Same conversations but from different people in different places at different times this week…

When Clark was first diagnosed with cancer and during his treatment, we had to severely limit the amount of people coming and going into our home due to germs (no offense). Now that Clark is better, our front door has become the revolving door. The last few weeks have been a flurry of family and friends. Much bread has been broken at our kitchen table (even if it was of the pizza variety) and water was had (if indeed it might have been wine).

But we seem to been hearing the same conversations, not only here, but with different people in different places at different times.

It really comes down to a few phases and they are:

· Not in my backyard

· Cliques within (insert the name of some organization).

Not in my backyard or NIMBY. This is something I am familiar with and something I understand. A few years ago the City of Livermore was thinking about redevelopment of the Springtown Golf Course and my neighbors (and I) fought against for a variety of different reasons. It really came down to us saying “not in our backyard” and “not in my neighborhood”.

Currently there has been a controversy over a religious organization expanding their existing building in North Livermore. Many neighbors felt that the City and the Planning Commission had already made their approval before the meeting this week with the public.

It begs the question how far are you willing to go say “not in my backyard” and “not in my neighborhood”. It will be interesting to see where this all end because I think the battle has just only begun.

Now the second is just as important, and that is a clique within (insert the name of some organization).

Sadly, both Clark and I have heard from different people in different places at different times this week about cliques in an organization that we belong and frequent on a regular basis. This organization is awesome but one of the downfalls is the “cliques” (and to be honest it is more prevalent with the women).

In fact, there seems a huge difference on how men are welcomed into the group and how women are. It almost seems that if you are a woman, your introduction by others, per se to the group, is your path (good, bad or indifferent) to a clique but the men welcome each new member as a group.

So I ask? What cliques are in your organizations? Are they a hindrance, a hazard or help?

This are some of the conversations we have had with different people in different places at different times this week.