Mentoring New Members Mentoring New Members is not

Mentoring New Members

Mentoring New Members is not a New Idea. • The Mentor Program came to the Orange Coast League from the San Juan Capistrano League (the “Capo League”). • The Capo League merged into our League a few years ago when their membership had dropped. • Back at the Capo League, it was Petti Van Rekom who started the program as part of their membership program.

Petti Van Rekom Started the Mentor Program. Past-president of San Juan Capistrano League where she founded this program. Chair of Civil Discourse for the Orange Coast League. Nothing is needed more at this time of terrible partisan rancor and gridlock. Chair of Voters’ Edge, a cornerstone for every local League.

Mentors are Part of a Membership Program. • Elements of the Program • Send a friendly e-mail, then make a follow-up phone call. • Send follow-up e-mails about upcoming meetings and events. • Welcome each new member who attends a meeting. Plan to sit with the person or have another board member do that. • Hold New Member Celebrations every six to eight months. • Handle membership renewals--a wonderful opportunity to get to know members better and learn about problems or suggestions.

Welcome e-mail for New Members • Welcome to the League of Women Voters of Orange Coast! We are delighted to have you. Automatically, you are also a member of the Orange County, California and United States Leagues. • Briefly, the League's mission is: 1. to better inform ourselves and others on government issues, 2. to increase the number of active voters and 3. to tell our elected representatives about League positions. These positions are derived from member consensus based on careful studies. The League really is a grass roots organization. • We encourage your participation in our meetings, as described in the attached newsletter, The Voter. Of the meetings described, especially interesting for new members are book clubs and “Clip and Come. ” Also, please look at our website for the most current information www. lwvorangecoast. org In addition, attached is the interest form so we can learn about your interests. • Our next Lunch with League will be on June 19 at Back Bay Conference Center, discussing water conservation. Also, the meeting on June 15 explains the new Vote Centers which will replace the existing voting polling places—a huge change. Please call me with any questions or help you might need. • In League, • Christine Moore, Membership

Follow up E-mail • Linda, • I’m happy to tell you that the League is sponsoring a meeting on Saturday, June 15 at 9: 00 am. about a dramatic change in voting locations. • Instead of going to your local polls, as you always have, the County of Orange has decided on a whole new system of Vote Centers. There will be many fewer locations to cast votes, but they’ll be open for many more days and hours. • I hope you’ll be able to attend this informative meeting where Neal Kelley, Orange County Registrar of Voters will explain all of this and why it happened. This is a plan that the League has supported. • The location is the St. Joseph Conference Center at 480 Batavia in Orange, California. • Please look at our website lwvorangecoast. org for further information or call me. • In League, • Christine Moore, Membership 714 -508 -2563, cell; 714 -336 -5465

New Member Celebrations • NEW MEMBER WELCOME • • Wednesday, April 3, 2019 • 5: 00 to 7: 30 p. m. • • NEW MEMBER WELCOME • Wednesday, April 3, 2019 • 5: 00 to 7: 30 p. m. • Hors D’oeuvres, drinks, coffee, dessert

What Does It Mean to be a Mentor? • The definition of a mentor is: “A wise friend and trusted advisor. ” Webster New World Dictionary. • The Bible gives many examples: Jethro mentored Moses who mentored Joshua. Samuel mentored Saul and David. Paul is usually considered the best Biblical mentor. His letters to early Christians make up 14 books of the New Testament. • “Two are better than one… If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. ” Ecclesiastes 4: 9 -10 • Professions like medicine and teaching have built-in mentors.

More Examples of Mentors • Teachers do practice teaching under the care of a seasoned teacher while medical interns and residents work with established, experienced doctors in various fields. • Other organizations and clubs use mentors to keep their mentors by involving them and integrating them into the ethos of the group. A good example is Tech Coast Angels, an investment club. A new member learns the signs and qualities of good and bad investments.

Specifics of the Orange Coast League Program • How do we recruit mentors and how do we pair them with new members? • 1. We ask seasoned members, often those in leadership roles. • Sometimes such a member takes more than one “mentee. ” • 2. We ask the new member if he or she wants a mentor. • 3. We pair a new member with a mentor who lives near them. • 4. We pair a new member with a mentor with common interests. •

Happy Mentors and New Members Becky Newman and Michele Musacchio Anne Stone and Becky Newman

President Becky Newman: Star Mentor Becky with Marilyn Vassos Becky with Kathleen Montgomery

What are the Steps to being a Mentor? • Send an e-mail to the new member and meet for coffee or lunch. • Explain what the League has meant to you and why it is rewarding. • Introduce the new member to our own website where she or he can also find links to state, national and county Leagues. Show them the work now being done on specific issues at every level. • Plan to attend the next meeting together or meet there and sit together.

More Mentors and New Members Patty Santry and Janette Dye Stephanie Oddo and Michele Musacchio

Packets for New Members and Mentors • Publications • 1. Meaning of Membership • 2. LEAGUE-L-ESE • 3. How the League Takes Action • Checklists for Mentors and New Members • We’ve cut back on use of packets because everything can be sent electronically. • Also, new members have reported that they don’t use them too much.

Role of Membership: What do members need? • The role of the Membership Chair is to be an advocate to the board for all the members who are not at board meetings. Some examples: • A. Evening and Saturday meetings for those still in the workplace. • B. For a large League like Orange Coast, meetings at locations near where people live. • C. Work with the board to provide the highest level of programs for the great members joining our League