September 2006
Welcome to WWM Talk, the e-newsletter for Walk With Me coordinators and teachers. If you have any questions about information in this issue (or anything else), give us a call at 1-800-333-8300 or e-mail us.
In This Issue
‘Til We Meet Again
Ever plan a meeting and discover that the only person who could make it was the custodian—and that’s because she had to unlock the doors to the church? Handing out materials, training teachers, sharing ideas, and team building are all great things to do—but all of them take precious time! We’ve got some tips to help you and your team make the most out of your meeting time together.
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Set the dates early. Provide team members with a one-year schedule of meeting dates and training sessions as early as possible.
Tip: Some coordinators hold their meetings before or after church on a Sunday since so many team members are already in the building!
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Make an agenda. Create a detailed agenda that includes everything you’ll be doing. Include the time you’ll spend on each item, and stick to it!
Tip: Delivering the agenda in person or by e-mail at least one week before the meeting is a great way to remind folks of the meeting and find out how many people plan to attend.
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Start and end on time. People are busy. One way you can show your teachers how much you value their time is by not taking up too much of it! If you said you would begin at 8:00, begin at 8:00 whether everyone is there or not. It’s your way of thanking those who came on time.
Tip: Ask someone to be your timekeeper and let you know how much time is left for each item or if you are going overtime. On the rare occasion that your meeting requires an extra inning, decide how much longer you’ll need and get the okay from your team before continuing.
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Limit the length. If you can’t accomplish something in 1-1½ hours, you are trying to do too much! Take something off the agenda or defer it to the next meeting. And be sure you don’t take up group time dealing with individual issues.
Add hospitality. Keep it simple but make it friendly. Brew coffee or pour pitchers of ice water. Lynn Setsma, hospitality queen on the Faith Alive team, adds a fun touch to meetings by sprinkling a handful of candies onto a basketful of cookies or serving up some mini-candy bars in colorful plastic bowls.
Tip: If you to want to provide people with time to socialize before the meeting begins, indicate it on the agenda.
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Mix it up! Some coordinators add variety to their meeting schedule by alternating teacher-training sessions with more general meetings. Others try to include some fun team-building events into each meeting or add a time for sharing and support. Ask for feedback to help determine which approach works best in your setting.
Tip: Regardless of how you spend your time together, estimate your time in advance and stay on schedule.
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Include and Encourage. People want to be part of a team that has a goal—as the “coach” your job is to remind them of ministry goals and help them stay in the game. Take a few minutes at every meeting to share the vision and to tell your team that the work they’re doing matters to God, to the kids, and to you!
Christmas in September?Avoid scrambling in late October and November by beginning your Christmas program planning now! You can jump start the process by taking a look at these great resources: |
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WWM Christmas 3: Just Like Me is a two-session unit that includes
…and more. Plus, everything you need is right in the book, so there’s no need to buy separate children's materials! Just order one book for each of your leaders, and you're ready to go. Learn more about the other holiday units here. |
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Help your children make Christmas come alive for your church family with one of five Quick and Easy Christmas Programs, such as Manger King. Each drama is 25-30 minutes in length and only requires a single rehearsal! Click here to find out more. |
P.S. Thanks for Coming!
It was a pleasure to meet so many coordinators and teachers at the WWM Coordinators Conference held recently in Grand Rapids, Michigan. What a great opportunity to see the faces of the folks we’ve been praying for! Plans are already underway for next year’s conference, and we’re looking forward to connecting with more of you then!
If you weren’t able to attend this year, look for announcements about next year’s conference. And in the meantime, check out our six great workshops on the Walk With Me website.
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