How to Sustain Each Other
As a Stake Leader I am always looking for ways to improve. I asked you to respond to the following question, and here are some of your responses. Thanks So Much!!!! AG
Question: What I'd like to know is "what helps make a strong stake", from the perspective of the ward and also from the stake? What can we do to help each other be more effective "tools"? What have you found to be most beneficial to the Young Women....things that have strengthened their testimonies? What do Ward Presidency need from the Stake and what does the Stake need from the wards. How can we resolve differences that sometime arise?
|
Be aware of school calendars when planning stake activities. We had a stake level YWIE scheduled on the same night as Homecoming at one of the high schools in our ward and many YW chose the dance over the church event. |
|
Our stake covers 5 different highschools, At the beginning of the school year, we call all of the schools and get their dates for proms, Sadie Hawkins dances, homecoming, and then we mail it out to the wards, It really helps. |
|
My plea is COMMUNICATION!!!!!!!!! I'm speaking from a ward perspective. When the stake is planning an activity, we need to know more than "Oh just show up. It'll be nice." |
|
I do a monthly Stake YW Newsletter that goes out to all YW President's and to all Bishop's. The Stake Presidency also receives a copy. Because our stake is so spread out (a 200 mile radius), this really helps with communication! |
|
One thing we have found is that even though the youth complain, complain, complain about not ever having enough dances, it is other types of activities that seem to buoy their testimonies. We do a Young Women/Young Men's conference every year in our stake. They meet separately for the day, usually from 9am 4pm. Then the Beehives and Deacons go home and the rest of the youth come together for a dinner and dance. The workshops throughout the day are always a highlight for the youth. Our firesides are always uplifting also, although we do struggle with a reverence problem from time to time. We just had a fireside last week where our youth were able to ask any question (anonymously) that they wanted, of our stake presidency. Our high council advisor was the moderator. At a recent Stake President's training, Elder Scott from the quorum of the 12 suggested that each stake in our area do this. It was very successful and the kids loved it. |
As for the wards...it seems that in every stake I've lived in there has been a love/hate relationship, so to speak, between the stake and wards. A wise Bishop once told me that we all need to realize it is not us and them. We ALL make up the stake! From my perspective we do all that we can to support our units. We have contact with each YW President at least once a month. What has worked for us is that I assigned each of my counselors, secretary and myself wards to be responsible for. This is especially helpful for communication. Our leaders have become so comfortable with calling their liaison for help and it greatly eases my burden.
A friend of mine that is a stake YW president in another area, shared with me that she does a YW president's retreat at her home. I'm waiting for more info on this and will share it when I receive it. Another thing we did was a written survey of our YW leaders. This was quite insightful!! Most were very honest with us and it helped us greatly.
|
I hold annual "P.P.I's" with the ward YW Presidencies, as a
more formal way of communication, along with regular monthly contact. My big push as Stake
YW President has been,,,,,,,,,"Get rid of the fluff! Build testimonies! Focus on the
spirituality of the YW! Don't try to entertain them, but feed them the gospel!" This
has brought us closer together as we focus on things that are ESSENTIAL. I appreciate each
ward presidency, as they are the ones on the battlefield with the YW each week. Bless them
for their efforts! |
|
I truly believe to touch the lives of the young women we are intrusted with they must above all feel our love. If they know in their hearts we truly care and that they are special to us (not fake) we can have a powerful influence for good in their lives. Once at Education Week I attended one of Randal Wright's classes and he was telling 8 things we need to do to make kids want to be at home. I have found over the years they work perfectly for yw. |
1) Salutary recognition- Smile and say hello be happy to see them when ever you pass by them in the halls or out in public. (When you walk thru a door and someone is happy to see you how does that make you feel?)
2) Small Talk- I use to take five minutes at the beginning of each class before Lesson and just visit or during some activities find out what is going on in their lives. Remember to later ask how did your volleyball game turn out or how did you do on finals?
3) Ego building comments- Make sure you are sincere
4) Identity-We all need to feel apart of something (We need to have people on our side)
5) Exciting Activities-Lets face it Teenagers are motivated by fun!
6) Expanding Memories-Build memories and recall them. I use to video tape all the combined and joint activities during the year and at the end of the year we would watch them and laugh and remember the good times.
7) Consequences- Don't forget they still need a leader. " But I also believe if you get on a teens bad side its hard to recover.
8) Boy Girl Activities (wholesome group activities) Let’s face it if you have an Activity with the guys and girls together "they will come." I use to for my laurels bring a single rose for them on the Sunday before their birthday and give it to them before Sacrament started with a hug and a private I. Love you they would then feel special caring a rose during the day. I'm sure there are many of you who do similar things. I have gone and watched some of my girls play volleyball. But the point is for them to know you love them and when they know that you will have earned their respect and love in return and you can touch their lives.