Volunteers Accepted??

The final trimester of Wednesdays at the Shore starts up on March 19th and we are in the throws of scheduling our excellent volunteer staff for next term.  With the change to the new children's curriculum and the sense of excitement surrounding the program it seems people are just itching to become involved in the program.  Now for those of you who are feeling left out, there is still time to step forward.

Although we do only have a limited amount of these premier volunteer positions, we are willing to consider any and all replacements.  Just because people were slotted as volunteers in the past, doesn't guarantee them a spot.  When striving for excellence, roster spots are not guaranteed, just look at the Packers, or any NFL franchise for that matter.  Heck, I read that Harvard rejects 94% of their applicants.

So with the new format and likely high demand for volunteering, I'm trying to determine the best way to turn people away?  Let me know what you think, your choices are:

• "Forget" to Put You on the Schedule - This would be where I really don't tell you anything after you state you're willing to help, but just never place your name in any designated positions.  
• Thank You Note - Here you'd get a hand written thank you note acknowledging your offer.  I'd make sure to put a smiley face next to my signature.  It would likely be placed in your mailbox on a Sunday where I wasn't at church.
• Mailed Letter - Here you'd get the official treatment.  A letter in the mail on church letterhead signed  (or at least rubber stamped) by the 6 to 8 people from leadership who are aware that you are being rejected (although there'd probably be more aware than 8). 
• Via a Friend - I don't know everyone the same way, sometimes its easier to tell someone that is your friend and have that friend break the news to you and provide comfort.
• Shoulder Tap - Now we are doing it face to face, but probably picking a time after service where you're engaged in a conversation with someone else.  I tap you on the shoulder, whisper the news in your ear, and head out the door.

The Best Way to Reject Me is:

"Forget" to Schedule Me

Thank-You Note

Mailed Letter

Via a Friend

Shoulder Tap

Poll Maker

OK.  For those of you lucky ones who make the cut, what are you getting yourself into?  To start with, a rotation of teams is used to provide the leadership for the evening.  Through rotations, the program is run by requesting just 9 of your evenings each year.  Just 9 of 53 Wednesdays! (I'm using years where Jan 1 falls on a Wednesday to help my argument). Volunteers help from 6:15 pm to a little after 8:00 pm that evening in a number of different roles.  They currently are:

1. Nursery- 2 or 3 per evening.  No preparation needed.  Basically what you think it is.  During the evening you have the ability to look out windows into the gym to see other volunteers not changing diapers.
2. Helpers- 2 per evening.  No preparation needed.  You are assisting the "Lil'K Leader" with the night's activities for the PreK and Kindergarten group.  Assist with discipline and bathroom breaks, but will not need to lead any activities on your own.
3. Team Leaders- 2 or 3 per evening.  No preparation needed.  Assist the Johnny Rogers program (1st thru 5th) throughout the evening with team activities in the gym.  Last 30 minutes or so of night, you will lead a small group of about 5 kids in discussion time and Bible Activities.  Materials are scripted and require no advance prep.
4. Gopher - 1 per evening.  Setup and take-down stage / screen materials.  Gather enough copies of materials for group leaders.  Prepare snacks.  This position likely will require setup efforts to begin at 5:30 pm instead of 6:15 pm to get everything in place.
5. Lil'K Leader - 1 per evening.  Some advance prep is recommended.  A lesson plan with a number of activities and a craft is already developed for the evening.  Your responsibility is to determine what activities you will do and make sure materials are available (if needed) to fill the last 30 minutes of the evening when the video is finished.

The new curriculum is video driven and provides consistency in the manner the message is delivered each and every week.  It includes a time of worship which is a new component of the evening.  It has team competitions that assist in keeping children's attention.  Further, it provides a focused small group time, allowing the children to be more directly engaged, acknowledged and cared for by the adult leaders.

Please contact me, the church office, Allisen Shawver, or Pastor if you feel led to offer your time in this program. We would start you out by picking a few nights where you could shadow others and just see what happens. After that, maybe you'd truly be one of the "chosen few".

Kevin