)
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An Undercover Cop -
Ariel raymon -
Jonathan Morrison -
Mario Bruzzone -
ronald ferrucci