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.