I’m not sure how to delete this post, so I’m editing it to reflect it. I only see the option “edit” so I’ve deleted the previous content.
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Dear @lynneannec ,
Thank you for sharing your story and for giving your constructive feedback. Over the last few years, I have considered quitting the program myself and asked myself why I am contributing to the program in the first place against what I don’t like about it. In my case, the positives have always outweighed the negatives and when I look back at the reasons why I considered quitting, I can always put them into a wider perspective and making them less poignant.
I cannot respond to your CL19 experience, but I ask myself, would a poorly executed project like “Mural of Hands” put me off doing all the positive things like helping my own community, the disabled, female entrepreneurs, etc.??? On the other hand, you can achieve all that by contributing to Google Maps, without participating in the actual Local Guides Program.
So, I am also not impressed with the Mural of Hands, but I liked the intent of it all and actually had a laugh about some duplicate photos in there (worst than having multiple photos of the same people), whilst Local Guides get suspended for duplicate photos (and rightfully so).
You also addressed another feeling in your feedback that I sometimes share. Google Local Guides sometimes feels really immature. Although we have to accept that all the good stuff that took place at Connect Live happened when Local Guides had their meaningful quality time with Googlers under NDA. Besides CL19, the overall public image we sometimes get from the Local Guides Program, particularly the emphasis on badges and points, is not something I feel proud of when I explain to my friends what I do as community work/ hobby.
A big hug from across the pond and keep up the good work.
JeroenM
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I’m so happy to read your response! Your name @JeroenM and @JeffMuir are two of the names that the post trimmed off! I was intending to add them in comments and you gave me the perfect opportunity to do so! I don’t know if it is possible to get my passion back for for Local Guides, there are other charities in my area I can put my efforts in to. I love the people like you, that I would have never met otherwise.
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My dear friend @lynneannec . I was so disappointed not to meet you at Connect Live 19, but I respected your decision not to attend. Like you, I also ended up having many difficulties getting there. 24 hours before I left, Qantas cancelled my international flight and, due to the time difference, no one in the US was really able to help me. I was so upset, but I drew on the knowledge and support of the LGs I had come to call friends and, with their strength, encouragement and help, I managed to get there in time. As for Connect itself, I can only speak of my own experience and I have never felt so appreciated. I don’t expect to get anything for contributing to Maps; like you I do it to help others. So, to be surrounded by so many other people who are like that and to feel so much appreciation from everyone in Google- from the SVP of Maps to the Googlers and program managers was amazing. The event was a great mix of learning and celebrating. The reality is that not everyone is going to get along. It is such a cross section of the world - but I kept coming back to what unites us -a deep desire to improve Maps and promote our local communities. I wish you could have heard Sasha speaking about his experience with disability. It was inspiring. I personally really hope you don’t quit Lynne. Keep looking for the good and you will find it - because it is definitely there. Think of the many people your reviews and accessibility information helps. If you can, let go of the other stuff. These things are fleeting. My encouragement is to focus on what matters - mapping accessibility so you can inform and, hopefully improve, the experience of others. Sending you a virtual hug and thanking you for having the courage to share your story.
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I tagged you @JustineE because I believe you are the what is best about the Local Guides program, beautiful, lovely people, who no matter what hobby they would pursue, would pour their heart and soul into it because they are pure light and joy 
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Thank you Lynne. I know you do it for similar reasons too. Please don’t quit. Maps needs contributors who care about accessibility and helping others. Truly, it is the community of people you help-and beyond- who would be most impacted if you left.
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@lynneannec i Miss you so much .
So feel sad can’t meet you at connect live 2019
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Thank you so much @Nyainurjanah . I missed seeing you too!
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I’m waiting you at my room when you told me before need room for dressing etc . I’m really upset @lynneannec .
But I know you have a reason . So my best wishes with your happiness , 
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Let me apologize to you if I hurt your feelings personally in any way. When I decided not to come, I posted in both the Telegram chat and in the Connect Live 2019 private board for Attendees that I wasn’t coming. Also I put it the Telegram chat rooms for the Winchester House and Hello Kitty events. I also put it on the spreadsheet and on every post where I had said I was going to be attending an event. Then I posted it publicly on my Facebook page and on both my Instagram pages. I’m so sorry if you missed my announcements and I made you feel bad. I would never want to for that. Please I hope you know it was not in my heart to do so @Nyainurjanah . Bless you, and much happiness in the future.
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Hi @lynneannec ,
I had time to sleep on your post from yesterday and feel that, as one of your friends, I need to give you some feedback on your post. It is clear from your post that you have changed your feelings towards the program and you are listing a number of your negatives. Opinions and feelings can be influenced by different perspectives and I like to be honest and direct with my friends, so here we go.
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You use the Mural of Hands mosaic as ammunition why you maybe had enough. I already hinted yesterday that in my eyes this would not be a reason to quit. In fact, as I am hearing the opinions of different Local Guides in private chats, it is making your post less credible. Who would leave Local Guides for something as silly and unimportant as that? I am not saying that there is nothing wrong with the execution of that photo project, I am only responding to the weight it seems to carry for you.
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You say something about the VISA issues of attendees. I am not well informed of what Google does or not does to help Local Guides with getting their VISA and I would like to think that when there is room for improvement, this could be discussed separately. Google has little control over its national politics in the USA and the governments’ immigration policies.
When I was the organizer of international festivals, I would invite dance and music groups to perform at our event from all over the world. To help the applicants with their VISA application, I would provide the groups with a formal letter in which they were invited and where the terms of the invitation (what was paid for by the host, etc.) so that the immigration officers had the full picture. This sometimes resulted in the “immigration police” calling me, asking me if I would guarantee that some of the people that were invited by me would not use the invitation to illegally immigrate into my country (with economic motivations). How could the organization I worked for, give such a guarantee?
Using this challenge/ issue related to inviting 200 Local Guides from across the world as another argument to consider leaving the program, again makes no sense, other than that you are unhappy and “grabbing sticks”.
- The fact that the public perception of CL19 is a party, a party is caused by the fact that the more meaningful moments are under a None Disclosure Agreement. And then, what is wrong with young and old people having some fun, celebrating?
- The core of the issue is most likely related to what happened in relation to CL19. As an outsider, it appears to be a “Customer Relations” issue. You felt badly treated, complained about it and didn’t like the response/ how things were handled. This affected your feelings towards the “business” you are dealing with resulting in them (potentially) losing you as a customer. The moment you decided not to go, the message was clear and it was up to Google to do damage control or not.
I am currently involved in multiple social media platforms about the credibility/ weight of feedback when the author is clearly upset/angry and lashing out with negatives. Your post reads very much like a bad review by an upset customer. [edit: not really what I am trying to say]
I fully respect your decision whatever it will be and know you well enough to know that you have very high values what is right or wrong and are a very sincere person. I admire you for that, and it is your absolute right to act upon your feelings. I was reading this comment back (6+ hours later) and maybe I should have written a draft and waited before I pushed the “publish” button. My intent was to give you some insight into how your post might be perceived by some and also to put some of your arguments into perspective. Reading it back, it read more like a judgment of your feelings, which was not my intention. So if that was indeed the message that came across, I do sincerely apologize.
Of course, fellow Local Guides like me would be sad to see you leave. I then questioned myself why this [your post] touches me more than if another close friend would tell me, “I think I will quit being a Local Guide”…my answer to that question is that you are not a normal Local Guide anymore. In a very short time, you became a star, an inspiration, a hero of the program, someone we al loved and looked up to. Google played an important part in marketing you. Stepping back, it gives me another perspective yet again.
Whilst I know you never asked for all this attention (being featured and all) and you never really promoted yourself to get into the spotlight, it should be a warning to us all that being elevated like that is not necessarily a good thing.
Thank you for sharing your story, so we all better understand why we may have to miss you as member of the LG community.
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@JeroenM Wow, that’s a lot to take in. My post is rather vague on each issue because I don’t want to be negative actually. I don’t want to go tit for tat and air issues that have been resolved. The mural did spark something in me that made me want to speak my feelings. Perhaps I should have kept them to myself, if as you imply, I have become some sort of hero to others, and my words will have a negative on others. I have always stressed that being a Local Guide is a hobby for me. Google Maps is merely an app on my phone, and I was so excited I could use it to help others. In reality, I spend most of my day caring for my disabled adult child. I try to increase my health by walking, as I used to weigh 262 pounds, and that’s when I take the majority of my photos around my small town. But, I can see now, after reading your last comment, my little hobby has grown into something I never wanted. It is definitely time to move on. I only want to help others. I was Registered Nurse who worked with the mentally ill in our State Mental Hospital before I retired, and I am a Born Again Christian. I am proud of these things. I want to proud of my life going forward. If an app on my phone can affect my life and others so profoundly, I’m deleting it.
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Thank you so very, very much @lynneannec for so expressively sharing your thoughts — for me it is to be triumphed and admired. Good luck to you and THANKS again!
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Thank you so much @CatC , that means so much to me. I truly appreciate it.
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