COACHES CORNER - SEPTEMBER 2014 by Milepost Ventures, LLC

COACHES CORNER

V O L U M E 6, I S S U E 9

SEPTEMBER, 2014

HELP YOUR MENTEE SET AND ACHIEVE THEIR OWN GOALS Setting and achieving goals can have a powerful effect on a young person’s self-esteem, motivation and for those struggling with challenges in their home or school/ work life. It can give them back a sense of control. Goal setting also encourages young people to think about their future and what they want from life. Young people who know what they want in life, and who can see what they need to do to get it, have a much stronger incentive to think carefully about behavior and decisions that could jeopardize their future. IF YOUR MENTEE IS NEW to goal setting they may find it a difficult concept at first, especially thinking about their future beyond next week or next month. In your normal catch-ups with your mentee it is a good idea to include discussions about what they want in different areas of their life – school, work, home, friends, sports, music – but if they are having trouble getting started: • Ask them what they want to achieve or have by the end of the school term or school year. • Ask them what they would ask for if they could have one wish for school/for home/for them. • Ask them if there are people around them who have jobs/sporting achievements/qualifications/ relationships/possessions that they would like to have and encourage them to explain what about those things appeals to him or her. • Ask them what they see as the hurdles to getting the things they want and what first steps they can take towards them. • Talk to them about making a plan to help them realize one of their aspirations – help them break it into manageable stages so they are motivated by a sense of achievement along the way.  If your mentee is only talking very generally about what they want in life, for example “I want lots of money”, try to get them to talk about what they would use the money for and what jobs interest them as a way to earn that money.

SMART GOAL SETTING When you have figured out some of the things your mentee wants for their future you can start to break these things down into manageable goals. A good model to use for goal setting when you are starting out is the SMART model as it provides a useful reminder of the different elements that need to be included in a goal to make it manageable. *SPECIFIC MEASURABLE ACHIEVABLE REALISTIC TIMELY* THE HARD WORK OF CHASING DOWN THE GOAL and achieving it can only be done by your mentee but you have a key supporting role to play. Supporting your mentee through goal setting will ensure it is a positive experience. If they have a positive experience it is likely they will go on to use the process of setting and achieving goals to help them progress at school / university / work and throughout their life. PLENTY OF PRAISE – lots of praise and positive messages about their specific strengths and talents will boost your mentee’s self-esteem and make them more confident about their ability to reach their goals. CELEBRATE ACHIEVEMENTS – remember to recognize your mentee’s success when they achieve a goal or make solid progress towards one. EXPRESS FAITH IN THEM – don’t be afraid to tell your mentee what you believe they are capable of. HELP THEM COPE WITH “FAILURES” – be ready to support them if they don’t achieve one of their goals. Success in this situation is being able to get over their disappointment and try again, try a different approach to achieving the goal or setting a new goal. HELP THEM RE-EVALUATE GOALS AND SET NEW ONES – if they don’t reach one of their goals, help them identify what went wrong and how they could change that next time. If they reach a goal, get them to identify all the things they did to get them there, congratulate them and while motivation is high ask them what they want to achieve next. SOURCE: www.mentoring.org

BBBS Reunite Picnic planned for October 5th!

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

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Help your mentee set and achieve goals Dear Match Coach: Monthly match activities Happy Anniversaries and Anniversary Party REUNITE Picnic set for Sunday, Oct. 5th RAVE ABOUT YOUR LITTLE—Jessi & Kallissa 100 Days / 100 Bigs Volunteer Recruitment Healthy Kids—

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Big News from Macomb! Get to Know BBBS Staff—Katelyn Gray HAVlife Update Get to Know BBBS: Katelyn Gray United Way’s Day of Caring—BBBS style Activities Ideas Community Events—September

COACHES CORNER V O L U M E 6, I S S U E 9

SEPTEMBER, 2014

DEAR MATCH COACH: MONTHLY MATCH ACTIVITIES Dear Match Coach,

to do something together. This would be a great opportunity for you to help your Are the monthly match activities required Little make new friends if they have trouble for me and my Little to attend? doing that. In the past couple months we have had some great match activities: That is a great question, but no, the Camp Shalom sponsored a day at their monthly match camp for us activities are not where we did required for you archery, ropes to attend. Often course, and a times matches ton of other are at a loss as to stuff. We held a what to do with science day their Little that where Littles does not cost a were able to lot of money, so make Flubber, we like to and a day full of provide the volleyball and activities as a kick ball. Our free-low cost matches really activity idea for you. The activities are also enjoyed these activities and were able to a GREAT way to meet other matches in our meet some awesome people! Keep your organization and get ideas from them like eye out for the email from your Match what they like to do on their visits. You Coach about the September Match could also set up times with other matches Activity!

SEPTEMBER MATCH ANNIVERSARIES! Celebrate your Match Anniversary! Tuesday, September 16 at 5 p.m.—7:30 p.m.

PUTNAM MUSEUM RSVP by September 12th to Jaime at 563-323-8006 or email at: jkeller@bbbs-mv.org

Little’s First Name

Big’s First Name

Big’s Last Name

Years Matched

Briseyda

Cosette

Thoms

Patience

Jane

Bahls

Quentin

Thomas

Spielman

Skylar

John

Leonard

Mark

Kevin

Wellman

Kardez

Todd

Wade

Nahriah

Amanda

Makula

Aaron

Cody

Speer

Terry

Samantha

Ahlers

Danielle

Chris

Berge

Terrionna

Sue

Cruchelow

Kyle

Scott

Pearson

Emilee

Denise

Benson

Davon

Charles

Heston

The average match length in our Community-Based program is 25 months!

V O L U M E 6, I S S U E 9

COACHES CORNER SEPTEMBER, 2014

COACHES CORNER V O L U M E 6, I S S U E 9

SEPTEMBER, 2014

RAVE ABOUT YOUR LITTLE! FRIENDS FOREVER: JESSI AND KALLISSA When we were matched, I hadn’t seen a kids’ movie or listened to pop radio in ten years, and I didn’t even think I really liked kids nor felt competent interacting with them. I am now well-versed in Ke$ha and Pixar. I know the playground and public pool circuit of the Quad Cities like the back of my hand. I’ve been to the Putnam, the Family Museum, the zoo, and Davenport Junior Theatre. I’ve gone to middle school swim meets and choir concerts. I would never have done any of that without Kallissa. Now that we’ve been matched for five years, Kallissa is my oldest friend in the Quad Cities, and she’s maturing into a young adult, with whom I can share a whole new range of experiences. Kallissa has a better understanding of actions and consequences. She makes decisions more effectively and considers others’ feelings more readily. Her grades and behavior have improved, though she still needs to be held accountable. We’ve been through a lot, and it’s hard to tell what changes I have effected and what would have occurred at this age anyway. I’m most interested in empowering her and helping her see the effect she can have on her own life. I think it is happening. I think the next most memorable activity is going to see March Fourth Marching Band at the RME. She LOVES that. We dance like fools, and she likes being one of few children who attend and meeting my friends.

SEND US YOUR RAVES! Email your Match Coach a RAVE about your Little and we will run it in Coaches Corner (need it by the 15th of the month)

100 DAYS / 100 BIGS: 150 CHILDREN ON WAITING LIST! 100 Days / 100 Bigs Celebration! Sunday, October 5, 1-4:30 p.m. Camden Park, Milan, IL

at the BBBS Reunite Picnic! All food and beverages provided! Your Little is welcome along with their family (if you are a School-Based Big we can help make arrangements for your Little to attend).

100 Days / 100 Bigs participants—RSVP to Jeannie at 563-323-8006 or jweber@bbbs-mv.org

www.bbbsmv.org or call 563-323-8006

Our Bigs have tripled the number of inquiries compared to the same time-frame a year ago! Agency Stats (June 1-August 22): Number of inquiries: 139 Number of subsequent completed interviews: 70

100/100 Team Stats (June 1-Aug. 22; 1 pt .for inquiry, 5 pts. for enrollment): Leading Team: Mark Lousberg’s Team with 44 points Leading Individual: Doug Hultquist with 19 points.

Way to go BIGS! Keep up the great volunteer recruitment work! Thank you KWQC!

COACHES CORNER V O L U M E 6, I S S U E 9

SEPTEMBER, 2014

HEALTHY KIDS: BIG LITTLE EXERCISE 6. Do a challenge together or even sign up to do a fun With so much technology entertaining the world today, children run or charity walk. Having an end goal will get them are less physically active. With childhood obesity rates on the rise, excited about working encouraging your little to get active is crucial in fighting this epidemic. toward the big day. Check out these 10 Tips to Make Exercise Fun:

By UnityPoint Health—Trinity Staff

1. Participate in the fun! The best ways to motivate your little is to take part in physical activities with them. Not only are you setting a great example and peaking their interest in being active, but you are helping yourself stay fit, also. 2. Make things they love into some form of physical activity. For example, if your little loves superheroes, create an obstacle course with a “hero” moment, such as reaching the end of the course in a certain amount of time to “save the city from a monster.” The activity doesn’t need to be complex, but allowing them to relate to the exercise will make them more excited to participate. 3. Integrate exercise into your time with your little. Find ways to integrate exercise, like taking yours or their dog for a walk once a week or biking to the park together.

7. Support your little in sports, clubs and other activities that interest them. Even if they aren’t the star player, your presence at the event lets him or her know you support them and encourages him/her to stick with it. As tempting as it may be, avoid rewarding a good game with food. Instead, recognize their accomplishments with something like a movie night. 8. Think outside the field. Not all children enjoy organized sports like football or softball. Be patient and encourage them to try out other activities they might enjoy, such as rock climbing, dance or martial arts, until they find the right fit. 9. Get kids connected with nature. Unplug by planting a tree, starting a garden or checking out nearby parks. Before you go, visit the local parks websites to let your little choose where you go and what activity you will do once you get there. By letting them guide the trip, they will be more willing to engage.

4. Play something. Use the word “play” in front of the activities to make them sound less like exercise and more like a fun game. Invite other bigs and littles you may know over to add some socialization and competition to the activity. 5. Mix things up! Introducing fun new activities to your little will keep them excited about being physical. If an old idea no longer motivates them, introduce something new to keep their interest sparked.

10. Find ways to be active indoors. On the days when it is too rainy or hot to play outdoors, plan indoor activities like bowling or laser tag. Try out video games that get kids on their feet, such as Wii Fit.

Thanks to UnityPoint Health—Trinity for their support of our Healthy Kids program!

COACHES CORNER

V O L U M E 6, I S S U E 9

SEPTEMBER, 2014

BIG NEWS FROM MACOMB! ALICIA HETZER JOINS STAFF! We have added a new member to our team! Please welcome our new staff member and AmeriCorps VISTA, Alicia Hetzer. Hello! My name is Alicia Hetzer and I am a recent graduate from Western Illinois University where I received my bachelor's degree in law enforcement with a minor in sociology. I became an AmeriCorps VISTA for Big Brothers Big Sisters because I have great interest in helping children. I believe strongly in what Big Brothers Big Sisters strives to accomplish. We help change many lives by helping not only children, but the adults who volunteer as well. I grew up in a small town called Roodhouse, which is about an hour and a half south of Macomb. I attended North Greene High School where I played basketball all four years. Before I attended Western I was a student at Lewis & Clark Community College for one year, which is in Godfrey Illinois. I have one older brother who is currently working on his master's degree in kinesiology at Western Illinois University. My family means the world to me because without them I would not be where I am at today. My family has always encouraged me to pursue my dreams and to always work hard to get where I want to be. They have always supported and believed in me, and I could not have asked for a better family. In my free time I like to be outdoors doing fun activities like playing basketball, going on a walk or even just sitting and watching the cars drive by. I am also a huge animal lover but my favorite would have to be horses; there is just something about them that I love. I used to have two horses of my own but I sold them to a friend before I left home to attend college. I hope that

one day I will own another horse. Every year my family and I attend the Fort Madison Tri State Rodeo and it is always an amazing time! On the weekends I like to go to the movies and out to eat with my boyfriend. My goal before summer ends is to visit the Mark Twain Caves in Hannibal, Missouri. While I am with Big Brothers Big Sisters I hope to build an even stronger relationship with the community and to continue growing our numbers in matches. I know that through hard work and dedication this can be accomplished!

SAVE THE DATE The 2014 Bowl for Kids Sake event will be on Saturday 1 November, at Diggerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s College City Bowl. We are working hard to make this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the best BFKS sake Macomb has ever seen. Give us a call to see how you can get involved! 309-837-5437 Or Email Pete: ptarantola@mail.bbbs-mv.org

MATCH ACTIVITY IDEAS FOR YOU AND YOUR LITTLE 1. 2.

3. 4. 5.

Take the calendar and some stickers. Mark out the days you are meeting and what activities you plan to do. Mark important dates like birthdays. Look up the cool exercises on www.braingym.org and practice them. See if over time they help your concentration, coordination, mood, etc. Buy a stock for $1. Plot the progress of the stock on a graph for several months. Sell it and see if you make a profit. Exchange a stuffed animal for a week. Write about the adventures they had with you during the week. Share these during the next visit. Take a white T-Shirt or Sweatshirt and decorate with fabric paint or permanent marker.

COACHES CORNER

V O L U M E 6, I S S U E 9

SEPTEMBER, 2014

HAVlife UPDATE: FOOTBALL STAR! Tukker is a recent recipient of the HAVlife grant, allowing him to participate in the Geneseo Little League Football Camp. This was Tukker’s first time playing football, and he loved it! When asked to name his favorite activity of the camp, he said he really enjoyed scrimmaging. He learned many different football techniques and loved doing drills. He is going to keep practicing what he learned at camp, and hopes to play football again in the future!

Contact Jaime at 563-323-8006 to learn how your Little can be the next HAVlife highlight!

GET TO KNOW BBBS STAFF: KATELYN Name: Katelyn Gray Position: Middle/High School Program Specialist How long have you been working for BBBS? 1 year and 8 months What is your favorite memory during the time you have been with BBBS? There are many memories that have been made during the time I have worked at BBBS. One of my favorites was being able to witness a Little’s Rock Band concert after he utilized the HAVlife grant for guitar lessons. It was great to see him on stage rocking out! Another great memory is getting to know a match that has just started and seeing them grow and develop a great long lasting friendship. What do you like to do when you are not working? In my free time I like to read, play with my puppy, Zoey, and spend time with my boyfriend and our families. One of our favorite things to do together is to play softball, unfortunately I just had ACL surgery so I’m out for a couple months. I also really enjoy spending time with my nieces, we love going to the park! What advice would you give a child who is in our program? You are good enough. Most people are afraid to do things because they are afraid they’re not good enough, afraid they’ll fail. But you are good enough — learn that, and you won’t be afraid of new things, won’t be afraid to fail, won’t need the approval of others. You’ll be pre-approved — by yourself.

DOES YOUR LITTLE NEED SCHOOL SUPPLIES? Check with your Match Coach and we’ll see if we can help! 563-323-8006

COACHES CORNER V O L U M E 6, I S S U E 9

SEPTEMBER, 2014

2014 UNITED WAY DAY OF CARING - AUGUST 20 United Way’s Day of Caring on Wednesday, August 20th was a great way for more than 30 people to experience what it’s like to be a Big Brother or Big Sister for an hour. “Be A Big” lunch hours were arranged at Denkmann and The Academy in Rock Island and at Eagle Ridge in Carbon Cliff, IL. Children from kindergarten through seventh grade were matched with a United Way Day of Caring volunteer. The time was spent eating lunch together, playing the “M & M Get To Know You Game”, playing another kind of game or participating in an activity or just getting to know each other. Seven forms were completed by people who indicated they want to become a Big Brother or Big Sister. It was an awesome Day of Caring for the children, the volunteers and for BBBS!

V O L U M E 6, I S S U E 9

COACHES CORNER SEPTEMBER, 2014

COACHES CORNER

V O L U M E 6, I S S U E 9

SEPTEMBER, 2014

COMMUNITY CALENDAR—SEPTEMBER 2014 CALENDAR SUNDAY

MONDAY 1

TUESDAY 2

WEDNESDAY 3

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

Miller Time Bowling Dollar Night

14 Miller Time Bowling Dollar Night

21 Miller Time Bowling Dollar Night

28 Miller Time Bowling Dollar Night

15 Miller Time Bowling Dollar Night

Figge Art Museum Artist Talk & Perf.

BBBS ANNIVERSARY PARTY—PUTNAM

13 Teen LEGO Challenge

Country Corner Night time Corn Maze

Miller Time Bowling Dollar Night

6 Build a Wizard of OZ bird house—Home Depot

Miller Time Bowling Dollar Night

SATURDAY

Roosevelt Movie on the Lawn

Miller Time Bowling Dollar Night

OUT AND ABOUT IN THE QUAD CITIES! SEPTEMBER

Monday, September 1st- Miller Time Bowling Dollar Nights! Every Sunday and Monday at 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm! Special include $1 Bowling Games, $1 Shoe Rental, $1 Domestic draft beer, $1 Hot Dog, and $1 Fries. Don’t miss this awesome deal!

come with a mission or theme you need to finish. In only 60 minutes. Are you up to the Challenge? Teen Lego Challenge takes place at the Eastern Avenue Branch Library (6000 Eastern Avenue) starting at 2:00 pm.

Saturday September 6th - Build a Wizard of OZ bird house at the Home Depot at 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM. All ages are welcome! Free Admission

Saturday, September 19th – The Country Corner Nighttime Corn Maze, located in Alpha, Illinois. This is a great Family / Individual/ Group Challenge. Maze Entry is $6.00. Explore their 8 acre corn maze in the dark with only a flashlight! Can you solve the entire maze before your battery runs out?

Thursday, September 11- FIGGI Art Museum presents Artist talk & Performance. Starting at 5:30pm there will be refreshments, and at 7 pm Artist Talk and Performance begins. Digital scenographer Anaitte Vaccaro will discuss how her art blends dance, music, film and sets in what becomes a delightful performance that is pure eye candy. Free Admission

Friday, September 26th- Roosevelt Movie on the Lawn at the Roosevelt Community Center. Movie starts at 6:00pm and is enjoyable for all ages! Movie: TBA

Saturday, September 13th- Teen Lego Challenge!! You can build it; you can design it. But can you beat the clock? Each Challenge will

ASK YOUR FRIEND OR CO-WORKER TO BECOME A BIG THIS FALL! WE NEED VOLUNTEERS! 563-323-8006 www.bbbs-mv.org