Nothing But Reading Challenges discussion

Cadet Blue .

Reserved.

Handy Dandy Links


*Rules for Round 2
*Cadet Blue Sister Group Thread
*Cadet Blue Captain's Chat(for any issues or questions)
*Bookshelf Sign-up Page
*NBRC: Tower Teams Read 2013, Round II Main Page (Must join this group in order to play!)
*Blue Covers

*more links may appear later

Team Spreadsheet!!!

What Should be on Spreadsheet:

✔ goal
✔ percent of goal
✔ joined correctly/right goal
✔ member's hyperlink to challenge/view books screen
✔ member's hyperlink to Profile page
✔ bookshelf name
✔ last date book posted
✔ page count check last done

Captain Duties Main Link

Team Captain(s) duties include:

Teresa's Duties:
*keeping a Google Spreadsheet that all members can view
*communicating with all Team Members
*posting weekly status updates/reminders
*refreshing book counts as often as she can (aim for every night)
*posting a copy of the Team Summary each week, from Team Summary Spreadsheet into the main team thread
*motivating, encouraging, cheering on other members of team

Mary's Duties:
*post little challenges within challenges, which includes:
-setting up challenge threads
-contacting members for all challenge info, when needed
-posting reminders when challenges begin and when they are about to end
-tally points for challenge participants, determine winner of challenges, announce winner in threads (not all challenges will necessarily earn points and points are strictly for fun, no pressure)

Shared Captain Duties:
- communicating with a NBRC Moderator
- making sure Team Members are staying active
- notifying the NBRC Mod if someone drops out
- have effective and kind (this is a game, remember) on-line communication skills to help members having trouble
- making sure Team Members belong on your team
- dealing with minor issues that arise

Might need this one

List of team members with link to their profiles to come

One can never reserve too many, to be safe

Here's a link to view the progress of all the teams on one spreadsheet. I don't know how up to date it is being kept but I would think it won't be too far off.

We are already in last place, but it's early days yet. I hope to finish one tonight. Maybe 2. I have multiple started.

all_team_spreadsheet

I looked at the spreadsheet earlier and we were in last place! Lets read some short books to catch up.

Ladies your mission should you choose to accept it is to read as many short books as you can in the last half of April:

160-200 pages: 3 points
201-275 pages: 2 points
275-300 pages: 1 points

Read-A-Thon


◈ Duration: May 1st PDT 8:00 AM (BST 4PM) to May 11th PDT 8:00 AM (BST 4 PM)

*start time in all time zones: click_here
*countdown: click_here


◈ Participants commit to a “read-as-much-as-you-can event.”

◈ Team’s Page Goal: Each participant sets a page goal – the total sum of goals from each team member will be the Team's Page Goal.

For example:

Participants for team Cadet Blue
Mary (J) - 800 pages
Sonia - 1000 pages
ilovebakedgoods (Teresa) - 600 pages

800+1000+600 = 2400

The Goal for Team Cadet Blue will be 2400 pages

◈ Points for:

*1 point per member reaching goal
*20 points if 50% of the team members reach page goal
*30 points if team goal is reached
*50 points if all the team members reach page goal

◈ Each team should choose a theme for the read-a-thon and read at least one book representing that theme.

*1 point per book read
*30 points if 50% of team members read a book representing the theme
*50 points if all the team members read a book representing the theme

◈ Each of them should read a book with a cover representing the color of the team.

*1 point per book read
*30 points if 50% of team members read a book with the team color
*50 points if all the team members read a book with the team color

◈ An extra 5 points if all the team members participate in the read-a-thon.

◈ Keep us updated on your progress! Every few hours (as long as it doesn't interfere with your reading), post a status update on how the reading is going. You might want to set up a “rally” of who will track which hours.

◈ Mini-Challenges & Games - As done on the previous read-a-thons we'll come out with some fun stuff to shoot the breeze. An extra 5 points can be earned by suggesting a mini-challenge & game

◈ At the end of the Read-a-Thon event post your final results on the thread, as well as the books read during that time.

◈ The winner of the Read-a-Thon will be the team with more points achieved and will receive a 4 book advantage on the team's total

Repurposed to post some Read-A-Thon info:

Link to Read-A-thon page with pics: Read-a-thon_FAGs_&_how_tos

~Rules, FAQ’s & How To’s~
◈ Book Advantage
Once a month the mods will set a inter-team challenge with a book advantage prize. This number will count for all purposes as a book read and will be added to the team’s total.

Example of book advantage:



◈ Team’s Page Goal

How to check the number of pages read

On the profile page choose stats



Then select the radio button pages


The only way to keep count is to check the number of pages before the start of the Read-a-Thon week and at the end. The difference will be the total of pages read

Participants should avoid tagging any books the 2 hours prior the start of the read-a-thon and the 2 hours after the end of the read-a-thon.

Be realistic.If you are only capable of reading one/two books a week, unless we're talking about Les Miserables or The Game of Thrones, don't set a 1000 pages goal. On the other hand, if you are a speed reader a 500 pages goal seems rather low.

Only pages from books marked as read count.

◈ Mini-Challenges & Games

*Only one Mini-Challenge & Game allowed per team so give us your best shot

*Team's Mini-Challenge & Game suggestion must be posted by one of the Team Captains/Co-Captains till the beginning of the Read-a-Thon May 1st PDT 8:00 AM (BST 4PM). After that it will not be rewarded with the 5 points even if the mods decided to use it during the event

*When creating a Mini-Challenge & Game:

- It has to be fun and quick. We want to take a break of reading BUT we don't want to keep people from reading

- No aditional reading implied.

*Acceptable Ideas:


Mini-Challenge #1: Over the Rainbow (*This is choose-a-book only, no reading included)
Build a rainbow with book covers.
Optional: build a rainbow with book covers from your actual bookshelf, then take a picture and post it on the thread.

Mini-Challenge #2: Leave your Mark
What do you use for bookmarks (whether you use them at all). Take a picture of your bookmarks (or what you use) and post them.

*What NOT to Do:


Mini-Challenge #3: What An Animal Book?
Read a book that:
- Has an animal in the title of the book.
- Has an animal on the cover of the book.
- An animal plays a major role in the book.
- A main character is (or turns into) an animal.

◈ Participation
You can choose to participate and/or changing your goal anytime. However, we have points and prizes involved so to be fair the time limit to joining or change goal is May 8th PDT 8:00 AM (BST 4 PM).
No changes allowed passing the time limit.

Teresa sent you a friend request. Do you want to be the head chief? I'm willing explore my submissive side and take orders from you.

**waves** Hi, Mary & Teresa! I already signed into the Home Page challenge (200 books) and posted my bookshelf name there, too: challenge-nbrc-tower

I'm excited! Woohoo!

Mary wrote: "Teresa sent you a friend request. Do you want to be the head chief? I'm willing explore my submissive side and take orders from you."

LOL, sure why not! I'm usually a follower but it'll be fun to explore MY dominant side, hehehe. I'll approve that friend request in just a moment (didn't see it, so prob need to refresh). I'll be happy to get started on the spreadsheet soon...well, once I read up on what all I need to do and look over some other team sheets for ideas, hehe.

Lisa Kay wrote: "**waves** Hi, Mary & Teresa! I already signed into the Home Page challenge (200 books) and posted my bookshelf name there, too: challenge-nbrc-tower

I'm excited! Woohoo!"

Very good! I'm excited, too! Of course, now I have to figure out what I'm doing as a co-captain, hehe. Other than bossing people around encouraging people to read!

I sent you a FR, too, Teresa. I'm already friends with Mary.

Lisa Kay wrote: "I sent you a FR, too, Teresa. I'm already friends with Mary."

Approved!

I'm so glad I don't have an aversion to having multiple tabs open in my browser, lol. I've got to keep everything separate so I know what all I'm working with here (spreadsheets and so on!)

I have no clue what I'm doing. If you create the spreadsheet will I be able to edit it or do I need to create one too? I know Excel very well but have never worked with google.

I'll go sign in to the challenge. I held off until I knew where I was going to be. My goal is 200 for the year and as of today I am at 57 finished/28% and right on track. My shelf is 2013-in-2013.

Teresa can grate you access to edit it, if she wants. Google Spreadsheets are a lot like Excel.

Yep, I'll make it public, and you won't have to worry about making one and you may not even have to edit the spreadsheet. I can do that part. Anyway, still not really done with the spreadsheet. I'm trying to figure out what ducks to put in which row as I go, hehe.

Lisa Kay (that IS you behind that mask called Moderators of Nothing but Reading Challenges, right?)-- I've friended the entire team (woot), or at least sent requests. Do I send everyone a PM letting them know they can join the Cadet Blue team or do they all know since they're all mods?

How to "Refresh" a Member's Total or Add a Comment to Their "view books" Screen:

We are using ♥Robin♥ on Atomic Tangerine for this example:



• Scroll down to your friends, who are listed first, or down futher to "community."
• Click on either the percent numbers or the words "view books" (red arrow)
• You can enter a comment on this screen (blue arrow), if you desire, or wait for the next one.



• On this screen you can see her total books jumped from 2 to 4.

• If you click on her name (blue arrow), it will hyperlink to her Profile page.

• Pink arrow shows comments by other members.



• If you hit the back arrow to go back to the community page, you'll see she is back to 2 books; just refresh the page.

• The Total goal for all participants may take anywhere from 15 - 30 minutes.

• The cache usually updates every night sometime after 9 p.m. PST.

ilovebakedgoods (Teresa) wrote: "Do I send everyone a PM letting them know they can join the Cadet Blue team or do they all know since they're all mods?"

They have all been notified. ☺

Terrific!

Okay, off to do something fun with my kiddo before he goes to bed. Been a busy weekend with work so we haven't had much fun time together. I'll be back to take care of captainly things after he is tucked away for the night.

**waves** Have fun, T!

Mary, Chris can talk to you about how she figured out pictures; she says that is fine.

Yes she has been PMing me. This is the only place that I have trouble with it.

WELCOME TO TEAM CADET BLUE! *salutes* I hope everyone has fun with round 2. Now, let's all kick butt and take names, or... just read a lot of books!

Officer Hottie says, "Now drop and give me 1350!"



Note: The first group of posts contain the pertinent information for the group. It is still a work-in-progress at the time of this posting! HAVE FUN!

Eeep!

I think I've followed all the steps neccessary to be deemed ready to play. Let me know if I missed something. I posted in the shelf thread, joined team blue in the sister group, and um...what posted here? Is there a step 3? I'm sleepy.

Go team Blue Cadet!

I'm pretty sure you're all set, Jex! Next is read, read, read! Hooray!

Okay, I need bookshelf names from the following:


*Mary (co-captain)
*Mod Account
*Laura
*Mary (J)
*Lisarenee

I didn't see them on the bookshelf name thread and I couldn't figure out which shelves were for the team for sure.

TEAM SPREADSHEET!

Check it out, please! Please check and make sure you can access the spreadsheet. I'm so tired, I'm pretty sure I set up viewing privileges correctly but eh, the brain is not fully functioning at the moment. Thanks and goodnight. (This portion of the message will self-destruct after feedback on the spreadsheet).

I blatantly ripped off the lovely Steven's (From the Mango Tango tribe) spreadsheet because it was exactly how I wanted to set mine up but I am not that great at formatting on whims. Be sure to note that there is a second sheet that shows a Team Comparison!

Just checking in.

Yes Officer Hottie, opening book right now.

Mine is 2013-in-2013 and I did sign up under our team name. I haven't finished anything yet for this round.

Teresa, the spreadsheet looks lovely! I see you already have my bookshelf name.

So sorry I'm late, guys! So any book read on or after the 12th counts? I've been away from Goodreads for over a week, but I've read at least two books since the 12th.

Teresa, my bookshelf is cadet-blue.

Anything else I need to do?

Yup, any since the 12th. Missed you, BTW, Mary! Glad you are safely home. ☺

Teresa, the Mod Account's bookshelf is challenge-cadet-blue-2013 and sorted by finished date from that link.

Thanks, LK!

☺ I'm just trying to follow Teresa's instructions.

Post a link to the spreadsheat showing all the teams at once in post 8.

Currently we are in last place. But it's early days. I have 5 books going and will try to finish 2 tonight.

Spreadsheet looks great Teresa.

I have to go run some errands and tonight I'll play with posting pictures and hopefully get a little mini-challenge for the last half of April up. I'm thinking it'll be a focus on short books to catch us up. But obviously it won't be mandatory. Just for fun.

I was thinking we could challenge all the Teams to ban together for a week - not this week, LOL! - but in the future. Ask them to "send" they best player/volunteer to meet and see who reads the most books that week. One from each of their against all of us. **hee hee**

Man-oh-man! It was fate that I assigned you Leather Jacket Black, wasn't it, ❀Oo❀? LOL!

Lisa Kay wrote: "I was thinking we could challenge all the Teams to ban together for a week -
not
this week, LOL! - but in the future. Ask them to "send" they best player/volunteer to meet and see who reads th..."

Love the idea!

I've been out in the sun most of the day so my brain is so wiped out. I think I'm going to relax with a book and some water on my almost-finished patio and then come back later and make sure I take care of anything else that needs taking care of in regards to team stuff.

Love the new spreadsheet with all the team summaries and each team's individual tab. (The one posted in message #8 above).

❀ Oo ❀ wrote: "It DOES seem to have taken on a life of it's own, doesn't hahaha

Even my MOM knows about it .

I like it here :) It's like Bookworm Narnia."

Bookworm Narnia! I love it.

Here is my bookshelf name: Sorry that I am a few days late getting it to you:
2013 Tower Team Challenge Round TWO

Thanks, Laura -- and no problem! I think the only one we need is Lisarenee's but she's probably busy so it's no biggie. I just wanted to make sure I had all the shelves that had been shared here or in the bookshelf name thread on the sister group.

Lisa Kay I like that idea.