Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Happy New (Mentoring) Year!
We all know January to be a time for fresh starts, new resolutions, and… mentoring? A National Mentoring Month? Well mentoring is important year round but this January marks the eighth time an entire month has been dedicated to it.
This month of awareness-raising mentoring gives what we do here at Generations Incorporated a national platform, and I love that. To celebrate the month last year we hosted Irene Smalls and our mentors had a wonderful time.
This year we’re putting a different spin on how we observe the month. We’ll be making a special effort on January 22nd to get all our staff and AmeriCorps members to participate in Thank Your Mentor Day™ (and I encourage you to join us). For those interested in participating there are “Four Ways to Honor Your Mentor”:
1) contact your mentor directly to express your appreciation
2) pass on what you received by becoming a mentor to a young person in your community
3) make a financial contribution to a local mentoring program
4) write a tribute to your mentor for posting on www.WhoMentoredYou.org.
For more information visit: www.nationalmentoringmonth.org
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Thank you Volunteers!
April is National Volunteer Month and this week specifically is National Volunteer Week. Today, President Bush spoke to all volunteers: “today we commemorate your work and the work of volunteers all across the country… I appreciate the lasting legacy that you’ve helped create in the hearts of our fellow citizens. I thank you for what you do.”
At Generations Incorporated our success is possible only through the efforts of our many volunteers: 350 Experience Corps members, 20 AmeriCorps members, 11 AmeriCorps *VISTAs, and hundreds of one time volunteers who help us with various projects.
On behalf of all of us at Generations Incorporated – Thank You!
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Johnny Pesky, Experience Corps Member?
Today Fenway Park opened with the 2007 World Series championship ceremonies. What an amazing show.
As I watched Johnny Pesky come forward to receive his ring, a bell went off in my head. Why was Johnny Pesky the lone Red Sox legend to receive a ring with the team? Because Pesky is much more than ‘just’ a Red Sox legend.
At 88 years old, Johnny Pesky knows a bit about baseball. He played in the majors for ten years, seven and half of which were with the Sox. Ever since, he’s served the Red Sox in one way or another, as a commentator, coach, manager, and most recently dispensing advice in the dugout.
Apparently the Red Sox know a thing or two about intergenerational mentoring. Pesky has provided dugout counsel, sharing his long experience with active Red Sox players throughout the years.
Today he was rightly honored for that awesome commitment.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Thank You, Mary the Fourth
Today is Thank Your Mentor Day!
Please remember to thank those who influenced you, gave you encouragement and guidance. I would like to pay tribute to mine.
My first boss here in Boston taught me that service is not something done to others, but instead a mutual partnership. (I didn’t quite know what she meant then, but I do now). She told me that humor and humility would get me places. I learned some pretty great lessons from her. Even now, 30 years later, I depend on her as my teacher. And friend. Thanks, Sandy.
Mary the Fourth is my 80-year old aunt (we come from a long line of Marys). She has been a constant and important presence in my life. We are both stubborn as rocks and she says that is a good thing. She has been friend, driving instructor (after I fired my father), role model, and to this day, confidante. She still encourages me in every pursuit. And she taught me the most important lesson of my life: do not give up. Thank you, Mary the Fourth!
300 Experience Corps members from this organization are busy at this very moment mentoring hundreds of children in Boston. They have more wisdom, compassion, and talent than I can write about in this post. They are an inspiration, every one. Thank you all.
