Advice: How to turn down a chair committee position for our school when I initially said yes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a board chair, just know that I’d be pissed to hear this late in the game. We have multi-year plans for chairs and officers and if one person bails after rosters are set, then it’s a scramble to adjust current plans as well as succession plans.

We have this happen every couple of years and everyone is always polite about it, but behind closed doors there’s a lot of resentment of people who commit and then back out. Usually there is plenty of time for discernment and making your decision so there’s no good reason to back out once you’re committed short of a spouse’s death or a move.

Just explaining how it feels from the other side so that you understand whatever hard feelings your decision prompts.

I would beg to differ. Most of the asks I have gotten did not leave a lot of time for discernment AND the time commitments were not entirely accurate.

[Anonymous]

Just say I can't do it, and tell them as soon as possible. They'll know you're a flake after this but it is what it is.

[Anonymous]

How do all of you know it’s last minute? How much notice are you giving? If this committee is supposed to start next week then it’s too late. You suck it up, chair it and learn the art of delegating.

If this was an initial sign up for a committee that hasn’t started and isn’t going to get up and running for weeks or months, you are fine. Send a one line email that you apologize but are no longer available. They can find someone else.