Initiative
Intention
Integration
Involvement
I just flipped to the section of my notebook that is titled, "Co-Leady Things," under which I have just a few bulet points that say, "'Do you have anything to add?,'" referring to giving feedback to the CMs with Vanessa; "BE THE LEADER YOU WANT TO HAVE;" "BE AWARE OF YOUR VOICE;" and finally, "My work is managing my crew." I digress. I was sitting in the van waiting for the crew to finish up using the library and I flipped to that page and smiled. For the first time this summer, I feel like I have truly done all those things over the past week or so -- and not just did them, did them solidly.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Entry from 7/22: AUTHORITY
The VYCC has two types of policies: Immediate Dismissal Policies that require your prompt departure from the crew and organization and General Crew Policies that go by the three-strikes-you're-out idea. This morning, we had two Corps Members break the GCP of being on time, each meritting a write-up that is documented in the Weekly Evaluation forms -- a document that is kept at HQ indefinitely to show how the CM grew and developed throughout the summer. This morning Vanessa proposed we write up these two CMs after their tardiness and after she described to me what happened (I had gone into town to get water), I agreed to write them up for their offfenses, albeit slightly reluctantly. After meeting with the CMs, however, I felt as though we had done the right thing. The CMs will learn from their mistakes and actively try to be on time and, in the end, they do have one more chance to mess up before a third and final offense leads to their dismissal.
This was the first time I have really ever had to enforce a rule/policy/law in my life -- most of my life is based on ethics, not written law -- so this was a strange feeling for me to have as I sat across from my CMs as the stared at me sadly but with some understanding as we explained the reasoning behind out decisions. Later in the day during out WoRD educational portion of the day, we read an excerpt from Vonnegut's Welcome to the Monkey House (1950). The excerpt we read was entirely based on challenging authority and I thought to myself, "Why am I all right with challenging authority in my life but would be shocked if a CM were to challenge me?" I came to a similar conclusion that I came to on July 4th and thought that the policies I enforce make sense for a 7-week community (that is, additionally, an optional community) but policies that opress, dictate, and remove freeedoms from the people they are designed to protect are policies taht I feel I need to challenge.
YOU CAN FOOL SOME PEOPLE SOMETIMES BUT YOU CAN'T FOOL ALL THE PEOPLE ALL THE TIME
This was the first time I have really ever had to enforce a rule/policy/law in my life -- most of my life is based on ethics, not written law -- so this was a strange feeling for me to have as I sat across from my CMs as the stared at me sadly but with some understanding as we explained the reasoning behind out decisions. Later in the day during out WoRD educational portion of the day, we read an excerpt from Vonnegut's Welcome to the Monkey House (1950). The excerpt we read was entirely based on challenging authority and I thought to myself, "Why am I all right with challenging authority in my life but would be shocked if a CM were to challenge me?" I came to a similar conclusion that I came to on July 4th and thought that the policies I enforce make sense for a 7-week community (that is, additionally, an optional community) but policies that opress, dictate, and remove freeedoms from the people they are designed to protect are policies taht I feel I need to challenge.
YOU CAN FOOL SOME PEOPLE SOMETIMES BUT YOU CAN'T FOOL ALL THE PEOPLE ALL THE TIME
Entry from 7/20
I can't believe I haven't written for 8 days (EDIT: I misread my soggy notebook; it has only been 3 days) but the truth is that I have never been so tired at 9:00PM. We have essentially finished the 15 projects our sponsor gave us for the week (yes, we're just now half-way through the week) and I'm sure Greg (our sponsor this week from the White River Partnership) would be surprised if it weren't for the fact that my crew did essentially the same thing last year. Greg didn't come out to see us today but should be here tomorrow to rate our work and help us find more projects.
As for camp and group life, I started to get a bit furstrated yesterday because Vanessa and I have such different leadership styles that sometimes we sent a mixed and unclear message to the crew. After a good night's sleep, however, we seem to be back to our normal (what's normal in the woods?) selves. I think not having spent most of our training together could be hurting us a big (she was in the Bahamas teaching at the Island School, if you don't remember) but today marks the half-way point through the seasion and there haven't been too many big bumps thusfar. Mentioning that half-way point made me wish I had printed out a copy of my objectives because this would be a great time to reflect on them. Since I have such limited access to a computer, I think I will leave those larger and more profound analyses until the end of my internship, where I will have a good amount of time off before school starts to tidy up this blog, add pictures, and conclude things properly with objectives in hand.
As for camp and group life, I started to get a bit furstrated yesterday because Vanessa and I have such different leadership styles that sometimes we sent a mixed and unclear message to the crew. After a good night's sleep, however, we seem to be back to our normal (what's normal in the woods?) selves. I think not having spent most of our training together could be hurting us a big (she was in the Bahamas teaching at the Island School, if you don't remember) but today marks the half-way point through the seasion and there haven't been too many big bumps thusfar. Mentioning that half-way point made me wish I had printed out a copy of my objectives because this would be a great time to reflect on them. Since I have such limited access to a computer, I think I will leave those larger and more profound analyses until the end of my internship, where I will have a good amount of time off before school starts to tidy up this blog, add pictures, and conclude things properly with objectives in hand.
Entry from 7/17
After moving camp yesterday, we now find outselves much farther south (but anything is south of the NEK, really) in the town of Chittenden (or Pittsfield, we're not sure where the border is) within the ROchester Ranger DIsctrict of the GMNF. Before heading out, on Friday we went to our sponsor's (Jim Ryan of the DEC) house in Wolcott for some watermellon, cake, and kickball and got a great tour of his 110-acre property, a large portion of which is devoted to farming. Then off to Chitten-field, if you will, where Vanessa and I are conducting a bit of an experiment. We are moving on from CLODs (Crew Leaders of the Day) and moving into OWLs (One-Week Leaders). However, we left it to the CMs (Corps Members) to decide if they wanted to to single-person "HOWLs" (our slang for Half-One-Week Leaders) or Co-Leading OWLs. All on their own, they decided to give Co-Leading with one other person a shot for a whole week. This coming week is being lead by one of our quietest and least confident members paired with one of our hardest-working and perhaps most overly-confident (is that possible?) members. As for project specifics, I can almost see a site right from my tent; this week we are working on teh road we are camping on (Upper Michigan Road as it is called in Pittsfield).
Entry from 7/13
I've had kind of a mini-revelation recently regarding the coming Spring and Summer. Since my required summer course (FOR122) is only a coup-le weeks long, I could do Spring Crew at the VYCC, go to class for those couple weeks (I will have to double-check the dates) and skip most of summer training as Vanessa did this year, then jump on a summer crew.
Things are looking up!
Things are looking up!
Entry from 7/12
Things flowing smoothly.
Have some project details for next week (camping in Chittenden in the GMNF) and finally getting our 8th Corps Member next monday!!!
--EXHAUSTED--
Have some project details for next week (camping in Chittenden in the GMNF) and finally getting our 8th Corps Member next monday!!!
--EXHAUSTED--
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Typing on the iPod...
I'm on my iPod which makes typing infinitely harder than even typing on a library keyboard so I have to keep this short else I will be here for an our keeping up on all the entries I have missed. In short, I have had some great thoughts but no time to find a computer in Pittsfield or Chittenden. We are moving up to Allis State Park in Brookfield on Sunday and I will try to find a computer to type up my backlogged posts
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Entry from 7/8
We are going into town tomorrow (today) and I will have a chance to post some of my written entries so I deciuded to reflect a little on my objectives and goals that I outlined in the first posts. As far as educational goals are concerned, I can't say enough about how much I have learned about myself, leadership, and what it takes to lead a crew. I am so glad I got this chance with an organization I know and love so well before I dove into the experience I plan on haveing in Utah in the spring. My professional skills are flourishing -- I just talked with Vanessa (my Co-Lead) last night about how I love doing the project planning and networking with the sponsors -- I might even get Jim (our project sponsor from the DEC) to sell me his old Subaru for my trip out to UT! As for my interpersonal skills and goals, I feel as though these are the most challenging; it is so incredibly difficult to change who you are. The thing I must focus on most strongly and intensely in this category is watching my sarcasm. I am a very sarcastic person and sometimes without even being aware of it. I am exhausted mentally and emotionally all the time (but in a good way, don't worry!) but must devote the energy I have left to becoming aware of everything that comes out of my mouth. Putting this on paper already helps me become more aware and I feel like this could be a great turning point in my leadership for this summer.
I may not have access to a computer next weekend as we are moving sites down to around Brookfield, Braintree, and the Stockbridge area (we're still not exactly sure where -- yikes!) but I will find a library with a computer as soon as I can for updates and posts. Also on that note, appologies for any misspellings or grammar mistakes; I am always on a different computer and crunched for time since this is a public library.
See you next time, civilization!
I may not have access to a computer next weekend as we are moving sites down to around Brookfield, Braintree, and the Stockbridge area (we're still not exactly sure where -- yikes!) but I will find a library with a computer as soon as I can for updates and posts. Also on that note, appologies for any misspellings or grammar mistakes; I am always on a different computer and crunched for time since this is a public library.
See you next time, civilization!
Entry from 7/5
The VYCC Leadership Development Crews (LDCs) have a tradition of doing a nightly debrief of the day where the Crew Leader of the Day (CLOD; a Corps Member that takes on basic leadership roles for the day and where Vanessa and I get to take a step back to help them refine their leadership styles) leads a discussion on how the day went and how he or she believes he or she performed as a CLOD. Tonight's debrief was our longest yet as a crew -- some 45 minutes long. During this entire debrief I sat back in my Crazy Creek and allowed the group to go through a couple of the classic group stages (norming, storming, performing, adjourning, as they are most notable recognized) all in under an hour. It was great to take a step back and watch my little CMs develop their arguments and feedback, voice them most mindfully, and respond as effectively as possible. As HQ tells us Crew Leaders, I told my Corps Members: "We're here for you."
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Entry from 7/4
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!
Out here in the backcountry, every day feels like independence day. There is a strict set of policies that I must uphold and in turn am held to but the great part about these policies is that they make sense in order to build a safe and tightly-knit community for 7 weeks. In the grand scheme of things, these policies are really no big deal (next time I have my Crew Leader Manual with me, I will list them, so stay posted). The standard for discipline is simple -- if you don't want to abide by these policies, you don't want to be a part of this community. This makes me think about laws in a grander sense of the world. I have broken laws before, I won't deny it (on the Fourth of July, what 15-year old boy wouldn't want to set off fireworks in the street?!); does this mean I don't want to be a part of this community we call the United States of America, or more specifically, the states of Vermont or Massachusetts? When I don't agree with a rule or law, should I leave that community or try to change it? In the case of many things I see wrong with our country, it may be futile to try and fight the bureaucracy. The bureaucracy, government, or as is called in many of the circles I am affiliated with, "The Man," is currently something I couldn't live without -- in fact, they employ me at the state level through both direct funding from taxpayer money to the VYCC and through grants written to the VYCC through entities like the Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) and the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). "The Man" also funds most of how I pay for college as I get a large amount of funds from the fed. The Man, like any man or woman, has Its flaws, however. I could go on to list these numerous flaws, but in short I will say that I am not free. I am imprisoned by the walls of "civilization" and my only Free Land is rapidly being turned into lumber plantations, feed crops, suburbia, and highways (freeways? never!) that divide our fellow Americans' (I'm talking pronghorns, not your hominid neighbor) freedom to move. What is a free country to me? A country whose laws are based on the welfare of the people, the animals, and their shared place. A country who favors bison over bills. A country whose immense prairies are used for roaming, not tilling. A country that has more protected wildlands than suburban developments. A free country, to me, respects the freedoms of animals as much as it respects the freedoms of all life. As Dr. Bronner's Soap, Edward Abbey, and so many other say, "All Is One."
Out here in the backcountry, every day feels like independence day. There is a strict set of policies that I must uphold and in turn am held to but the great part about these policies is that they make sense in order to build a safe and tightly-knit community for 7 weeks. In the grand scheme of things, these policies are really no big deal (next time I have my Crew Leader Manual with me, I will list them, so stay posted). The standard for discipline is simple -- if you don't want to abide by these policies, you don't want to be a part of this community. This makes me think about laws in a grander sense of the world. I have broken laws before, I won't deny it (on the Fourth of July, what 15-year old boy wouldn't want to set off fireworks in the street?!); does this mean I don't want to be a part of this community we call the United States of America, or more specifically, the states of Vermont or Massachusetts? When I don't agree with a rule or law, should I leave that community or try to change it? In the case of many things I see wrong with our country, it may be futile to try and fight the bureaucracy. The bureaucracy, government, or as is called in many of the circles I am affiliated with, "The Man," is currently something I couldn't live without -- in fact, they employ me at the state level through both direct funding from taxpayer money to the VYCC and through grants written to the VYCC through entities like the Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) and the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). "The Man" also funds most of how I pay for college as I get a large amount of funds from the fed. The Man, like any man or woman, has Its flaws, however. I could go on to list these numerous flaws, but in short I will say that I am not free. I am imprisoned by the walls of "civilization" and my only Free Land is rapidly being turned into lumber plantations, feed crops, suburbia, and highways (freeways? never!) that divide our fellow Americans' (I'm talking pronghorns, not your hominid neighbor) freedom to move. What is a free country to me? A country whose laws are based on the welfare of the people, the animals, and their shared place. A country who favors bison over bills. A country whose immense prairies are used for roaming, not tilling. A country that has more protected wildlands than suburban developments. A free country, to me, respects the freedoms of animals as much as it respects the freedoms of all life. As Dr. Bronner's Soap, Edward Abbey, and so many other say, "All Is One."
Entry from 7/1
During my weekly call-in with my field supervisor today, I was told that the VYCC would love to have me back as a full-fledged Crew Leader next summer (not just as an Assisstant Cre3w Leader as I am this year). That being said only a week into the season is already making me reconsider taking my required summer course the summer after next and, since I will probably not be able to graduate on time anyway, I may come back to the VYCC next summer. This may mean that I may n ot graduate well into 2014 or 2015 but this coming year could consist of the 10-week Canyon Country Youth Corps experience followed by this 11-week summer experience with the VYCC.
Spending almost 21 straight weeks doing exactly what I love and plan on doing for some time sounds like a good compromise to graduating "on time"...but time will tell as my opinion changes from day to day and I have a lot of time to consider my options.
Spending almost 21 straight weeks doing exactly what I love and plan on doing for some time sounds like a good compromise to graduating "on time"...but time will tell as my opinion changes from day to day and I have a lot of time to consider my options.
Entry from 6/28
I have underestimated the value of teamwork for 20 years...or at least as long as I have known about it. For at least the past two years I have thought of myself as a fairly independent worker -- I never go to study group sessions, I shy away from group projects, and I generally prefer to work alone whether it is out here in the field or back in the classroom. Over the past four days, however, I have realized the importance of having a second set of eyes and a second pair of hands to help me guide myself and a larger group through some extreme challenges and transformations. I could probably lead this crew of cooperative and motivated adults myself, yes, but it would surely lack the creative flair imparted by Vanessa, my Co-Lead, and her incredible morning motivation, to name only a couple things she contributes (I am disorganized and essentially useless before my morning liter of coffee). As we progress further into this experiment, I am excited to see what comes of my relationship with the crew and with my vital Co-Lead.
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