The Role That "Respect" Has When Organizing a Team

The Twelve Principles of Team Organization

Respect

This is the second in a series about organizing a team.

Organizing a team is NOT limited to the "early" days of a newly registered team or club. "Organizing" is a continuous process that is dynamic, always changing both as the sport of flyball "evolves" and as personnel change on your roster. "Experience" becomes a teacher as strategies and tactics are tried and kept or discarded depending on their success or failure. Every new team captain has a learning curve and everybody wants to know this "secret" of flyball success. How do you keep all the people on your team "happy"? How do you keep people on your team over a long period of time? How do you get them to work together?

The answer is developing a set of principles and sticking with the formula. Some people may disagree with what you consider your principles to be but, that's OK. NAFA doesn't think a team's roster should be set "in stone" and neither should you. Over time, you want to attract the kind of people you get along with and will "work" with you towards a common goal. That's what makes flyball - as a "team" sport - so much fun. Discovering a second family called your team.

"Respect" is as simple as it is important. Respect means that you treat others with the same personal/professional consideration that you expect to receive. Have consideration for their time as well as their thoughts, ideas and property. In short, "respect" is an attitude. It is at the forefront of your behavior and it is priceless when it is received.

When you use respect as a core principle, something magical happens. A lot of things get done because the people on your team will feel "validated". No one wants to be taken for granted, especially those who are "volunteers". When you feel your efforts are appreciated, you tend to give more of yourself in terms of personal efforts. It no longer feels like "work" at all!

It even gets easy to enlist help from "outside" your club. You might need that outside help the first time you host a tournament. Borrowing equipment or securing help judging are just a couple of ways that outside clubs help one another for the greater good of flyball. Banding together to secure a practice facility or combining the costs for renting a venue are another. Showing consideration for the time and efforts of others is how you ensure the future success of your club.

Good Luck and Good Racing!

..........Chris

Could This Bill Stop Flyball in Michigan?

Over the weekend, I was made aware of a poorly worded legislative bill that has been proposed by Michigan State Senator Alan L. Cropsey. SB 626 is aimed at curbing Greyhound racing but, potentially could have the unintended affect of stopping positive recreational dog sport activities.

Dr. Al Stinson, DVM, lobbies Michigan lawmakers on dog-related bills for several dogclubs and associations. He also sends out periodic legislative alerts via e-mail to interested individuals. He is concerned that this bill, which does not define"dog racing", could end up making flyball (and lure coursing, terrier racing, mushing, and coonhound water racing) illegal in Michigan.

If you would like to be kept informed of dog-related developments on the legislative front, send Dr. Stinson an email at lsfc2@aol.com, and he'll add you to his list.

Sources tell us that Senator Cropsey is aware that bill is fairly broad and could potentially have a negative impact on dog shows, agility events and flyball tournaments. He has promised to work with his colleagues while SB626 is in committee to narrow the language so it applies only to greyhound racing.

SB626 is presented at the bottom of this post. If it alarms you as it does me, then be sure to voice those concerns to Senator Cropsey. He can be reached at:



Alan L. Cropsey
Office Phone: (517) 373-3760
Office Location: S-8 Capitol
E-mail Address: SenACropsey@senate.michigan.gov


SENATE BILL No. 626


June 27, 2007, Introduced by Senator CROPSEY and referred to the Committee on Commerce and Tourism.


A bill to prohibit certain dog races; to prohibit the
simulcasting of certain dog races; and to prescribe penalties.

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

Sec. 1. As used in this act:

(a) "Person" means an individual, partnership, corporation,
limited liability company, association, governmental entity, or
other legal entity.

(b) "Simulcast" means the live transmission into this state of
video or audio signals conveying a dog race held outside this
state.

Sec. 2. A person shall not hold, conduct, or operate dog
racing for public exhibition.

Sec. 3. A person shall not transmit or receive interstate
simulcasting of dog racing for commercial purposes.

Sec. 4. A person who violates this act is guilty of a
misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 93 days or
a fine of not more than $5,000.00, or both.

Sec. 5. This act does not preclude prosecution under the
Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.1 to 750.568.