THE MENTORING CONNECTION
This newsletter is a membership service of the International Mentoring Association. January 2010	WOW!  This issue is LOADED with 3 terrific articles, 2010 IMA Conference details, and other announcements, news and information YOU can use today!

THIS ISSUE INCLUDES:

1. Mentoring 101 - The Impact of Just ONE Person on Others - Get ready to be inspired
2. Article: "The Seasons of Army Mentorship and the Mentoring Staircase" by Col. Mark Melanson
3. Announcement - The WINNERS of the IMA Membership Survey drawing! 
4. Developing Comprehensive Mentoring and Induction Programs in Christian Schools, by Joanne Looney
5. The IMA 2010 Annual Conference News - REGISTRATION MATERIALS ARE READY. So - REGISTER TODAY!
6. Mentoring Definitions - Ready to giggle?
7. IMA Expands its Outreach and Advocacy for Mentoring
8. The IMA Board of Directors Needs YOU.

1. Mentoring 101 - THE IMPACT OF JUST ONE PERSON ON OTHERS !

"I MAY BE ONLY ONE PERSON - BUT TO ONE PERSON, I MIGHT BE THE WORLD!"

Those of us who are involved in mentoring, are so involved because we want to make a difference in other persons' lives. Many of us became involved in mentoring because someone invested their energy, time, and caring in us. Others of us became involved because no one invested themselves in us that way, and we want to be sure that we have done what we can so that never happens for others. EVERYONE DESERVES A MENTOR !

However, despite that commitment we feel, there are days when the work wears us down, and we ask ourselves if it's really worth all the effort it takes. THIS ARTICLE is offered here for just those "low" days. OR, you can use this article and the inspiration it offers in your mentoring program. That way, when YOUR mentors are asking, "Is this worth it?" this article will affirm for them that their efforts at MENTORING ARE WORTH IT.

Inspiration of tap - right here >> The Impact of Just One Person on Others

3. ANNOUNCEMENT - THE WINNERS OF THE IMA MEMBERSHIP SURVEY

A great bug "Thank you" to everyone who completed the October 2009 IMA Membership Survey. All participants were invited to give us their name and contact information and to be entered into a drawing for one of two $30 Visa gift cards! It’s one way we can say “Thanks” for helping IMA gain the insights we need to become even more the organization you deserve.

Seventy two (72) of our members filled in the survey and surveys #36 and #54 were randomly drawn to be the winners. The two winners of the $30 VISA Gift Cards are:

1. Marilyn McGowan of Mobile, Alabama

2. Victoria Fincher of Houston, Texas.    Congratulations to you both!!

Thanks again, very much to all survey participants. Your input is being collated and analyzed "as we speak".  The summary findings of the survey will be published (as we promised) in the "Mentoring Connections" newsletter next month.

   4. Developing Comprehensive Mentoring and Induction Programs at Christian Schools

This article by JoAnn Looney is a very comprehensive review of the research literature on the needs of novice teachers and on the effectiveness of new teacher mentoring and induction approaches. It discusses both the models used in the last 20 years or so, and more current conceptions of effective practice in this field. These latter approaches are defined as 21st Century models, the qualities of which are defined. Finally, the article offers a theoretical induction and mentoring model designed for Christian schools. The research is well documented and explained and will be of considerable value to other researchers.

The Editors recommend this work to all persons in education, whether in a Christian setting or not. To read the article go to Mentoring and Induction in Christian Schools

6. Mentoring Definitions From OUTSIDE of IMA - Ready to Giggle?

• “Experience” -  Something you get right after you need it.
• “Wisdom” -  What you get right after a bad experience.
• “Advice” -  Something people give you when you are not going to get any actual help.
• "Discussion" - Two or more people talking and everyone wanting the other to finish so they can say what they want.
• "Networking" - Talking with others to discover what they know that can benefit ourselves.

... And then there are the IMA Definitions -

• “Experience” -  What YOU share with others and others share with you, so that no one has to learn the hard way.
• “Wisdom” -  That part of our experience we call "best practice", for which we can demonstrate results.
• "Help" -  What you get at IMA which exceeds what you expected in amount and value.
• "Dialogue" - Two or more persons talking and listening to each other so that mutual respect is demonstrated and real learning occurs.
• "Networking" -  Talking with others to share what you know and learn from what others know - a Professional Learning Community!

7. IMA EXPANDS ITS OUTREACH AND ADVOCACY FOR MENTORING

Thanks to the leadership of IMA President Joe Pascarelli and to several IMA Directors and other leaders, IMA has stepped up our efforts to become known in a wider circle of mentoring organizations and with persons involved in mentoring. This effort is designed to spread the name of the International Mentoring Association and what we do to support mentoring leaders and programs, to increase membership and global participation in IMA, and to share with others the vast experience, wisdom, and knowledge of best practices in mentoring which so many in IMA possess.
Here are some of the events involved.

1. Drs. Gary Kilburg, Larry Carroll, Linda Coy, and Joseph Pascarelli each delivered presentations at the Second Annual Conference on Mentoring sponsored by the University of New Mexico Mentoring Institute. This very good representation was due, in part, to the fact that IMA was an organizational co-sponsor of this event. Reports and reactions from those who attended indicate that the sessions were very relevant, informative, and engaging.

Dr. Kilburg is an IMA Director and Dr. Carroll is an IMA Director Emeritus. Dr. Linda Coy is IMA President-Elect and Dr. Joseph Pascarelli is IMA’s President

2. Buffalo-Niagara Area, New York, USA - Mentoring Conference. IMA Board of Directors member Dr. Fran Kochan was the featured speaker at this Mentoring Conference. The conference was a one day event and was attended by cross-community representatives.

3. Hilo, Hawaii - The Hilo Workforce Development group, a part of the U.S. Department of Labor sponsored a recent event which was attended by over 40 community representatives from human and social service agencies, businesses, and government. These persons participated in a mentoring session that was facilitated by IMA President Dr. Joe Pascarelli, along with some local mentors who are working with mentees who are former incarcerated adults. The session and information were very well received and the group is on its way to forming it's own Mentoring community.

4. The Hilo Hawaii Community Alliance Mentoring Conference. Over 50 participants attended a half-day Mentoring Awareness Session held at Gemini Observatory (International Astronomical Center) located in Hilo, Hawaii. Representatives were from various sectors, including business, industry, education, and human/social service agencies. "Count me in" cards were collected at the end of the event to probe the level of interest in follow up meetings. All responded positively to continuing these sessions. IMA President Pascarelli was the facilitator. Special interest is being expressed by the astronomer group for Mentoring within their profession and with their sister site in La Serena, Chile.

5. Universidad de Aquascalientes Autonoma, in Aquascalientes, Mexico. IMA President Pascarelli facilitated a Mentoring workshop for professors and instructors who are being encouraged to become mentors to undergrad and graduate students.

6. Unid Universidad (Aquascalientes, Mexico) . IMA President Pascarelli led a mentoring workshop for university instructors and local high school teachers interested in becoming mentors for students.

7. King Abdulaziz University in Saudi Arabia. Dr. Tongan and IMA President Pascarelli facilitated a 10 day institute for 25 professors who acquired knowledge and skill to install a university-wide mentoring program for veteran professors to mentor novices. (Note: This was a contract between U of Wisconsin and King Abdulaziz University.)

Except for #7, all the above mentoring sessions were done pro bono as a free service of IMA by IMA Board members and leaders.

Such broad international exposure for IMA and wide sharing of IMA expertise has never occurred in the 22 year history of the organization. We all should be proud and enthusiastic about spreading the image of IMA and the expertise of IMA people across the globe!

This could be the start of something BIG! Thanks to all of the IMA leaders who have given of their time, energy and experience to help others. You have clearly demonstrated the IMA spirit. If any other IMA member has been involved in similar outreach on behalf of IMA. please let the Newsletter Editors know of your work. Contact Editor, Barry Sweeny at sweenyb@sbcglobal.net. Thanks.

This newsletter is a membership benefit so it is only sent to IMA members.   However, it is placed in the Non Members section of the web site so YOU may send the link to it to a friend and ask them to join IMA.  That’s a great way for YOU to help IMA get out the crucial “word” about effective mentoring and to grow IMA!

"The Mentoring Connection" is a member service of the International Mentoring Association and is edited by:

• Dr. Gary Kilburg, IMA Director, Director of the Mentoring Institute, and Professor at George Fox University, Newburg, Oregon, gkilburg@georgefox.edu
• Barry Sweeny, IMA Director Emeritus and President of Best Practice Resources, sweenyb@sbcglobal.net.

The IMA is a nonprofit organization, promoting the use of effective mentoring & mentor programs for the success of persons without regard to race, religion, age, gender, national origin, or physical challenges.