Stupid.........

Date: Wed Sep 28 11:12 AM, 2005

Stupid.........

Date: Wed Sep 28 11:36 AM, 2005

Yes, I very much liked traveling with the team in previous years, but this is our chance to get to know our best friends even better. Ia m traveling wiht my best friends to all our national competitions and it should be just as fun if not better, at least we wont have team curfew and we can go out and do fun things with our friends and family!

Acting responsibly is the key, we've just got to make sure we are there for the competition and not the fun.

-Bryan
Motions Coed

Date: Sat Oct 1 4:16 PM, 2005

hey
i agree
i felt like it was a great bonding experiance and it was a blast it will be hard this year to find time to just have fun with your team this year

Date: Sat Oct 1 5:57 PM, 2005

me too. iw as definatly dissappionted when i found this out because of the bus and because the hotels are always such a fun experience!!!

:(

Date: Sat Oct 1 8:58 PM, 2005

Ya alot of programs are doing this. I really do miss the bonding and all of that too. I think it was awesome. Sometimes it made the whole trip what it was.

Date: Sun Oct 2 8:18 PM, 2005

I agree totally, it would have been better to fly or bus together even if we then have to stay with our parents at least we can be together as a team on those LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG bus rides
There is noooo I in TEAM ;-0)

byes

MEEETOO!

Date: Mon Oct 3 9:51 AM, 2005

I keep wondering, where are those people who DIDN'T like to travel together? From what I understand there were enough parents who were unhappy with the travel last year that the policy was changed. From this small sample, it looks like the kids liked it the way it was.The whole purpose in being here is my daughter's happiness. Is this a case of the squeaky wheel getting the grease? I only know ONE parent who didn't like the way it was. So far I have yet to see any real "savings" in our travel expense and my child is disappointed that the team will not be together as in past years. The kids love going out together, taking over hotels, swimming and stunting in the pool, getting to know their coaches.....pretty hard to arrange with these big teams all spread out in Vegas! Danny and Morton always look out for our kids first. I trust their experience and judgement when it comes to this sort of decision. The system worked as it was,and I hope more parents will give their opinion so that they have a true idea of what the families would prefer.

Date: Mon Oct 3 3:47 PM, 2005

I'm sure Nelson wouldn't have changed it if it were ok with most. From experience, I heard parents complain that they couldn't take their kids when they wanted, go where they wanted, didn't like picking up the strange times when the bus arrived or arranging to get someone to pick up their kids when the bus arrived late, etc. I remember Nelson getting the complaints all too many times from the girls wanting to stay out and have fun or go from room to room when they were supposed to be in their own at curfew. And now there are complaints that things have changed. So funny how it works, huh?

The way I see it, now the coaches don't have to tell kids to clean their disgusting rooms, don't leave stuff on the busses or planes, tell them NOT to take off when you know they will, tell parents what their kid did cause they decided not to listen, and sit in their rooms to babysit. Sounds to me like it's gonna work out just fine cause now the parents will be responsible for their own kids and can't blame anyone else. Sorry guys but be careful what you wish for. You just might get it.

-A Parent, Not A Coach

Date: Mon Oct 3 3:52 PM, 2005

I used Nelson as an example cause I don't know the other coaches names offhand. This happened rarely but it definitly stands out when it does. So no one come back and say I was attacking Nelson, cause I wasn't. Now Nelson and the cheergyms staff get to enjoy themselves too while the parents get to be responsible for their kids behavior. But all I can say is, be on time. Don't be the parent who ruins it for your childs team. If they say "be there at 4" then be there at 2. Plan ahead. Things happen and it's almost a guarantee that things will arise that you didn't plan. Trust me, I plan ahead every single time and SOMETHING always catches me off guard!!!!

Date: Mon Oct 3 4:12 PM, 2005

I know my childs coach doesn't consider their job "babysitting" . Maybe I am wrong, but aren't the coaches supposed to spend time with the team and bond on trips? Isn't that part of the whole experience? Don't we pay for the coaches to travel as part of the program cost? I'm sure none of them are expecting it to be a paid vacation. Shouldn't the behavior problems be made to change, and not the entire program due to a few people. If a kid is a problem on trips then should that kids parent be required to attend and not blame someone else for their own kids behavior. Only my thoughts, not meant to offend anyone:) PS I have never missed a trip in 3 years with cheergyms !

Date: Mon Oct 3 10:24 PM, 2005

Supposed to spend time with the kids? Under what circumstances? At the competitons? Dinner? In the hotel? I don't think that is what we signed up for. We signed up for coaches, not best friends. Now don't get me wrong, friendships is what happens, naturally. But requiring them to do these things? Let's hope that's not what is expected. That would be quite sad. Changing the behavior problems.... boy, if you found a solution to that one, you should notify the schools cause I'm sure they would LOVE to hear it!!! Why do you think that Nanny 911 is such a hit?

With the way kids are being raised these days (passive parenting) it's just like babysitting some of the kids. Nope, not everyone should be punished for some of the kids behavior, but it was asked to be changed and now that it is, there's complaints. Guess you can't please all of the people, all of the time. But I have a strange feeling that the behavior of the kids isn't what changed the system. The parents did. The kids who can't behave are far and few between in Cheergyms, thank goodness. So I have a feeling that isn't what was portrayed in the other post. So now things are changed, how about making it fun anyway??? A team dinner one night maybe? C'mon moms and dads, things change all the time in life, roll with the flow and make it the "experience" that you signed up for!!!

-Never Missed A Trip Too

Date: Mon Oct 3 11:48 PM, 2005

WHAT IS A TEAM WITHOUT BONDING AND COMING CLOSE TO ONE ANOTHER, ITS NOT WORTH THAT WIN IN THE END IF YOU GUYS ARENT ALL FRIENDS! WHEN DO YOU EXPECT WE'LL BOND, WE CANT TALK @ PRACTICE, WE WONT TRAVEL TOGETHER, AND MY TEAM HAS MEMBERS WHO LIVE COUNTYS AWAY FROM EACHOTHER. YOUVE GONE TOO FAR ..WHEN ITS STRICTLY CHEERLEADING, NO FUN INVOLVED......I KNOW THATS WHAT WE SIGNED UP FOR BUT ISNT THERE SUPOSED TO BE SOME FUN INVOLVED..........MAYBE SOME OF YOU PARENTS AND COACHES ARE HAPPY TRAVELING THIS WAY, BUT I THINK ITS GOING TO BE A HUGE REALITY CHECK WHEN HALF THE TEAM SHOWS UP LATE AND SOME DONT SHOW UP @ ALL! BY THE WAY...... I HONESTLY HOPE THAT DOES'NT HAPPEN ! ALL-STAR CHEERLEADING IS SUCH AN ELITIST SPORT, IF YOU DONT HAVE MONEY, YOUR SCREWED, IVE HAD TO SERIOUSLY CONTEMPLATE QUITING THIS SEASON BECAUSE OF THE EXTREMELY LARGE TRAVEL COSTS! WHO EVER SAID THIS WAY WAS CHEAPER OBVIOUSLY ISNT PAYING THE $6000 GRAND TOTAL THAT ITS GOING TO COST ME FOR CHEERLEADING THIS YEAR. THATS ALMOST TWICE AS MUCH AS LAST YEAR COST, AND TRAVEL WAS INCLUDED LAST YEAR! DOES ANYONE EVEN CARE WHERE THERE MONEYS GOING? DID YOU EVER THINK ABOUT THOSE KIDS WHO ARE GOING TO TRAVEL ALONE BECAUSE THEIR PARENTS CAN'T AFFORD TO GO WITH THEM? NOT EVERONE HAS A STAY @ HOME MOM THAT CAN COME TO EVERY PRACTICE, FLAUNT THEIR DOGGS AND GOSIP WHILE IGNORING AND BEING ROOD TO THE MOMS WHO CAN ONLY COME EVERY SO OFTEN. IVE HEARD MORE COMPLANING ABOUT THIS YEARS TRAVEL METHOD THAN I EVER DID LAST YEAR! "I keep wondering, where are those people who DIDN'T like to travel together?" YEAH ME TOO! "Sorry guys but be careful what you wish for. You just might get it."NO KIDDING, THATS THE POINT, WE WANT TO TRAVEL TOGETHER AGAIN. AND YOUR KID JUST SOUDS LIKE A BRAT, MAYBE YOU SHOULD RAISE THEM TO GO OUT IN PUBLIC W/O THEIR MOTHER, YOUR KIDS DONT WANT TO DO EVERYTHING WITH YOU, LET THEM GO! AND RELAX YOURSELF! "Ia m traveling wiht my best friends to all our national competitions and it should be just as fun if not better" YEAH............. THAT SOUNDS GOOD!????! SOUNDS LIKE YOU LIKE TO LEAVE PEOPLE OUT A LOT, HUH........... AND WHAT IF YOU DONT HAVE A BEST FRIEND TO TRAVEL TO EVERY THING WITH OR A PARENT WHO CAN COME! AND WHAT A WAY TO WELCOME THE PEOPLE WHO ARE NEW TO CHEERGYMS THIS YEAR, THEIR JUST GOING TO TRAVEL WITH THEIR MOMS BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO FRIENDS AND WE HAV'NT HAD ANY BONDING TIME! MAYBE YOU SHOULD THINK ABOUT EVERY ONE OR TAKE A VOTE NEXT TIME YOU DECIDE TO MAKE A CHANGE THIS DERASTIC..............NO ONE WILL EVER BE COMPLETLY HAPPY, BUT YOU SHOULD TRY TO PLEASE THE MAJORITY! THERES ALWAYS GOING TO BE THAT PARENT WHO COMPLAINS, AND GUESS WHAT, THEIR STILL GOING TO FIND SOMETHING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT! THERES ALWAYS GOING TO BE THAT KID WHO DOES SOMETHING WRONG OR BRINGS SOMETHING ILLEGAL, SO HELP THEM BECOME A BETTER PERSON, YOUR GETTING PAID ENOUGH! I KNOW THAT I, AS WELL AS OTHERS FEEL VERY ISOLATES ON OUR TEAM...........AND SOMETHING SHOULD CHANGE. OBVIOUSLY ITS TOO LATE NOW, EVERYONES ALREADY BOUGHT THEIR TICKETS AND ALL THIS COMPLAINING WAS POINTLESS, BUT IT FELT GOOD TO VENT AND GET IT ALL OUT!..............SORRY YOU HAVE FOUR TIMES AS MANY COMPLAINING PARENTS NOW!

P.S. I SPEAK FOR MULTIPLE PEOPLE, AND YOU CAN ERASE THIS MESSAGE IF YOU WANT BUT YOU CANT HIDE THE TRUTH! LIFE'S VICIOUS WHEN PEOPLE DONT INTERACT AND BOND............................

Date: Tue Oct 4 12:54 AM, 2005

I fully understand your side of the situation. I am not part of cheergyms but i do coach for a program that have done it both ways. From a coaching perspective, releasing the responsibilty onto the family has positives and negatives. For me the positives are that I do not need to stress over 90 athletes when we are traveling. I can tell my cheerleaders to meet me in the lobby of the hotel we are staying in at a certain time and now my hands are washed of any responsibility up to that point. Alot of our parents have sky miles or discounts with certain airlines, hotel chains ect.... by allowing them to book there own travel I have opened up the freedom for them to use those discounts. We always hand out a detailed itenerary of one host hotel, where the staff will be staying and then a cheaper hotel....95% of the time people stay in one or the other. Of course there are special cases where Suzy's family lives in Las Vegas and she wants to stay there. As long as she is at our meeting spots on time I am fine with that. Staying with family is cheaper and allows Suzy to continue in our program.

Of course the negative is that they teams do not spend as much time bonding, but we always have team dinners and activities to do as a group with all members of there family invited.

As you know competitve cheer take up a lot of time. Many of families use these weekends to have family time too. Some of the like to fly up a day early or stay later if possible. I do not want to take the away from them. As long as the kids are happy and getting the job done than it works for us.

I do think you do pay for a service. You pay to have your children coached and supervised. But that is during the competition time and any other team time that is already decided on prior to leaving. I know that when I signed up to coach I did not sign up to watch your children as parents and families members hung out at the casino with there friends. This is a family sport and a family weekend not a vacation from parenting and chaperoning your own child.

Just as I said earlier....i agree with both sides....just wanted to give my two cents...by the way. I know that Morton and Danny had meetings allowing parents to come and give there imput on subjects such as this. They are always open to opinion and ideas so try to be open to theres, they are just trying to do what they feel is best for cheergyms and I think they are fantastic. Try it out this way, you never know you may like the freedom! Good luck this season!

Date: Tue Oct 4 9:23 AM, 2005

It's obvious that people are very heated about this topic, and that's good. But as adults I am sure we can all agree that being respectful - despite having anonymity is very important. to "YOU KNOW WHO": I see that you are very emotional about this topic, but I think your point will be better taken if you talk to your program director directly about your child and your situation. Just posting "TO VENT" is okay, but aren't you looking for a solution, rather than just trying to raise more problems? I would hope that trying to resolve the situation would be your number one priority.

Yes, Morton and Danny did have meetings before the year started to get everyone's opinions on the topic and many others. I really hope that people take note of these opportunities now- when Danny and Morton are giving you the option to speak your mind in an open forum, take it. I am offended because some are making it sound like these two men are not concerned with your opinions, you, or your children and that is just wrong. Morton and Danny are good people willing to listen- please give them the same respect back and ask questions and not just assume the worst.

Date: Tue Oct 4 9:47 AM, 2005

It seems that everyone can make a good case for themselves...obviously what works for one family doesn't always work for another. Personally, my child enjoys the team traveling/bonding. It is not always cheaper (unless you are fortunate to have those flyer miles) to travel as a family. I really feel for those who can barely pay for these kinds of programs, yet now they are forced to purchase an airline ticket for themselves, feed themselves, and book a hotel room. There are many parents who don't travel to the long distance competitions due to financial reasons, who will be going into even more debt because they don't want to ask another family to take the responsibilty of their child. I know there will be many happy people with this new change, but unfortunately there rarely is a solution that pleases everyone.

Date: Tue Oct 4 9:49 AM, 2005

I have to wonder if "YOU KNOW WHO" is a parent at all.....part of their opinion sounds that of a parent, part of a child!!

Date: Tue Oct 4 11:54 AM, 2005

'Another parent' I agree with you. The problem with booking your own travel plans is forcing every parent and/or family to attend all out of town competitions. In many cases people have other family members they must take and its costly. I think to solve this issue the program can make an option to have a bus, chapperones and other items optional with a minimum amount of sign ups. I think there should be options and not just 1 way. Sometimes options are great because people can choose different things. If every family is different, then give differnet choices =)

Date: Tue Oct 4 12:39 PM, 2005

Cheer Fan, I think you touched on a good idea there. Less responsibility for the coaches and an option for the parents. Also, if you reread YOU KNOW WHOs post, you will see that they are a child, not a parent. This person feels much anger towards the orginazation and his/her team and needs some serious couseling by the coach immediatly. This person is going to hurt more than help his/her team with an attitude like that. Most people who like to vent in such a way is hiding behind the message board and doesn't say anything to the coaches, but instead bashes the gym outside of it. Sad, sad, sad.

Well, as a parent, I don't want the coaches to have to take care of my child. I cannot afford to go, so I am fundraising on my own. Last weekend I raised enough to pay for both of our tickets. Now I am working on the hotel rooms. Instead of complaining, I am doing something about it. Nope, it doesn't work for me this way, so I am MAKING it work for me. Life is tough sometimes. So make the best of it and MAKE it work. My daughter chooses to be in cheer so I have to make it work for us. And if that means having to ask another family to chaperone, that's what I will do. But for now, I am trying to go.

Parents need to attend the meetings or not complain. Plain and simple. Don't have time, MAKE time. Work? Arrange time to go. Figure it out. Have a heart to heart with Danny or Morton. Do SOMETHING. Just like voting. If you don't vote, you won't be heard. Yep, it's work but so is having a kid. That's just life. YOU KNOW WHO's parents need to be involved. I have a feeling that that persons parents aren't involved. There are a million ways to be involved. Work is no excuse. Every parent has a job. Even stay at home parents have a job.

Date: Tue Oct 4 1:22 PM, 2005

Travel

Date: Tue Oct 4 2:36 PM, 2005

RE: Stupid.........