Name
Address
Date etc
Dear Trustees/Committee Members/Other sorts of Governors/Boss (retain which one applies and delete the others)
Resignation
I am delighted to declare that after a period of more prevarication than prudence, I have realised that continued involvement with this organisation is seriously undermining my will to live.
I’m sure that repeating myself more and more stridently each time we meet will have been as unpleasant for you as it has been for me. Accordingly, I declare my intention to move on. This will create a space where the status-quo (which might also be regarded as galloping mediocrity) may continue to thrive, unimpeded by my clearly unwelcome tuppenny’s worth.
(You should feel free to delete the next two paragraphs and insert a few pithy comments that sum up your own unique set of circumstances. The comments below might suggest the general gist…)
I think I have made a fair contribution in terms of time and expertise over the years. My skills are accumulated over forty years. For twenty of them, those skills would have been paying more of my mortgage had I been more adept at resisting invitations to serve on bodies such as this. More fool me. It has taken a long time to come to the realisation that those paying to access my wisdom treat it with far more respect than those who have asked and received it for nothing.
The law of averages would indicate that there are probably NOT another able-bodied twenty years available for me to squander unpaid time wallowing in the mire of poor practice every time it raises its recidivist head.
(Back to the template…)
Further, there comes a time when one should pursue activities that bring joy. Such as being creative, or digging a garden, or being paid to share wisdom with audiences who if not willing are at least lucrative.
You may be tempted to dismiss these as the rantings of a petulant and disillusioned cynic – and you may be right. But I suggest (in the interests of sound succession planning) you would ignore to the peril of this organisation, the knowledge that these views are also the views of an increasingly self-centred cohort of younger people who fail to see the point of participating in any sort of “contributing” activity that either fails to get results or takes too long in the process to get there.
It will be a shame to move on from the stars among you. There is fulfilment in working alongside people who think and have energy. They should hold fast to their sense of adventure, ability to innovate, and idealism regarding the value of contribution. We should all note that the mantle of stardom is not ageist.
Unfortunately, the pleasure of working with stars can no longer outstrip the lethargy that those who lack stardom can promulgate. In choosing to release all activity that fails to bring me joy, I’m delighted to advise that (insert the appropriate name here) has made the cut!
Best regards etc…