Pioneer Clubs eNewsletter–Getting the Help You Need

August 2005

Dear Christian Leader,

Welcome to a new year with Pioneer Clubs^®! This year, make your life easier by working with a coleader and involving others as needed for extra help.

Getting the Help You Need

How can you and your coleader support each other as you work together?

Help each other choose and plan units.
Share preparation of Bible Exploration and award activities.
Brainstorm ideas for club discussions and activities.
Share group management tasks during club meetings.
Schedule coverage for each other for weeks when one of you cannot get to club.
Be reassured that you have a second adult around for safety reasons.

Think about your own strengths and weaknesses as a leader. Make suggestions to your coordinator that will help him or her find you a coleader who has strengths complementary to yours, so the two of you will form a strong team.

Even with a coleader, you can benefit from involving others when extra help would be useful especially if you have a large club or are planning an outing. You can approach parents, high school or college students, or other church members:

to provide expertise in a skill or subject for an activity award
to provide sufficient chaperones and drivers for outings
to provide safe supervision of activities using tools

Recruiting these outside helpers should be fairly easy because you will ask them for only a short-term commitment: one four-week unit, or perhaps only a single meeting. Helping in a club is a good way for parents to find out what club is like, so you are offering them a benefit, too. In fact, parents or others you involve in this way may enjoy working with club enough to want to become leaders themselves. Before you ask for help, know what you need:

For which units or meetings will you need extra help?
How many extra adults will you need?
What do you need them to do?
When do they need to be at club to help?

Action Ideas for August

Work with your club coordinator to develop a calendar for this club year.
Let your club coordinator know if you need another coleader or other extra help, so he or she can help you locate suitable volunteers. Consider asking your spouse to join you in leading.
Use the club calendar and your leader plan book to plan units and special events—and then communicate those plans to your club coordinator. (For ideas on fun special meetings, see the Parties and Special Events book, catalog #2721. Order Parties and Special Events at the following link: http://www.shoppioneerclubs.org/store/product.asp?ItemID=927&CategoryID=53&HeaderCategoryId=51&returnUrl=&RandomSeed=T6EL1.)

Changed Lives
Pioneer Clubs has had a lasting impact on my life through the fellowship of others my age and the strong emphasis of God's Word. Every Wednesday night we would gather together in an opening session and sing our 'We Are Pioneers for Jesus' song. I can still remember all of the words to this day. Thank you for making a lasting impact in my life by training me in God's Word and in practical life skills."—Alison Wasser, former club member

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...
Today's kids need acceptance and attention from significant adults. Learn club members' names quickly. Spend a little time with each club member during Activity Award times, showing interest in what he or she is doing. Let club members know they're valuable to God and you just because of who they are, not because of what they do.

Pioneer Clubs Announcements

Important 2005-06 Dates!

Mark your calendar today for these upcoming Pioneer Clubs events:

Training Teleconferences
Join us by telephone for these special LIVE and INTERACTIVE training sessions, especially designed to meet the needs of Pioneer Clubs coordinators and leaders! Topics covered:

Leader Recruitment and Retention
Promoting Your Club Program
Basic Training
Group Discipline

Click here for a complete schedule and registration information. We hope you can join us!

Autumn Kids for Kids Hike
October 15, 2005

Pioneer Clubs Sunday
February 12, 2006

Spring Kids for Kids Hike
April 22, 2006

Reflections
What are your goals for your club program this year? Plan your first units with this in mind.

Lighter Side
A Sunday School teacher asked her pupil, "Now, Billy, tell me, do you say prayers before eating?" "No ma'am," he replied, "We don't have to. My mom is a good cook!"