Managing a growing workplace lunch contingent

DEAR AMY: I have been working at my job in the marketing department for five years. Three other co-workers and I started going out to lunch together every Friday. I loved hanging out with them. It was nice to get together and not talk about work. One day a person from the accounting department asked to join us for lunch. He always ate alone, so we welcomed him into our weekly lunch group. There have been several personnel changes and new hires in the accounting department. As a result, more people from the accounting group have joined the Friday lunch group. The group has now expanded to 13 people, which includes five people from accounting! We now have to take multiple cars and only go to places that can seat larger groups. Frankly, it's becoming more of a hassle than a fun experience. The group is just too big! I just want it to go back to the original Friday marketing lunch crew. How do I politely ask the accounting department to make their own separate lunch group and stop going with us?

--Lunch Time Woes

DEAR WOES: You don't have to ask the accounting department to stop doing something they're already doing.

You can, however, make some changes to your own routine.

If the other marketing members are also frustrated by the larger group and want to make different lunchtime plans, you marketers can pitch your idea to the accountants by telling the truth - with good humor.

You say, "Look, it was nice for a while. We had some good times.

"It's not you; it's us.

"We're marketing, you're accounting. You're left brain, we're right.

"It's not like we have to break up, but we'd like to enjoy a smaller group. Do you guys have ideas for how to manage?"