My previous post has got me thinking - should I join the DCA? They have a wonderful new website here: http://dinghycruising.org.uk/
I’ve met them at Beale Parke boat show several times and they are a great bunch......but I’m never quite sure. It isn’t them - it’s me!
Firstly, I’m a sort of solitary bod – I’m not good with crowds or adults. I can’t understand either. (I’m far better with teenagers – them I understand completely. I can spend hours with teenagers because they are full of fun and hopes and aspirations and intelligence and youthful enthusiasm. They keep me young and thinking and it’s a great privilege being an educator (even if you have a government hell bent on destroying education at the moment – just don’t get me started!). When you close that classroom door and the little light bulbs of understanding suddenly switch on – its magic!)
Then I worry about my lack of experience – you see I’m a solitary learner (which flies of course in the face of sensible educational research which conclusively shows that the best kind of learning is collaborative!) and I like to make my mistakes away from others......and I make loads. I still can’t sail up to a mooring properly (ugh!); I’ve never bothered sailing up to and going alongside a pontoon and I’ve never sailed Arwen off a beach. or onto one for that matter. I've never sailed and dropped an anchor; nor sailed away from an anchorage.
I’m a lazy sailor who relies on an outboard and I haven’t learned the skills and craft properly. Now, I know that if I joined the DCA I’d gain heaps more experience more rapidly and so would make fewer basic sailing mistakes in the future......so I know I’m being daft. I guess it is a confidence thing. With teenagers I’m 'Mr Confident' – with adults....well they kind of terrify me! Even the really great ones like those at the DCA!
I recently completed a very detailed psychometric test as part of my work and it came out with loads of positives, including the fact that apparently I am an excellent team member........but one of the points for development said....
"Steve should sit next to the phone once per day with the internal phone list to hand and randomly call one person on it and hold a 3 minute conversation with the person at the other end...on the topic of anything!" Ouch!
I guess it would be good for my own personal development and sailing skills if I joined the DCA!
Decision made!
Or is it.....?
Steve
I’ve met them at Beale Parke boat show several times and they are a great bunch......but I’m never quite sure. It isn’t them - it’s me!
Firstly, I’m a sort of solitary bod – I’m not good with crowds or adults. I can’t understand either. (I’m far better with teenagers – them I understand completely. I can spend hours with teenagers because they are full of fun and hopes and aspirations and intelligence and youthful enthusiasm. They keep me young and thinking and it’s a great privilege being an educator (even if you have a government hell bent on destroying education at the moment – just don’t get me started!). When you close that classroom door and the little light bulbs of understanding suddenly switch on – its magic!)
'Breakfast' Copyright: Dinghy Cruising Association
Then I worry about my lack of experience – you see I’m a solitary learner (which flies of course in the face of sensible educational research which conclusively shows that the best kind of learning is collaborative!) and I like to make my mistakes away from others......and I make loads. I still can’t sail up to a mooring properly (ugh!); I’ve never bothered sailing up to and going alongside a pontoon and I’ve never sailed Arwen off a beach. or onto one for that matter. I've never sailed and dropped an anchor; nor sailed away from an anchorage.
I’m a lazy sailor who relies on an outboard and I haven’t learned the skills and craft properly. Now, I know that if I joined the DCA I’d gain heaps more experience more rapidly and so would make fewer basic sailing mistakes in the future......so I know I’m being daft. I guess it is a confidence thing. With teenagers I’m 'Mr Confident' – with adults....well they kind of terrify me! Even the really great ones like those at the DCA!
'Camping' Copyright: David Summerville, Dinghy Cruising Association
"Steve should sit next to the phone once per day with the internal phone list to hand and randomly call one person on it and hold a 3 minute conversation with the person at the other end...on the topic of anything!" Ouch!
I guess it would be good for my own personal development and sailing skills if I joined the DCA!
Decision made!
Or is it.....?
Steve
4 comments:
Hi Steve,
Here in the US we have the TSCA which is similar to the DCA. I highly recommend joining an organization like this. It's a great way to have fun, share stories, trade knowledge, ride one another's boats, sail in new places, learn new skills - the list is endless. You should absolutely join!!!
yep i know - you are right joel
Come on Steve - join the DCA, you know you want to!
i sent it off on friday Osbert - so all those at DCA had better prepare themselves for an idiot who sails in the Plymouth sound area!!
steve
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