NYCkayaker Anyone doing this Sunday's Governors Island Swim support?

Sun Jun 29 23:16:01 EDT 2008

Having done Governor's Islands today, I had a good time and would consider doing more. But...

I'm begining to understand the frustration of the former supporters now. Transportation issue aside, here's another example. On the e-mail, it proclaimed kayak support volunteers gets the same goodie bags as swimmers. But at the site, kayakers were told NO! There's mentioning of refreshment and snacks but again, kayakers were treated like second class citizens. 

Would I do the support knowing I won't get the goodie bag or the refreshment? Absolutely. None of us are doing it for rich of glory, after all. But would I support an event that doesn't keep its promises? No, I wouldn't because I shouldn't. 

Now, all of that could simply be just misunderstanding. But from all the posts that came forward, it seems this kind of "mis-understanding" has been happening for quite some time. And the organizer don't seem to care to make any improvement on that front.

I won't judge an organization on just one event. But I won't just accept the condition as is either. So, I reserve my judgement till the next time. If it's still the same, it'll then be my last. 

> Date: Sun, 29 Jun 2008 07:53:23 -0400> From: priley at amnh.org> To: john at licboathouse.org> CC: nyckayaker at rockandwater.net> Subject: Re: NYCkayaker Anyone doing this Sunday's Governors Island Swim support?> > As one who has done 4 years with MIF; I qualify as an old timer also.> This year they have tried something different. No meetings, no contact, no> word at all. Others who intended to assist have reported the same. I like> the idea of a support group for ex NYCSwim coordinators and volunteers.> I can't say how many times questions were ignored with no reason.> This year I am restricting myself to the MIMS swim having withdrawn last> week from Governor's Island. The issue of transport has been consistently> ignored and I decided it was enough.> > > there is a reason for the kayaker boycott of these swim races.> > despite countless meetings and promises over very many years, it's the> > same old story.> >> > it used to be one of my most favorite kayak experiences, partially due> > to the adrenaline rush of chaotic rescues. sorry to be harsh, but> > aside from the safety horrors, i can't think of any redeeming values> > for volunteering for this swim group. i would LOVE to have other> > groups formed, along with the Triathlon, Paul's LI swim, upper Hudson> > swims, Brooklyn swim, etc.> >> > golly, speaking as an old timer after all these years, there should be> > a club of reformed NYCSwim kayak support leaders. hee hee, we should> > make a list... or jeez, just a FAQ to respond every time this comes> > up. Ralph,, Nancy, etc. anybody want to write a FAQ?> >> > sorry, rant over. hope to see you guys at Governor's Island for the> > Figment Festival to check out Harry Spitz's amazing chalk art. He is> > expanding to multiple spots tomorrow and having interactive> > participation, which is one of the fundamentals of the event.> > ~j> >> > John McGarvey> > 917-572-0206> > http://thegreatestsilence.org/> > http://licboathouse.org/> > http://www.actionartsleague.org/> > http://thewaterpod.org/> >> >> >> >> >> >> > On Jun 28, 2008, at 1:23 PM, David Gottlieb wrote:> >> >> Yes, I have been discouraged by the way I have been treated, as a> >> paddler,> >> during some swim events. Kayakers are integral to the individual> >> swimmers> >> success or failure. The skills of the kayakers to guide their> >> swimmer in the> >> water can be key to the swimmers time it takes to get to the finish> >> line.> >> Plus we have to often communicate with police, race officials and> >> power> >> boaters on our GPS. I have found that it is really a team effort> >> between the> >> kayaker and the swimmer. If I make a mistake in a Hudson River> >> crossing and> >> tell my swimmer to move to the left instead of the right I could> >> cause him> >> to lose time.> >>> >> So, yes, we get very little credit, very little appreciation from most> >> organizers. Perhaps those of us who like to participate in these swims> >> should go ahead and set up some meetings with the organizers of> >> these events> >> so we can put an end to this "dis-ing."And perhaps the paddlers who> >> correctly aide their swimmer can also be recognized as an important> >> part of> >> the race.> >>> >> David> >>> >>> >> On 6/28/08 7:50 AM, "peter riley" <priley at amnh.org> wrote:> >>> >>> this is typical of how the race organizers operate. they need the> >>> kayakers> >>> but do very little to support us.> >>>> >>>>> >>>> Anyone doing this Sunday's Governors Island Swim as kayak> >>>> supports? Can> >>>> one paddle over? If so, where to launch and land?> >>>>> >>>> I've signed up to do the support a while back and had the date> >>>> freed up.> >>>> But when the organizer announce the ferry schedule, they wanted> >>>> immediate> >>>> responds to reserve a spot! When I blink, I missed the window...> >>>> _________________________________________________________________> >>>> Need to know now? Get instant answers with Windows Live Messenger.> >>>> http://www.windowslive.com/messenger/connect_your_way.html?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_> >>>> Refresh_messenger_062008> >>>> **********************************************************************> >>>> The NYCKayaker mailing list is hosted by www.rockandwater.net, and> >>>> is a> >>>> public service offered to the kayaking community by the Hudson River> >>>> Watertrail Association. Learn more about HRWA at www.hrwa.org> >>>>> >>>> To unsubscribe or change delivery options:> >>>> http://www.rockandwater.net/mailman/listinfo/nyckayaker> >>>>> >>>> >>>> >>> **********************************************************************> >>> The NYCKayaker mailing list is hosted by www.rockandwater.net, and> >>> is a public> >>> service offered to the kayaking community by the Hudson River> >>> Watertrail> >>> Association. Learn more about HRWA at www.hrwa.org> >>>> >>> To unsubscribe or change delivery options:> >>> http://www.rockandwater.net/mailman/listinfo/nyckayaker> >>> >>> >> **********************************************************************> >> The NYCKayaker mailing list is hosted by www.rockandwater.net, and> >> is a public service offered to the kayaking community by the Hudson> >> River Watertrail Association. Learn more about HRWA at www.hrwa.org> >>> >> To unsubscribe or change delivery options:> >> http://www.rockandwater.net/mailman/listinfo/nyckayaker> >>> >>> >> >> > > **********************************************************************> The NYCKayaker mailing list is hosted by www.rockandwater.net, and is a public service offered to the kayaking community by the Hudson River Watertrail Association. Learn more about HRWA at www.hrwa.org> > To unsubscribe or change delivery options:> http://www.rockandwater.net/mailman/listinfo/nyckayaker
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