"We don't need no stinking badges."

-Treasure of Sierra Madre*

The IDY Approach

Design for a New Era 

The Typical Organization 

    In a typical organization of 100 people, there are about 5 people doing all the work. Those people know what they're doing, are self-motivated, and work together as a team for the most part. The achievements of the organization are really those of the 5 people. The entire organization takes credit for a job well done, and the 5 people are lucky if they get a "thanks" from the members. 

   That thankless effort would be endurable by the doers, but for the formal organization structure. Since there are a 100 members, those 5 doers have to get the permission of the other 95 people, and account to them for everything they've done and every penny they've spent. This requires a formal structure with elected officers, member voting, by-laws and procedures, committee coordination, and a series of rather boring meetings where nothing gets done, except the occasional vote of approval to go forward with the next step of a project - that's IF you get on the agenda, and IF they have time to get to it, and IF the majority of the board decides to approve it. Control suffocates action.

    The result is that projects which could be done in weeks take years, good ideas die from lost momentum, once-enthusiastic members resign in disgust, and the organization of fuddy-duddies rumbles on, accomplishing nothing. In fact, the group never moves forward unless everybody takes their foot off the brake.  Complainers and people who love to hear themselves speak become the only audience at the meetings, while the board of directors evolves into a panel of well-meaning masochists getting no help from the audience members.

Working with Doers

    IDY is composed of just the doers, those 5 people who don't need permission or motivation from others to get things done. IDY drops the dead weight of those who just want to complain but not help in any way, and thereby skips the wasted organizational structure for reporting to the non-doers. There is no hierarchy, no officers, no dues, no by-laws, and no stinking badges.  

     Instead, we are project-oriented. We're a Dirty Dozen, A-Team, Mission Impossible, Mother Theresa combo. We get the job done.  Who wants to do "X"? Those people gather together, decide what they're going to do and how, and then proceed independently to fulfill their goal. They don't have to ask Daddy's permission to play ball. They don't have to meet someone else's time table. They have the power to make whatever adjustments in their plan that they see fit, without having to run it by some overlord.  They can actually accomplish the good things they were trying to do without a procedural ball and chain in tow. It's refreshing for the doers, and a reason so many are joining.

    Meanwhile, IDY itself serves as a coordinator of activities, a clearing house for volunteers, a promoter of activities, and a resource center to enable these various projects to succeed. It is not an "umbrella" organization by any means, nor is it trying to sell an "IDY" brand of goods or services. IDY invites other organizations to participate in these projects, to do what they can to help it along, but WITHOUT seizing control for their own purposes. In this way, ego and territory battles are kept to a minimum, and pure action is the only rule. 

    The work is not done at the general meetings, which are ONLY for reports on what has been done so we know and can coordinate, and an introduction for newcomers. The work is done in individual groups on the given projects, and time is not wasted. Information is posted as available on this website, and suggestions, ideas, and comments are similarly entered here for public sharing on line. The time of doers is valuable, and IDY respects that. 

    We accomplish more by all working together, not by having too many chiefs and not enough Indians.  Organizations split up the doers, like dividing the spoils, and then bicker over who will take credit for anything that is done.  If we can all work together to make certain things happen, as a team effort, Idyllwild can enjoy the fruits of its labor.  We can be a model community.

Does it Work?

    Here is the proof. Since its October 6, 2005 first meeting, IDY already has a Renaissance Faire and Shakespeare Festival underway, with an impressive organizational board. Community Dances at Town Hall are coming back starting December 2nd. A series of free public seminars of a variety of interesting subjects is being presented at Java Lounge on Thursdays. Lists of health-related services and fun activities are being compiled for the benefit of local residents and visitors. A promotional video is in the works. A centralized community calendar will be put online and printed, permitting each organization to post and update its own activities, for display to the interested public. The lodging industry is being encouraged to use a centralized reservation system to facilitate year-round vacations, conferences, and cultural events, boosting local business and their own. A modern-day council of elders [to be lovingly called "Bunch of Wise Guys"] is being assembled to exploit the accumulated genius and experience of our retired men and women to help the community in a wide variety of areas. More activities for the young people will be provided, and additional activities and programs for the general public will be forthcoming.  

     So, does it work? Compared to the typical organization trying to operate in the traditional way, yes.  Would people be more willing to contribute to a given project where the donation [money, goods, or services] will only be used for that purpose, than they would want to pay dues?  Most likely.  Do the projects get done without someone over their backs cracking a whip?  Apparently so, since those who are working on it wanted to do that in the first place, and don't need the additional motivation of pain. Can people be trusted to do good without having them account to the other 95 members who are doing nothing? Yes, since it was their idea to donate their time and effort to this fun project, anyway.  If this kind of organization catches on, what will become of the by-law writers, the parliamentarians, the little people with power, the minutes scribes, and gavel manufacturers?  Sadly, they will lose their jobs, but IDY's job posting page and rehabilitation services will help them find more productive uses of their time, and get a life. 

How Can I Join IDY? 

    You can't.  There is no membership. If you want to work on one of our ongoing projects, or start your own, that you can do. We'll put you in touch with others who are interested in the same thing, and provide support to make it a success.

Can I Donate Money, Goods or Services to IDY?

    No. IDY has no bank account, no offices, no structure to collect or account for such donations, nor [as yet] no 501(c)(3) charitable structure. You can only donate to a particular project, according to what they need. We can put you in touch with the project, and you can donate directly to it, OR you can let us know that you are willing to make a particular type of donation, and when one of our projects needs that, we will put you in touch. How's that for simple?

All those in favor, don't say "Aye," contact us.

Officers
None

Directors
None

By-laws
None

Hierarchy
None

General Funding
None

Expenses
None

Offices
None

Secret Passwords
None

Ceremonies
None

Stinking Badges
None

Dues
None

Complainers
None

Official Handshakes
None

All-Talkers
None

General Voting
None

Referrals to Rule Committees
None

Parliamentarians
None

Dead Weight
None

Long Boring Meetings
None

Pledge of Allegiance and Invocations
None

Blustry Diatribes
None

Frustration with Bureaucratic Bumbling
None

Doers
A lot, and more each day

Accomplishments
Those at left in under 2 months, more each week

Teamwork
Like it should be

Enthusiasm
Working with others who share the same goal? Yes!

Fun Doing It
Working with the most amazing people, achieving your common goals? Yes!