Before January slips totally away, I want to take a moment to look ahead as well as reflect on this New Year which is bringing us new challenges and new hope for the future.

January is the traditional time of new resolutions for many folks - including my husband Dan and me. Several years ago, we resolved to become mentors, an experience that has not only added a new dimension to the lives of the two youngsters we mentor, it has also enriched our family's life in so many ways. We are completely in the camp of the 99 percent of mentors who, when surveyed, said they would recommend mentoring to others. Indeed, I am recommending it to you.

It is because of this rewarding experience that Dan and I are heading up the Mentor Michigan initiative - a statewide effort designed to raise awareness about mentoring. Our goal is to have 10,000 new mentoring volunteers in Michigan by 2006. I know it's a pretty tall order, but we are confident that we can do it.

So, it's in the spirit of new beginnings that I encourage you to consider becoming a mentor to an eager young boy or girl. Just one hour a week can make a lifetime of difference to a child who needs a caring, stable adult influence in their life. You don't need special skills or extra time to be a mentor. You simply need to take an interest in a child. Share your chores, share a trip to the mall, or share your lunch. That's all it takes. For example, Big Brother Big Sister has a "lunch buddy" program that many in my office participate in once a week. It's easy, it's rewarding, and you change not just one life, but two - yours included. Your individual offices can organize lunch buddy teams to help out schools in your area with students struggling with math or reading.

For more information about the Mentor Michigan program, visit www.mentormichigan.org or call 1-800-VOLUNTEER.