NBRC: Tower Teams Read 2013, Round II discussion

A place for captains/co-captains to discuss issues, trouble shoot, or just post pictures of cupcakes :)

Hi Gwendolyn! I think we're waiting on Amanda, then I thought we could pow-wow about how to split things up (and keep ourselves sane and happy!).

Ok, I finally made it! Anyone have any ideas about how to split things up?

Yay! We definitely have the best team - just ignore Steven ;)

Gwendolyn and I were chatting a little bit about some of the basics, and would love to hear your take:

First off, do you want to set things up so that there is a Captain and two Co-captains just supporting, or would you rather the three of us just split everything up equally as co-captains? I'm ok with either way, but I think it might keep us all a little more sane if we split things up amongst us equally.

I agree, dividing the duties might be the best way to go about it. That way no one is under too much pressure.

Here's the list of duties:

- keeping a Google Spreadsheet that all members can view
- communicating with a NBRC Moderator
- communicating with all Team Members
- making sure Team Members are staying active
- notifying the NBRC Mod if someone drops out
- have effective and kind (this is a game, remember) on-line communication skills
to help members having trouble
- making sure Team Members belong on your team
- posting weekly status updates/reminders
- dealing with minor issues that arise
- post little challenges within challenges, if desired.


I figured that if we kind of picked one task for each of us that we're "in charge" of, and then just rotated the easier tasks as appropriate (I'm thinking of the dealing with minor issues item - I think it just makes sense for whoever knows the answer and sees it first to reply), then that wouldn't be too bad.

I've never been a captain before though, so if you have any other ideas that you think would work better, I'm definitely all ears!

Hey I finally made it.

I copied what I put in one of Ashley Marie's pm's.

The concern I have about co-capt is that I think we are to rotate a captain in every so often to share the load and that might get confusing as to what one is to do at some point.

I don't know Ashley were you a co-capt in round 1. If so then you would know if the mod's want to rotate a capt.

I wasn't, but my understand from reading everything was that that was just one possible option for splitting up the work load. I think it's up to the captains in each team to decide what works best for them!

What do you guys think? A rotation schedule with heavy weeks balanced with light weeks, or splitting stuff up?

I figure with the smaller group that it is going to take the rest of the year to reach 2013. So whatever we decide we have to look at it for almost 9 months.

I think what you said about minor issues being taken care of by who (whom?) see it first takes care of it is the best way.

What I would put under that also would be
- communicating with all Team Members
- making sure Team Members are staying active (by way of posts)
- dealing with minor issues that arise
- making sure Team Members belong on your team (if noticed on discussion board

★ gwendolyn ★ wrote: "I figure with the smaller group that it is going to take the rest of the year to reach 2013. So whatever we decide we have to look at it for almost 9 months."

In some ways the first round went way to fast. In others not.

★ gwendolyn ★ wrote: "I think what you said about minor issues being taken care of by who (whom?) see it first takes care of it is the best way.

What I would put under that also would be
- communicating with all Team..."

I think that smaller breakdown makes sense, which leaves us with:

- keeping a Google Spreadsheet that all members can view
- communicating with a NBRC Moderator
- making sure Team Members are staying active (double checking books if they're not an active poster)
- notifying the NBRC Mod if someone drops out
- posting weekly status updates/reminders
- post little challenges within challenges, if desired.

Gwen, I thought the mini-challenge you linked me too looked really awesome! Maybe that's a format that we can take turns running with? Maybe we all take a month and come up with something fun?

You've already made a spreadsheet, right?

The spreadsheet has all the groups but when we find out who is in our group I can just have our group in it's own area or copy and paste it to it's own spreedsheet.

I use Access a lot that's why I set it up thinking that it would make it earier to transfer data to the google one online.

I think that

- making sure Team Members are staying active (double checking books if they're not an active poster) This should also include making sure people are posting books that they have read in their bookshelve. I know when I started in round 1 I had to always check afterwards to see if it stuck. I kept doing that even when it finally started working.
- notifying the NBRC Mod if someone drops out

These 2 seem to me that they could be done at the same time and should go together.

Using the format that I used for the mini is alright with me. It took me a little bit to figure out the coding. But now that I know it it should be easy to let you know when you do a mini.

Amanda here's the link for the mini format.

April's Challenge Within A Challenge

The mini's dont have to have so many options as this one does. Though it seemed that more people did the challenge cuz they had varity to choose from. Are team kinda got into that's there is more going on in a month than the big holiday. We first did a weekly challenge of color book covers. BTW, I think one of the first mini's should include blue covers and maybe something about flying in the wild blue yonder.

K, I rearrange the duties so they kinda go together (at least in my mind, if you have different thoughts mention it cuz I might have missed something)

What gets taken care by the first captain that see it. I'm just going with captain cuz I hate having to put the co- in front of captain. So we can all be captains :D
- have effective and kind (this is a game, remember) on-line communication skills
to help members having trouble. This is just common sense and we all do this and make sure all the members abide by this rule.
- communicating with all Team Members.
- dealing with minor issues that arise

- posting weekly status updates/reminders This may be part of the above list for the group and the below list for the Mods.

I think this be open to all of us at any time but the person that notifies the Mod for drops be the main communicator.
- communicating with a NBRC Moderator

That leave the spreadsheet, bookshelves, and mini challenges. I think I would rather not do the bookshelves all of that much. If I have a choice.

- keeping a Google Spreadsheet that all members can view

This is checking the bookshelves of the group (and in the posts possibly)
- making sure Team Members are staying active
- notifying the NBRC Mod if someone drops out
- making sure Team Members belong on your team

I personally think adding the mini added to my groups involvement and enjoyment. So I would love to see them. I believe Ashley Marie would like to have them too. I not sure what Amanda thoughts are. If she does or doesn’t want to deal with the mini challenges.
- post little challenges within challenges, if desired.

★ gwendolyn ★ wrote: "Amanda here's the link for the mini format.

April's Challenge Within A Challenge

The mini's dont have to have so many options as this one does. Though it seemed that more people did the challeng..."

I love the idea of a kick off mini challenge with blue covers or anything to do with flying! That's just genius :)

I'm comfortable being the bookshelf police if no one else desperately wants to do it - I neb at what everyone is reading anyway, so it won't hurt me to spot check a little more deeply. I might need help when we have the slightly larger checks that the mods ask for, but I'd be willing to handle the day to day upkeep.

Im all for Ashley Marie being Captain Bookshelf :D

I have to see what all is involved with the spreadsheet/s I don't know if it will be a lot of work or not.

I enjoy doing the mini challenges. I would like to make a suggestion that with each mini that there is at least one book cover challenge included. That will cover several different genres per mini and it is easy enough unlike challenges where you are searching through books.

★ gwendolyn ★ wrote: "Im all for Ashley Marie being Captain Bookshelf :D

I have to see what all is involved with the spreadsheet/s I don't know if it will be a lot of work or not.

I enjoy doing the mini challenges. I ..."

I agree about book cover challenges. I also like spell it outs, as that gives people a lot of flexibility to read what they love while also participating.

I was thinking seeing we are starting in the middle-ish part of the month to make the first mini easy with just the blue covers and Flying theme. Meaning Blue or Fly/Flying in the Title, Series, Author, Story, Spell Out or Cover.

I checked out the spreadsheet info page. Doesnt look to bad except I dont understand how they get their percentages.

Anyway I think I'll get back to reading.

Those topics look like we can definitely come up with some cool stuff (maybe a few different topics, changed weekly?)!

I know how to do the percentages, so I can help with that. I think I even might now how to automate updates in excel...*twirls her mustache.* I'll try to set up the formula, then you can just steal it for your access sheet! I won't have time to look at it until Sunday though, unfortunately...

Ok, so sorry I took so long to get back on here. I really love all of the suggestions so far.
I agree with both of you that the mini challenges make the teams a lot more fun. I think they also help keep people active and spur them to read a variety of books. I don't know about you two, but I absolutely loved the mini challenges!

So, as I understand it:
1) All of us take care of minor issues as they come up.
I think this is a great idea, especially because between the three of us, issues would get taken care of much quicker.

2) Gwendolen- you mentioned you would like to take care of the spreadsheets. I don't have much experience with spreadsheets, though I would be happy to split the work with you!

3) Ashley Marie acting as 'captain bookshelf' sounds good to me as well. 8) Though I will probably end up double-checking a lot of the shelves only because I always like to see what people are reading.

4) Which leaves mini challenges. Book cover and spell-it-out challenges are fun, and I agree that they give flexibility.

I would be willing to do the mini challenges, posting them and answering any questions about the rules or such. I just worry that I would be taking the fun part. 8)
So, let me know what you all think.
Also, I think we may not know exactly how things will go until we begin, and maybe we will have to adjust as things get started.

Amanda wrote: "Ok, so sorry I took so long to get back on here. I really love all of the suggestions so far.
I agree with both of you that the mini challenges make the teams a lot more fun. I think they also h..."

I think your point that we won't know exactly what's needed until things get started is very good advice :)

I'm comfortable with you doing the mini challenges, if that's ok with Gwendolyn! If any of us start to get burnt out on our assigned task, we can always rotate at some point, and I'm sure there will be times when we'll need to help each other out if one thing gets too busy!

I have a feeling that we're going to have fun working together :) You guys seem like very reasonable people!

I really like your ideas for the mini challenges, Gwendolyn! There is a lot there to work with.

I think blue covers, blue in the title, and flying is a great mini challenge to start with because it's a team appreciation thing. 8)

In my team, we had a month long challenge plus weekly mini-challenges. I'm not sure if it was the same for your groups. Does that sound like something you all are open to, or do you want to do only one challenge at a time?

I really like your April's Challenge Within A Challenge, Gwendolyn, because it gave many options in one. Maybe the monthly challenges can be like that, that way everyone can choose what type of challenge or books suits them best.

Ashley Marie wrote: "I have a feeling that we're going to have fun working together :) You guys seem like very reasonable people!"

I agree, this is going to be fun! Maybe we can touch base often, especially if one of us starts to get over-worked. I think the main focus is just to keep things fun and exciting for the team members, and for us as well!

I agree that we will know when we get the group going and stuff will come up that we didnt expect.

Amanda I said I would need to look at what the spreadsheet would need and that I didnt understand how they came up with the percent amounts. Ashley Marie has offer to show what it's about.

I would also like to do the mini's as I really got it done with Team C this last month and am enjoying it. It can be a bit of work keep ing up with the mini's though.

I not sure but we may be missing something. Let me c/p the list above with capt names next to it.

Amanda, Ashley Marie, Gwendolyn
- have effective and kind (this is a game, remember) on-line communication skills
to help members having trouble. This is just common sense and we all do this and make sure all the members abide by this rule.
- communicating with all Team Members.
- dealing with minor issues that arise

??? (does this go by its self or not)
- posting weekly status updates/reminders This may be part of the above list for the group and the below list for the Mods.

??? (does this go by its self or not)
I think this be open to all of us at any time but the person that notifies the Mod for drops (Ashley Marie?) be the main communicator.
- communicating with a NBRC Moderator

Gwendolyn split with Amanda?
- keeping a Google Spreadsheet that all members can view

Ashley Marie (with Amanda doing backup)
This is checking the bookshelves of the group (and in the posts possibly)
- making sure Team Members are staying active
- notifying the NBRC Mod if someone drops out
- making sure Team Members belong on your team

Amanda & Gwendolyn
- mini challenges within challenges

Maybe Amanda an I could swap the spreadsheet and mini every other month. Not sure that the spreadsheet will work with that though.

★ gwendolyn ★ wrote: "I agree that we will know when we get the group going and stuff will come up that we didnt expect.

Amanda I said I would need to look at what the spreadsheet would need and that I didnt understand..."

Ok, I got it this time, Gwendolyn. :P If you would rather do the minis and I do the spreadsheet, that would be fine. Or we can even all rotate every month or two for variety, if you both want.
Let me know what you all think.

Just a thought.


Captains of Membership & Posts (issues and pep talks) - Amanda, Ashley Marie, Gwendolyn
Captain of Bookshelves - Ashley Marie (With Amanda taking a peek when she feels like it)
Captain of Spreadsheets - Gwendolyn (If nothing comes up and maybe some help from Amanda)
Captain (Mod) Communications - Amanda (not sure you would like this and dont know how much work this will be)
Captains Mini Challenges - Amanda & Gwendolyn (with Ashley as backup in case she wants some of the fun)

I would like us to think that this is flexible until we get a feel for what all is needed for each job and the details for group. Oh, and if you want something changed right away we can change it.

★ gwendolyn ★ wrote: "Amanda, Ashley Marie, Gwendolyn
- have effective and kind (this is a game, remember) on-line communication skills
to help members having trouble. This is just common sense and we all do this and ma..."

I like the breakdown, and I have a few thoughts:

Should the person currently keeping the spreadsheet be the one to post the weekly/monthly updates, as they are the ones with the current numbers?

Is it possible to have a spreadsheet that is available to all of us, so that we can rotate if necessary? Also, that way if one of us has any unforeseen events happen(busy, vacation, etc), the info would be easy to access to the person filling in?

If no one else has dibs on it or wants to do it, I can also communicate with the NBRC Moderator.

If it is ok with you both I will contack Lisa Kay (gots her on speed dial-internet style) I'll let her know that we three are all going to captains cuz we want to cut down on the typing all that extra keys with the co- in front of captain ;-)

Three a good odd number incase we need to vote on something too.

Amanda wrote: "★ gwendolyn ★ wrote: "Amanda, Ashley Marie, Gwendolyn
- have effective and kind (this is a game, remember) on-line communication skills
to help members having trouble. This is just common sense and..."

Not sure I got all of that Amanda but the main spreadsheet is going to be on Google and such be available for each of us to go into and adjust as well as the Mod's. At least that is what I think.

The person doing the spreadsheets would be doing the spreadsheet updates on google. And should that person also be the one who updates weekly to the Mod's about the spreadsheet or can someone else take the date and past it on to the Mods? Could go either way. Think that this is one of the areas we are going to have to adjust when we see whats up.

Amanda wrote: "If no one else has dibs on it or wants to do it, I can also communicate with the NBRC Moderator. "

"Captain (Mod) Communications - Amanda (not sure you would like this and dont know how much work this will be)"

I actually had you listed but I wasnt sure you wanted to do that.

Yes, that is a good idea Gwendolyn. Maybe Lisa Kay would have some good advice, as well. 8)

Ah, I need to type faster! I'm trying to keep up with you! lol

I think we have at least a rough idea of how things will work. Maybe once things begin, we can get a better idea of how it will work and if the duties need to be split another way.

For the mini challenges- we could always do one person in charge of a month long challenge, and then the other does the weekly mini challenges.
-or- If Ashley Marie does want in on the fun, we can do: one person in charge of the month long, two people rotating the weekly, then the next month a new person in charge of the monthly and the other two rotating the weekly.
Did that make sense?

I'm just throwing ideas out here, so feel free to tell me exactly what you think!

★ gwendolyn ★ wrote: "The person doing the spreadsheets would be doing the spreadsheet updates on google. And should that person also be the one who updates weekly to the Mod's about the spreadsheet or can someone else ..."

Since it would be available to everyone, maybe someone other than the one doing the spreadsheet should post the updates? I'm saying that because the spreadsheets sounds like it may take a bit of work.

If you do want to do the spreadsheets, Gwendolyn, maybe I can post the weekly updates to the Mods, especially since it seems I am going to be the communicator.
Also, let me know if you change your mind about doing the spreadsheets and I can do them.

Amanda sorry I disappear but when I sent my next message GRs shut down on me. Just now able to get back on. Now to remember what I was going to say.

I wonder if doing both weekly and monthly will be a bit much for the the group. We can see and try it. If we do both I would perfer to do the same one each time and that the monthly would be my choice. Need to get Ashley Marie's thoughts on this as well.

I think you doing the weekly updates to the Mods is excellent. But, I also think it should be available to both Ashley Marie and me so we know what is going on. Maybe sending us a copy so if you need a break we know the format and what is needed? Or if we think of something that needs to be included in an update.

I was going to suggest an alternate form of getting in touch with each other, one that might be easier and in case of problems with GRs when GRs was overloaded (it does happen every once in while. Like tonight). My suggestion is Yahoo's IM. I have use all the IMs and like Yahoo's the best because of the offline messages and I can have the window open to anyone continuous. There are times when I texting and get called away leaving the window open and when I come back there might be an answer waiting and I just reply knowing that the next time that person is on they'll get it. Also, if Im shut down I'll get any messages right when I turn on the computer. Another option is Google Plus, it has web available (I think Yahoo does too I just never use it). We could make a circle with just us and do hangouts on Google Plus. But I have have little issues with Google Plus and have to reinstall it ever so often.

K here's my stats in case you need to get ahold of me.

AM and Amanda let me know what you think.

I sent a message with our status of what we are thinking. Let ya know if I hear back.

I see what you mean, Gwendolyn. Maybe so many small challenges would be a bit much. We could start with the usual monthly challenge only. If later it seems like there isn't much activity or people want something extra, we could always try out a weekly challenge. We'll have to wait and see, but I think you're right. 8)

I agree that you and Ashley Marie should be able to see the weekly updates to the mods.
My question is: Is there any special format needed, or is it just a general update of books read, members active, etc.? I don't want to learn later that there was a special format I was supposed to have followed. If not, I'll just make my own list of info needed.

I'm new at this, but once I get my footing I think it will be a breeze.

I'll download Yahoo im as soon as possible. In the meantime, my email is:
daughterofoak@hotmail.com

BTW, the amateur herbalist in me would like to note that the plant in our blue gate picture is Queen Anne's Lace. There must be a challenge somewhere in that. 8)

Ladies, Lisa Kay has gotten back to me and wants to know if we are ready to open up the flood gates to WBY. I vote yes, do I hear another or two yes. I think if one of you wants to wait I would like to know why and will reconsider.

Amanda wrote: "BTW, the amateur herbalist in me would like to note that the plant in our blue gate picture is Queen Anne's Lace. There must be a challenge somewhere in that. 8)"

Your a herbalist too. I think we have lots to talk about.

I just finished my first book for the group and updated it on my bookshelf.

I just started really cooking with fresh herbs and trying to grow my own. I went vegan in September and I really notice the different with fresh herbs. However, I'm NOT having any luck with growing basil.

If your ok with it I can set up challenge to run to the end of the month with just the blue and flying themes-tomorrow if you want. I think since everyone is still setting up just that is enough. If you want to keep track of it Im ok with that as Im still running the one for Team C until the end of the month.

Amanda wrote: "I see what you mean, Gwendolyn. Maybe so many small challenges would be a bit much. We could start with the usual monthly challenge only. If later it seems like there isn't much activity or peopl..."

When I next pm Lisa Kay I'll ask her if there is a format for you to follow. I also don't know what all the Mod's want us to keep track of.