Pioneer Clubs Coordinators Newsletter Print–Evaluating your club program

May 2006

Dear Pioneer Clubs Coordinator,

Welcome to the latest edition of the Pioneer Clubs^® Coordinator’s eNewsletter, where we provide resources to assist you as you plan, recruit, and train—enabling others to share God’s Word with children. This month we would like to remind you about the importance of debriefing with your leaders to evaluate the effectiveness of your club program—and your own leadership.

Learning from the Past

You’re probably close to the end of your club year by now—and even if your club program runs year-round, your club members are surely looking forward to their schools letting out for the summer. The transition from spring to summer can serve as your reminder to spend some time evaluating what’s working well in your club program and what could be improved.

These e-newsletters have given you pointers along the way about such issues as promoting your club, training leaders, guiding and encouraging your leaders, planning and doing service projects, and using special events as outreach. The time has come to step back and look at all these aspects of your club and more. You’ll want to consult with your leaders as part of this process. A year-end lunch (which could be potluck) or evening coffee time are good ways to bring your leaders together to talk about the year in an informal and celebratory mood.

Start by thanking your leaders for their service and letting them know you are asking for their suggestions on ways to make the club experience better for all. To guide the evaluation process, use a questionnaire like the Club Year Evaluation Sheet.

Start your discussion by dealing with club leader issues:

What did you enjoy most about the club you led? As each leader shares successes and memorable moments, all are reminded of the rewards that come with teaching children and youth about God and the Bible in a club setting. The answers to this question may also give you ideas about what to say to new people you are trying to recruit.
What do you want to change next year? What additional training would help you? Let your leaders know you’re open to suggestions and requests—as small as having markers instead of crayons for use in club and as big as needing extra helpers for clubs with difficult-to-handle children.
What other support would you like from the club coordinator or the church? This question and the previous two should help you identify issues that might cause leader dissatisfaction. By addressing these issues, you show the leaders you care about their concerns. They’ll be more willing to continue, knowing you will work to make the changes needed to keep club running well.

Ask for the leaders’ impressions of your clubs’ success or needs for improvement in the area of communication:

How well do you think we did at communicating with our club members’ parents this year? Use this question to open discussion on both the importance of sending information about club to families—and the need to solicit feedback from parents. Do leaders want guidance on how to communicate better?
How well did we communicate the importance of club to the rest of the church? You are looking for their own impressions here, from talking with people at church outside of club. Do other church members ever ask club leaders how club is going? Note any suggestions on how else you can make your congregation aware of club activities and the significance of Pioneer Clubs in the spiritual lives of growing children.

Finally, while the current year is fresh in everyone's mind, deal with club schedule questions:

Is our club year the right length? What timing changes would you suggest? Why?
Do we want to do more or fewer special events next year? More special events mean more opportunities to connect with club members’ families and friends. You may want to recruit a separate group of people dedicated to running these events. However, if the individual clubs’ leaders say they need more time to finish Bible awards and activity awards, you and your leaders may need to discuss this in light of the previous question, on the length of your club year.
Which special events did club members get really excited about?
What feedback did you get from parents on which special events they’d like to have again? If you need new ideas, Parties and Special Events (catalog #2721) can help with parties and more—it includes suggestions for overnights, missions activities, and service projects, as well as ideas on invitations, decorations, activities, refreshments, and devotions appropriate to different special occasions.
What could we change to make special events run more smoothly? Get these ideas in writing now so you can remember them next year.

Action Ideas for May

If you haven’t already done so, arrange for a Pioneer Clubs Sunday using the suggestions in the Leader Resource Center (password: kids). If you celebrated Pioneer Clubs Sunday earlier, you can still plan for an end-of-year in-church recognition of club leaders—and club members. This can be as simple as taking a moment to have everyone involved with club stand during a service. For more ideas visit, http://www.pioneerclubs.org/lrc/pcweek/pcsunday.asp.
Use the results of your year-end evaluation meeting with the leaders to focus your planning efforts for the next year. If you don’t have a co-coordinator, consider recruiting one, especially if your leaders’ suggestions include more work for the club coordinator!
Arrange for training sessions over the summer in response to any needs expressed by your leaders. Newly recruited leaders will appreciate having been trained before the next club year begins.

Ideas for Encouraging Leaders

Order a Customized Service Certificate (catalog #2761) for each leader, to honor the number of years served. Order at the following link, http://www.shoppioneerclubs.org/store/product.asp?ItemID=597&CategoryID=148&HeaderCategoryId=76&returnUrl=&RandomSeed=T6EC9. Be sure to include the leader's name & number of years served when you place your order.
Help club members make up a special thank-you song to sing for their leaders.

Changed Lives

“As reported on national news, on November 6 a tornado swept through southern Indiana. Over 20 people were killed. One of these was a Scooter in our Pioneer Clubs. The following week our pastor visited each club group to tell about the boy and the importance of trusting Christ as Savior and being in his care. We bus in about 35 kids from remote neighborhoods. Few are from our church or churched at all. That evening two Pathfinders and at least two Trailblazers came to Christ.” — Ray Stein, Oak Hill Evangelical Free Church, Evansville, Indiana

We’d love to hear testimonies of how your club has seen God at work. Please e-mail Becky at ballenpowell@pioneerclubs.org with your name, church name, and how you’ve seen God at work in your club.

Pioneer Clubs Announcements

NEW! Pathfinder Curriculum

Our team at Pioneer Clubs is always working hard to provide the best for our churches. Part of this includes offering new and up-to-date club materials. This coming July we will be introducing the newest revision of our Pathfinder curriculum! With a fresh new look in member handbooks and leader plan books, this new curriculum also includes:

Easy-to-use leader materials to decrease prep time.
New and updated topics and activities to hold kids’ interest.
Bible Exploration with life application to keep kids in the Word.
More options! Skits, games, and role-plays keep kids actively learning!
Suggested service projects to put faith into action.
Parent Pages for better communication with kids’ families.

The new Pathfinder Curriculum will be available July 1, 2006. Visit www.shoppioneerclubs.org or call 800-694-2582 to order yours!

Kids for Kids Hike

Thanks to all who participated in the Kids for Kids Hike! Participating churches will be listed on the Kids for Kids Hike page at our Web site (www.pioneerclubs.org). Please remember to complete your hike report (downloadable at the Web site) and mail it with your check to Pioneer Clubs, PO Box 788, Wheaton, IL 60189-0788 so we can include you on the list! And be sure to enclose a photo we can post on our Web site. Photos we receive become the property of Pioneer Clubs. You can e-mail your photo to Connie at cpowers@pioneerclubs.org.

March Phonathon

We also want to thank all the club leaders and coordinators who responded so generously to our March Phonathon! Thank you for taking an extra step to spread the Good News of Jesus to children beyond your church and community!

Voyager Clubs—We need your feedback!

If you are a club coordinator at a church with a Voyager club, and haven’t already filled out our Voyager curriculum survey, please visit http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=837411933739 and take a few minutes to give us your feedback on the Voyager curriculum.

Join us for a Pioneer Clubs^® training teleconference!

You may participate in these sessions from any location that has a telephone for only $20 per telephone line. These teleconferences are scheduled throughout the year. Upcoming topics are:

Basic Training
Evaluating Your Club Program
Leader Recruitment and Retention

Pioneer Clubs training teleconferences will benefit every club coordinator and leader—and it’s easy to register today! Visit http://www.pioneerclubs.org/trainingwork.htm for the complete schedule and online registration forms. We hope you can join us!

Reflections
Be encouraged by the good memories of club shared by leaders, and take time to remember the moments that made coordinating your church's club program rewarding for you this past year.

Lighter Side
A Sunday school teacher was telling his kindergarten class the story of Joseph and the coat of many colors. He said, “Then Joseph’s brothers got angry that their father gave Joseph the coat, so they sold him to some traders passing by in a caravan.” A five-year-old piped up. “They had the same kind of car we have! We have a Caravan!”