Banquet Speaker – Barry Griswell

The former CEO of Principal Financial Group, Barry Griswell, was our speaker for our 4th Annual Spring Banquet.  Below is a video of parts of his speech.

Technorati Tags: Barry Griswell,Serve Our Youth Network,Spring Banquet

Banquet Mentor Testimony

We appreciated having Darin Wogen share about his experience as a mentor at our banquet last week.  You can watch and listen to him share in the video below.  Introducing him is Brooke Bouma of WHO-TV 13 who was the emcee for the evening.

Technorati Tags: Mentoring,mentor testimony,Brooke Bouma

Thank you Ryan Cosgrove

One of our informal mentors, Ryan Cosgrove, is graduating from Grand View College (which is right across the street from Polk County Youth Services).  He has mentored seven boys in the last two years he served with us at the shelter.

He is going on to seminary in Pennsylvania, and we wish him the very best.  Thank you Ryan for your service!  The staff at the shelter appreciate your sacrifice of time coming to meet with the boys, and so do we.

Technorati Tags: Serve Our Youth Network,informal mentoring,Polk County Youth Services,Grand View College

Mentor Training – 5/4/08

Serve Our Youth Network has an upcoming mentor training on Sunday, May 4 (6:00p – 9:00p).

Our training will be held at Polk County Youth Services in Des Moines (1548 Hull Ave. in Des Moines).  To RSVP contact Shane Vander Hart by e-mail or at (515) 321-5077 by Friday, May 2. 

Our mentor training is free and attendees can expect to learn:

• Roles and expectations of mentors
• Details about SOY’s mentoring program (policies & procedures and screening and matching process)
• Qualities of a successful mentor
• Characteristics of the kids we serve.
• How mentors help kids through asset-building.
• How to communicate well with mentees.

Technorati Tags: mentoring,mentor training

Speaking at RockFest

Shane Vander Hart, our Director of Ministries & Volunteer Development was asked to speak at RockFest 2 in between bands.

RockFest 2 was a Christian music event held in Pella, IA on 4/20/08.  Below is a video of Shane speaking.

Technorati Tags: The R.O.C.K.,RockFest 2,Shane Vander Hart,Serve Our Youth Network,mentoring

Mentor Recruitment Ambassadors

Ambassador

1. a messenger on a special mission

Serve Our Youth Network needs messengers who are willing to share the truth that mentoring works: it helps young people make positive life choices while building their self-confidence and values.  We need recruiters willing to ask the people in their world to consider giving their time, wisdom, and friendship to young people waiting for an adult to care about them.  As a Mentor Recruitment Ambassador, or MRA, you are truly a messenger with a special mission.

It begins with the goal of recruiting five adults into the interview process with Serve Our Youth Network.  Ambassadors focus on recruiting new mentors from specific groups and settings to which they have access such as:

• Congregations
• Service organizations and clubs
• Colleges & Universities

Each MRA will receive individual training & support, as well as, be able to participate in MRA team meetings as well.  Each MRA will receive an starter kit that will include:

• 1 Mentor Recruitment Ambassador Handbook
• 25 Serve Our Youth Network brochures
• 2 Mentoring posters for your church or workplace.
• 10 applications to give to prospective mentors
• 1 copy of the Serve Our Youth Network video to use in presentations

If you are interested in being a Mentor Recruitment Ambassador please contact Shane Vander Hart at shanev@serveouryouth.org or (515) 321-5077 to schedule an MRA orientation.

Technorati Tags: Mentor Recruitment,Mentoring

March Mentor Training

We are going to hold our next mentor training on Monday, March 31 from 6:00p – 9:00pm at Polk County Youth Services in Des Moines (1548 Hull Ave. in Des Moines).  To RSVP contact Shane Vander Hart by e-mail or at (515) 321-5077.

Our mentor training is free and attendees can expect to learn:

• Roles and expectations of mentors

• Details about SOY’s mentoring program (policies & procedures and screening and matching process)

• Qualities of a successful mentor

• Characteristics of the kids we serve.

• How mentors help kids through asset-building.

• How to communicate well with mentees.

Technorati Tags: mentor training,Des Moines,prospective mentors

Winterset Mentoring Needs

By Barb Shultz

We have the following mentor needs to fill in Winterset:

• A 7th grade boy who would like to be a mechanic, enjoys being outdoors, hanging out with friends and would like to be matched with someone he can talk with easily.
• A 5th grader who likes video games, animals, and bike riding.
• A 6th grade girl who likes music, going for walks and talking on the phone.
• An 8th grader who would like someone to “talk with about stuff”.
• A 5th grader that likes fishing, motorcycles and dogs.
• A girl that enjoys girly movies and likes to laugh.
• A young girl that would like to become a veterinarian.

These are just a few of the young people we have that still need a mentor.  There are currently 20 kids matched with mentors in the Winterset area.  Many more would like to be matched that SOY doesn’t have mentors for.  All mentors attend training sessions and go through extensive background checks.

Think about it.  Who mentored you?  If you have a few minutes as week that you can spend with a young person and live in Winterset or Madison County please contact me at mbshultz@msn.com or (515) 250-8018.

In addition to the regular mentoring program, there is also an annual summer school program, which continues through the school year.  SOY is currently working with Winterset Community Schools to get an in-school program going.

Barb Shultz is the volunteer coordinator for our mentoring program in Winterset, IA.  Barb started as a mentor in 2003, and in 2005 joined SOY’s staff.  She is also involved in the youth ministry at her church – First Baptist Church in Winterset.

Technorati Tags: mentoring,volunteer opportunties,mentees,Winterset,Madison County,Iowa