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> Logistics Conference Call: Preparing to Prepare, Getting ready for the trip
John_Sode
post May 19 2005, 05:10 AM
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May 18, 2005

This afternoon I participated in a logistics conference call for the Greenland trip. As I hung up the phone, all I could think about was "Wow, there are so many different things to do just to get ready to start the trip. There are so many different people involved and so many different things to do."

What do you talk about in a preparing to prepare call? The list seems endless, but here is an attempt:

1. When are you going to be traveling? Obviously important, but sometimes just assumed knowledge by everyone. My travel dates have changed from the original time schedule. This change verifies the importance of flexibility on the part of participants. I am now scheduled to travel between 10 July 2005 and 30 July 2005.

2. What, exactly, are you going to be doing? Again, this seems obvious, but an expedition of this size makes this question important. Some of the jobs that are involved are basic research, basic data collection, preparing data samples for either analysis or shipment back to the States for further analysis, developing projects, developing public outreach programs, setting up live programs, supporting the researchers and team members, supporting each other in the preparations, determining types of gear needed, matching gear to projects, contacting possible research collaborators, summarizing the project to others, making travel arrangements, constructing gear lists, testing gear, purchasing and shipping gear to individuals and to the site, determining weight limits, making plane and hotel and other travel arrangements, getting government clearances, examining background information, brainstorming possible lessons, and the list goes on and on.

3. Learning the responsibilities of each party so we can support and help each other accomplish our jobs. This is really important. Each of us needs to have an understanding of what each other is expected to accomplish. This helps us to understand each other, support each other, and work together as a team.

4. Another area discussed during the call was field communications. How do we communicate from the field? What are our requirements? What are our possibilities? What are our back-up systems? How, and whom, do we contact if we need assistance in the field? Already I've been trying to brainstorm a lesson. I know there is one here. Roy's efforts to ship a satphone (satellite-based phone) may be the basis of a lesson. Lot's to think about here.

5. Wow!! How are we going to get all of this done? I really understand why there are so many different people involved in a project of this scope.

With all of these things going on, I'm getting really excited because, "IT SEEMS LIKE ITS REALLY GOING TO HAPPEN!!!! WOW!!!!" That excitement is providing the energy to get going and get ready to get ready.

John
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