Put March 24 on your Calendars

March 24 2007 is the date for our Leadership for Life Summit.  This local MOPS leadership training event is not to be missed.  Last year it was held in Lancaster PA and everyone attending agreed it was definitely worth it. 

 

We have not settled on a location yet for the 2007 event but are looking for a MOPS church with CCN capabilities.  Could your church/group host our Leadership for Life Summit?  It's fun and easy.  Please contact me if you are interested.

Blessings,

Barb Vogelgesang

Zone 22 Area Coordinator

 

Strengthening Your MOPS groups relationship with your Chartering Ministry

STRENGTHENING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MOPS AND THE CHARTERING MINISTRY

As the new MOPS year is looming here are some suggestions to help you enhance the relationship between your MOPS group and your chartering ministry.

COMMUNICATION WITH STAFF

1. Keep in touch with the pastor and staff overseeing the MOPS ministry. On a regular basis inform them of both your needs and your accomplishments.

2. Attend a church staff and/or board meeting and communicate to the leaders the effectiveness of MOPS as an outreach.

3. Be careful to follow church procedures and policy. Ask for permission to use church materials, office equipment, and storage space.

4. Inform church staff of MOPS activities by putting those dates on the church calendar. Cooperate with other groups using the same facilities.

5. Remember who owns the MOPS group: the MOPS group comes under the authority of its chartering ministry. Issues of finances, MOPPETS staff, Steering Team members, etc. require guidance from the governing entities of the church.

6. Make friends with the church office staff. Find out what services (ie. copying, typing, computers) are available to you. Set up a mailbox for receiving MOPS materials.

7. Show appreciation for staff who work to make your MOPS ministry effective. Find ways to communicate your gratitude to those who encourage and help you.

8. When a new pastor comes to a chartering church, be sure to meet with him/her and provide information about the ministry of MOPS and its relationship to the church.

9. Never speak ill of the chartering ministry or its staff. Resolve issues through the proper channels with respect and confidentiality.

COMMUNICATION WITH CHURCH MEMBERS

1. Ask for prayer for MOPS needs. This can be done through prayer requests during worship, written prayer concerns in the church newsletter, or by asking persons from the church to be MOPS prayer warriors. Inform the church of answered prayers, too.

2. Write an article for the church newsletter entitled "Did You Know?" and tell about the ministry opportunities and outreach that occur through MOPS.

3. Display a bulletin board in the church with pictures of MOPS activities, information about your MOPS group, and samples of moms’ or MOPPETS’ crafts.

4. Design an eye-catching insert for the church bulletin. Be brief, informative, and creative. Pass out a bookmark with MOPS information on it or a "Thanks for supporting MOPS."

5. Make available a flyer with information about your MOPS group. This can be distributed to invite moms to join the MOPS group or to solicit MOPPETS workers.

6. Have a MOPS Awareness Sunday. MOPS moms can attend the worship service, a mom can tell what MOPS has meant to her, a few moms can do a skit describing MOPS, and the MOPPETS can sing a song.

7. Attend adult church school classes and take a few minutes to inform and update the class about the blessings of the MOPS ministry.

8. When speaking to others, refer to MOPS as a ministry and outreach. If MOPS leaders describe MOPS as meeting moms’ needs, the greatest of which is hope in Jesus Christ, church members will come to see MOPS as a part of the church’s outreach to the community.

9. Provide the MOPS International Web site address and encourage church members to find out more about MOPS in our nation and around the world!

Fw: Planning a Great MOPS Year

Here's are some other things to think about ....

Planning a Great MOPS Year

Jan./Feb. - Begin recruiting Steering Members

• Hold an open house
• Begin talking with prospects
• MOPS should be #1 priority with husband's support
• Prospects should be presented with expectations of responsibilities
• Coordinator must state ahead of time the dates of retreats and Steering meetings
• Steering members must agree to attend all events

April - Have Steering team set so all can attend Spring Council

May - Open Registration for general members

• Hold this at your church on a first come basis
• Let existing members, church members, and waiting list know of the time and date, then open to the public over the summer.
• Pass the torch meeting. Members rolling off pass their stuff to new members coming on.
• Convention Meeting. Hold a meeting to see who can attend convention and how to raise the money to go.

June - Planning Retreat

• Book a hotel or open your home up for the night
• Evaluate the evaluations
• Coordinator comes with a blank outline of the year and some kind of Steering Development Training (Nine needs, goals,etc.)
• Speaker person comes with a list of ideas

1. Brainstorm ideas keeping in mind your topics should start out light at the beginning of the year and get heavier as the year goes on.

• Craft person comes with craft examples/ideas including pictures
• Hospitality person comes with ideas on theme days, brunch ideas, decorations for the tables, etc.
• Finance person comes with a list of the moms who have already registered.
  1. Might have a few ideas for fundraisers
  2. Might have an idea on creative ways to collect money
  • Mentor moms come with devotionals for Friday night and Saturday morning
  • Moppets person comes with info regarding childcare needs or issues. Also brings ideas for any extra events or special celebrations for the kids.
  • DG person comes with ideas for names of the groups, special events, etc.
  • Publicity person comes with ideas for notebooks for the moms, ways to advertise to the public, and ideas for newsletters.

  Summer - Everyone takes time to complete tasks

  • You may want to hold one meeting in July just to touch base
  • Meet together for play time with kids and take time to form some bonds

  August - Mini Retreat 6pm - 12pm on a Fri. night

  • Everyone gives an individual report on the work they did over the summer
  • Take time to tweak or change any ideas
  • Year is planned written and confirmed.
  • Time is spent in prayer for the moms and goals for the year.
  • Coordinator conducts a mini training time using the video provided by MOPS International.

  Your year should now be set and you should be ready to put all your plans into action preparing decorations, craft examples, notebooks, etc.

  1 or 2 times a month - your General MOPS Meetings then:

  Every other week or once a month - Steering Meetings

  • One and one half hour in duration
  • Prayer and devotional time or mini bible study (Since plans have already been made ahead of time, most of your meeting can be spent in prayer needs of your moms and spiritual development. Then you can spend a little time making sure plans are good for the next meeting.)
  • Try to arrange childcare during Steering meetings. This should be a priority!!!
  • Your meeting time and place should be consistent all year

Fw: Preparing for the coming MOPS years

Hi Steering Team Leaders,

I received an email today from a brand coordinator in DE. She was wondering if there was a checklist for new groups or a calendar for a MOPS year. I thought there might be more of you how would benefit from this so I am posting my findings here.

Please feel free to share how you prepare for the new MOPS year.
Blessings,
Barb Vogelgesang
Area Coordinator Zone 22

Getting Started:

MOPPETS

1. Determine how much space you have at the church
2. What will the child to teacher ratios have to be?
3. Begin recruiting workers
   1. Background check—if so, who pays?
   2. Member of church?
4. What curriculum will you use?
5. At what age do you want the children to be a part of MOPPETS? i.e. children under 5 months stay with mom, allowing more spaces in MOPPETS?
6. Do you want to have a room for homeschooled children?

MENTOR MOM

1. How much will she want to speak?
2. Her role is vital at the Steering meetings
3. What do you want her role to be with the moms?

COORDINATOR

1. Do you want everyone to sign the faith statement?
2. Determine how you will split responsibilities
   1. Registration
   2. Steering Team
   3. Upfront in meeting
   4. MOPS 2 MOM registrations—to MI, online (Finance TL?)
3. Finding speakers
4. Do you want to use the MOPS theme?
5. Budget issues—how to handle the money
6. What day of the week do you want—i.e. first and third Mondays? When do you want to start the first meeting?

FINANCE

1. How to handle the money you need?
2. Get a proposed budget together
3. Should Finance TL do registration?

CREATIVE ACTIVITES

1. What will you do for that part of the meeting?
2. Should the activities follow the MOPS theme?
3. Who will get them together?

DISCUSSION GROUP TEAM LEADER

1. How many discussion groups will we need? (6-8 moms in a group)
2. Discussion Group Leaders (DGLs)--who?
3. DGTL should meet with them to train them.
4. How do you want me to divide the moms by zip code or random?

PUBLICITY

1. Do you want a newsletter right away?
2. Can you get MOPS on the church website or better yet, get a link off the site? Do you want that?

HOSPITALITY

1. Sit at tables or chairs?
2. How elaborate do you want the decorations for the room? With what money is the Hosp. TL buying things?
3. Where can she store things?

How many social events outside of the MOPS meeting do you want? Or do you want each DGL to plan that for her group?

Planning Calendar - by Stacey Maslyn

JUNE
Social event with new Steering Teams

JULY
First Steering Team meeting (individual)
First Shepherd (Discussion Group) Leader Meeting

AUGUST
Steering Team meeting (individual)
Begin booking speakers
Begin planning crafts
Choose MOPS theme for year
Begin purchasing supplies
Leadership Training Retreat
Pre-register leadership
Mail-in registration from moms

EARLY SEPTEMBER
Finalize speakers and crafts
Make calendar for semester
Get MOPPETS numbers and worker ratios
Turn calendar into church
Put Discussion Groups together
Welcome letter mailing to moms
All leadership 'Kick-off' party
Steering meeting (all groups)
Plan first day - intro skit, theme, décor, balloons, nametags, new mom recognition
Shepherd (Discussion Group) Leader meeting
DGLs call moms to welcome
Leadership training (if no retreat)

LATE SEPTEMBER
First Day!!!
Put together directories
MOPS International Convention

OCTOBER
Steering Team Meetings (individual)
Start booking spring speakers

NOVEMBER
Pre-register moms for spring - collect 50% payment
Create evaluations
Steering Team Meeting (all together)
Sell tickets for Brunch and Boutique
Book caterer
Book boutiques
Hand out explanations and expectations of Silent Auction & Gift Baskets
Book spring MOPS & POPS on church calendar

DECEMBER
Steering Team meetings (individual)
Buy 'thank you' gifts for leadership
Plan Leadership Couples' Christmas Party
Evaluations
Teacher, Staff, and Facility appreciation
Decorations for brunch/Boutique/Silent Auction
Couples' Leadership Christmas party

LATE DECEMBER/EARLY JANUARY
Review evaluations
Finalize speakers for spring
Finalize crafts for spring
Put Discussion Groups together
Welcome letter to moms
Send donation letters to businesses
Make calendar
Plan first day - décor, intro skit etc.
DGLs call to welcome moms

JANUARY
First Day
Steering Team Meeting (all together)
Put together directory
Start planning MOPS & POPS (caterer, theme, invitations etc.)

FEBRUARY
Mail MOPS & POPS invitations
Steering Team Meetings (individual)
Special Valentine's morning
Hand out 'how to give testimony' article to Table Shepherds (DGLs)
Have Table Shepherds (DGLs) give testimonies at meeting
Find moms to give testimonies at spring brunch
Get handouts for Tea & Testimony (invitation to Easter service, commitment cards, etc.)
Plan MOPS & POPS
Book Leadership Reception on church calendar

MARCH
Buy gifts for Tea & Testimony
Steering Team Meeting (all together)
MOPS & POPS
Hand out and collect 'Potential Leader Recommendation'
Book boutiques and caterer for Brunch
Tea & Testimony (depending on Easter)
Begin to have Steering think about next year

APRIL
Steering Team Meetings (individual)
Plan Leadership reception (theme, invitations etc.)
Tea & Testimony (depending on Easter)
Compile evaluations
Buy leadership thank you's
Pass out Silent Auction letters and explanation/expectation
Hand out explanation of gift baskets etc.
Sell brunch tickets
Complete MOPS International Charter Renewal for each group

MAY
Evaluations during meeting
Steering Team Meeting (all together)
Brunch/Silent Auction/Boutique
"Releasing" party for leadership teams
Confirm continuing Steering commitment for next year
Lovely Leadership Reception
Steering Selection (send Steering Roster to MOPS International)
Notify new Steering members
Review evaluations and report
Mail 'Year-end Assessment' to all leadership
Plan next year's dates
Decide next year's fees
Review registration information
End-of-year parties

Originally printed in Connections Leadership Magazine, March 2000.

End of the MOPS Year

Dear MOPS Moms,

I can’t believe that MOPS is over for the year! On Tuesday I had my last MOPS meeting; it was a great meeting. We had three women share their testimony. They were so good! We laughed and cried; I was inspired. It made me think about my own testimony and walk with the Lord. With the summer coming, I know that my walk will be hard. I won’t have my regular Bible study or MOPS group helping me and supporting me during those tough times, I kind of have to do it on my own. Not really; I do have the Lord by my side, but I don’t have the reminders that He is by my side supporting me and being there for me. So this summer I am going to try and not do it alone but with the Lord by my side. I am going to try and read my Bible every day (or once a week will be good too) and just be in the word as much as possible and just pray a little every day. I do wish that I could attend a Bible study this summer or maybe the Lord is calling me to start one. Is there a summer Bible study that you can get involved with or is the Lord calling you to start one? I need to pray about it and so should you.
I hope that your final meetings are going well and that you all think about maybe trying to get together with your moms over the summer for a play date or maybe just a night out with the girls, a play date just for mom. I know those are my favorite type of play dates. With so much gong on I hope that you were all able to renew your charter and update your steering rosters. I also hope that you had some time to visit the MOPS website and think about maybe coming to convention in September. I know that it is hard to get a way even for an evening with your husband. To try and get away for a few days and nights is impossible you say. But it is well worth it! I have been to the convention twice and have had a wonderful time and gotten some great ideas to bring back to my MOPS group and have come home well rested and ready to be a mom again. I know you are saying "but who will watch my children and won’t everything fall apart if I am not there?" No, everything will be fine, but yes they may not be as clean as you would like them and the house isn’t going to be as neat as you would have it. I feel as long as my children are happy and safe, I am ok. It is also a time for your children to be with their father and spend a little one on one time with them and for him to live in your shoes. Think and pray about maybe coming. If not, don’t worry. I am planning on holding a council meeting on October 14 so we can all try to get together and meet each other face to face. More info will follow at the end of the summer.
Well, that is all for now. I hope you all have a great summer and stay safe. Enjoy some time with your family and try to enjoy your children and this time of innocence and care free days. I will continue to pray for all of you, and if you need anything, just drop me a line. I will be checking my email regularly. Don’t forget to mark October 14 on your calendar. May the Lord bless you and keep you.

Blessings Denise Kother
Council coordinator NE New Jersey
Zone 22

Some of you emailed me to find out where to get Tony's DeOliveira's artwork.  It seems many of you really liked the gift we gave Amy our Summit host.  You can see all of Tony's work at www.olivearts.com and your purchase will support a MOPS family.  Tony is the creative husband of Emily, the Coordinator at the Kutztown MOPS groups.  They have three great kids and love MOPS.

 

Blessings,

Barb

E-mail blast for Summit

MOPS LEADERSHIP FOR LIFE SUMMIT
Seasons of Life and Leadership
Live Via Satellite In 47 Cities Nationwide
April 1, 2006
9:00 - 2:00 PM*

The Zone 22 (NJ, PA and DE) event will be held at

Hempfield UMC
3050 Marietta Ave
Lancaster, PA 17601
(717) 285-5156
www.humc.ws

Join with thousands of moms gathered around the nation via satellite for an iron sharpens iron experience!

MOPS International President/CEO Elisa Morgan and the MOPS International team will empower and equip mothers to

• Develop New Leadership Abilities
• Discover How to Use Your God-Given Gifts
• Gain Confidence in How You Can Impact Others

Being a good leader isn't a matter of luck. It"s a matter of networking, training and development. This is the perfect event to receive all three!

Register Now!

www.mops.org

Price: $25.00 (Online registration open 01/14/2006 - 03/18/2006)

Lunch will be available for an additional fee. To order lunch please contact Amy Frey at amys2peanuts@comcast.net
You may also bring your own lunch if you wish. We will be doing networking over lunch.

Our tenative schedule for the day is as follows:
9-11 Seasons of Leadership - live, local workshops
11-12 Working lunch
12-2 Live from Denver - national simulcast

We have reserved hotels rooms for traveling Steering Teams to use...

Sleep Inn

Phone: 285-0444

Location: Just off of Stony Battery Rd. in Mountville

Contact: Robyn

Special group rate: $83 + tax for double. $89 + tax for triple. $95 + tax for quad. (11% tax) Must speak with Robyn to get this rate for 3 or 4 people.

Continental breakfast included.

Minimum of 10 rooms for a block.

Will hold until 1 months prior. Anything not booked by then will be released.

In the event these rooms are filled and you and your team still need a place to stay you can contact...

Comfort Inn

Phone: 898-2431

Location: Route 30 & Centerville Rd.