diff --git a/slack/channels.py b/slack/channels.py
index 1b497c6..cf8a69a 100644
--- a/slack/channels.py
+++ b/slack/channels.py
@@ -3,32 +3,21 @@
 #
 from . import api
 from . import auth
-from . import chat
 from . import threads
-from . import users
 
 
 class Channel(threads.Thread):
     def __init__(self, json):
         threads.Thread.__init__(self, json)
         self.api_history = "channels.history"
+        self.api_info    = { "call" : "channels.info", "ret" : "channel" }
         self.api_mark    = "channels.mark"
         self.__member    = json.get("is_member", False)
 
-    def do_fetch_info(self):
-        return info(self.id())
-
     def is_member(self):
         return self.__member
 
 
-
-def info(channel):
-    ret = api.call("channels.info", token = auth.token(), channel = channel)
-    if ret["ok"] == False:
-        return None
-    return ret["channel"]
-
 def list():
     ret = api.call("channels.list", token = auth.token())
     if ret["ok"] == False:
diff --git a/slack/groups.py b/slack/groups.py
index 949fd03..f557137 100644
--- a/slack/groups.py
+++ b/slack/groups.py
@@ -10,18 +10,9 @@ class Group(threads.Thread):
     def __init__(self, json):
         threads.Thread.__init__(self, json)
         self.api_history = "groups.history"
+        self.api_info    = { "call" : "groups.info", "ret" : "group" }
         self.api_mark    = "groups.mark"
 
-    def do_fetch_info(self):
-        return info(self.id())
-
-
-
-def info(group):
-    ret = api.call("groups.info", token = auth.token(), channel = group)
-    if ret["ok"] == False:
-        return None
-    return ret["group"]
 
 def list():
     ret = api.call("groups.list", token = auth.token())
diff --git a/slack/im.py b/slack/im.py
index 1a72411..271f1a9 100644
--- a/slack/im.py
+++ b/slack/im.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ class IM(threads.Thread):
     def __init__(self, json):
         threads.Thread.__init__(self, json)
         self.api_history = "im.history"
+        self.api_info    = { "call" : "im.open", "ret" : "channel" }
         self.api_mark    = "im.mark"
         self.__uid       = json.get("user")
         self.__user      = users.info(self.__uid)
@@ -20,17 +21,11 @@ class IM(threads.Thread):
     def url(self, base):
         return "%s/messages/@%s/" % (base, self.__user.user())
 
-    def do_fetch_info(self):
-        return info(self.id(), self.__uid)
+    def call_fetch_info(self):
+        return api.call(self.api_info["call"], token = auth.token(),
+                            user = self.__uid, return_im = True)
 
 
-
-def info(im, uid):
-    ret = api.call("im.open", token = auth.token(), user = uid, return_im = True)
-    if ret["ok"] == False:
-        return None
-    return ret["channel"]
-
 def list():
     ret = api.call("im.list", token = auth.token())
     if ret["ok"] == False:
diff --git a/slack/threads.py b/slack/threads.py
index eaa74e5..cfc15ef 100644
--- a/slack/threads.py
+++ b/slack/threads.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ from . import chat
 # This class represents a slack "thread", which could be a channel, group,
 # or chat.  Note that child classes need to define the following variables:
 #
-# - do_fetch_info():  Call <whatever>.info to find unread count and timestamp.
+# - self.api_info:    The slack api method and return code to find channel info
 # - self.api_history: The slack api method to find unread messages
 # - self.api_mark:    Call <whatever>.mark to set unread cursor.
 #
@@ -28,12 +28,16 @@ class Thread:
             topic = "\nTopic: %s" % self.__topic
         return "%s: %s%s" % (self.__name, self.__purpose, topic)
 
+    def call_fetch_info(self):
+        return api.call(self.api_info["call"], token = auth.token(),
+                                               channel = self.__id)
+
     def fetch_info(self):
-        json = self.do_fetch_info()
-        if json != None:
-            self.__unread  = json.get("unread_count", None)
-            self.__last_ts = json.get("last_read", None)
-            self.__id      = json.get("id", 0)
+        json = self.call_fetch_info()
+        if json["ok"] == True:
+            self.__unread  = json[self.api_info["ret"]].get("unread_count", None)
+            self.__last_ts = json[self.api_info["ret"]].get("last_read", None)
+            self.__id      = json[self.api_info["ret"]].get("id", 0)
 
     def fetch_messages(self):
         json = api.call(self.api_history, token = auth.token(),