On a mysterious summer weekend in a secure facility in an unnamed city so secret that the first letter of its name is silent, people from around the globe quietly gather.  They were carefully chosen, and warned to keep the secrets to themselves.

When they first arrive, they are split into two groups – the experienced elders and the rookies.  Rookies are hazed.   Then, they are all told to sign documents that prohibit them from discussing their work beyond the chosen few until the challenge is officially unveiled by some unknown power. The documents state that, if they do their jobs properly, they’ll be paid only one dollar.   They’re not here for the money.

The writers are then broken into smaller groups.  Rookies and elders are mixed.  They’re sent to a small, cold room given little more than big pieces of blank paper, some sticky notes and an occasional piece of chocolate.   They’re told they are not to come out of the small, cold room until they come up with a challenge that will help legions of students learn and experience creativity, teamwork, and problem solving.

Hours later, when they feel like they have a good idea, they are led to a large room where all of their fellow writers and DI staff wait.  They present their idea.  That’s when they are told for the first time that their idea stinks.

They’re sent back to their small, cold rooms.  The rookies are heartbroken.  The elders assure them that this is typical, that it only gets worse.  They write some more.  Then, they present to the big group again, sometimes with totally new ideas and sometimes with tweaks to their originals.  Again, their creations are scrutinized and criticized.  The rookies are disappointed.  The elders are used to it.  Back to the small, cold room.  This is clearly tougher than it looks.

Finally, the long tiring weekend is coming to an end.  One more time, they present their revised challenge ideas to the big group.  The group applauds.  Victory, at least, it seems….but, not really.  This is when they all get the lecture that the grueling weekend is only the beginning of the process.  They will now be sent back to their own hamlets to very discreetly start developing their challenge in earnest.  The weekend was just the beginning of what would become four long, painful, often lonely, months of on-line writing.  They write diligently for week after week, often thousands of miles apart.

If they thought presenting to their fellow writers was tough, they couldn’t imagine what was ahead.  There’s yet another group of people…much more secretive than the first.  They hide behind code names, and all contact is through a cautious handler. Their job is to dissect every nook and cranny of the challenge-to-be, finding flaws and raising obnoxious questions.  They’re a brutal bunch, whoever they are.

The writers and dissectors volley back and forth.  Change this.  Don’t change this.  Change this again.  Why didn’t you change what I said change?  Oops, you need to change this, too.  I still don’t get it.  Why did you change that?  It’s a hard-fought battle.  Many changes are made.  Everyone is weary.

Finally, someone somewhere declares the challenge is ready for the world.  The writers never really know who this person is…but are in awe of the power.

Still the secrets continue.  The writers are reminded that they are not to disclose their identities until a ceremony before thousands in that city so secretive that its first letter is silent.

But, if you are really curious about who these secret writers are, I’ll tell you how to spot them.

Watch the first team of the first tournament complete the challenge.  Then, scan the audience.    If there’s someone sitting very quietly, hiding a single tear that has just rolled down their cheek, and trying to hold back a big smile, you’ve found one…a DI challenge developer.

Now, I beg of you, please keep these secrets to yourself.

Anonymously Yours,

Rick

It seems like they are constantly making it easier for those of us “in the trenches” to do our jobs.  Their resource material gets better consistently.  They keep making it easier to “start a team”.  They promote a meaningful and, well, fun environment.  And, certainly they provide a superb and well-organized experience for those of us lucky enough to go to the Global Finals tournament.  (You did know it’s in Knoxville, didn’t you?)

What a daunting task it must be for a non-profit organization to provide educational programs for students to learn and experience creativity, teamwork and problem solving.  Every year, over 100,000 students across the U.S. and in more than thirty countries participate.  Alums amount to 1.3-million with a global network of 35,000 volunteers.  Not shabby, huh!

So, thank you New Jersey folks for the fine job you do, for making our jobs in Tennessee easier, and for consistently making sure there’s lots of fun to go around for all.

All the best,

Rick

From all over the state, they had come to plan for the coming DI year.  There were people who’ve been involved with DI for years and a number of alums…some fresh faces, and long-time friends.  (I originally wrote “old” friends, but thought better of it.)  Several years ago, we added at-large seats to the board to make sure that alums were represented.  Now, we’re working toward the day that alums outnumber us geezers.

The Board meetings sometimes are a bit long, but they are always positive and guided by a true commitment to the students who participate in the program, and to the many volunteers around the state who make it work.

We’re always glad to have new Board members, and you’d find that it’s quite fun.  (Imagine that.)

All the best,

Rick

Now for the fun stuff — building teams, watching them grow, and celebrating their accomplishments!!

As the Affiliate Training Director, I’ll be posting more later on team-building and skill-building, as well as tips for new (and returning!) Team Managers.  Leave a comment if you have a specific topic or question you’d like to see addressed in future posts!

Looking forward to hearing from you!

Nancy Kornegay

All types of resources are available on the national DI website, and in Tennessee we’ve even created a grant program to help people start teams.  We’ll be announcing details soon, but I can give you a sneak peak.  We’ll award funds to organizations…schools, civic clubs, home school groups, or any group wanting to start a team.  You simply have to show that you have a plan for starting.  (We’ll even help you with that).  And, you have to be willing to share your start-a-team experiences with us.  Simple, huh?

It doesn’t cost much money to start a team, but our grant will help defray costs and help you get the direction you need.

Come on, do it.  Start a team.

All the best,

Rick

At the meeting yesterday of our outstanding and dedicated Board of Directors, we voted to start blogging.  I get to be first.  What we’re hoping is that this will become a spot for all things Destination Imagination in Tennessee.  We’ll have a number of guest bloggers, including DI alums!

This can be a resource for DI team members, team managers, and appraisers to supplement the fine information available from the national DI organization and from your Regional Directors and Tennessee Affiliate Director (an excellent and helpful group of people, by the way).   But, I suspect, even hope, it will become a place for just random thoughts about DI – like what it has meant to be a DI alum.  Maybe even some simple silliness.  Who knows?

Anyway, stand by and encourage others to watch our blog, visit our Facebook site, and by all means, feel free to participate.

This will be fun!  I guarantee it!

All the best,

Rick