THE MENTORING CONNECTION
This newsletter is a membership service of the
International Mentoring Association.
June 2008
THIS ISSUE INCLUDES:
1. The IMA President’s Message
2. Summary - Assessment of the Science and Math Apprenticeship Summer Program and Its Affect on Minority High School Students
3. New Online Mentoring Conversation
4. IMA 2008 Las Vegas Conference Report & Pictures
5. 2009 IMA Mentoring Events
6. Other Mentoring Conferences Around the World
7. Mentors & Protégés: Simple Rules for Success
1. The IMA President’s Message - "Dwelling in the Possibilities"
Each
of us has favorite quotes that we’ve stored over the years and often refer
to at the appropriate moment. One of mine, from the rich writings of Emily Dickinson,
is “to dwell in possibility”.
When I reflect on the past year and the new energy that has
developed among IMA Board members, within our membership, among our newly-elected
Board members, and
especially among the 2008 Annual Conference attendees in Las Vegas last month,
I once again am reminded of this favorite quote —loosely paraphrased—
"We dwell in the limitless possibilities of the influence of mentoring
in today’s world."
There’s a strong sense of renewal emerging. In IMA, we are certainly building on the past 20 years of our experience, but we are also dramatically moving into an era of development marked by new and creative thinking and understandings about:
- the variety of mentoring models developing throughout the world
- the power of mentoring found in so many settings across that world
- the learning community we are building in IMA based on the strengths and diversity of these models
- the new commitment we feel to respect and learn from each other.
This was so clear as I listened to the dialogue occurring at our World Café at the Las Vegas Conference among people who represented all kinds of mentoring programs from across the world. It was clear as I listened to the presentations of innovative virtual mentoring models. It was further realized at the final session when agreements were being made among conference participants. They recognized that the Conference was more of a beginning than an end as they discussed the possibility of mentoring extending beyond the Conference. Indeed it was a semi-colon rather than a period.
As I sat in on a Community Coalition meeting in Hilo, Hawaii
a few weeks after the Conference, I heard a group of school principals who attended
the IMA Conference convey their enthusiasm about their conference experiences
and the power of mentoring. The Coalition they spoke to includes individuals
from the business, human service,
local government, and educational sectors. The reporting principals so clearly
communicated that, although their self-interest was for youth and beginning
teachers, the Coalition needs to consider mentoring across multiple levels of
their community to more effectively reach the Coalition's goals. They reinforced
the fact that mentoring has
universal applications and power and should not be limited to one particular
group. It is about more effective human relationships and the supportive connections
that we all crave.
Finally, I was reminded of the importance of mentoring this past weekend when viewing Randy Pausch’s "Last Lecture". He powerfully spoke of the indelible marks of his mentors on who he is today, ranging from his high school coach, to former professors, and extending to others who have contributed to making him who he is.
That’s the IMA focus - sharing and realizing the power of mentoring in shaping each one of us and the organizations in which we serve!
A new approach to the IMA Newsletter is among the several ways in which we intend to carry forth this initiative. Welcome!
Dr. Joe Pascarelli, President
2. Summary - Assessment of the Science and Math Apprenticeship Summer Program and Its Affect on Minority High School Students
By Willodean Burton, Department of Biology, Samuel Jator*, Department of Mathematics, and Monique Gold, Department of Education, all of Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee.
This is a great illustration of the classic "Early Intervention Mentoring Model", an approach every mentoring program should consider expanding to include. The article demonstrates the value of reaching outside of your own organization to better prepare and encourage those which your organization needs and who could be your future employees/participants. Learn how the program is organized and see their results!
To see a summary of this comprehensive research study, go to http://www.mentoring-association.org/smaSmall.html
To see the full text and all data from this comprehensive research study, go to http://www.mentoring-association.org/sma.html
3. New Online Mentoring Information
Now, you can continue the IMA conversation and mutual support! The IMA is again a year-round system of support for YOU. Not only does this online newsletter provided year-round information, but a new dialogue and discussion process has been inaugerated! A new online networking opportunity has been created by Carmen Carter, IMA Board or Directors member. All members are invited to join and participate by logging in to http://www.IMACafe.ning.com SEE YOU THERE!
4. IMA 2008 Las Vegas Conference Report & Pictures
To read this report on all the 2008 IMA conference activities and to see a selection of all the photos, go to http://www.mentoring-association.org/08ConfrRpt.html
About mid June we will have a slide show of all 2008 Conference photos running on the IMA Home Page. Check it out then.
Although no firm dates are set as yet, IMA is planning three regional mentoring meetings as follows for 2008:
6. Other Mentoring Conferences and Events Around the World
> Peer Coaching in the Workplace (Mentoring 701) December 5, 2008, by Rey Carr, Ph.D. of Peer Resources, in Victoria, BC - go to http://www.peer.ca/trng.html
> By Ambrose-Perrone Associates - http://www.perrone-ambrose.com/
> The University of New Mexico 2008 Mentoring Conference: Fostering a Mentoring Culture in the 21st Century, October 22–24, 2008
7. Mentors & Protégés: Simple Rules for Success, By Colonel Mark A. Melanson, MS, USA
A great set of 10 crucial "rules for success" for mentors, and another set of 10 for proteges. Solid advice that's adaptable to every program and setting.
This article is available of the IMA web site and may be seen by clicking here.
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.