30 Day Goal by Pastor Randy

Prepare for Camp
   Talk to Leader from North Sioux City – Kids going to camp  - Done

   Get ahead on my regular work  In Progress

               Worship Planner – Schedule in advance

               Curriculum – Hand out

                Birthday Cards – Prepare for June

Prepare to switch into Summer Schedule

    Summer Curriculum  Prepared Curriculum

Mike's March review - RI chapters 3 and 4

Before chapter 3 started, the author outlined 6 defining roles of a relational genius, then set a chapter aside for each of these roles. Chapter 3 has to do with being a story collector which means getting to know other people and to do so with a genuine interest. A story collector will focus on three areas to get to know a person better. The person's dreams, life history - exploring the story of their past, and personhood - core identity, personality type, fundamental beliefs, convictions, and values. Story collectors should know how to use the power of questions to steer conversations to a more interesting place in order to draw out distinct facets of people's story. Open ended questions will usually produce a better response. Chapter 4 was titled the Energy Carrier. It started out discussing two types of people, those who can read the tone of a group, and those who can set the tone. The author used the analogy of being a thermometer, which can read the temperature, and a thermostat, which can set the temperature. As a leader, being able to read the tone of a group and then be able to set the tone is very important. We want to be able to do this for the good of the group and not just be doing it to manipulate people. The author later talked about 2 energy killers - the appearance of alertness and distraction. To me, both of these items seemed to be about the same and was somewhat hard to tell apart. I do agree with the author that we do need to work on these areas in order to have better relationships with others. We need to be fully engaged and focused on our relationships and interactions with others.

Annette's March RI Review

Chapter 3 & 4 of Relational Intelligence

I am really liking the practical application of this book! It's one thing to tell us that we need to increase our RI, but it's another entirely to SHOW us ways we can do it.  It's awesome.  When it comes to being a Story Collector - I think I do that to a degree.  But I don't think that I've been very good at pulling the interesting things out of people.  After we get closer, I do...but I want to be at the RI Genius level!!  :o)  So I have already starting "practicing" on teens when I'm talking to them.  And it's amazing how well it works!  I can see in their faces that they feel valued already!  It's really amazing. 

I do enjoy asking questions.  Our life group has given me great opportunity to practice this (as some of you know).  I'm going to really focus on that in the next month or so - with life group and students.  I really see the wisdom in how you can learn a lot about a person by asking questions about people's dreams and life history.  I know I've felt valued when people do that to me.  In some ways, I think "DUH" when I'm reading this stuff.  Yet I don't know very many people that do all these things well!

Allison told me she thought I was an energy carrier.  :o)  When I started to read that chapter, that made me feel great.  I can see what she means I guess, because I've been in a leadership role for so many years.  I do like to have an energized meeting.  When I've gone to a meeting that's led by someone who has no energy at all - it is difficult for me to keep my place.  HAHA  I just wanna jump up and help.

Where I felt punched between the eyes is when he talked about energy killers - specifically the appearance of alertness.  There are most definitely people that I do this with!!  It's actually most middle school students I know.  I am listening to all the minutia of their story...but I'm desperately waiting for something significant to pop up so I can have a real conversation with them!!  They probably sense that!  I can't let my mind wander, no matter how valuable I think the content is or not. 

I have lots of personal experience with fighting distraction.  Before services, people come at me from 50 directions with questions, assistance requests, changes for service, cancellations, technology problems...  I have become pretty proficient at taking the moments I need to shut all that off and clear my mind.  But there are definitely days where it seems to be more of a struggle.  I've been in the middle of a worship song thinking about Easter costumes!!

I LOVE the wisdom of "being all there".  Isn't that soooo what many of us need?  We have too much going on so we're not great at anything!!!  Now we're reading this - so what are you going to do to change it??  I've been evaluating this very thing in my life over the last 6 months.  This book is right on for me.

Randy March Book Review: RI Chapter 3 & 4

    I like to write, so I thought chapter 3 was very interesting.  Good stories are enjoyable.  It’s learning to ask the right questions, in order to learn someone’s story. I like this portion:  If we want to become great story collectors, we must become great question askers.  That is difficult, but it is worth the effort.  I’m committing to asking more questions, in order to discover more stories. I also like this: Everyone’s life is a walking novel waiting to be read with anticipation.  When we peer into the prism of people’s dreams, we can see their souls shine through. It’s getting below the surface as we get to know people. 
Chapter 4 spoke of the energy we carry within.  How alert are we?   I have to be careful not to “tune out”.  I was challenged by this chapter.  I personally hate a conversation with someone that isn’t paying attention to me.  I thought it was interesting how certain leaders could change the energy in a room by assessing the energy in the room and changing it.    

Natalie's 60 day goal

Sorry, way late in getting this done!
Goal : Assist Annette in planning/coordinating youth girls night out and seniors trip. Action Steps

• Met with Annette to brainstorm - talked about themes for girls night
• Meet with Annette (last week of March-first week April) to determine theme and discuss activities
• Week of girls night do prep for activities - shopping for supplies - set time schedule
• Day before or day of girls night shop for groceries for supper, breakfast and possible baking activity

Jodie's 60 day goal (Mar-Apr)

GOAL: Plan a Mother's Day Woman's Event

ACTION STEPS:
1. Define Event
-Who
-What
-Where
-When
-How
2. Meet with Annette week of March 21st to set plans.
3.  Design a poster and distribute around community and churches.
4.  Ask a team of helpers (decorations, food, publicity).
5.  Advertise in the P&D etc.

Annette's 60 Day Goal (Mar-Apr)

GOAL: To successfully administer the Easter production.  I was trying to think of a different goal, but in the next 60 days, this production will be my #1 focus!  So it only makes sense that I lay out what needs to be done in my goal.  There's a lot of detail that I'm not listing here. :o)  You'll see I've set mini-deadlines within the main goal.  That's just something I have to do to ensure things are ready when they're needed and I reduce the amount of stress on myself being done ahead of time.

ACTION STEPS:

1. Finish final revisions of scenes by March 13th.  DONE (was late)
2. Distribute scripts to cast members by March 14th.  DONE (was late)
3. Schedule scene rehearsals for March as soon as cast members receive script.  DONE
4. Talk to Heidi about dance choreography and rehearsals by March 14th.  DONE
5. Delegate costuming to a responsible individual (obtain costumes from MaryBeth; find seamstress for additional needed costumes; keep track of costumes; dress cast).  DONE
6. Meet with Tech team to review what's needed for production by April 3rd.
7. Confirm lights set-up with Alison Spak by March 27th.  DONE
8. Delegate set construction to a responsible individual (verify materials from last year; adjustments to stage changes; recruit volunteers).  DONE
9. Make final decisions on musical changes by March 20th.  DONE
10. Delegate promotion to a responsible individual (update programs, flyers; posters; distribute information to local press).  DONE
11. Update and finalize tech notes in script and review with stage manager.  DONE
12. Work with church staff to print tickets, promote in bulletin, and sell tickets.  DONE

Obviously everything had to get done.  Overall everything went well but I would give myself about a B- on my preparation.  I was behind this year, even though Easter was late.  I think I allowed other things to crowd these priorities.  I didn't get all stressed out, but some things could have run better if I had been more on top of it.