General Information About IMA

General Information About IMA

INDEX:
> A Brief IMA History
> The IMA Commitment
> How IMA Lives Out Its Commitment

A Brief History of the International Mentoring Association
In 1987 a number of individuals who were interested in mentoring came together for a conference at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo Michigan. Among topics of discussion was the use of mentoring to increase the retention of students of color in higher education and other mentoring benefits and applications. The enthusiastic response to the conference and the opportunity to learn from each other led to a proposal to form a mentoring association.

On July 28-29 1988 the interested parties met at Rhode Island Community College in Warwick, Rhode Island and the National Mentoring Association was formed. By-laws were drafted, committees formed, and a Board of Directors and officers were chosen.

On October 23, 1988, the association membership met at the American College at Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, At that meeting the proposed by-laws were adopted and the Association ratified by the majority of members present.

The National Mentoring Association was established in response to the growing need for an organized forum focusing on innovative mentoring ideas and practices. Many of the original members of IMA came from higher education, but the desire to learn about effective mentoring and to support a worldwide mentoring initiative, led these persons to reach out to and learn from others from every setting.

The Association quickly grew to become a worldwide organization which effectively unites a broad cross-section of hundreds of individuals, all of whom are interested in the theory and practice of effective mentoring. Later the name of the Association was changed to reflect this international membership and initiative. Every member of the International Mentoring Association brings a diverse, unique experience and a fresh perspective from the various fields of mentoring that each represents. But all members share a common commitment to learning how to increase the effective use of mentoring through our work together.

We invite you to join us!

The IMA is currently housed at Western Michigan University.

The IMA Commitment

Provide a regular, public forum for dialogue and learning about effective mentoring

Provide professional development activities for members of the Association and for others interested in mentoring.

Identify, collect, and provide access to the best information on mentoring strategies and programs which research and expert practice have found to be successful.

Facilitate the growth of effective mentoring practice and implementing and sustaining of mentoring programs.

Create and support mentoring among youth and employees and members of all kinds of institutions, organizations, and agencies.

Provide the leadership for a worldwide mentoring initiative.

How IMA Lives Out Its Commitment
The People - IMA is a worldwide network of dynamic individuals who have established successful mentoring programs, who are committed to increasing their ability to continually model effective mentoring practices, and who will gladly share their experience and knowledge with you.

The Information & Experience - IMA is committed to increasing the access to the proven information and best practices that you need for planning, implementing, monitoring, evaluating, and improving the impact of your personal mentoring and leadership, and of your mentoring program.

The Diversity - In addition to celebrating and using the strengths that ethnic and cultural diversity provides, IMA is also committed to model and support a wider understanding of the term, "diversity". All of IMA's activities and publications focus on building on the strengths provided by dialogue across all settings and contexts, all age and experience levels, gender, view point, and every other difference. By utilizing our common commitment to mentoring as a tool for increased learning and performance and our diversity as a strength, we can work together and accomplish so much more!

The Initiative - We see mentoring as the most effective lever available for transforming the quality and effectiveness of human growth and endeavors. Through our conversations, articles, presentations, publications, and projects, we are committed to provide the forum for discussing mentoring best practice, trends, emerging new ideas, and strategies that will inspire us as leaders and transform our organizations and practices. In this way, we expect to truly change the world through effective mentoring.

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General Information About IMA
INDEX:	> A Brief IMA History > The IMA Commitment > How IMA Lives Out Its Commitment
A Brief History of the International Mentoring Association	In 1987 a number of individuals who were interested in mentoring came together for a conference at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo Michigan. Among topics of discussion was the use of mentoring to increase the retention of students of color in higher education and other mentoring benefits and applications. The enthusiastic response to the conference and the opportunity to learn from each other led to a proposal to form a mentoring association. On July 28-29 1988 the interested parties met at Rhode Island Community College in Warwick, Rhode Island and the National Mentoring Association was formed. By-laws were drafted, committees formed, and a Board of Directors and officers were chosen. On October 23, 1988, the association membership met at the American College at Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, At that meeting the proposed by-laws were adopted and the Association ratified by the majority of members present. The National Mentoring Association was established in response to the growing need for an organized forum focusing on innovative mentoring ideas and practices. Many of the original members of IMA came from higher education, but the desire to learn about effective mentoring and to support a worldwide mentoring initiative, led these persons to reach out to and learn from others from every setting. The Association quickly grew to become a worldwide organization which effectively unites a broad cross-section of hundreds of individuals, all of whom are interested in the theory and practice of effective mentoring. Later the name of the Association was changed to reflect this international membership and initiative. Every member of the International Mentoring Association brings a diverse, unique experience and a fresh perspective from the various fields of mentoring that each represents. But all members share a common commitment to learning how to increase the effective use of mentoring through our work together. We invite you to join us! The IMA is currently housed at Western Michigan University.
The IMA Commitment	Provide a regular, public forum for dialogue and learning about effective mentoring Provide professional development activities for members of the Association and for others interested in mentoring. Identify, collect, and provide access to the best information on mentoring strategies and programs which research and expert practice have found to be successful. Facilitate the growth of effective mentoring practice and implementing and sustaining of mentoring programs. Create and support mentoring among youth and employees and members of all kinds of institutions, organizations, and agencies. Provide the leadership for a worldwide mentoring initiative.
How IMA Lives Out Its Commitment	The People - IMA is a worldwide network of dynamic individuals who have established successful mentoring programs, who are committed to increasing their ability to continually model effective mentoring practices, and who will gladly share their experience and knowledge with you. The Information & Experience - IMA is committed to increasing the access to the proven information and best practices that you need for planning, implementing, monitoring, evaluating, and improving the impact of your personal mentoring and leadership, and of your mentoring program. The Diversity - In addition to celebrating and using the strengths that ethnic and cultural diversity provides, IMA is also committed to model and support a wider understanding of the term, "diversity". All of IMA's activities and publications focus on building on the strengths provided by dialogue across all settings and contexts, all age and experience levels, gender, view point, and every other difference. By utilizing our common commitment to mentoring as a tool for increased learning and performance and our diversity as a strength, we can work together and accomplish so much more! The Initiative - We see mentoring as the most effective lever available for transforming the quality and effectiveness of human growth and endeavors. Through our conversations, articles, presentations, publications, and projects, we are committed to provide the forum for discussing mentoring best practice, trends, emerging new ideas, and strategies that will inspire us as leaders and transform our organizations and practices. In this way, we expect to truly change the world through effective mentoring.