Mentor Michigan - 2009 Michigan Mentoring Month

Michigan Mentoring Month and National Mentoring Month is designed to generate a concentrated burst of national, statewide, and local media activity. Combine this with community-based activities and you have the recipe to successfully recruit new mentors. The 2009 theme was "Pass It On." We celebrated the everyday, ordinary people who are making a difference for kids in Michigan. Mentors don't need special skills--all they need to do is care about kids and be willing to volunteer about an hour a week.

The Mentor Michigan Communications Tool Kit, below, contains resources and ideas to help local mentoring programs promote their activities, thank their mentors, and recruit new mentors. By clicking on the link immediately following each bullet, you will open a PDF document. Some of the resources are available in other formats, as indicated.

Please keep track of your 2009 Michigan Mentoring Month efforts as Mentor Michigan will create a recap of the month's festivities this February. If you'd like to share a story, email Elyse Ver Berkmoes Walter at verberkmoese@michigan.gov .

Michigan Mentoring Month 2008 Now Available Graphic

2009 MMM Recap (PDF) - Please review the 2009 Michigan Mentoring Month recap to discover all the exciting opportunities that occurred this past January!
2009 MMM Thank You from Mentor Michigan (PDF) - Please view Mentor Michigan's "thank you" to all those that made the 2009 Michgian Mentoring Month a huge success!
2009 Michigan Mentoring Month Save-the-Date (PDF) - Save-the-Date document for the 2009 Michigan Mentoring Month - please feel free to share with your mentoring collaboratives or program staff.
2009 MMM Mini-Grant Press Release, January 8, 2009 (Link) - Announcing 2009 Michigan Mentoring Month mini-grant recipients.
2009 MMM Form Op-Eds (Word) - Complete these form op-eds and submit to media outlets in your community showing your support for mentoring.
2009 MMM Template Media Advisory (Word) - Complete this template media advisory and submit to local news outlets in your community for added publicity.
Governor's Press Release, January 2, 2009 (Word) - Announcing First Gentleman Mulhern's radio address focusing on mentoring.
Governor's Proclamation (PDF) - Declaring January 2009 Michigan Mentoring Month.
Television/Radio Public Service Announcements - Are available featuring Colin Powell, Quincy Jones/Usher, Clint Eastwood, and others. The PSAs are available in Beta, DVD, or CD format for distribution to your local media outlets or for use at local recruitment events. To receive copies, please fill out the PSA Request Form (Word) and email it to Elyse Ver Berkmoes at verberkmoese@michigan.gov .
PSA Piggyback Ideas (WORD) - Use this helpful list of ideas for distributing Mentor Michigan PSAs in your community, in ways you might now have thought of.
Wave V Mentor Michigan Census - Use the Wave V results in media announcements, funding proposals, and more. The recent results show a continued increase in the number of mentors and mentees. It also highlights an increase in the number of men mentoring and much more. Wave V of the MMC was conducted in the fall of 2007 and 136 organizations in Michigan responded. Wave V results include an Executive Summary, Scope and Nature Report, Geographic Report, and Program Capacity Report. Wave VI Mentor Michigan Census results will be available in December 2008.
E-Cards - Below you will find two ways to send e-cards to your mentors:
- Mentor Youth e-cards make it incredibly simple to invite people to mentor, thank mentors, or celebrate a mentor's birthday.
- Hallmark e-cards provide thoughtful e-cards you can send to mentors for free.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service is January 19, 2009. Plan a project for your mentors and mentees or encourage them to volunteer in your local community. In celebration of the Martin Luther King Jr. federal holiday, Americans across the country honor the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by participating in service projects in their communities. Click here for the 2009 MLK Day Project Planning Toolkit (PDF) or visit www.mlkday.gov for more information.
- 2009 MLK Day Save-the-Date (PDF)
2009 MMM Male Recruitment Ideas (PDF) provides a list of activities focused on recruiting male mentors you can implement during Michigan Mentoring Month. (Also available in Word format.)
2009 MMM Event Ideas (PDF) provides a list of ideas that you can implement during Michigan Mentoring Month. (Also available in Word format.)
- 2009 MMM Event Form (WORD) - please fill this form out so Mentor Michigan can publicize the various recruitment, recognition, celebration, and service events occurring throughout January. Return completed forms to verberkmoese@michigan.gov .
- Current 2009 MMM Events (WORD) - preview events taking place throughout Michigan this January for the 2009 Michigan Mentoring Month. This chart is also perfect for brainstorming ideas within your own community.
Michigan Mentoring Month Event Planning Guide (PDF) is a step-by-step booklet that will assist you planning and implementing a first class event. ( Also available in Word format.)
2009 Thank Your Mentor Day (PDF) is January 22, 2009. This flyer promotes this day and gives ideas on how mentees can thank their mentors.
Engaging the Media has two tools available to assist you. The MCSC Media Guide (PDF), developed by the Michigan Community Service Commisison, provides tips on writing media releases, working with the media, etc., and 2009 MMM Media Pitches (PDF) provides ideas to generate local media attention around the theme "Pass It On." ( Also available in Word format .)
2009 MMM Faith-based Bulletin Information (PDF) is available for churches, synagogues, mosques, and other faith communities to use in their weeekly bulletins to help recruit mentors. ( Also available in Word format .)