Teams 2010?

[mla1977]

I liked the team concept in the beginning. I'm not against the concept now either, but I find that the people that I communicate with the most often here come from different teams. I've been a member of the Goofs for almost 2 years, but I really haven't been active in the group for several months. No offense to them, but I've always enjoyed the main thread the most (and I like the monthly thread instead of a weekly thread). I personally may not participate in the teams this year just to keep myself a little more organized.

 

[Steffwalks]

Hakuna Matata took a vote. Seems they want the team to continue.

As a team, we welcome any and all. We will be both a social and miles team, allowing each to choose his/her own way. We will recognize outstanding achievements in our team mates while enjoying our continued commarderie.

That being said, ANYONE who wishes to join us, come back to us, or just plain drop in is MORE THAN WELCOME! We will be glad to have you.

 

[aldisneygrl]

Ok, don't know if my feedback is going to help or not.

I have been a Buzzie for two years. I like the aspect of the miles/time because it made me be honest with my workouts. That being said, I think it has become a habit for me, so I will keep up with it whether I report it here or not. I have been truly thankful for Chris for doing it for our team for two years!!!!

From the social aspect, I was a much more active participant in the chatting last year than I was this year. I am a victim of LTO too. I tried to cheer folks on as I could. I also enjoyed getting to know a smaller group of folks, and I have gotten to know folks from other teams too. That being said, I totally ignored (not intentionally, just too much to keep up with) the weekly/monthly thread. Although, I do remember being overwhelmed by the weekly thread (pre-teams). It was ALOT to keep up with, but I have to say, I miss that old thread too.

I am willing to do whatever, 'cause that's the way I roll. I am willing to stay with the Buzzies, if we have enough, or am willing to be redistributed too. Oh, and if I get redistributed, could you take a little of my middle?

Thanks to Debra and all the leaders! I know it has been a lot of time and care to take on these teams, and I have enjoyed my time, and will continue to do so.

 

[solotraveler]

I'll go against the flow here. I liked the concept a couple of years ago, but keeping track of all the miles got to be time consuming with everything else and eventually I quit trying to keep up. So this past year, I didn't sign up knowing I wouldn't have any more time to keep track of everything.

As such, I found that if you weren't involved in a team it was alot more difficult to keep track of people. The weekly thread would be a few people but even then they didn't post much. Because of that the weekly thread turned into a monthly thread that usually didn't get over 5 pages or so. Trying to keep up with all the different teams so see what everyone was doing was hard as well. As a result, I found I wasn't spending as much time here as I did in the past.

The teams are probably good for some people but for anyone coming in and looking around, if they aren't outgoing normally, they will probably fade away without anyone knowing.

I think that the teams were an interesting idea when they were first introduced, but the necessity has since faded away. If anything, I think it's hurt the cohesion of the group as a whole. Without the tracking of miles and such, they become clique threads..... and once again the new folks (or heck, some people who have been around forever) really have no place to land.

I know it won't make a hill or beans difference, but I say go back to the weekly threads and see what happens.

 

[Duanerice]

First of all let me say I like my team although we did slow down quite a bit these last few months.

I was against renewing the teams last year. When I first joined WISH there used to be a lot more posts. You'd see everyone on the main board. The things people used to ask are now asked in the privacy of their teams. But, that might not be a bad thing because people might be asking things in the confines of their team that they wouldn't dare ask in the larger group.

Since we went with teams I lost touch with many people because they spent most of their time posting in their team. Nothing wrong with teams it is just I think the overall board has suffered because of it.

My vote is to not renew the teams. But if we do I want to be on one

Just my 2 cents.
Duane

 

[james'mommy]

I'd really like to join a team. How do I go about doing this?

 

[Steffwalks]

We welcome Jamesmommy to Hakuna Matata!!!

 

[smileyk8]

I've absolutely loved being a warrior- i agree that without that I would never have been able to keep up with one giant thread of everyone's progress. It just moves too quickly whilst i'm asleep!

Also hold my hands up that I haven't popped into other teams enough so would maybe set that as a challenge for myself or maybe suggest it as a team challenge one week!

For me the miles and minutes are quite important as they motivate me to get out and finish workouts. I love the accountability and the knowledge that I can get heaps of support and in return offer my own.

I'd vote for continue... love the warriors and we are always up for new members. Also massive thanks to tracy for all of her hard work!

 

[marathonmommy]

I have been a sometime lurker but really only started reading some of the threads right before the WDW Marathon/Half. I'm pretty sure I would like to be added to a "team". Where would I go about "officially" posting this request? Or does this suffice?

We welcome Jamesmommy to Hakuna Matata!!!

Hey . . . you forgot not-so lil' ol' me from Page 1!
LOL!

 

[TnTsParty]

Not sure what the Ducks want to do but I am interested in continuing with a team and I am even willing to be a captain or co-captain. As I said on the Ducks thread I am trying to get more involved this year then in the past.

 

[ryley26]

I'm all for keeeping the teams together. I can go either way on the mileage.

 

[Steffwalks]

Ooops! C'mon over MarathonMommy! We welcome everyone with open arms!

 

[corinnak]

I have definitely enjoyed being part of a team these past 2 years. I look back and I think it was something I decided to do so sort of casually and it has really shaped my WISH experience both on the boards and definitely at the races. I definitely feel like it gave me a toehold to figuring out who was who, and even when I met people from other teams, it was easy to find them online because I could go to their team thread and send a PM!

I've been a bit underreliable when it comes to the miles/minutes. It is not something I especially enjoy about being on the team and would like to see it become clearly optional, either by team or by individual.

I wold also like to see the teams become more of an "open enrollment" where new teammates could join whichever team they felt most comfortable with.

I also wonder if it would be fun to have a newbie thread "Class of 2010" that sort of thing with maybe some more experienced WISHers or teams either as host/hostess for the year or assigned monthly so we get to know the new people, too, and they get to meet us in a less overwhelming fashion - I definitely always felt overwhelmed and a little intimidated by the weekly thread as a new WISHer, though I am really sorry it's changed so much for the people who liked it as it was before so many of us new folks showed up.

Anyone who attended the POP meet knows how HUGE a group WISH has become. I can imagine it would be wholly daunting to a person who had never met another WISHer before, and I think that the Events and Competition board can be a similar experience for a newcomer. There are challenges with teams, yes, but I think what we gain by grouping into smaller clusters is that people don't feel so lost in the crowd. Everyone has a few friends and from there, believe me, you meet other friends little by little through the friends you have and also through chance.

I am torn between thinking it would be great to have a team shake-up and meet a bunch of new WISH friends, and the feeling that I don't want to lose the great team that I have been a part of for the past 2 years. Sorry - I'm no help!

 

[jbucci]

I am likewise no real help. I have really enjoyed my team and would love to remain a part of it. I too feel it helped me to get to know people a bit better.

I like the idea of team "mixers" were people are invited to answer a question or comment on a different teams' thread a certain day of the week. I think this worked well and was fun.

That being said, teams are a loose grouping of WISHers and should not exclude anyone. I think if the teams continue it should be with the understanding that they are open for all to read a particular thread and comment and not meant to keep people out or form exclusive cliques.

I love my team and would like to remain a part of it while trying my best to get to know even more WISHers.

 

[ghoulishgirl]

I had said before I was interested in a team and still am. I know a few people here and there and would love to meet more.

 

[WDWFAN9]

The only problem I have with teams is that they can be isolating if a person only posts on their particular team thread. I don't know how to balance needing to be part of a smaller group since WISH has gotten so big, and participating in the larger group....it is a dilemma alright!

 

[marathonmommy]

I also wonder if it would be fun to have a newbie thread "Class of 2010" that sort of thing with maybe some more experienced WISHers or teams either as host/hostess for the year or assigned monthly so we get to know the new people, too, and they get to meet us in a less overwhelming fashion - I definitely always felt overwhelmed and a little intimidated by the weekly thread as a new WISHer, though I am really sorry it's changed so much for the people who liked it as it was before so many of us new folks showed up.

Ooohhh! As a Newbie, I love the idea of having a Big Wish Brother/Sister!

 

[tiberius]

.

I wold also like to see the teams become more of an "open enrollment" where new teammates could join whichever team they felt most comfortable with.



I am torn between thinking it would be great to have a team shake-up and meet a bunch of new WISH friends, and the feeling that I don't want to lose the great team that I have been a part of for the past 2 years. Sorry - I'm no help!

I think you accomplish both in the same way, keep the teams as they are and just let the newer WISHers join teams that they want to join. This way each team keeps its more experienced base while gaining "new blood", which also gives the less experienced WISHers a solid support base within each team. This also keeps together the base of teams that have good chemistry. Anyone wanting to find a new team should feel free to do so. To not keep together the base of the last 2 years at some level seems akin to throwing out the baby with the bathwater.

I was one of those people who felt largely lost within WISH 2 years ago and the team base brought me much closer together to more WISHers sooner than I ever would have otherwise. To take this away will likely isolate the newer WISHers at the expense of the more experienced WISHers who already knopw people and know their way around.

 

[mickeyncldkd]

I would love to be on a team. I try last year, but I really did not know if I was on one or not. any team for me.

 

[disney_mommy]

I think the boards can be intimidating for a newbie. At least they were for me. If you're unfamiliar with the way they work, it can be hard to know where to start.

That being said, I was welcomed into my group very warmly. I found the tracking system spreadsheet easy to use but quickly tired of having to keep track of it. I keep track for my personal use, but didn't like having to keep transferring my numbers to the spreadsheet. Soon I stopped doing it, then I felt bad about skewing my team's numbers, so I stopped joining in their talks. But it looks like they have all kind of faded away, the last post for my team was December 29 in the November monthly thread.

Overall, I like the team concept, without the tracking of numbers. Maybe there can also be a monthly thread for everyone to chat? And I think the teams should stay as is, unless an individual wants to go to another team, in which case they should be reassigned. That way, if a team gets too large and someone doesn't like it, they can join a smaller group. Or, whoever is in charge can create a new group meant to be more intimate.

And maybe instead of having Debra oversee everything, there could be several people doing several smaller things. That way one person isn't overworked.

Okay, those are my opinions. Thanks for asking for them, Debra! It's nice to be heard.