Mentor Program
By Gary J. Bergenske
The Mentor Chairman
The Mentor Chairman is a big job that can be time consuming if you have some large Ceremonials and bring in a large class of new Nobles. The goal is to match up each new Noble with a Shriner that is an experienced Noble and is willing to help a new Shriner get on his way to becoming a career Shriner. This involves recruiting Mentors, getting them matched up with new men, and training them how to get the new men and their ladies involved. In selecting a Mentor Chairman, only a highly motivated, committed individual should be considered to give this program a good start.
Who is interested in joining organizations ?
It is always best if you can match up your new Nobles and Shriners so that they will work the best together. You can try to match them up by interests, where they live at, or by age. If possible try to find out some information on them before the Ceremonial, this will help you to match them up. The more successful you are at matching people with a common interest, the more successful your program will be. Below is a list that a survey found to be the type of men who will join the Shrine.
A. Men between 35 and 50
B. Men with college degrees
C. Single men more than married
D. Professional men more than blue collar
(Above from the Lou Harris Report)
What key BENEFITS should we be stressing?
When looking for men to be Mentors, explain to them the benefits we want to try and get new Nobles to know about. The Shrine has many benefits, different benefits mean different things to different people, but try and let a new man know about all of them. He will then find what interest him the most, and will get involved.
Below are a few of the benefits the Shrine has to offer.
Benefit of meeting and making more friends
Making new connections
Importance of family in our Fraternity
Involvement in the community
Support of Shrine Hospitals
Opportunity to learn leadership skills
Be around Positive people
What we have found men want from an
Organization?
In the training of Mentors it is good to know what new members are looking for. A recent survey found that men that join an organization are looking for the following opportunities. These are important items to be discussed and explained by a Mentor to a new Noble.
85% said they want more friends
100% said they wanted to make new connections
All wanted a better time with family
80% wanted a role in the community
60% wanted an opportunity to lead
Starting a Mentor Program takes some good organization by the Mentor Chairman. A plan has to be put together. The next important item is recruiting Mentors. You will need the help and the support of your Potentate and Divan. It should be a group effort to sign up Mentors. If you do not have a pool of men that have volunteered to be Mentors by the time the Ceremonial has rolled around, your Mentor Program cannot succeed. For some this is the hardest part of putting this program together. Ideally you have a one on one ratio, One Mentor to one new Noble. If you have an extremely large class, and we hope you do, a Mentor may have to take two or three new Nobles. Below are some key points to help get Mentors signed up and ready to go.
Start with your Potentate, Membership Chair. and Team
Start EARLY, talk it up
Get your Potentate to tell his new Official Family they
may be asked to be a Mentor from the Beginning
Tell your Divan about it, get them involved
Get the interest level up
Everything has to be ready by your 1st Ceremonial
A. The better your Mentors, the better your success rate
B. Begin signing them up early
C. Qualifications
1. Find committed Nobles
2. It is a one year commitment
3. Must be ready to be available
4. Have them use the phone
1. Inform and meet new Nobles at Stated Meetings
2. Introduce him to other nobles
3. Introduce his lady to other ladies
4. Take him around to units/clubs of interest to him
5. Be sure he knows of all upcoming functions
6. Use the telephone to keep in contact
7. Attend some Parades or functions together, include the ladies as often as possible
8. Always be available for questions
9. Keep the new noble involved
10. Have a good time
A. Match your Mentors with Candidates
B. Have hand outs ready for mentors and candidates
C. Have as many Mentors as possible at the Ceremonial
D. Encourage Mentors and Candidates to meet and exchange info at the ceremonial
E. Begin building Shrine Careers
It is important that the Mentor Program is kept active all the time and not just for a short time after the Ceremonial. The Mentor Chairman should do his best to make sure the New Nobles are being properly mentored. As some men join a Club or Unit you will find that someone will help with the mentoring also from that Club or Unit. Our goal is to have these new members looked after until they reach a point when they feel comfortable with the activities at the Shrine. If they feel comfortable they will return, and participate in many activities. Below are some ideas for keeping your Mentor Program active.
A. Keep talking it up, keep your Mentors involved
B. Share the success stories
C. Use the phone, make the time
D. Get the new noble involved