In Charlie's absence, Christine called the meeting to order and did a fine job! Lisa lead us in the Pledge, and John T lead the Reflection
Ruby won the 50/50, but no Joker
Our guest speaker was Laura DiGeronimo, Director of the Mentor Program at LUK, Inc.
Membership Update
No new updates this week
General Topics
All manuals for the various committees can be found on ClubRunner if you are interested in viewing them.
Calendar drawings will begin on March 4th. Work on the 2021 calendars will begin in March, headed up by Ruby, and with help from Julie and Johnny. Please let Ruby know if you are interested in getting involved. Claire mentioned that Pat LaPointe from the historical society offered to help with photos, if this is the direction we continue to take.
Johnny distributed a list of items needed for the Guatemala Project. Donations are due by March 9th. The Project will be helping out 8 families.
John T has a spreadsheet consisting of the Flower Box sponsors from last year, and will review and update it.
RYLA update - we need to pay for our students by March 1. We are targeting sponsoring 3 students, sophomores from Fitchburg, Leominster, and Lunenburg high schools. The students will be chosen by their respective schools.
REMINDER: April 15th is our Vocational Awards night at the Doubletree in Leominster. This event recognizes companies who offer jobs and employment, with an ethical focus. Let's rally to bring in advertisers for this important evening! Half page ads are $150, full age are $300. Our goal is 10 sponsors.
Guest Speaker
Laura DiGeronimo
LUK Inc - Mentor Program Director
Laura spoke to us about the Mentoring Program at LUK Inc. Laura herself was a mentor in the past, and her experience was so positive that she wanted to join LUK Inc to help with the program. Laura talked passionately about how rewarding it is to mentor a young person in need, and truly pay it forward.
Her big event is the mentoring gala, which is to be help at Great Wolf Lodge on Thursday Feb 13th. Please consider attending, donating raffle items, or participating in the raffle itself.
LUK, Inc - Let Us Know!
10 Facts on Why You Should Find a Mentor, and What to Expect from the Relationship
1. A mentoring relationship is focused on you, your development, and your achievement. It is not doing research for a professor or helping someone else complete tasks.
2. Mentors do many things, not just give advice. They can help you with problem-solving and skill building.
3. You may have to seek a mentor on your own. This is where networking comes in.
4. You might be wondering why anyone would want to serve as a mentor. What do they get out of it? The answer is that they see value in the mentoring collaboration and know that it typically offers professional advantages for both of you. Experienced mentors have already learned from others.
5. There are several requirements for good mentoring relationships. These include safety, time, respect, and reciprocity.
6. Mutual confidentiality and trust are critical components of the mentoring relationship. Frequently, the mentoring process covers difficult professional issues, and personally sensitive issues may, inadvertently, be disclosed.
7. If the mentoring relationship isn’t working, or if it no longer meets your needs, you may have to ease out of it.
8. There is no set time limit for a mentoring relationship. Some may be just a few months; others may go on for years.
9. If you are lucky, as you advance in your career, you will have several outstanding mentors. They will support your efforts, encourage you, and provide professional advice and assistance as needed.
10. One of the measures of a successful mentoring relationship is that you, the mentee, understand the importance of carrying on the mentorship tradition. Mentoring is not easy. In fact, many would argue that mentoring is a leadership competency that you need to develop. Others would tell you that mentoring is a privilege.
