Teams 2010?

[solotraveler]

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.

For as nice as this idea sounds, if the past two years have shown anything, it's that people just won't do both.

I'm sure there are a lot of wonderful people on here that I've never seen because they tend to stick to the team threads... and perhaps more importantly, good questions asked and answered in those threads that never make it out to the group as a whole.

Also, there were a lot of mentions after this year's marathon weekend regarding lack of communication about events and such..... another thing that is really tough with folks sticking to their individual team threads.

 

[lenshanem]

I'll go wherever I'm told to go.

I do miss out on quite a few people, though cause of the teams. The weekly thread isn't what it used to be, and I admit I am one of the ones that really quit posting there and just starting checking in with my team time to time.

 

[Steffwalks]

Solotraveler:

I'm sure there are a lot of wonderful people on here that I've never seen because they tend to stick to the team threads... and perhaps more importantly, good questions asked and answered in those threads that never make it out to the group as a whole.

Also, there were a lot of mentions after this year's marathon weekend regarding lack of communication about events and such..... another thing that is really tough with folks sticking to their individual team threads.

Solotraveler, I think you are right in most ways. We could correct the problem you have though, by having the captains (who would have considerable less responsibility if they don't keep the hours and miles) post any interesting questions and comments in an individual thread for lots of input! It would also be more interesting to have the "ice cream social" done as an open thread too!

 

[corinnak]

Solotraveler:

Solotraveler, I think you are right in most ways. We could correct the problem you have though, by having the captains (who would have considerable less responsibility if they don't keep the hours and miles) post any interesting questions and comments in an individual thread for lots of input! It would also be more interesting to have the "ice cream social" done as an open thread too!

To quote Steven Tyler- because that happens so often: "Wait a minute. I LOVE this idea!"

 

[GBBTomorrow]

Question about teams: are these meant primarily for people doing the Disney races in a particular year? I did the marathon (wahoo!) this year, but it will be a couple of years before I'm able to do another Disney race. I'll be limited to local races for the time being. So would a team still be appropriate for someone in that situation?

 

[goofyinohio]

Question about teams: are these meant primarily for people doing the Disney races in a particular year? I did the marathon (wahoo!) this year, but it will be a couple of years before I'm able to do another Disney race. I'll be limited to local races for the time being. So would a team still be appropriate for someone in that situation?

Absolutely!

 

[tiberius]

Question about teams: are these meant primarily for people doing the Disney races in a particular year? I did the marathon (wahoo!) this year, but it will be a couple of years before I'm able to do another Disney race. I'll be limited to local races for the time being. So would a team still be appropriate for someone in that situation?

They started out with a component of friendly competition among them, although they also work as a smaller and tighter support structure for training, racing, and general purpose discussion. You could drop in on anyone of the team threads and scan through to get a general feel for them. No current racing goal is needed to participate.

 

[laxdef69]

Question about teams: are these meant primarily for people doing the Disney races in a particular year? I did the marathon (wahoo!) this year, but it will be a couple of years before I'm able to do another Disney race. I'll be limited to local races for the time being. So would a team still be appropriate for someone in that situation?

Definitely...I've never done a disney race (I will one day) but my team, and some of the other threads got me through my Ironman training, so absopostivelylutely a team is appropriate!

 

[GBBTomorrow]

Thanks for the info. I'm definitely interested!

 

[princessbride6205]

I'm a relative Newbie, as until now I've stuck to the Biggest Loser challenge thread. I would like to join a team, but as others have said, it feels kind of overwhelming. I'm up for anything, though I did like Corinna's idea of having new members join a team that they click with.

 

[wfloyd]

A problem with letting people choose their own teams is the whole thing will start looking like a clique. Then if one team starts getting most of the people because they seem to be more social, we are right back where we were 2 years ago trying to figure out how to make the threads smaller. Since it seems that most people like the teams because of smaller groups, without someone managing them they have the distinct possibility of getting too large.

I tried to keep up with several people on the different threads but it started to take too much time to find all the different team threads or special interest threads that people were posting on. As such, I started losing touch with alot of the people just because I didn't have enough time.

 

[Sandy321]

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!

I'm also torn with the dilemma...

what is the goal? what is the "mission" of WISH? How does the team concept fit with the goal/mission?

My problems is "ME"... I am not consistent. I am not consistent with my training, so I am not posting - if I'm not posting, I'm not training. I started a pre trip report, and a few runners joined - I tried to get them to come to WISH, but they were more comfortable in my pre trip report ...

because of the weekly thread, I felt like I belonged - I got a thrill when I opened page one and read my name as part of the WISH team! I however, couldnt keep up with that thread - some were so great in acknowledging every single poster - and asking for updates - again, I felt like I mattered, my training mattered...

going to events that the WISH team were showing up, and searching for the whole SCREAMING YELLOW shirts - I knew I belonged.

that mattered.

When a family member had a crisis, I posted - and felt comforted. When he chose to do a triatholon - again, I came to WISH and found help!

that mattered.

Going this Jan to the WISH events I truly felt like I was "pushy" not really sure - seeing the "teams" excited and gathering... I didnt feel left out necessarily - because it was "my choice" not to be more active on a team thread (I didnt really figure if I belonged) I saw the volunteer thread - and I jumped on it - again, in a small way I felt I was probably being "pushy"

So from my not being on a team - I felt more on the outside. I did read a team was going to Beaches and Cream for a meet - and I really thought about showing up - but I wasnt that pushy!

at the Boardwalk Bakery meet - that felt more team like than the Pop meet - the Pop meet was overwhelming - BUT... is it because the pre race vs post race?

and the weather thru a wrench in every one's travel and race days -

The bottom line, you cant please all the people all the time!

and to belong, maybe just maybe you have to be a bit "pushy"! (and you have to train, and not hide!)

 

[Sandy321]

another thought..

virtual Turkey Trot...

what if we have a few more "virtual" races - and threads? that may be a way to delete the weekly totals - but to still participate virtually?

I love seeing the sigs with the virtual turkey trot - and I wonder if it would work - a spring virtual race? memorial day? 4th of July? Labor Day? Halloween? etc??

I still know I get "out" of WISH what I put "in" to WISH.... with all the threads - I think having that page 1 be of the weekly thread - who we are etc...

 

[TnTsParty]

I like the idea of more virtual races as a team. That was fun.

 

[deekaypee]

Oh, I'm so not the person to try to sort this out....Too much of a control freak, too few imaginative ideas!

I've been reading the thread, lurking on the team threads, and trying to get a sense of things. From what I understand, a (sort of) collective response to the teams seems to be

1) People appreciate the smaller, intimate teams, especially as WISH gets bigger, for team members of active threads, and new WISHers who want to get involved.
2) But people are concerned for about the effects of the teams on the WISH team as a whole, both terms of online activities (weekly/monthly thread, talking with other WISHers, getting more feedback outside one's team, the worries about emergent cliques & feelings of outsiderness) and at physical WISH meets.

It sounds as if the teams will continue in one form or another, whether as a challenge or more like a social thread (like the Bots, the Leaners, or any of the event-oriented threads like the Princess). They seem to serve a purpose for many people. But like others, I'd like to see the team aspect enable more interaction between all members of WISH. Best of both worlds.

So it looks like we're trying to brainstorm ways to balance the benefits of #1 with the concerns of #2?

At this point, I guess, it would help us most to get a stronger sense of how to move forward with the teams in ways that will work for the members of the smaller teams and for the WISH team as a whole.

I've heard a lot of ideas and would like a stronger idea of which ones have the most support.:

• Keep the Miles & Minutes
• Ditch the Miles & Minutes
• Have each team run their own challenge
• Shuffle the teams entirely
• Keep the teams & assign new players
• Keep the teams and let people join at will
• Reinstitute the mixer, but don't keep it to a team thread
• More virtual races

From what I read, it doesn't sound as there's overwhelming support to either reshuffle the teams entirely. And there might be a mutiny if I tried. And more people seem lukewarm about the miles & minutes aspect to the challenge than seem to support it.

(While in theory, keeping track shouldn't be a headache for people --especially those of us who keep track of personal numbers already--it appears to become a chore/something to feel guilty about for many. Maybe it's the cyclical nature of our training with the rest of lives, with LTO/WTO for many of us over the course of a year? It's the same thing with posting to both team threads and the weekly one. In theory there's enough time...)

So, what do you think? What are the best ideas for keeping the teams together & keeping the WISH team one big happy?

Suggestions are welcome from EVERYONE, but I'd like to see some consensus from the teams.

Teams: To help facilitate this decision-making, I'd like all team members to take that extra step, go that extra mile (sorry, couldn't resist) to address concerns about the teams' effect. Talk amongst themselves, brainstorm, and have your representative make suggestions. Are you willing to be disbanded and reformed as a new group, starting new teams for an entirely new game with new teammates? If not a miles & minutes challenge, then what? People assigned to your roster or a join-at-will? What could you do to reach out to other WISHers? Etc.

Once teams have reached some sort of consensus, or a collection of ideas, could one person post them to this thread?

Again, I'm not saying only that person should post to the thread, or if you don't belong to a team you have no voice. Not at all! Everyone's input matters. It's just that we have no hierarchical organization here, which means decision-making difficult. And I'm most certainly not in charge--can't make me, don't wanna be, don't volunteer me to put this into effect--just the person who's trying to get us to a rough agreement.

 

[TnTsParty]

I started a new thread for the Triple D's for the new year. I wasn't the captain or even the co-captain but I am willing to step up and take a leadership role within the team if needed. I figured by starting a new thread for our team for the year I could try and get an idea on what direction our team wants to take. I do remember some members on the December thread saying they are willing to continue as a Duck and the new thread I created already got us a new member to the team - Welcome Liz.

Thank you Debra for trying to get all the ideas together. Its easier to decipher when its spelled out the way you did in your last post.

 

[liznboys]

Now that I've been on the WISH boards for about a year, I decided I wanted to join a team. And after following this thread and many other threads over the past year I thought I'd just jump in and request to be on one.

So obviously I like the team thing. Seems to me it's essential in a big group. And having planned gatherings (threads/events) to keep the entire WISH group connected is a great idea.

I LOVED the virtual Turkey trot that Tracy did, that was so much fun. So more virtual races are a great idea I think!

The idea of a central just for fun/question of the week (or month) thread sounds like a great idea to bring all WISHers together. I like the idea of it being a separate thread not within any one team...so that even those who are not on any team at all are included.

Just my 2 cents! Thank you Debra!

 

[corinnak]

Sandy!!!! I'm so glad I had a chance to meet you at the Boardwalk - you are a delight and any team would be lucky to get you (it's selfish of me to hope you end up on Ohana, but I still hope it)!!

Debra - thanks for summing everything up! Sometimes I wish we had more structure in place but then that would frustrate some people, too.

 

[disney_mommy]

I'm giving my opinions as an individual:

Ditch the miles/minutes.

Have each team do their own challenges.

Have the team "captains" create WISH-wide challenges.

Let one person keep track of team players only. Have everyone who wants to stay on their team do that. Everyone else can let the tracker know and that person can assign someone to a team. The goal can be to keep the teams to a manageable level, starting new teams as necessary.

Have the team "captains" start the virtual races.

Have the team "captains" start monthly WISH-wide threads for those that want to talk to members of other teams. Also have them discuss and organize meets at events.

Each team can elect a "captain," or the members of a team can rotate as "captains."

 

[scoolover]

I am not a big fan of the teams but if you are not in one, there isn't much action around here. I volunteered to be a captain for the new team a year ago because I did feel left out when I wasn't on one. That really didn't help as my team never really got going. I'll take some blame but I think the newbies jumped in with both feet but most lost interest quickly and didn't stick around. The team never got any traction.

Is everyone posting their race reports on the team threads because I have not seen one yet?