MMP Mentor Fair 2010 on Saturday, June 5th 12-4pm

Midlands Mentoring Partnership Mentor Fair 2010
Do you want to make a difference in the life of a child? Not sure how to get involved? Come to the Westroads Mall on Saturday, June 5th from 12pm-4pm to visit with representatives from 11 area mentoring organizations. Find the organization is the best fit for you.

Representatives from: All Our Kids, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Midlands, Boys and Girls Club of Omaha, Child Saving Institute, Girls, Inc. Pathfinders, Ollie Webb Center, Inc., Omaha Home for Boys, Omaha Street School, Release Ministries, TeamMates Mentoring Program, Youth Emergency Services (YES).

For more information call 402-392-2025 *1005

Conversation Starter

Conversation Starter!

Keep the communication alive this summer. Make plans to talk to your mentee over the phone or become pen pals! It's easy to keep the communication going when you make it quick and easy. Call at the same time you mentored during the year or drop a postcard in the mail with a few words of encouragement. It's the small things that let people know you care!

Activity of the Day: End of the School Year

It's the end of the school year and that means a change in the mentoring relationship.

- If you plan to continue with the student, assure them you will see them next year, even if they will be going to a different school

- Brainstorm ideas to stay in touch during the summer (Refer to your TeamMates Training Manual - you'll need to complete a separate Plan for Meeting Out of School form for EACH meeting.

- Be sure to celebrate all the good work you've done together during the year. Perhaps interview each other about the changes you've experienced!

CELEBRATE YOUR PROGRESS! LET YOUR MENTEE KNOW THAT THEY ARE IMPORTANT TO YOU AND THAT YOU ARE PROUD THAT THEY MADE IT THROUGH ANOTHER SCHOOL YEAR.

Activity of the Day: Start A Memory

Take one mentoring session to reflect on the school year! Use these questions to gather your mentees thoughts about the year. A GREAT way to put this all together is by scrap booking a memory page, a scrap book or gather things in a memory box. Put together items from your mentoring experience this year! This can be simple - write a note to your mentee about your experience. Let me them know you've enjoyed meeting. Include photos, crafts, or memory items! After a couple years of meeting you'll have a wonderful collection!


1. Looking back on the past school year, what was the highlight?
2. What was the worst thing that happened?
3. What was your proudest moment at school?
4. What was your proudest moment at home?
5. Who are some of the new friends you made this year?
6. What was your hardest subject this year?
7. Who was your favorite teacher?
8. What would you say is one of your best skills or talents?
9. On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being the best, how would you rank this past school year? What could have made it better?
10. What are you looking forward to this summer?
11. What are you looking forward to for next school year?

Activity of the Day: Get to Know Each Other

Get to know each other! Complete the following questions together or on your own. Share your answers with each other!

1. If you could have an endless supply of any food, what would you get?
2. If you were an animal, what would you be and why?
3. What is one goal you’d like to accomplish during your lifetime?
4. When you were little, who was your favorite super hero and why?
5. Who is your hero? (a parent, a celebrity, an influential person in one’s life)
6. What’s your favorite thing to do in the summer?
7. If they made a movie of your life, what would it be about and which actor would you want to play you?
8. If you were an ice cream flavor, which one would you be and why?
9. What’s your favorite cartoon character, and why?
10. If you could visit any place in the world, where would you choose to go and why
11. What’s the ideal dream job for you?
12. Are you a morning or night person?
13. What are your favorite hobbies?
14. What are your pet peeves or interesting things about you that you dislike?
15. What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten?
16. Name one of your favorite things about someone in your family.
17. Tell us about a unique or quirky habit of yours.
18. If you had to describe yourself using three words, it would be…
19. If someone made a movie of your life would it be a drama, a comedy, a romantic-comedy, action film, or science fiction?
20. If I could meet anyone in the world (past or present) I would meet....

Activity of the Day: Cultural Traditions

Share customs and rituals from your own background. Invite kids to help you with a craft project take a snack or lunch with you that highlights one of your cultural traditions. Make sure you ask your mentee about their traditions and culture! If your mentee doesnt know about what their cultural traditions are ask about their family traditions. Maybe they go to get ice cream every Sunday or walk the dog each night.

Hastings Teammates Ping Pong Tournament A Success!

Hastings TeamMates hosted it's 5th annual Ping Pong Tournament. The day was a success! Check out the full story with video coverage from KHAS by clicking HERE.

Teaching Tip

Teaching Tip: After your chapters celebration - use your next mentoring session to write some thank you's. Letter writing can be a lost art! Show your mentee how to write a thank you. How to address the letter and talk about why it's important. Thank your coordinator, corporate sponsors, location sponsors, and contributors!

Hastings TeamMates Ping Pong Tournament To Be Held April 24th

Hastings TeamMates Ping Pong Tournament To Be Held April 24th
From: 1011now.com

The Hastings TeamMates Mentoring Program will hold its Fifth Annual Citywide Ping Pong Tournament on Saturday, April 24th. The event will be held at the Hastings Middle School. Registration will begin at 8:30 AM and the tournament will start at 9:00 AM.

Participants may register for singles or doubles in three divisions: Beginners, Intermediates and Masters. First, second and third place medals will be awarded in each division. Concessions will be available and a raffle will be held. The registration fee will be $15.00 per entry. Entry forms may be downloaded at http://www.teammates.org/chapters/hastings.htm.


"Proceeds from the tournament will go toward the TeamMates Scholarship Fund," said David Essink, Tournament Coordinator. "This event has grown from 25 participants in the first tournament to 45 participants in last years tournament. We anticipate this years event will be the biggest and best tournament we've ever had."

The TeamMates Mentoring Program was founded in 1991 by Dr. Tom and Nancy Osborne. TeamMates is a school-based mentoring program that matches adult volunteers from the community with students in grades six through twelve. Mentors meet one hour per week to provide support and encouragement. The goal of the program is to help youth graduate from high school and pursue post-secondary education. The TeamMates Mentoring Program serves more than 4,000 youth in communities across Nebraska and eastern Iowa.

For more information about the tournament or the Hastings TeamMates Mentoring Program, call 402-461-7660 or send an email to teammates@esu9.org.

Activity of the Day: Hand Down a Hobby!

Hand down a hobby by teaching a young person a skill, such as quilting, carpentry, or gardening. Take resources such as books or magazines to show your mentee. If you make things - show your mentee the final product and the steps to creating. These can be simple things!!