PLEASE READ: Some YM and Scout assignments moving in to 2015

Brethren:

First, let me tell you how grateful I am to each of you for all your service and efforts this past year. I really appreciate it, and am thankful for your efforts on behalf of all the young men in our ward.

Looking forward at 2015, there are some areas that I think we can focus on and I'd like to outline some of them below.

Please read the full message, but look for your name in RED below for delegated assignments that I would like to request that you follow up with me on, either via email or in-person:

Scouts:

Gary: There is a district pow wow on Jan 17, 24. Can you confirm we are signed up and what badges each boy is signed up for? Let's make sure we get signed up early this year.

Don: Please propose 4 dates for Courts of Honor this year and run them by Gary. When you two agree, forward the dates on to me to present up line.

Don: I would like to ask you to head up "Scouting for Food" this spring and "Friends of Scouting" this fall. More details forthcoming from Steve or his replacement.

Gary: Do we have plans for Scout camp this summer (location and dates)? Let's finalize this in January.

Gary: Do we have plans for campouts this year? Dates and locations? Let's finalize this in January as well.

Also, I'd like to propose we come up with plans for the merit badges we want to cover on Wed. nights with the boys, and then find individuals in the ward who can teach these merit badges. I'd like to get in front of this as well, and determine what "elective" merit badges the boys want to get (since most of the required are covered at pow wows and scout camps). Chad, can you own creating this list with input from the boys?

Young Men:

The list for the young men is located here (includes tabs for weekly teaching, a contact list, and a monthly calendar). 

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1WOIkxz82gDUIJsLBopjQZLmQcAuwQ41y6fLmvbobJ6g/edit#gid=15

John A., I would like to request you own this document and keep it updated monthly. We do need to update it now. 

Chad, can you go in and update your info and add Hunter's information in as well?

Bryce, in conjunction with the "elective" merit badge paragraph above, I'd like to propose that for those boys that are older and/or are Eagles we come up with a list of meaningful activities that we can participate in on Wed. evenings that will keep the interest of the young men (e.g., Lucas teaching us tennis, Braden A. teaching us about supercross/motorcycles, taking young men on field trips to offsite areas of employment where they have expressed interest or inviting people in to discuss with the boys what they do in their professions, etc.). Please take the lead in creating this inventory with the boys so we can create meaningful Wed. night activities that the boys will want to attend.

Personally, I feel the success of our program will be measured in the number of young men that attend and enjoy the activities and each others' company, and who eventually go on to serve honorable full-time missions, get married in the temple, and are righteous priesthood holders. I would love to have each young man get their Eagle and Duty to God award. That is a great goal. But I do believe these are only means to an end, and each boy is different and the approach we have to take with each young man should be different to meet his needs. As such, let's consider each young man and his personal needs, and do our level best to create a program where each young man feels needed, wanted, and loved, If we do this, I know we will see success.

Thanks again for all that you do--individually and collectively!

::John

Young Men's weekday schedule for the next few weeks

Hi everyone!

We hope your holiday season is going well, and everyone is enjoying time spent with friends and family. What a great time of year!

As youth and youth leaders, we had a great opportunity to assist with the sub-for-Santa activities the two Weds. prior to Christmas Eve. It gave the youth a great chance to be involved in service activities and understand what Christmas is really all about (see attached pics).

We will not have an activity this Wed. as it will be New Year's Eve.

For the month of January, our tentative schedule for Wed. evenings is as follows:

Jan. 7: Combined YW/YM activity (planning out the monthly combined activities for 2015)

Jan. 14: Soldier Hollow sledding (we will need help with transportation; let me know if you have a large vehicle and can assist that evening)

Jan. 21: Scouts 

Jan. 28: Combined YM activity (See MEET THE MORMONS at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building downtown; meet at the church at 6:10 to head downtown)

NOTE: You can request tickets to see the movie for your family or group by going here:

Temple Square Events

		Temple Square Events Event Venue Name Date & Time   Savior of the World Conference Center Theater Thursday, 1/1/15 7:30PM MST Sold Out Meet the Mormons | Joseph Smith Memorial Building | Legacy Theater
		View on purchase.tickets.com	Preview by Yahoo

Meeting Notes: YM Pres. Mtg (12-14-14)

Thanks to those who attended today (not all of you were invited, so these notes are just FYI for some).

Here are some notes from our session together:

1-Wed activities

We need to reinvigorate our activities. Better planning will help us structure things.

For the younger boys, we need to set a schedule of merit badges they need and want to get. Then we need to find people, ideally within the ward, that can be merit badge counselors and come meet with the youth and go through the badge and its requirements.

For the older boys, we need to see where their interests and passions lie regarding an occupation, and then find guest speakers to discuss these areas of interest. We can also do off-site activities to take tours of different facilities, etc.

2-Mentor an Eagle

We have young men that are VERY close to getting their Eagles. We need to put one leader with one boy to mentor the boys and their families and assist them through paperwork, etc. as they are on their road to Eagle.

        Ben::John

        Joe::Chad

        Caden::Bryce

        Jensen Wood::Matt Lingwall

        Alex::John to inquire as to interest

3-High Adventure 2015

Bryce and Matt Lingwall will have a proposal for the YM leaders and bishopric to consider by 2nd week of January. Dates may be set (due to Matt's work schedule), but they will review at least 3 different locations and go through pros and cons of each. 

After this proposal, YM leaders and Bishopric will come together to decide on a location early so it can be reserved and communicated to the boys and their families.

Young Men Secretary responsibilities:

1-Keep a current contact list of all YM leaders and boys. See link below. 

Link to Google doc with all info (John A. to review/update on a monthly basis):

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1WOIkxz82gDUIJsLBopjQZLmQcAuwQ41y6fLmvbobJ6g/edit#gid=13

2-Update all rank advancements for Scouting

Gary N. to train John A.

3-Update all Duty to God advancements for boys

4-Keep roll (attendance) for each quorum weekly

5-Attend Wed. night activities and Sunday 3rd hour lessons/activities as often as schedule will permit. Notify another member of the Pres. if you cannot be in attendance.

6-Teach on Wed. and Sun. as assigned

7-Love and help mentor the boys. Take a genuine interest in them individually and collectively.

Thank your sons again for their help yesterday!

We had a great turnout for helping rake the leaves at the Holmquists (see pics attached). 

For those of you that are not aware, Lenny had a hip replacement some weeks ago and is recovering from that. Both Lenny and Marilyn were very appreciative of what our efforts yesterday.

What impressed me as much as the sheer number of young men that showed up was the fact that many could not make it due to holiday and/other other commitments and they called to alert us that they could not be there. The Priesthood accountability I see from these young makes my heart glad, and I very much appreciate the chance I get to work with them firsthand and see their growth into adulthood. They don't take their responsibilities lightly, and to see that growth makes my heart glad.

Below, please see the remaining 2014 activities we have in the queue. 

Make sure they come hungry on Wednesday!

Wed., Dec. 3--Pizza party at Godfather's or Pizza Pie Cafe

Sat., Dec. 6--Ward Christmas Party (youth to help set up chairs at 3:00 pm; activity to follow)

Wed., Dec. 10--Sub for Santa (shopping)

Wed., Dec. 17--Sub for Santa (wrapping)

Wed., Dec. 24--No activity

Wed., Dec. 31--No activity

Reminder: Service project today at 1:00

Hi everyone!

Just a reminder that we are meeting at 1:00 at the Holmquists to rake leaves.

Their address is 6909 Bateman Field Drive (they are on the corner).

Please bring leaf rakes if you have them.

If we get a fair number out, we should be done in an hour or so.

Thanks!

Young Men activities for the remainder of the year

Hi everyone!

We are entering a busy time of year for us all, so now is a good time to tell you what we have in front of us activity-wise.

These activities may change based on variables that are always in motion, but we are pretty sure this is what the rest of the year looks like.

Thanks again for all of your support this previous year. We love the young people in our ward, and I believe I speak for all youth leaders when I say we are very blessed by being associated with them and working with them on a weekly basis.

Wed., Nov. 19--Scouts

Wed., Nov. 26--No activity

Fri., Nov 28--Service project raking leaves at Holmquists and others that may need help (Meet at 1:00 at the church)

Wed., Dec. 3--Pizza party at Godfather's or Pizza Pie Cafe

Sat., Dec. 6--Ward Christmas Party (youth to help set up chairs at 3:00 pm; activity to follow)

Wed., Dec. 10--Sub for Santa (shopping)

Wed., Dec. 17--Sub for Santa (wrapping)

Wed., Dec. 24--No activity

Wed., Dec. 31--No activity

URGENT: Young Men activity this week

Just a reminder there is no young men's activity tonight.

Instead of meeting tonight, the young men and young women will meet at the Church this Friday afternoon at 4:15. We will be leaving to go to the temple.

Following our temple work, we will eat at the temple and hear from a member of the Temple Presidency.

The boys should arrive home around 7:30-8:00.

Thanks!