Hey Katie,
Based on my minimal experience you're right on target. Thanks for so clearly
describing the process... now if I could only get in into a checklist ;^).
Barry - the consummate list checking - Chafin
"Kelly, Katie" wrote:
> Yesterday's event ran fantastically. Good job Ed and Barry! You've put the
> Boondoggle to shame.
>
> I have some observations and tips, as a many time Boondoggle chair, that might
> help upcoming chairs handle the huge populations. These are only suggestions,
> but I couldn't even follow them exactly, because each motorhome crew likes to
> do things a little bit differently. And remember, the Boondoggle is called
> that for a reason, so please, consider the source, and that these are only
> SUGGESTIONS.
>
> First, remember the goal of "on-the-fly." The goal is to keep the cars cycling
> through, so there is very minimal lag time between run groups, if any at all.
> What I'm about to describe should help.
>
> 1. Card pick-up and sorting. Do this about the time the current group starts
> their third runs. How do you do this? I don't know. Either do it yourself, or
> better yet, get someone else to do it. It's always better to get other people
> to do stuff, so you can be available to make decisions. That is YOUR JOB. All
> you do is make decisions. So, make the decision to get the cards collected and
> sorted early. You will soon see why this is so crucial.
>
> 2. Course worker change-overs (our biggest strength, in my opinion). Either
> mid-way, or about the time the current group starts their third runs, start
> getting people checked off and relieving people out on the course. Those
> working in the 4th and 8th run groups are going to have to work a little bit
> longer than everyone else, but we all rotate work/run groups, so it all evens
> out anyway.
>
> 3. Trailer crew changeovers. This is the hardest part. At the Boondoggle, this
> all ran without a hitch, UNTIL, and this surprised me, the "experienced"
> people came to work. I think this is because they all know what to do, and are
> resentful of anyone telling them how to do things, which I understand because
> I am absolutely the same way. Unfortunately, though, that's when we ran into
> our first stall between groups. So, I'll describe to you my ideal, and you can
> take this or leave it, but when this strategy was followed, we had NO LAG time
> between run groups, which was cool.
>
> Change people over one-at-a-time, BEFORE the end of the previous group. You
> don't have to change everyone over all at once. So, you might, for example,
> change the announcer first. That's the easier one. One guys stops talking, and
> another guy starts. Easy. When all that's under control, and you can see all
> is still running smoothly, change the next position, like the scorer, for
> example. When that's under control, change the card sorter. That's an example,
> you don't have to follow that order (or even this advice), but again, the key
> is to do things slowly and calmly.
>
> Research has shown that the survival of a species is dependent upon that
> species' ability to adapt to CHANGE. Intelligence plays an insignificant part.
> We need to accept that there although we divide up everyone into run groups,
> there is no real division between the end of one and the beginning of another.
> It requires flexability and a willingness to "think outside of the box" (I've
> always wanted to say that). It means that you might have some straggling cars
> from one group and then the beginning of the next group all lined up at the
> start. Some people find this shocking, against the status quo, and terrible,
> BUT again, this is why it is SO important to have the cards picked up and
> sorted EARLY, and the card sorter needs to be aware of this.
>
> Obviously, you don't want to send cars out if the motorhome isn't prepared for
> it. That could create a DISASTER (which happened at a Boondoggle, hence its
> name). On the other hand, I found, when we did things early and slowly, that
> we ran into very little lag time. People are more than willing to do the job.
> All you have to do is ask.
>
> Cheers,
> Katie K.
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