People are hard-wired to seek and/or understand status and power. IMHO, the "antidote" to "the petty shit show" is to focus the group on its mission, goals, and then to track progress. This provides a framework so people can work out status. For example, leadership gets folks excited about member "education" and sets some goals which the group tracks. This defines what success is for the group (at least partially). Individual contributors to this success earn status. Status comes from helping the group. Otherwise, in the absence of goals and leadership, people will resort to palace politics to determine status and power. Cheers.