Jane Ziebarth
2019-2020 National Mentoring for Leadership Ambassador
The Seven P’s of a Mentoring Program
Purpose –Mentoring provides guidance and understanding.
- Sharing positive experiences will initiate interest for individuals wanting to participate.
- Brings awareness of the value and resources of the organization.
- Creates interest to serve in some type of leadership role.
- Prepares the next generation to lead our organization (Local, District, Department and National).
- When both legacy and new members open themselves up to new opportunities (both verbal and listening type communications), everyone will benefit; which will ensure the continued existence of the Auxiliary.
- Enhance membership growth.
Participation – YOU can be involved in mentoring at any time.
- Mentors come from all walks of life. Each have their own unique skills and is a valuable resource.
- Legacy active members:
- Bring life to the history of the organization.
- Provide knowledge of the activities and volunteer opportunities available.
- Share experiences (positive and negative).
- Continue to support the Auxiliary mission.
- Legacy non-active members:
- While maybe not active in the meeting room, these individuals are an appreciated resource and many that will provide mentoring and support to Auxiliary programs and promotions by:
- Making telephone calls.
- Solicit participation for events and program promotions.
- Creating and providing comfort care items (blankets, hats, mittens, etc.)
- Provide bake goods when requested.
- Contributes to Auxiliary causes by whatever means they are able.
- New members and/or younger generation members:
- Will generate renewed energy to Auxiliary.
- Will offer a new spin to timeless projects.
- Will bring positive strength to volunteering.
- Will provide technology and educational support to those unfamiliar or without the means to access computer and social media venues.
- Will be a valuable resource.
- While maybe not active in the meeting room, these individuals are an appreciated resource and many that will provide mentoring and support to Auxiliary programs and promotions by:
- Legacy active members:
Prepare – Gather and distribute resource materials to create a positive mentoring movement.
- Provide access to on-line resources for those members who don’t have the resources available.
- Educate members of changes to Bylaws and National Programs.
- Share information obtained at various meetings with each other. .
- Participate in schools of instruction conducted by District and Department Chairmen.
- Each Department Mentoring for Leadership Chairman is providing great direction for their respective members.
- Accept the challenges your Department Chairman put in place to stir interest in the program.
- Strive to achieve the goals the Chairman has set.
- The Mentoring for Leadership Chairman is a valuable resource you can tap into at any time. This individual possesses a wealth of information and ideas and is readily available to assist.
Pursue – Mentoring provides a positive experience for all members.
- Strive to make Auxiliary meetings informative.
- Engage all members in decision making.
- Recognize all the volunteers’ service.
- Acknowledge the value of all members paying their dues (new, continuous, life membership).
- By creating a positive experience it will prove to ensure that you have happy members.
- Offering insight to leadership and chairmanship tasks will encourage others in accepting an opportunity to serve when the timing is right.
Prevention – Mentoring will help detour a bullying situation.
- There is no room in the Auxiliary to allow a member to be bullied (inside or outside the meeting room).
- Every member deserves to be treated with courtesy and respect. We must value everyone’s dignity.
- If you observe a bullying situation, please take matters in to your own hands (if possible) and request that person to reserve their comments or actions. A further step may be necessary to ask the individual to remove them self from the area.
- If you have been on the receiving end of a bullied situation, bring the action to the attention of the leadership of your auxiliary and ask they address the issue.
- As a mentor, if you observe an offensive situation arising, please try to detour with a mentoring moment. Too many members are walking out the door due to being bullied. Our valuable member resources need to be praised and not criticized.
- Personality conflicts and bullying are destroying many good members and Auxiliaries. Instead of criticizing, lets mentor.
- I expect to pass through this world but once; any good thing therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now; let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again. Ettiene De Grellet
Progress – Activity of members taking on new roles through consistent mentoring channels.
- Shall observe increased dialog at monthly meetings.
- Will increase volunteer participation.
- Be a witness to member(s) taking on leadership roles.
- Observe current leaders and chairmen assisting others to learn the positions held.
- Additional openness to ask questions and absorb the response.
- Members demonstrate the ability to research Auxiliary related topics and provide an overview to membership.
Pride – Celebrating positive mentoring results.
- Host a quarterly recognition event.
- Present a Good Job certificate to a volunteer.
- Use social media to acknowledge positive mentoring individuals and events.
- Through mentoring your Auxiliary will sustain excellent leaders and volunteers.
- Showing support and recognition will demonstrate to the new and legacy members that they are being appreciated and that they have joined the right organization to be involved with.
Have you set your sight on receiving a National award for your Auxiliary? It’s not too late to put in to action a Mentoring for Leadership Program. EVERY Auxiliary is capable of receiving the awards listed below.
AWARDS FOR AUXILIARIES
- Most Outstanding Implementation of a Mentoring for Leadership Program.
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- Citation to every Auxiliary that implements a Mentoring for Leadership Program. Form required and available at www.vfwauxiliary.org/resources. Auxiliaries to send form to Department Chairman by March 31, 2020. Department Chairman to send form to National Headquarters by April 30, 2020. Citations will be mailed directly to Auxiliaries.
- Citation and $50 to one Auxiliary in the nation for the most outstanding implementation of a Mentoring for Leadership Program.
Mentoring for Leadership will translate into Serving Our Veterans with Aloha.
