To not want to join a Facebook chat to join a committee?

[Maria53]

First world problem here. Never joined a committee, joining one for the first time. I have never met most of the members and said I'd first like to meet them in a zoom call and take it from there.

So now the chair has added me on facebook and emailed me to say she wants to add me to the group chat. I rarely use Facebook and when I do it is mainly for close friends and family only. My idea of hell is having to use it as the main source of communication as a committee member. Do you think this is weird/intrusive? Or is it just me.

[Aroundtheworldin80moves]

Many people find it convenient. Messenger is a separate app to Facebook, so you don't need to be friends.

[Kerberos]

Yep it's normal to have a committee instant chat. Makes it easier to sort things between meetings.

[Maria53]

The chair said she has added me as a friend so that she can add me to the chat?

I understand that. I am just not a big facebook user as it is and hate the thought of having to use it all the time now. I haven't met them so I dont know if they send 10 memes a day or if it is actually used to organise without constant chit chat.

[Citylady88]

In my experience this is very normal. Most committees in recent years have required me to be in a chat or group on messenger or WhatsApp. A committee is usually a pretty small group & the chat functions would only be active just before or after a meeting or if something really urgent occurs.

[SchrodingersImmigrant]

you can mute the chat on a messenger so you look when it's convenient for you. and no, you don't have to have them as friends on facebook.

[StillCoughingandLaughing]

If that’s how the committee works, you either put up with it or don’t join the committee. No one will thank you for trying to change things the minute you join.

[TheSandman]

@Wearywithteens

I hate Facebook and do not want to be coerced into using it. I would not join the committee.

This.

Glad I'm not the only one.

[ScrapThatThen]

We had to for girlguiding. I was annoyed at first but it was useful and easy. If you rarely use then it doesn't seem intrusive.

[Maria53]

Yeah I know I cant just breeze in and request for things to be changed!

I think I'll just need to join, make a friendly introduction and mention I'm not big on Facebook so may take me a day or 2 to reply. If I can mute the chat that is good news. I only see it being an issue if they are constantly chatting and I am clearly missing things as a result.