Mentor meeting discussion March 8th

1. We discussed upcoming dates:
--Pioneer Trek info (please contact Angie with questions)

--End of year schedule:  One more month of lens-oriented classes, ending on April 23rd, then 2 weeks of oral presentations/end of year simulations/activities, etc.

--oral presentations: a summary of their education for the year...a look at where they are at. This is a good opportunity, even more than looking at specifics of what they have "accomplished," to look at who they have become through the course of the journey through the year.  They may present this by a power-point, bringing objects that represent who they are for the other youth to select and then the presenting youth will talk about the ones they select, a slide show of pictures of things they have experienced this school year, etc.

--cultural dinner: our culminating end of the year event, tentatively scheduled for Thursday, May 8th, where we do a slide show of the year, people bring potluck courses from "around the world," we give out awards recognizing each youth, present the new presidency for next year, and do some activities with our families.

2.  We discussed concerns and ideas with the service project developed in the Geo-genius Master class.  The youth brainstormed and selected an area of focus for service that they would like to do.  They thought it would be good to open it up to anyone who wants to participate. Here is a brief synopsis:

They set up a project with two purposes: gather money and supplies for specific groups in Ethiopia (schools and orphanages the presenter mentioned), and, second, to help youth do fundraising so they can go to Ethiopia for two weeks next year to actually deliver the supplies and spend two weeks giving service among the Ethiopian people.  There are a lot of details involved in that, but that is the general idea. The hope is that anyone who desires to help and participate in this project will be able to in any capacity, from making colorful items for orphanages, to participating in the fund-raisers for the specific targets (fundraisers like a carnival, car washes, bake sales, etc.).  Every little bit will help, and everyone's contribution will make a difference for those sweet people in Ethiopia.

 The latest development is summed up in an email I sent recently:

Hi everyone!

After different people's feedback and perspective, discussion with the youth already involved, and careful consideration of the purpose and spirit of this service project and Master class, we are going to go ahead and re-structure our approach with the service project.

The Master class set the ball in motion of this great idea...a project worthy of Master class!  Woohoo!  And now, the ball in motion will be a project for everyone!

This means:

--you do not have to qualify for master class to attend the planning and carrying out of any part of this project

--we will not be using Geo-genius Master Class to just work on this project

--we will have a separate time (after some class, before some class, etc.) designated to meet...I will let the youth figure that out :)

--I will continue to mentor the project

--as before, you can participate as little or as much as you want to and in whatever way! (Madeline, Rick specifically mentioned making bright colored things for the kids in the orphanages :)!)

Tomorrow, Friday the 14th we will meet from 10-11 to discuss and play the geo-genius game (without Tova, poor dear :)!), and then anyone who wants to come and plan/discuss/contribute to the project  can come at 11.  We will end promptly at 12, but you can bring a lunch to eat while we meet.  Weather permitting, we can meet out in my backyard to discuss it.

Next month, we will have a different activity/focus (not-project related) for Master class Geo-genius.

Thanks, everyone, for your patience, contribution, and willingness as we transition to this new, impact-ful stage of Vanguard!

:) Sister Biesinger

3.  It was brought up that people would like to do service on a local level.  I am all for that, and have had it as an intention to have monthly projects since the beginning of the year, but it has taken time to get everything running, right :)?  Sarah Vance had a great idea about working with a local organization called the Marshall White Center.  The following is her basic summary of the place (I hope she doesn't mind me directly quoting her :)!):

This is a community center. I believe they get government funding. The youth classes are taught by awesome people who are paid very little. It's basically a volunteer program.  You can tell the teachers care about the kids!  We also gathered winter clothes  in our ward to take there for the homeless. People take clothes and food there for others to take as needed.  I know they served a Thanksgiving dinner there last year.  One day, there was a bunch of food set out on a table by the front desk. I saw an older lady come in and pick up a bag of rolls and a bunch of bananas one day.  I remember thinking 'I love this place!'

I'm going there today. I'll ask about possible service opportunities and get back to you. 

We are looking for people (youth and adult) to work on this.  If service is your passion, please get in touch with me.  You would contact the center (or help the youth do so) or other places where people have brainstormed about serving, set a project up, and then announce it to the youth.  In the past we have done things like:
-trick-or-treating for candy to send to kids in Africa (a real program, believe it or not!)
-tying quilts while doing movie night
-yard work for the church or building we are meeting at
-singing at rest homes
-gather supplies for local food banks

Someone suggested we get this started during the summer to make one less thing we are "starting" in the fall.  Service opportunities are something that everyone may not participate in all the time, but we have had enough participation to make each one successful.

I think that is basically everything we discussed.  Feel free to post comments or questions below.

NOTE: I am mindful that not everyone can make these and hope you do not feel pressured to come.  I have set them up as a resource for you, a (*hopefully*) power-packed hour for you to catch up and have better input on issues and needs of our group, but am mindful that it is not the most convenient time. Is there such a thing :)? 

Someone has mentioned the idea of holding it on a different day of the week once a month, like an early afternoon or late morning.  My concern is that there has been some father participation and I don't want to lose that.  However, if, overall, it would enable more people to come and would be more convenient to the majority, I am willing to move the day and time.  I would ask someone else to coordinate it, if we want to do it for our last meeting in April, or we can just look ahead and consider it for next year.  I would welcome your feedback in the comments and suggestions in the comments below (or via email if the commenting is not enabled for some reason).

Thanks!