John Hoskinson, Surfrider Foundation

John Hoskinson is the communications director for the Surfrider Foundation.

I spent all day yesterday on Catalina Island with the rest of the Surfrider Foundation staff as we mapped out our work plan for 2000. It was a beautiful day and we got a lot accomplished.

Fortunately we did not have to endure any typical "team-building exercises" such as the ever-popular -- and always retarded waste of time -- "falling backwards into the arms of a co-worker." Instead, we spent the last hour of the day playing a fast and furious 18 holes of miniature golf.

The contest pitted the North Side of the office against the rowdy, ne'er-do-wells on the South Side. It really was a great experience. It gave us an opportunity to engage our fellow staff members in a friendly and healthy competition -- for the first few holes anyway. After that, it deteriorated into an embarrassing display of taunts, insults, threats, and foul language. In fact, there was some flashing of the North Side and South Side gang symbols during some of the more hotly contested holes. In other words, it was just like a day at the office except we also got to smack things with a club! It was GREAT!

By the way, I am happy to say that the North Side -- of which I am a proud member -- kicked the South Side's sorry, tree-hugging butt!

In conclusion, I just want to say that although I'm no expert, I think the miniature golf game was a pretty good team-building exercise. Well, at least for the North Side. The South Side is in complete disarray now after its humiliating defeat.