In April of 1999 I spent three very motivational days in Indianapolis at a conference sponsored by the International Association of Character Cities. During the opening plenary presentation a juvenile court judge from Indianapolis said, “The most effective means of engaging and motivating students in this era and culture is by personal one-on-one participation in public school mentoring programs.” That statement still rings in my ears.
Last Thursday I had to catch two flapjacks on my plate in order to enjoy them for breakfast. The cakes were literally thrown to me by the “pancake flipper of the day”. And, lest you think I have completely lost my mind, I better quickly connect the dots between these two events.
Immediately after consuming my pancakes I was ushered into another room at the Douglas County Board of Education Annex to participate in the 2010 kick-off of the Communities in Schools public school mentoring program. Communities in Schools coordinator, Mitzi Teal, said some words about the program and then introduced Douglas County’s new Superintendent of Schools, Gordon Pritz. He wasted no time sharing his feelings about the importance of Douglas County citizens giving their time as mentors for students in our schools.
Later in the program all of us had the opportunity to define the traits of a good mentor, reexamine the benefits of participating as a mentor, and learn, once again, of the value of the investment made by these responsible citizens. Ms. Teal reminded us of the improvement of grades, increased attendance, and greatly reduced drug use by students who were assigned to mentors during the school year. The difference is quite remarkable.
BOE Chairman, Jimmy Bartlett, reminded me in a private conversation of how many students were coming from situations where parents had either walked away or were not serving as positive role models for their children. He emphasized just how important leadership from citizens of good character is to students who have no other role model in their lives.
After I committed to serve as a mentor for another year, I came home and spent some time reading a small plaque on my office wall where I could ponder the story of the starfish. A young person walked onto a beach where hundreds if not thousands of starfish were beached and in danger of dying because of the low tide. He observed an older gentleman picking up one starfish at a time and throwing them back into the water. The youngster challenged the older man by saying, “You can’t possibly make any difference to these many dying fish.” The old man, as he picked up and threw only one more fish into the bay, replied, “I’ll make a difference for that one.”
When I think of the immense need in a school system that now lists an enrollment of over twenty-four thousand students, it’s easy for me to say the problem is just too big for me to make even a dent in the overall need. But then fond memories return. One of my students in the late nineties, after I invested two middle school years and one high school year as his mentor, told me, “I don’t need you anymore.” That was a statement of victory for the program. I also remember how a struggling senior, after I pinned back his ears like a “Dutch Uncle”, graduated from high school.
Motivational speaker Tony Campolo mentioned a survey taken where the respondents were all over ninety years of age. The question simply was, “If you had your life to live over again, what would you do differently?” Two of the top three answers were, “I would take more risks.”, and “I would invest more time in something that would outlive me.” Committing to be a mentor in the public school system is a risky and sometimes frustrating task. But, a mentor in most circumstances makes a significant investment in a person who will outlive them.
As you finish reading this article, call Mitzi Teal or send her an email and volunteer to add your name to her list of committed mentors: 770-651-2039, mitzi_teal@douglas.k12.ga.us. Over time you will be very pleased that you made a very important contribution to the future of Douglas County and to that one young person into whose life you will have provided leadership, motivation, and perhaps a future that would have been impossible without you.
Tags:
The DC Chamber offers numerous networking opportunities every month such as our GreyStone Power Luncheons, AT&T Business After Hours & Georgia Power Coffee Card Exchanges. Here are some tips to help set yourself apart from the rest when it comes to networking!!
- Keep in mind that networking is about being genuine and authentic, building trust and relationships, and seeing how you can help others.
- Ask yourself what your goals are in participating in networking meetings so that you will pick groups that will help you get what you are looking for. Some meetings are based more on learning, making contacts, and/or volunteering rather than on strictly making business connections.
- Visit as many groups as possible that spark your interest. Notice the tone and attitude of the group. Do the people sound supportive of one another? Does the leadership appear competent? Many groups will allow you to visit two times before joining.
- Hold volunteer positions in organizations. This is a great way to stay visible and give back to groups that have helped you.
- Ask open-ended questions in networking conversations. This means questions that ask who, what, where, when, and how as opposed to those that can be answered with a simple yes or no. This form of questioning opens up the discussion and shows listeners that you are interested in them.
- Become known as a powerful resource for others. When you are known as a strong resource, people remember to turn to you for suggestions, ideas, names of other people, etc. This keeps you visible to them.
- Have a clear understanding of what you do and why, for whom, and what makes your doing it special or different from others doing the same thing. In order to get referrals, you must first have a clear understanding of what you do that you can easily articulate to others.
- Be able to articulate what you are looking for and how others may help you. Too often people in conversations ask, “How may I help you?” and no immediate answer comes to mind.
- Follow through quickly and efficiently on referrals you are given. When people give you referrals, your actions are a reflection on them. Respect and honor that and your referrals will grow.
- Call those you meet who may benefit from what you do and vice versa. Express that you enjoyed meeting them, and ask if you could get together and share ideas.
Tips courtesy of http://www.businessknowhow.com/tips/networking.htm
Tags:
For the past few years, United Way in Douglas County has participated in Jumpstart’s Read for the Record Day. This event is designed to promote early literacy and raise awareness about issues in education as children around the world are read the same book on the same day to break the world record. One of the key indicators of a child’s later success in school is their ability to read. As you may already be aware, early education is one of United Way’s focus areas and this has become a favorite project for us.
In the past, we have partnered with the Douglas County School System to read to local elementary school children. Last year we read The Very Hungry Caterpillar to over 1000 school children. This year we are reading The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats with more than 2.5 million children worldwide on October 7, 2010.
We invite you, your company, and employees to participate with this year’s event in either of the following ways:
1) A financial contribution to purchase books for donation to local children by August 26
Please make the check payable to United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta and mail to the address below
2) Volunteer to read to children on October 7 by September 24
Thank you so much for choosing to support this event and for all your efforts to LIVE UNITED.
Tags:
Today’s employee understands their employer can’t afford to give them everything, but they are looking to their employer to negotiate more and better benefits than they can obtain on their own. Dental insurance has been identified as the most sought-after employee benefit behind medical insurance. And your local Chamber of Commerce is helping small businesses offer more affordable employee benefits insurance products through its participation in MemberCare AllianceSM, a statewide network of more than 130 Chambers of Commerce.
In addition to discounted medical insurance, small business Chamber members have a choice of two different types of dental insurance. The type of dental insurance, which carries the deepest discounts, is “group” dental insurance. Just as with group health insurance, the employer pays all or a major portion of the employee’s monthly premium for group dental coverage. Another form of dental insurance, which is quickly growing in popularity, is “voluntary” dental insurance. Voluntary dental insurance, in most cases, costs the employer nothing. The employer simply uses their business to obtain a group-based voluntary rate on dental insurance, then offers it to employees at the employee’s own cost.
As with group policies there are some employee participation requirements with voluntary dental plans but if you currently are not offering dental insurance to your employees due to the cost, voluntary dental coverage is your solution. Qualifying business members, with 2-50 employees, can obtain these benefits through the MemberCare Alliance of Douglas CountySM at very competitive prices.
Discounts for dental benefits range as high as 10%, through Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia*(BCBSGa) and several of the plan options give you the ability to visit any dentist you choose.
The MemberCare Alliance of Douglas County program includes a variety of other discounted insurance products, such as: group health insurance, long term and short term disability, accidental death and dismemberment, long term care and term life insurance. All these products are available through participating Chamber-member insurance agents. For more information on any of these insurance offerings, please call the Chamber, one of your participating Chamber-member insurance agents, or Purchasing Alliance Solutions, Inc., (the company that developed the MemberCare Alliance program) at 770-579-1214 or 1-800-782-8254 ext. 3035.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
Tags:
Tags:
UWG Center for Business and Economic Research is producing a quarterly update of data important for the business leaders, policy makers and citizens of the region.
Tags:
Tags:
In 2010, the Douglas Chamber’s single legislative priority was transportation. See how the 2 republican gubernatorial candidates respond on issues of transportation before you vote in the run-off on August 10.
Tags:
“United Way seeks volunteers to help sort school supplies for children in need”
What is School Tools for Cool Kids?
The School Tools for Cool Kids program is a summer drive to collect school supplies for underprivileged and homeless children throughout metro Atlanta. We partner with Publix Super Markets, STAR 94 FM, V103, KISS 016.7, Salvation Army and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution to promote, collect and distribute the school supplies. United Way works with the homeless liaison at 14 counties and 21 local school districts to identify homeless and underprivileged students and to ensure that they receive the appropriate supplies.
Who is actually served with these donations?
The collected school supplies are distributed to underprivileged and homeless children throughout metro Atlanta. We work with 14 counties and 21 school districts throughout the metro region. We work with the homeless liaison at each school to identify students who are in need of school supplies.
Can people donate cash as well as buy from items in the store?
The Publix drop-off locations are set up for people to donate items. Please bring in school supplies or purchase them at the store. Publix will not be collecting money at the register.
If you want to make a cash donation to the School Tools for Cool Kids program, you will need to contact United Way directly. Often times we receive more of one item over another. With cash donations, we are able to fill in the gaps and purchase items that we didn’t receive enough of such as mesh and clear backpacks, calculators, 3-ring binders, Band Aids and glue.
For individuals wanting to volunteer
Thank you for your interest in volunteering with the School Tools for Cool Kids program. We have partnered with Publix Super Markets and the Salvation Army to collect school supplies for underprivileged and homeless children throughout metro Atlanta.
Volunteers from Douglas and Paulding Counties are needed to help sort school supplies Thursday, August 5 from 7:00 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. The sorting takes place at the Salvation Army warehouse, which is located at 1070 White Street, Atlanta, GA 30310.
To sign up to volunteer, contact Heather Nutter at hnutter@unitedwayatlanta.org or 678-623-2861.
Tags:
Chef Tiffany gives us reasons on why YOU need a personal chef!
Here are just a few of the many reasons to hire a Personal Chef:
You want to eat better.
You have a full-time job and no time to plan healthy meals.
You want customized meals designed to your specific taste.
Waiting for a table at noisy restaurants is stressing you out.
You’re on a specific diet and need help staying on it.
You’re tired of the same old take-out food.
You want to spend more quality time with your family and less time in the kitchen and grocery store.
You hate cooking or don’t know how.
You want to impress your family and friends and make it look like you cooked all day!
You’re not a big fan of grocery shopping.
You are recuperating and can’t cook for yourself.
Here is one of Chef Tiffany’s top client recipies! Check out this wonderful recipie for Chicken Devin!
Tags:
WordPress Blog Design