Update on Teams

[smileyk8]

I totally agree with the above- Dave you're an absolute star and i have loved every minute of being a warrior. I really hope you stay massively involved as it was partly your baby. I am more than happy to post monthly totals to make it easier to manage as long as i get to harrass my little warriors with what i'm upto!

 

[lenshanem]

My team was never very chatty or active. There were a handful of us that posted our totals regularly and I liked doing that. It helped keep me accountable I think. I liked having a place to record what I was doing.

I would like to remain on a team but honestly I don't know if my team is going to keep going. It felt like it was kind of petering out at the end. I'd love to be on any team once a decision is made.

Thanks!

Allyson

I have to agree with Allyson, our team really never took off. I felt left out this year, the WISH was almost broken up into cliques. I even kinda felt that way at the WISH Pop meet, like everyone was broken up into their groups and I felt kinda lost. Sorry, I know I'm being a real drag and I apologize - I don't mean any ill feelings at all. I love that the WISH forum is here.

 

[windwalker]

I have to agree with Allyson, our team really never took off. I felt left out this year, the WISH was almost broken up into cliques. I even kinda felt that way at the WISH Pop meet, like everyone was broken up into their groups and I felt kinda lost. Sorry, I know I'm being a real drag and I apologize - I don't mean any ill feelings at all. I love that the WISH forum is here.

I'm so very sorry you had such a bad experience with the teams, it's stories like yours that tells me I failed and why I think someone else could a better job. I didn't ever intend to cause anyone to feel left out my intention was just the opposite, I wanted for everyone to feel they had a home.

Dave

 

[laxdef69]

You didn't fail; I felt welcomed by my team and by most of the rest of the disers.

Thank you for the time and effort you put in!

Mike

 

[dsnyfan21]

Dave?? DId you read most of the other posts.....hello??? I don't think you failed and if you read the other posts it just goes to show you. Not everyone will enjoy the same things.

I think about 99% of the people on all of the teams would agree with me. Please don't step down totally out of this. That will be a killer of all of the teams and I think that would be even more of a disappointment!!

Caring Tracy

 

[windwalker]

Dave?? DId you read most of the other posts.....hello??? I don't think you failed and if you read the other posts it just goes to show you. Not everyone will enjoy the same things.

I think about 99% of the people on all of the teams would agree with me. Please don't step down totally out of this. That will be a killer of all of the teams and I think that would be even more of a disappointment!!

Caring Tracy

Tracy, Mike, thank you. Yes I read the other responses, but yes I take each persons feelings personally. Heck you know how I feel about you guys. I'll talk to Lily about it and see what we can come up with.

Dave

 

[lenshanem]

Dave, you didn't fail. It is obvious just from this thread that many really enjoyed their groups. Our group just didn't take off. I really didn't intend to make you feel bad, I know you put alot of work into this and you were an inspiration to us all. I think many people would be upset if you backed out of this, I know alot of people got to really depend on their teams. Like Allyson said if anyone from our team wants to be put on another team I think that would be fine. Our team basically is non-active. My only wish is that people would drop into the weekly thread from time to time so we know they're still here. I think people got comfortable with their little groups and thus didn't venture on the other threads as much anymore. Dave, really I'm sorry! Please don't take me the wrong way. My experience was not the majority - you did a great job.

 

[ms.mightyduck]

Dave, please don't feel badly--there isn't an easy way to balance the big group-small group dynamic. We all know you love us.

 

[3DisneyKids]

Another vote for the smaller teams. It made all the difference for me.

 

[bubba73]

Dave This is a Disney site so I feel very secure in quoting from a song from The Lion King, "Can You Feel the Love Tonight?". Trust me when I say you didn't fail us. You don't have to look any further than me to see that. I have never been a runner or a walker. I have never once thought about doing any races. I have never been a true member of the WISH at all until the teams came about. I didn't know who Dave, Tracy, Debra, Betsy or anybody else was. It took me almost a month to figure out where to go to post my miles and time because I had never seen this portion of the boards. Now, I have completed 3 races and preparing for my 4th. I have a ton of people that I feel like I can talk too about anything that is going on and truly call my friends. And I have a tendency to talk more than some of you want to read. (If only I could have had this voice at the meet. It really hurts being deaf in one ear.) Nobody has a gift for everything but you do have a very special gift. A gift that shouldn't be taken lightly. Your gift is that you care and that is one thing that we all need. No matter what. You will always be our leader of the pack!

Be strong O Wise Panda!!!
Bryan

 

[funwalker]

Dave, a huge thanks for all the time & effort you put into the TEAMS!

Another Vote for the smaller Teams. I love our Team- they are a great group of people in the bigger WISH Group. They make us feel welcome, they encourage, and motivate us as individuals which is very difficult to do with the larger group.

lenshanem- I think this is normal - I did not know many people only had met a few in person. I did not feel comfortable just going up to others in the 'Bigger Group' meeting, but did talk to several WISHers that I met at the Expo or the Parks. But I know it is me, my personality, and not that they didn't want to include me.

I felt left out this year, the WISH was almost broken up into cliques. I even kinda felt that way at the WISH Pop meet, like everyone was broken up into their groups and I felt kinda lost.

 

[windwalker]

Ok, if it's ok with Lily, I'll get the teams going again next monday. I have to work some 12 hr shifts till then. I do want to make it simplier and I have a couple of people who have offered to help with the work. I have some ideas on how to make it go smoother and keep it more better good for everyone.

Thanks for the support and kind words.

Byran sometimes it just takes a while to realize that there is more to you than you ever imagined. You are changed forever now.

Margie, you are a ray of sunshine, I've known you for years and find you very deep and wonderful. I know several wishers who think of you as a best bud, not just on the team either.

Tracy Darlin, you are a force of nature, I really enjoyed meeting you, yes we will someday race competitively together. Maybe in 20 years or so when you turn 50 we can do a Senior Olympics together.

Dave

 

[TnTsParty]

I am glad the vote was to keep the groups. I for one am kinda shy when I meet people in person. I wasnt able to go to the POP meet or the meet at the bakery on Monday (we were on our way to check into POP from the Dolphin - and I was moving a little slowly) I also am one who doesn't wear the WISH colors (although I am thinking about changing that because I remember how much "support" I felt during the Minnie 15k when I did wear my WISH shirt. I just have comfort issues with the shirt riding up.

Before the Marathon I was brave enough to go up to a group of WISHers I saw. I was glad I was able to sit in the corral with Lisa before the start - even though I don't know if we have ever "met" each other on the board we felt a sort of "team" since we were both WISHers - it didn't matter if I was on the Triple D team or the Ohana team etc. We are ALL part of the bigger, friendly WISH team and I think that shows through at the races to not only WISHers but to non-WISHers and that is why every year after the marathon we gain more members - because we are a caring, friendly group with lots of experienced people here.

The smaller teams I think was a way to keep track of the miles easier then if we had just one main spreadsheet for everyone. That seems like it would take forever to update. I do think maybe the teams should report monthly totals since toward the end I was only making it on that thread every month or so. I have to admit I was one who slacked on posting on the small team thread. I did not slack on getting them in (well maybe a little) but I had in the back of my head that I had to get these miles in (mostly because of the marathon but also so I had something to report to my team)

Dave I think what you have done in setting up the teams and keeping us all motivated is AWESOME I would have never thought I would be able to do as many miles as I did last year without having the team tracking it. I was astonished at how many miles and time I put into it and it felt good at the end of the year. I have only been running a 1 1/2 years and in that time I have done 11 5ks, 1 13k, 1 15k, 1 1/2 and a full - and I can say everyone here on the WISH has helped me through them. So I say thank you and I am looking forward to starting a new year's milage!!

 

[wtpclc]

Finally digging myself out and getting back here.

Got to admit, I had mixed feelings about the teams at the start last year. I think the teams were great, though!!!!! Thank you Dave!!!!

I am sorry that some did not work out. Maybe if members feel there team is not moving, they can ask to be reassigned? COmming in late, you get a bigger welcome than if you started with a team.

 

[ironz]

Dave, you rock!!
Thanks so much for all you have done for us.

I'm sort of brainstorming here....I feel, and am seeing some posts that go along with it, that the overall large WISH team may be a bit intimidating...either in person (at a meet) or on the boards. So for a lot of us, the small teams are a way to get to know a few people more closely and then sort of 'integrate' into the overall WISH group.

So maybe, at least at the in person meet next year, we can come up with something where...say..... (like I said, I'm sort of brainstorming here)....at the meet, we meet up with our smaller teams, and then, maybe pair two teams up to meet each other (say, the DDDs and Ohanas)...and so on....so people can meet a few people at first, and then get oriented to more people in smaller chunks.
I do know for myself, if I came upon the Pop Century meet, and didn't recognize someone right off in the large group, I may just walk back away, out of shyness.

At least I would recognize Big Vic...since I nearly accosted him at the marathon last year, from recognizing him by his pic! And probably I would recognize my new friend Bryan by now.

Let's ponder this....I can help and we can do some sort of "team-building" something next January. Will see what I/we can come up with on the boards, too...

 

[Big Vic]

At least I would recognize Big Vic...since I nearly accosted him at the marathon last year, from recognizing him by his pic!

You can accost me anytime, Betsy.

Dave, the teams were a great idea, and you did a terrific job with them. If the Triple D's will have me, I'd love to come back as a team member.

 

[escape]

Yea Dave! I'm soooooo glad you are sticking with the teams!!!! It really wouldn't be the same with out you.

 

[MouseDogMom]

Dave - While I echo many of Shan's sentiments, in NO WAY should you feel that you failed in any way. Whether some teams were a huge success, or others were not, was simply a function of group dynamics. Not every team was comprised of members who were as chatty as others, and I think the long time WISHers who were on those teams may be the ones who ended up feeling left out and unhappy with the team structure. None of that was anyone's fault, especially yours. You did a great job keeping it organized and adding new members as they came along, which was no small feat. You are to be commended for handling it in 2008 and tackling it again in 2009!

Jackie

 

[zalansky]

Make sure us newbies are included on the teams please! I need all the help I can get.

 

[blizzard]

Just throwing out a couple of ideas, but...

Since the focus really isn't on "winning", maybe mix up the teams at the 6 month mark so that people get to know others than just those on their January team.

Don't worry so much about keeping the teams even in miles numbers as much as keeping the teams even in people. (I'm not sure to what extent you were trying to keep things evened up by miles, maybe not at all)

Maybe have fewer teams with a few more people on each. Say have 20 or 25 people to a team, so that we get to meet more people and there might be a little more discussion

I wish there was a way to even out the miles more between activities. We had a couple of serious bikers on our team, which skewed the miles up. I almost felt like I wasn't an important contributor when I was doing 15 miles per week and the bikers were over a hundred. Maybe consider handicapping activities?

Just some ideas to ponder. Others may see things differently. I wasn't going to join a group again this year, but am now rethinking that with the changes already coming.