From day one I have always been open to constructive criticism, and I read everything that is posted. I have a feeling this isn't true about what I post, but oh well.
I am going to state some facts for those making suggestions to consider while giving feedback. And clear up some things that I have read over and over.
1.)The "title" comments aren't getting us anywhere. I don't care what I am called, Uwharrie Organizer, President, etc. The only reason titles were added and a loose structure was created was per the request of the donating clubs and other donating individuals. So there would be a more transparent system in place of who is in charge of what, who deals with the money, etc. If people choose to read anymore into it than that, that is not my problem.
2.)The whole "I" and "We" thing has been played out. The bottom line is there are only 2 people that show up to every work weekend. Myself and Brian (Tech11). And this is due to the fact there are different groups volunteers fall under. There are 3.
A.)The people that think light load workdays are a waste of their time. Coming out putting up trail diamonds, picking up trash, etc isn't worth coming out for. I respect their view, and they tend to volunteer on the heavy workdays where you can see what got accomplished.
B.)The people that think heavy workdays are too much work. They don't want to come out and break their backs, which can happen on a heavy work day. They enjoy the more laid back pace of the light workdays. And I respect their view and they are usually there on the light workdays when its just a hand full of people.
C.)The people that don't care what the work load is, they just want to get out and volunteer.
Because this in the end is volunteering, no one is getting paid for what they do. And if the don't want to come out and do certain work they don't have to. And I don't blame them. Factor into this people have a life outside of volunteering, and random sh*t does happen that prevents people from attending.
You aren't guaranteed who will show up at any given time, the only 2 people you are 99 percent sure you will see are myself and Brian. Not even the Forest Service has the same people at every work day. This isn't a paid job that people are required to attend or they loose their job.
For the sake of argument we will use Bill, Bob, and Billy. Bill is in charge of one portion of the workday. He can't show up, so Bob is his replacement. Last minute Bob's truck breaks down and he can't make it. That leaves Billy which was going to be riding with Bob so that leaves no one. This isn't a far fetched scenario, its reality. If we were to effectively distribute the responsibilities it would either have to be to someone dedicated to showing up to every workday needed, or have 4-5 backups.
3.)The entire plans for the workday weren't relayed to everyone for a couple reasons.
A.)If the plans change last minute everyone has to be informed of what changed. Like when the plan Changed Friday, and then multiple times Saturday. I would have to of last minute some how relayed to the entire group the entire plans changing. The the next day when the plans changed again I would have to relay that to everyone again. Then on the trail when the groups were split up, I would of had to some how relayed that the plans changed again.This just isn't a reality at URE. Especially when the groups are split up on the trail out of communication range. There isn't time to do this, and it just causes frustration and confusion. People get upset the plan is changing, they want to know why it changed, people want to argue about what we should do and why, and almost every time someone thinks they have a better idea and they feel the need to share it.
When one part of the plan is presented at a time there aren't any disputes, and if something ahead changes it doesn't cause a cluster f*ck. Because no one is the wiser when we move forward and do option C.) instead of B.) because plans changed.
B.)This translates to groups ending up where they aren't supposed to be etc. If group 1.) is supposed to head to site B.) then C.) and then D.) they will go off and that is what they will do.
Lets say site A.)is bridge repair B.)Rock breakup, plus grading site C.)Is the Mud Hole, and site D.) is Guard rail. Both the T-190 and T-300 know what the entire plan.
The T-300 is headed to site A.) to do break up rock. The T-190 is also headed to site B.) to do the grading but has to stop at site A.) First to help bridge repair. The T-190 goes to site A.) to help with bridge repair. Mean while the T-300 goes to site B.) to break up the rock. But at site B.) someone decides that site B.) is no longer a priority. The T-300 is sent onto site C.) to work on the mud hole. This information can't be relayed to the T-190 because it is out of communication range. It finishes up site A.) and heads to site B.) to find no one there. The T-190 can't grade the site without the T-300 breaking up the rock. The T-190 doesn't know what to do, and ends up going back to site A.) to find out what is going on. No one knows at site A.) so he goes halfway across the trail to site C.) to find the T-300. Over an hour has been wasted because the plan changed, and the information was no longer accurate.
If you keep the group together, and relay the plan as work is completed and as it changes it eliminates this problem. If everyone knows the plan and goes off in different directions, and the plan changes there is no way to let them know. And then they have no clue what is going on.
But even though it goes against my logic, we can try to "Share the plan" with everyone tactic. Keep in mind everyone that wanted one was provided with a map and a list of the work so they did know what we were going to be doing. They didn't know the order it was going to be done, but they had an idea of what was going to be done. But only a handful of people took the map/work list. Some might remember when I asked if anyone needed a map/work list.
No matter how we organize the work load and how many people we have leading different groups there is a huge margin for error. If it be a group not having a leader because no one showed up, or if it be a group ends up off somewhere with no clue what to do because the plans changed and they didn't know about it. Someone somewhere is going to feel that their time has been wasted, and they won't be happy with how things went. And as long as their are multiple chiefs plans will be changed, and things won't go smoothly. Either the Forest Service needs to call the shots, or we need to. We can't have someone laying out a plan, and then the Forest Service changing it entirely mid stream. That isn't a change of plans due to circumstance that can be adapted to. That is a choice made to throw a wrench in the plan and send things down a slippery slope.
This is a fact of organizing large groups in a volunteer situation. In the workplace things would be much different. People would be required to be there, and in the rare instance someone didn't show up there would be a backup. There is a clear decision maker, and there isn't anyone above them to change the plan mid stream. What they say goes, and everyone is on the same page. And I would be more apt to sit there and give orders and treat people like workers. I try to have an understanding that people there are volunteering, and causing conflicts doesn't do us any good. Obviously I need to take a stronger step forward than I did in the workday, where I messed up and just let people do as they wanted.
I am willing to try anything, but I don't see it working as smoothly as people are making it out to. Because we aren't working in a paid business, we are working in a volunteer group where people can come and go when ever they want.
Anytime tracks are involved I'll have one.