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2001 Conference - Rotorua
  
Appendix I: "Lessons from
Geese" - by Milton Olsen
Fact 1: As each bird flaps its wings, it creates an
"uplift" for the bird following. By flying in a
"V" formation, the whole flock adds 71% greater flying
range than if each bird flew along.
Lesson 1: People who share a common direction and sense of
community can get where they are going quicker and easier because
they are travelling on the thrust of one another.
Fact 2: Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly
feels the drag and resistance of trying to fly alone and quickly
gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of
the bird immediately in front.
Lesson 2: If we have as much sense as a goose, we will stay in
formation with those who are headed where we want to go (and be
willing to accept their help as we help others)
Fact 3: When the lead goose gets tired, it rotates back into the
formation and another goose flies to the point position.
Lesson 3: It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks and sharing
leadership with people: as with geese, we are interdependent on each
other.
Fact 4: These geese in formation honk from behind to encourage
those up front to keep up their speed.
Lesson 4: We need to make sure our honking from behind is
encouraging and not something else.
Fact 5: When a goose gets sick or wounded or shot down, two geese
drop out of formation and follow it down to help and protect it.
They stay with it until it is able to fly again or dies. They then
launch out on their own, with another formation, or to catch up with
the flock.
Lesson 5: If we have as much sense as geese, we too will stand by
each other in difficult times as well as when we are strong.
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