Pioneer Clubs leader eNewsletter Print

April 2006

Dear Pioneer Clubs Leader,

Welcome to the latest edition of the Pioneer Clubs^® Leader’s eNewsletter, where we provide resources to help you build your Pioneer Clubs ministry. This month we would like to remind you about the importance of finding and working with the right coleader for your club.

Club Leader Teamwork

Spring is a great time to start thinking about next year. The optimal situation is that you and your coleader both loved the kids and both will be returning to lead club again. In that case, you should be getting together this spring to plan how you can make next year's collaboration even more successful––and fun!

Many of you, however, will be needing a new coleader. Perhaps your current partner cannot return in the fall, or you yourself may have decided to try leading a different age-group. Whatever the reason, you know best what your own leadership style is and what you want or need in a partner. By communicating your wants and needs, you can help your club coordinator find a new coleader who will be a good match for you.

Before you go to your club coordinator, consider where your own strengths lie and in what areas you would really like help from a coleader. You may be good at projects but want someone with more expertise in sports and outdoor activities for those kinds of activity awards. Or you may be great at group management and discipline but want a coleader who's more confident in Bible knowledge to lead the Bible Exploration.

Would you like to work with someone young and exuberant? Consider the college students or young adults in your church. Working with kids as a Pioneer Clubs leader offers them valuable leadership experience, and you and your club get to benefit from their enthusiasm.

Would you really appreciate having someone else's wisdom and experience to draw on? Older leaders can bring a wealth of life experiences to the clubs they lead. Who comes to mind as a possible fit for you among the older members of your church?

And don't forget the compatibility issue: Who do you think you would really enjoy working with? Do you have a friend whose talents would mesh well with your leadership style? Do you think your spouse might say yes if the club coordinator asked? Is there someone else whose service to the church you admire and who you'd like to work with?

Once you have a coleader, a simple step will help you get the most out of your partnership: taking time to talk about what each of you expects club leadership to be like. The following questions should get you off to a good start:

What are your leadership styles? If one of you likes more structure and the other prefers a casual approach, how can you plan meeting time so both of you are comfortable?
Which sections of club do each of you enjoy leading? Where would you rather just help? Do you want to divide up responsibility areas for the year or switch off from week to week?
When and how can you consult on meeting plans? Do you need to be face-to-face or will phone or e-mail work for you both? Will you want to stay after club meetings to go over the next week's plans? Will you each plan your own area of responsibility and consult briefly right before club?

The important aspect of this process is the communication. The questions above aren't the only ideas you should discuss, and they don't have "right" or "wrong" answers, either––just different answers for different leaders. You and your coleader can choose any pattern to divide up leadership responsibilities, any preferred leadership style, and any planning schedule––as long as you have agreed that the ones you've picked work for both of you. By talking about your expectations and preferences outside of club, you ensure the smoothest possible working relationship as you lead club together.

Action Ideas for April

Communicate regularly with your coleader about when each of you will need to miss a meeting, to make sure you can cover for each other, and so you have time to locate extra help as needed.
If you know you will need to step down as leader or will move to a different age level after this year, start preparing your coleader to continue. Help your coleader consider what he or she would like in a new coleader.

Changed Lives

“My Voyager leader's husband died recently. I taught her class that week and we made Miss Ginny cards: “To the greatest teacher ever ... To the bestest teacher ... We love you because you do great activities.” I have known all of these kids for a long time, so I said, jokingly, “I don't know if I can teach you guys or not. If Miss Ginny is the best teacher ever, then what am I?” They thought and thought, and one little boy said, “Well, ... you're ... fun.” I cracked up, and it made Ginny smile when I told her. Just proves that these kids are just as much a blessing to us as we might be to them!” — Sue Carney, Westerville Free Will Baptist Church, Westerville Ohio

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.

Today’s Kids...

... benefit from developing a healthy, positive self-image.

Encourage club members to think about their talents without comparing themselves to peers or siblings. Try to help kids see what is unique and special about them.
Provide club members the opportunity to succeed by gearing tasks to their abilities. For example, break project steps into smaller step if needed.

Pioneer Clubs Announcements

Kids for Kids Hike Countdown

You've been planning for months, and now hike day—April 22—is just around the corner! Here's what you can do during the remaining days before your hike:

Call adult helpers to review responsibilities and check on supplies they are assigned to bring.
Divide adults and children into hike groups, keeping a ratio of 1 adult for every 6 to 8 children.
Prepare a certificate for each participant in the hike. Certificates can be downloaded from the Kids for Kids Hike section at Pioneer Clubs' Web site (www.pioneerclubs.org, click on Kids for Kids Hike).
Hand out Kids for Kids Hike T-shirts to participants.

On hike day, collect sponsor forms and money from participants and follow your personalized Hike Day Plan (also available on our Web site). Be sure to take pictures and send them to cpowers@pioneerclubs.org so we can share them!

If you haven't planned a Kids for Kids Hike yet, it's not too late! Our Quick & Easy Hike option takes only two weeks to plan and can take place during a club meeting. Don't miss out on the fun! For more information visit, http://www.pioneerclubs.org/lrc/HikeBook.asp.

Pioneer Clubs Phonathons

Our heartfelt thanks to all those who supported our recent phonathons. We especially appreciate our club leaders who opened their hearts to children beyond their own church through a gift to Pioneer Clubs’ national ministry. On behalf of all those children, thank you for your generous support!

Pioneer Clubs Sunday

Congratulations and thanks to all who participated in Pioneer Clubs Sunday! To learn how churches celebrated, visit www.pioneerclubs.org/whatothers.htm.

If you haven't yet celebrated Pioneer Clubs Sunday at your church, we encourage you to choose your own date and do so! For ideas and a brief presentation script, go to the Leader Resource Center on our Web site (password: kids) and click on "Pioneer Clubs Sunday." Be sure to let us know how it goes!

Voyager Clubs—Special Announcement:

If you are a Voyager leader 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
Review this year with your coleader, paying particular attention to what worked well for you both and what you would like to change in the fall. Support your club coordinator in prayer as he or she starts work on the recruitment process for next fall.

Lighter Side
After a church service on Sunday morning, a young boy suddenly announced to his mother, “Mom, I’ve decided to become a minister when I grow up.” The mother asked, “What made you decide that?” “Well,” said the little boy, “I have to go to church on Sunday anyway, and I figure it will be more fun to stand up and yell than to sit and listen!”