Hi Sarah,

As a Team Captain & Event Chair, I run into the same problems. Get with your Event Chair and borrow one of her movies she has. These movies tell them about ACS and what Relay is all about. It can be very inspiring. I use one from one of the Mini Relay kits. It's has some really emotional sections that are only 10-15 minutes long.  

Good Luck! Remember it all works out in the end!

Are you talking about team meetings for your team or are you talking about team captain meetings?

I am assuming based on your post you are talking about your team.  I mirror my team meetings to the way our relay season.  We have a team kickoff meeting where we invite family members and have a lunch.  Door prizes are given out and a business meeting is conducted.  The only subsequent meetings we have are when we need to determine the next team fundraising event.  All communication is done through email, phone and impromptu (sp) meetings in my office throughout the season (five of our team members work for the same company in the corporate office).  We hold our wrap-up meeting after the Team Captain/Committee Wrap-Up Meeting.  Again, all family members are invited.  This is our way of thanking them also.

If an individual does not want to participate in a team fundraiser, they do not have to.  As for getting team members to own up to their commitments, I do not have that problem yet.  We are going on our fifth year as a team and we have had some step back on how active they participate due to other volunteer commitments and family obligations while we have some who have stepped up more in their commitment to the team.

As for a format on the team meeting, I type up an agenda, take notes on what was decided and send out the notes as a reminder for those who attended and as a way to let those who were not able to attend know what was discussed.  I have been the team captain for the last 3 years and have accepted the role for this upcoming year.  The first year we did not have any leadership and barely made our minimum, barely had someone on the field at all times and had no true campsite.  As for the team captain position, I offer up the position to all team members at the end of each year.  The team decides on the team captain.  Some things we talk about is: Last year's accomplishments and disappointments; fundraising ideas for the team and individuals; how to honor our "adopted" survivors during the year and at our campsite at Relay; and whether or not we are changing our team name and theme, etc.  As for mission and advocacy, we have education through email sometimes on a daily basis or weekly basis depending on what is new or what is coming up due to what ACS is promoting for that particular month.

All decisions needed to be made are not by me.  I email out the issue along with all of the different options that have been given.  The majority response rules.  Sometimes I may have to call them but so far, we have not had any problems with any of the decisions that have been made.

Sorry so long.  Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or need clarifications.

Nicole.