What to do with all these people???

Yesterday, we pulled PM on our closets. Not as massive a task as last year's but it illustrated something that may well be a problem this season and highlighted the importance of good training.

The problem is the sheer number of team members who showed up to assist. Almost every rookie showed up, at least every rookie who's pledged an allegiance to mech or electrical/controls. That translates to quite a crew, and with only Mrs. Reich and myself to provide adult leadership, we were stretched rather thinly. Captains helped, but one had to head home to attend to homework assignments. It indeed was a learning experience for all.

When we attacked the tool carts, it be came clear that many of them don't know much about tools and therefore the importance of maintaining a complete set of them. This clearly illustrates the value that the mech training will have to instill good habits with regard to tools, use, care and maintenance thereof. What yesterday also illustrates is that the rookies have indeed an intense desire to be on the team. They're wide-eyed and pumped up, excitement is thick in the air. We need to channel that energy in a profitable way. That's the challenge for the team leads, with the help of the mentors.

We ran out of time, and didn't get to all three cabinets and tool carts, but we made a significant dent in the task at hand. With River Rage looming ahead, we have to assemble our traveling tool cart this coming Thursday.