For the first time in RelayForLife.org history, a group has reached over 350 members. The South Atlantic Division's Relay Online Chair Network (ROCN) is a support group for volunteers who manage Relay event websites. The idea behind the creation of the group was to provide the volunteers with an online location where they could share their experience with each other, as well as receive training, a Q & A forum, best practices and lessons learned.

The SA ROCN Group is primarily comprised of Online Chairs and staff from the South Atlantic Division, but there are a couple of members from other Divisions who have found it helpful.

The group was moved to RelayForLife.org for the 2008 Relay season so that they could take advantage of the open forum message board features, as well as being able to email all members of the group from RelayForLife.org.

The group is managed by one passionate volunteer, Rick Bodson, who set up the group and is subscribed to it, so he receives email updates every time a new member joins or a new post is created. With over 350 members, the group is also "self-managed," where members can answer other members' questions. Bodson also sends out weekly notices of updates to the group, including the training schedule. Bodson checks up on the ROCN group every day to make sure that information is always up-to-date.

When asked to what do you credit the success of the group, Bodson replied, "Everyone involved with Relay makes a commitment to Fight Back in one way or another. Relay Online Chairs take on the Fight Back challenge by maintaining mutual support and shared experience."

Dan Thorpe, now the Regional Development Director in Eastern North Carolina, launched the ROCN three years ago when he recognized that Relay Online would succeed if it had active volunteer involvement that was complemented with an organized mutual support effort. "He was right," says Bodson.

Bodson was excited to host the group on RelayForLife.org because it exposes key members of event committees, the Online Chairs, to the rich content of RelayForLife.org; the Online Chairs in turn take the word to Committee Chairs and Team Captains that RelayForLife.org is a great resource to drive Relay Development.

"Give a survivor an opportunity to fight back and he will do it every precious new day of his life." - Rick Bodson