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RE: [RC] Norco etc - Jim HollandI have never managed a ride, but I have crewed a LOT....and helped with rides. In fact, Jerry Fruth, Trail Boss at LBL, ran my britches off marking trail this spring. I musta jumped in and out of his truck a zillion times...then we went back out in the rain on horseback and marked the trail we couldn't reach by vehicle. Then as the weather deteriorated, he send me back out again to hang glowsticks on another mile or two because the 100 milers were going slower. I went thru 4 sets of boots and it took me all day to clean my tack! I worked for IBM for 30 years and managed many VERY large projects, where everything had to be perfect. Ever heard of Comdex? Hundred's of networked personal computers, with software demonstrators who couldn't spell "technical". You checked, you double checked, and you made sure everything worked, then you checked again. You designated. You delegated. It's a big pain in the butt. In addition, I have done many technical presentations, active-on-line, with equipment that HAD to work every time....to hundreds of people. I was a technical teacher for many years. I wrote and taught the repair and maintenance course for the IBM System 36. In all these endeavors, you ALWAYS hand out "evaluations". You ask for feedback. You want to know what you did wrong, and what you did right. The objective is to do it "better". EVERY time you do it, you want BETTER evaluations and higher "satisfaction" to encourage greater attendance. Ride Managers pass out "Ride Evaluations". If you don't want a rider's honest opinion, whether you deem it "complaining" or "constructive" (not everyone is good with words), then don't pass them out! The trick is to "evaluate" the evaluations. Don't let it become personal. Be objective. Look at the "problem", not the "description" of the problem. If you got ONE negative, and you don't have a clue what happened, or any details, toss it. You're looking for an "overall" perspective. Hopefully 90-95% or better positive. For EVERY problem, ask yourself "Can I fix it?" Is it something that can and should it be fixed next time? Write a memo on HOW you plan to fix it and communicate with the workers involved. DESIGNATE someone to be responsible to see that it is fixed next time, which may be YOU! For Endurance rides, IMHO, if it's something that impacts the welfare of the horse, (or endangers the horse) it would get higher priority than something that involves the convenience of the rider. (I would not be overly concerned if someone complained that the morning coffee was cold. OK, next year let 'em provide their OWN coffee! :) Scrap making the coffee and send one more person out to check the trail marking that was vandalized last year. The NEXT time you do that presentation, seminar, (or ride), review the evaluations from the last time you did it and note how many of the problems you have "fixed" since the last time you did it. Always be aware that you will get a "new" set of problems every time! It's the nature of managing "projects". Is the problem "perspective"? Lack of information? You might be able to "fix" it without any physical labor, just better organization or communication. This includes participants as well as workers. Solicit suggestions. Even email the person involved if possible If you can't "fix" it, then tell the participants that it exists, give them a logical explanation, and ask for their help to minimize the problem. Once there was a little bird who was up North for the summer. As winter approached, it became time to fly South, but he was having so much fun, he kept putting it off. Finally, he took off. He was caught in a snowstorm, his wings iced up and he landed in a barnyard. He was freezing there in the snow when a large horse came by and pooped all over him. At first he was disgusted and dismayed, but the horse poop was warm and he began to thaw out. In fact, he became so warm he started to sing. The barn cat heard the singing, came over and dug up the little bird....and ate him. The moral is that not all people who dump poop on you mean you harm and not all people who take poop off you mean you well. Jim, Sun of Dimanche+, and Mahada Magic. -----Original Message----- From: ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ridecamp- owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Barbara McCrary Sent: Tuesday, June 22, 2004 2:03 PM To: Laurie Underwood; 'Kristi Schaaf'; ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: Re: [RC] Norco etc I believe it should be mandatory for any complainer to manage a ride, and I mean MANDATORY. Although I have not heard of what the issue is, I can empathize with Lynne. Ride managers should not have to suffer complaints and whining and worse, abusive behavior. Positive suggestions should be polite and helpful....they inspire a ride manager to improve. But complaining just makes a ride manager rebellious enough to say or think, "Forget it! If you don't like the ride, you manage it next time." ============================================================ Personally, I shouldn't give a s--- where the other people on the course are, and if I find myself starting to concern myself over this, I remind myself that this is the first step on the road to overriding my horse and tell myself to "knock it off!" :) ~ Kat Swigart ridecamp.net information: http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/ ============================================================
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