MOPSTalk Zone 22 ~ Eastern PA and NJ: Planning New MOPS Year and New Steering Team Members

CONVENTION UPDATE

Ta da! A Convention announcement!
We just signed the papers and we thank you for your prayers as we worked on moving, well, a whole lotta details in just a few days.

Drum roll #1: The Gaylord Palms in Kissimmee, FL (Orlando area) was able to welcome us (in the midst of many conventions needing to move).

Drum roll #2: We're able to keep the registration fees the same, so some of you might decide to come early or stay late, and enjoy the Orlando amenities with your friends (or family).

And thanks for all the great ideas of cities! You helped our future dreaming. 'Twould be fun!
And again, it will be great because of Who we'll be with: "Where(ver) two or three (thousand) are gathered in my name, there am I with them." (Mt. 18:20, our year's theme verse with my additions).

Naomi Cramer Overton

Convention Details:
The MOPS International Convention will be at the Gaylord Palms, Kissimmee, FL (Orlando area). Dates will be the same, August 5-7, 2010. Speakers and artists will be the same great lineup — Julie Barnhill, Margaret Feinberg, Donald Miller, Naomi Cramer Overton, Shelly Radic, Go Fish, Mandisa, The Katinas and Richie McDonald.

Convention registration will re-open on Monday, May 17.
The early bird registration deadline will be extended to June 7.
We are working with the Gaylord Opryland for an official letter we can provide to anyone who has already purchased airline tickets to use with airlines to avoid rebooking fees. This letter should assist you in rebooking airline tickets — it will be posted online at www.MOPS.org/convention.
We continue to pray for families and businesses affected by the flooding and we have sent MOPS materials to local MOPS leaders who are distributing supplies in the Nashville area.

MOPS International Convention 2010

August 5-7, 2010
Gaylord Palms, Orlando FL

Check back often for more information!

Your MOPS International Convention Checklist:

Register for Convention (re-opens May 17)
Reserve a room at the hotel (register first!)
Schedule shuttle transportation

Saturday, February 24, 2007

Planning New MOPS Year and New Steering Team Members

As we look at our Steering Teams for next year here is one group's guide-lines for helping them stay on course the entire year. It also helps new Steering Team Member see the time committment that will be expected of them. Each group is individual but sharing ideas always helps. Why reinvent the wheel?

Don't Lose Your Course
Planning a Great MOPS Year

Jan./Feb. - Begin recruiting Steering Members
· Hold an open house for prospective leaders
· 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

March - Have Steering team set so all can attend Spring Council or Leadership for Life Summit and new leaders can “shadow” and train with current leaders.

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 home office.

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