f fifteen was mentioned previously. This number was arrived at because it was the minimum number that would allow for inclusion of the divisions and territories. The are times when special committees are formed and at those times the numbers tend to be around that magic number of five for effective work groups. The number of members being 15 is not a detractor in many cases. In a setting such as this, diversity of viewpoint and background is critical, so the large number of members is appropriate. Leadership StylesThe DAPC has an elected chairperson and 3 non-voting advisory staff that are there to provide detailed investigation and information on policy and procedure. The chairperson is elected from the group and serves at the will of the membership. There have been several chairpersons in my tenure on the committee and for the most part, they have retained their understanding of the equality of viewpoint and led in such a way that would be closer to the servant leader model than that of the authoritarian. There are no set guidelines for the leadership role, but most of the chairpersons that I have been involved with have retained their perspective on the position.There is some delegation of authority in the committee, and as mentioned before, there are times when sub-committees are formed. In those instances, a lead is appointed, or it may be more true to say, a volunteer arises who will spearhead the effort. These are individual members of the group whose leadership styles vary greatly. They may have very little leadership experience and this can be an opportunity for personal growth.Communication FactorsThe membership of the group, with their diverse personalities and attitudes sometimes have difficulty communicating effectively. There are many factors that influence communicationeducation and social norms to name only two. The level of sophistication in the group does not lend itself to smooth communication. There are...
