to obtain additional information and availability to do a team building session with your team.
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June 23, 2006 -- Research in Motion (RIM) takes to the Lake
Irene Gelyk
On June 23rd, all sixteen members of RIM’s Software Process and Project Management team, under the Directorship of Spencer Hill, came out to the lake for some a fun and teambuilding. The group arrived at 11:00 AM.
Pat Weir, head of the club rowing committee was the co-ordinator of the event for RIM. Working with Irene Gelyk, Pat organized the coaches, coxes, speaker, volunteers and BBQ.
Walter Kehm welcomed the group from RIM to the lake and provided bit of background about the club past, present and future.
Everyone enjoyed the BBQ lunch, building up their strength for the rowing to follow.
Frank Corning gave a presentation about his Olympic experiences with coaching, motivation, successes, failures and how we can use these in our daily lives at work and play.
Next came the rowing. We were divided into two teams and matched up with our coaches and coxes. Chris Osuch and Erika Spekkens were the coaches; Rita Harris and Katie Nicholson were the coxes.
After a brief onshore safety and equipment orientation we carried the shells down to the dock and loaded up.
By the end of the water session one team was able to row all eight. The other team wasn’t quite as successful but still had a very positive experience.
At 3:15 we headed back to the dock and moved the shells back onto their racks.
After a quick debrief we headed home.
Here is a sampling of feedback comments gathered after the event:
- This was an opportunity to learn to do something that we wouldn’t otherwise do.
- It was fantastic.
- I liked the nature of the event – being outside and on the water.
- Learning and experiencing something new with my team presented an interesting dynamic – putting people into a situation with their peers outside of an office/work setting and challenging them to achieve a common goal was quite a learning experience in itself.
- It was a lot of fun and the coaches were very helpful.
- The event was organized really well.
- I liked the concept of teamwork in the event. I was surprised that rowing was so much a team event – I was not aware of that.
- Learned the importance of “staying together” as a team
- The coaching we received was excellent; coaches were clear, very patient, and encouraging
- Rowing is a rewarding team sport
- Great to understand how a little change (i.e. balancing the boat) can affect the group. Good to get away with the team for a little while.
- I thought that all the aspects of the rowing event itself were carried out very effectively. The coaching was particularly good. The coaches were very precise and clear in their instructions. They were also very patient and encouraging under very challenging circumstances. Team rowing is much more complicated than I originally thought, and the coaches accomplished a remarkable amount with us in a two-hour period.
- The picnic style lunch outdoors was enjoyable; the fresh fruit and vegetables were a nice touch
- Good insights about leadership and motivation during the guest speaker’s presentation.
Thank you to everyone at the rowing club who came out to help make this an extremely positive experience. More groups at RIM have been enquiring, so you may see more of us out at the lake.