[K12OSN] The harvest is ready, but the workers are few...

["Richard K. Ingalls" <ringalls glenwood k12 mo us>]

Just a philosophical thought about getting the 
"helpers" that might be needed to improve an 
already excellent project...

I must use my experience at my church as a youth 
pastor to illustrate my point.  I had a vision for 
what I wanted our youth ministry to be, but I had 
no helpers to assist me.  I needed helpers because 
if I kept it a "one man show" then I could never 
grow to the level I wanted it to be.  So I began 
to cast the vision to the adults in church.  I 
didn't have many of what I would call "first 
choice" candidates come to me and volunteer.  I 
did get people who were willing to help and whose 
hearts were in the right place.  They did not have 
the background, training and qualities I would 
have preferred.  BUT they were willing.  SO, I 
created a "training program" to get them the 
skills they needed in order to be effective at 
working with the youth.  When they successfully 
completed the training (lots of reading, group 
discussion, etc.), then I put them to work.  We 
grew from 30 teens in Oct. to over 100 teens in 
May!  I couldn't have done it without my helpers. 
 My helpers needed training before they could 
really help.  I trained them.  Viola!

If helpers are needed... I would probably NOT be 
at the top of the list of qualified candidates. 
However, I AM willing to learn how to do anything 
that I'm trained to do.  Then, I could be a 
valuable asset instead of simply a "consumer" of 
assets.

Perhaps there could be some regionalized workshops 
or trainings scheduled?  Eric and Jim could be the 
keynote presenters.  There could be a fee charged 
(to cover costs and pay these gentlemen).  We 
could all converge upon a town and meet.  Those in 
need of basic training could go to presentations 
geared for them.  Those in need of advanced 
training could go to those presentations.  We 
would all leave as better people.  Whaddya think?
--
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Richard K. Ingalls
Director of Information Technology
Glenwood R-8 School District
West Plains, MO

email  ringalls glenwood k12 mo us
web....glenwood.k12.mo.us
ph.....417.256.4849
fax....417.257.2567

"Glenwood R-8: home of the mustangs!"
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