[pct-l] Helpers Lists

[jeyre@learningvoyage.com (Jon Eyre)]

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Hmm, I was thinking more of an anonymous list based system to which
people could subscribe. Anyone wanting help would post an email to the
list that would broadcast out to individual email accounts. There would
be no point to point communication except by people responding to a
request for help, that is the direct connection could only be initiated
by the helper. This would eliminate the "demanding help" syndrome, as
helpers would to all intents and purposes be anonymous until they chose
to close the loop. I certainly wouldn't advocate free distribution or
access to telephone numbers or addresses. Yes it is similar in nature to
the angels only a little more formal.

I think taking this approach it could provide a valuable resource to
hikers without burdening the helpers, as help would be entirely
voluntary without any form of confrontation. The success of such a
scheme would very much depend on two things - people actually
subscribing to the list and secondly those same people responding to
requests for help - this would undoubtedly be its achilies heel.

As to what and how much a helper would do for hikers is entirely up to
them, there would be no assumption of duties as you put it, I prefer to
think of it as simply help. Subscription to the list would only mean
that you would get any mail posted on the list, similar to the PCT-L
digest. You might say well why not simply use the open pct list as Helen
has done. The problem with this is that only people monitoring said list
would pick up on the request, whereas a formal helpers list would
distribute directly to helpers' email accounts where there is a high
degree of chance that the request would be picked up. In fact it would
be simple for the subscription process to ask new members if they wished
to belong to the helper list and just add another PCT-L helper digest.
Clearly it would require a separate PCT mail account to facilitate this
but how difficult is that?

Regards Jon


Joanne Lennox wrote:

>" So why don't we setup a list of helpers willing to perform various duties
>to assist PCT thru-hikers?"
>
>I note that you want "helpers" to do "DUTIES" for thruhikers.
>
>This reminds me of the people asking for a list of trail angels for the
>PCT. It happens every year.
>
>At the outset, it sounds like a good idea, and if these people were being
>paid or were a business, I would gladly agree.
>
>Anybody that helps a PCT hiker one day, may not be able to do it the next.
>The tenuousness of a passing acquaintance offering help is far different
>that somebody just calling on the phone, sight unseen, and demanding help.
>If trail "magic" exists than it can not and should not be formalized to the
>extent that the beauty and mystery of it is lost.
>
>Those that helped me on the trail, I feel a special connection to, and a
>certain awe of their openness and generosity.  It is a very delicate thing
>that can easily be ruined by overuse, callousness, advertizement, lack of
>privacy, crudeness, rudeness, or simple lack of appreciation.So I think
>that a helpers list in the long run would not be helpful.
>
>Maybe this is a "learning Voyage" and not just a set up program to get
>things done.
>
>Joanne
>
>
>
>
>

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Jon Eyre
Chief Learning Officer
Learning Voyage Inc

Tele:     (513)-683-7600

Email:    jeyre@learningvoyage.com