Resurrection & penance

Abstract

The process of starting a CHI local SIC can appear daunting. The process of running a CHI local SIC ongoing-i.e., keeping things going and going-probably appears even more daunting; indeed, there have been a few cases of CHI local SIGs becoming dormant. Several previous columns have addressed the topics of starting a local SIC and keeping it going; for example, the January 99 column tells the tale of "Starting a S IGCHI Local Group in the Netherlands"; the April 97 column, "The Social Design of a Local SIC," describes key elements of the design of a sustained community; the January '97 column is about "Ensuring a Local SIG's Future: Fitting Into & Creating a Culture"; and the April 99 column provides advice regarding the many "Challenges Facing CHI Local SIGs." But, if a CHI local SIG has stopped functioning, how do you get it going again? What Leads to Local SIC Dormancy? The primary reason a few local SIGs have died appears to be the disappearance of the one key energetic leader-often the one who got the local SIC going in the first place. CHI-Atlanta (Georgia) stopped functioning a few years ago when its founder moved from the area. Lone Star CHI (Dallas / Ft. Worth, Texas) became dormant more recently when its leader moved from the area, and LA SIGCHI (Los Angeles, California) has suffered multiple periods of dormancy when different leaders moved away. CapCHI (Ottawa, Canada) became dormant in 1997 when the person who ran the chapter single-handedly for a long time burned out. After about 2 years of regular meetings, SwissCHI experienced an "unplanned intermission" of several months during 1998, because no one wanted to take the lead in setting up new meetings. A CHI-Austin (Texas) "pause" occurred for similar reasons. This is a problem local SIGs must try to avoid. It is very important to involve others who can play key leadership roles; such involvement readies others to take over if necessary and reduces the chance of leadership burnout. But, sometimes involving others can be difficult. Indeed, many local SIGs report difficulty finding volunteers and integrating those they do find within the leadership core. Other developments can lead to dor-mancy. Dormancy struck NUCHI (Northern Utah) and TriCHI (Research Triangle Park, North Caro-lina) when significant changes in the makeup of the industrial landscape in those areas greatly lowered the number of people interested in a local community. …