Bell Boats

[Myron Tribus <mtribus@earthlink.net>]

THE BELL BOAT PROGRAM

At the recent meeting of the West Coast Deming Forum in Burbank, California
last weekend, I was asked to post a few remarks about Bell Boating.  Here
are some remarks on the subject.

I want to call attention to the readers of this list the existence of a novel
program for introducing people to quality concepts.  The idea originated with
David Train, an Olympic Trainer, who has coached gold medal winners 
in canoeing.
David lives in the village of Fladbury where he started a community 
project about
30 years ago, based upon his experiences with canoeing. He knew that 
when he got
people out on the water in a canoe, they were, somehow, changed.  He was
challenged by the local vicar to use his skills to help the neighborhood youth.

Now a canoe is a rather unstable craft, one in which you ought not to stand up!
David invented what he now calls the "Bell Boat" (for reasons I shall explain
at the end of this note).  The Bell Boat consists of two canoes, 
connected together
by a short horizontal platform, in the manner of a catamaran.  The boat has
room for twelve adult paddlers (or eight children).   It is a very stable
craft, in which one may safely stand upright, yet it retains many of the fine
features of a canoe.

Youngsters, all with lifejackets, are taken on the water and taught to paddle
together.  They immediately begin to learn significant lessons about teamwork.
I recall my grandchildren getting wet because the youngsters paddling in front
of them were careless with their paddles.  They learned about the impact of
variability in ability upon the team performance.  David taught them about how
some muscles are good for short rapid spurts of energy (sprinting) while others
are good for long term effort (cross country).  I cannot begin to tell here
all the lessons about quality principles, teamwork, planning, and variability
that the youngsters gain, experientially.  They learn, for example, that if
you want maneuverability, should put the heavier rowers in the middle of
the boat and the lighter ones at the ends.  They learn that they can go faster
if they rown in a synchronized fasion.  They learn that if they remain focused
on how they row,  they can improve.

Another product of the "Bell Boat" experience is changed character.  I spoke
with a man who works with juvenile delinquents in the UK.  He told me that
getting them out on the water in a team endeavor changed their behaviours in
a remarkable way.  (In deference to him, I have adopted the British spelling
of behavior)

David Train has run a one-man compaign with skill and enthusiasm.  He has
succeeded to get a number of villages in England to adopt bell boating as
a community activity.  There are enough of them that they hold regattas
and organize cruises up and down various rivers in the UK.   David has
taken the idea to Europe.  On the 5th of May, this year. he has arranged
for a Bell Boat cruise from Coburg to Frankfurt, Germany,on the River Main.
As the boats reach various cities and towns along the way,  the Mayors
of these towns will join the paddlers.  This is all part of David's dream
of getting people to work together, across boundaries of nation, culture
and continent.  This project has been endorsed by the Queen, as well as
quite a few members of Parliament and even from the House of Lords.

As the West Coast Forum drew to a close, I offered the proposal that 
the organizing
committee of the conference adopt the purpose of bringing the bell boat to
the USA as a tool for education and team building in all organizations.

At the start of this memo, I said i would explain the reason behind the
bell boat's name.  David was struck by the role that variability plays
in successful teams.  He has tried to work the bell curve into many of
his publications as a constant reminder.

David has also written several children's stories featuring a tortoise
as the main character.  If you get involved in the Bell Boats, David is
ready to supply these stories to help you explain to the very young children
what the program is all about.   Among other things the children build their
own paddles.

Both Jim Clauson and i are ready to provide more information.

Some of the following URLs provide pictures.

Learn about David Train at
http://www.bellboat.co.uk/David's%20History.html

Is the spirit of sport dying?  Read David Train's views
at:  http://www.bellboat.co.uk/The%20Oxford%20Union.htm

To reach david:  http://www.bellboat.co.uk/contact.html

Some examples of how the idea is spreading in the UK
http://www.bcu.org.uk/eastmids/coach1.htm
http://indexo.pionexnet.co.uk/paddleclub/membership.htm

Myron Tribus        mtribus@earthlink.net
350 Britto Terrace,  Fremont, CA  94539
Ph: (510) 651 3641     Fax: (510) 656 9875
The establishment always rejects new ideas for it is
composed of people who, having found some of the truth yesterday
believe they possess all of it today.  (E. T. Jaynes)

[Moderator's Note: I started some info pages about David's work a while back at:
     http://jclauson.com/bell   These pages describe a Bell Boat event in the UK a couple
of years ago.  Like Myron, I have been in several Bell Boat events and have seen the powerful
transformation possible with this experiential learning platform.  I am also working
on web sites for David to help him get the work out.


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