Mentoring

This past weekend I was hanging out with my niece. Her and I don't get to spend a ton of time together but I always enjoy the time when we do. I always try to make the time productive and try not to play video games or watch television with her. So I decided to bake some cookies with her. I had her do everything that she was big enough to do. Measure the sugar, pour it into the bowl, mix it with the butter, etc. I usually try to let her figure things out on her own unless she asks for help or I see her struggle with a task.

I think this is the true meaning of mentor-ship. A mentor is not there to hold your hand through every task, they are there to ask questions of or to motivate us when we are having a problem motivating ourselves.

While we were making the cookies, I was cracking some eggs and my niece turned to me and said "Why are you doing it like that?" to which I said "What other way is there to crack an egg". She then proceeded to show me a better way to crack an egg.

The point I am making is that sometimes, as a mentor, we can learn something too. So I encourage you to get a mentor if you don't already have one and if you are feeling up to it, start mentoring someone else. It doesn't have to be a long term thing, it can just be helping a new member through their first time as time keeper.

I know that you will find it as rewarding and beneficial as I have.

Mentoring Transition Ceremony

Take some NHL signals, monkey bread and a guest speaker with spice and you have a room full of laughing CTI Toastmasters.  Darlene was the Toastmaster for the meeting.

Val baked delicious monkey bread as a treat for this special occasion.

In his speech project #5, Chris E. H. explained the basic NHL signals so that we could truly understand the upcoming final Stanley Cup game. As he demonstrated the signals, he had the audience's rapt attention. Afterwards, Darlene led Quick Table Topics where speakers were asked to say everything they could about a topic in 45 seconds. Geetha presented her evaluation of Chris's speech.



Mona, Rosario and Val

Our mentoring transition ceremony was ably led by Mona Cooley, the leader of the District 42 Mentoring Team. 

Mona had gathered our comments prior to the meeting on how mentoring has benefited us personally and in our careers and then fed the highlights back to us so we could see the tremendous value of mentoring in our lives. 


Val and Rosario inspired us with their thoughts on what mentoring means to the club and to us as individuals.

Mona presented certificates and mentor pins to the mentors and district pins with stars to the mentees with the enthusiastic help of our Club President, Val and our Area Governor, Rosario.



Chris was presented with his Mentor certificate
for his work with Circle of Gold.



Darlene and her "star" mentees: Val, Rosario and Mahdia
(missing: Mary Jane)





Mentor Kevin with presenter Rosario



"Star" mentee: Frank (mentor Linda),
"Star" mentees: Geetha and Linda
(mentor Mary Jane).

Val and her "star" mentees: Chris,
Jean Francois, Lynne and Julie



      Present but no photo:
                     -Rosario's "star" mentee, Helen



       Absent "star" mentees:
                     -Geetha's mentee David
                     -Mary Jane's mentee Kyle
                     -Rosario's mentee Jon
                     -Kevin's mentee Mitch
    

Another CTI event filled with warmth, learning and laughter!

Celebrate

Many of the mentoring contracts have an end date in June which co-incides with the end of the Toastmaster year. It's a time to celebrate all the good things that have happened and how both mentor and mentee have grown. It's a time to decide whether to renew the mentoring contracts or transition on to new partnerships. It's a time to celebrate!

The CTI Techtalkers mentor/mentee transition ceremony and celebration on Wednesday, June 15 will be led by District 42 Mentoring Team Leader, Mona Cooley. Mona will help us acknowledge and celebrate the benefits and accomplishments of our mentoring program and those who make it a success - the mentors and mentees.

While the CTI formal ceremony is a great way for the club to celebrate, there are many additional ways to celebrate on a personal level. You might give a card or a token gift to your partner or simply write a heartfelt note. Depending on your interests, you may choose to go out for lunch or for a beer in the pub. Whatever you do, celebrate what you have accomplished together!

Some of the mentoring partnerships contracts will end; the mentor and mentee will transition on to new partners - to new adventures. Some of the mentors and mentees will decide to renew their partnerships and continue for another contract period because they believe there is still much to explore together. Whatever you decide - it's OK. Celebrate!

Plan to come on June 15 to hear two interesting prepared speeches and to participate in the mentoring transition ceremony and celebration.