As many of you know already, our current group of super helpful gather guides have been graduated out and now gather is taking applications for a new set of guides. The new guides will only be our guides for the short term of 4 months before gather repeats the process all over again. You can read more about the announcement here:
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977227803&nav=Namespace
I know I've been helped time and time again by our wonderful gather guides. They've answered numerous questions for me about navigating the site, how to upload images to an article and have them show up in the body of the article, technical computer questions, etc. They have answered all of my questions in a very timely manner and have helped me so very much!
I just feel that the short term of 4 months as a guide won't give the new class of guides a chance to be properly trained and able to assist us. It seems that just when they'll be getting the hang of it, it will be time for them to go and we'll have to start all over again with new guides.
So, if you'd like to sign this petition to SAVE OUR CURRENT GUIDES, please do so below. Once we reach 100 signatures, I will email this to gather for their consideration. Let's save our guides!!
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Comments: 162
Gail Lakritz, Mother Toad
Jill~sexy back~V
Faith Branson
(Oh wait a minute, I'm a Guide so I probably can't sign this, huh?)
Ha, thanks Jill - this is a sweet gesture. :o)
The short term doesn't seem 'smart' and adds a lot of 'maintenance' to the whole process. Every 4 months means 3 times a year going through this process. Doesn't make much sense, does it? If we can put up with G.W. for two terms, lets let guides do their thing for a longer stretch as well.
signed
Landen Michaels / STRESSEDwriter
To us that are not doing the work it seems short, and it is. I mean other elected officials are in 'office' a lot longer and they spend hours at their jobs too.
So in short, I think it is too short, yet might seem long to those who are in those positions. It does seem counter productive, however, to keep training them all every four months.
Esther Chalabi
Brenda H.
Gerri D.
I am just supposing.
Sharon Kinsella
Trish A.
(I would suggest it be, keep the guides on who still desire to stay on. )
Rotate some guides every two months. Say you have six guides:
Two retire now and two new ones replace them and start learning: now have 4 experienced and two learning.
Two months later, two more retire and two more new guides start: now have 2 with full experience, two with several months under their belt and two learning.
etc.
Guess we need six month terms for that to work
anyway it avoids any transition issues for gather members to rotate a third of the Guides every 2 months.
And yes, for those who are curious, we all loved being guides and were proud of all we did and accomplished during our tenure. We're all very sad that our term is over, and that a new class will be replacing us. We'd of every one glad stayed on had we been given such an option.
Darn company policies! lol
Vickey W.
I think the attrition that seems to happen quite naturally in the Essentials would be just fine for the Gather Guides as well... if they're doing a good job, seems to me to be no need to ~graduate~ them ...and if they are not, are you going to keep them for another term so that they can earn their ~graduation~?
I support keeping our original guides, if openings happen because people would like to get back to normal, then I think they could look for volunteers to fill the spot..
so I'm signing this petition..
Randee L. LaLa Land Court Jester....
Adair K.
I agree that 4 months is way too short.
Signed,
Cathy N.
signed Jules b
i do agree that 4 months seems like a short period of time.. i like the idea of rotating the guides out of position so that there is some experienced with the new
Bob C.
Having someone learn a job can sometimes take at least a month, for them to get truly comfortable maybe another month. For them to be truly recognized as doing an excellent job let's say another month maybe two. So with that being the case the Gather Guides should really finally be in a position where they are fully appreciated for what they do after 4 months. So now that they are comfortable and people are fully aware of who they are and their competent work let's take that job away from them. Would this make sense in any type of job? I don't think so. I understand that it has certain benefits and Gather may want to "spread the wealth" so to speak but I think 4 months is just to short of a time frame. At least six months would be a little more reasonable and a year would be fair. After that maybe a review period or even a vote of confidence from other Gather members and the best ones get re-elected so to speak. At that time maybe 3 or 4 get to stay on for another year and two or three new ones start out. Unless the Guides themselves find that it is taking too much of their time and leaving if that is the case should be their decision.
Signed
I think they should consider adding 1 or 2 if 1 or 2 would like to end their gather guide career but ending it for all who dont mind staying.. .. 4 months is short though!
ment monthly(gawds, what a MESS)...my vote is YES!! takes time to train.Takes time to learn> my hat is off to ALL the guides!! Signed, ''penni d"
Barb Carlson
What I want to know is how long it took Gather to find the word 'Graduate' when they finally went public; as in "Gather Guides Graduate". What a nice word, what a nice way to explain to us, Gather's general populace that the current Guides were being axed. That alone should tell us that Gather is NOT looking out for our best interests. Yes, Lydia, there is some compensation but don't start drooling at the bit if any of you are now thinking to become a guide. The compensation is very minimal and does not address the amount of effort and time that our current Guides have put forth. None of the guides to my knowledge - and I do have a little knowledge - requested this termination. They have done a great job and they deserve to continue if they wish. At the very least a four month term is laughable. I cannot believe that gather sees an advantage to going through a Guide transition every four months.
Current Guides; you have my respect and my thanks for a job well done. Unfortunately, the ones who make policy here do not appreciate the fine work you've done and they do not appreciate us writers and photographers who fill their otherwise blank pages - if they did, they wouldn't spend their precious time in meetings trying to come up with words like 'graduate' to pacify us into thinking, it's a good thing they do.
Yes, petition signed. And thank you Jill!
Kim P.
signed
Apryl Lipscomb
Tess G
I think the current guides are wonderful and have done a lot of good work to improve gather and gather relations. I have not had personal interaction with all of them, but I have with most of them, and I think they should be commended and given the opportunity to continue, and at 6 month intervals at the very least. I know it would be difficult to start a rotation now, but it would be better than just cutting all of them. I hope Gather will take ALL of the members thoughts into consideration before continuing on this course.
Signed
Lisa Frost
Kim M
I was surprised to find out it was a 4 month stint. And it appears based on comments that the current guides would love it to be more than short term also.
I know gather shows alot of members but how many are truly active enough to be guides? A year or so down the road there might be a problem finding people that can and will be guides.
If they want to resign that is one thing....then replace them if not why just maintain status quo.
I am signing your petition.
It took me months to learn how to get all around Gather, I still consider myself new and have tons of stuff to learn so how can a person be a Guide without a very long time experience??
EXTEND THE PERIOD FOR LIKE A YEAR PER TURN.
Signed, Sealed and Delivered
Phyllis
However, the Guides have been very valued contributors to the conversation at many different times and I appreciate them for their presence. I don't suppose that has to change if they are no longer guides.
However, I do object to the shabbiness of their treatment. The conversation stream above makes it pretty evident that "graduating" was not their idea. Gather had pretty be more careful. They could alienate a significant portion of their client base if they continue to be inscrutable and high-handed in their treatment of peoplel They might yet kill the goose that laid the golden egg.
Consider this my signature on this petition, but I doubt it will do any good. Tilting at windmills here.
The only way to influence Gather management is to leave the site. I suspect a five day boycott, if it could be pulled off (stay off the site, don't post, don't respond, don't rate, don't read for five days) would deliver a clear message to them if enough people participated.
signed,
Gloria AKA Nana
Trudy P
John C.
Signed:
Krissy
Jennifer
Amy S.
That's how you'll get good ones.
HeatherMara
stopped by to catch up is all :)
Signed....
Sharon B
I also think that if they are replaced, it should be on a 6 month or longer basis.
I think Faith and Susan have been a great team of leaders and all the guides worked really well together.
Ruthe M.
Consider me signed.
Vicky P.
Signing again.
isn't my signature great?
As far as saving the current ones, there are a few that I am glad to see go while others (such as Kristy) should be able to stay.
We should be able to elect them into office too lol.
cybergwen
Leslie T.
I also appreciate Robert B putting into print what has been said in the shadows. Thanks, Robert.
I want to KEEP these guides. Four months is a ridiculous amount of time for the new guides; I think it makes a mockery of the whole program.
Consider me signed up! Wilma M
Barbara S.
TK Rosevear
If our great guides want to continue with the great job they have done - I say keep them!!!
Signed by Lisa M.
have become accustomed to, familiar with too.
Barbara J B
Sharon M
carmel m.
kelseyshelley
Shelley S
Kelsey
Sacking all at once and starting fresh is NOT a good idea. Even if Gather has to keep all and bring two in now and two more later, etc.
The guides have been so helpful, generous, kind, sympathetic, empathetic, etc. don't shoot yourself in the foot Gather. Don't throw the baby out with the bath water. Think about this!!!!
count me signed in
Sharon Robinson aka BlueFox
but I agree about THIS!
Lloyd.