I think it is so important for all our volunteers to be trained on the BYUSA financial procedures. If everyone is trained and aware, then we can avoid a lot of mistakes and headaches. When I came into the office to interview to be an ED, there was a girl talking to the front desk receptionist, and she was obviously very upset. As I sat in the chairs waiting for my interview I listened and found out why she was upset. I think she was an EL or PD, and she had just purchased over $500 of t-shirts with her personal credit card, which (as we learned) you can't do. It turned into a nightmare for the staff who tried to help her.
I think the certification training was very helpful in teaching us what was necessary to know in order to perform financial procedures correctly. Our program directors will be certified, but obviously not everyone is required to certify. I think that the tutorials that we saw in order to prepare for the certification test were very effective, and could be used as a review. I also think that our binder is helpful. If the volunteers correctly certify and have access to these resources, training could be effective. I think that once everyone is properly trained, then there is no reason that they cannot be held accountable. Yesterday in the Activities area training that I attended Angela told us that there are high expectations placed on us, but we will never be asked to do something we aren't trained or won't be trained to do. And once we are trained, then we are accountable. I think that the best way for us to be able to hold our volunteers accountable is by making sure we train them properly.
I think a way that the financial procedures can help me in my personal finances is the lesson we learn to always plan ahead. I've always been taught to keep money in savings. You never know when something unexpected will happen, whether it be a big thing like a health emergency or a smaller thing like a textbook you didn't know you needed. In BYUSA we plan ahead financially and make sure our plan is viable. Another lesson we learn is to budget carefully. I've never worked in a situation before with "zero balance budgeting," but I see the value in it. This forces us to be a little more creative with our plans and I think ultimately it will lead to a better program. Planning budgets creatively also can help us with our personal finances. Things don't always go as planned, and sometimes we have to work differently.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Friday, July 8, 2011
Professionalism and Protocol
Professionalism creates credibility in several ways. I really like the quote that was brought up Wednesday that read, "You only have one chance to make a great first impression." This is so true! When we are professional, we are proving ourselves worthy of the trust and credibility that we want. When we dress and act professionally (avoiding sloppy dress, slang, etc.) we show those with whom we are communicating that we take the opportunity seriously. Anytime you behave unprofessionally, your credibility goes way down because if you can't act the part, how can you perform? Another aspect of professionalism we talked about in class is knowledge. If you aren't knowledgeable about what you are doing, then that gives the other people involved less reason to trust your decision. Also, when you take the time to research and find out information prior to a meeting, it shows those involved that you are willing to put forth the necessary effort and that you are serious about what you are doing.
One time that I experienced protocol was when I met Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor. There were many things about this experience that were true to the lessons we learned on Wednesday. First, we all were asked to dress in business professional attire. This showed our respect for her position and the time she took out of her busy schedule to talk to us. When she walked in, we all stood and were seated when she invited us to be seated. Also, when we were allowed a question and answer period there was a very specific way for us to ask questions. We said something to the effect of "Justice Sotomayor, thank you for taking the time to come and speak to us. My name is Mallory Brugger and I'm from Idaho. My question is..." This protocol made things very organized and professional. She is an important person in our country's justice system, and this protocol helped us to give her the respect that her title deserves.
One time that I experienced protocol was when I met Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor. There were many things about this experience that were true to the lessons we learned on Wednesday. First, we all were asked to dress in business professional attire. This showed our respect for her position and the time she took out of her busy schedule to talk to us. When she walked in, we all stood and were seated when she invited us to be seated. Also, when we were allowed a question and answer period there was a very specific way for us to ask questions. We said something to the effect of "Justice Sotomayor, thank you for taking the time to come and speak to us. My name is Mallory Brugger and I'm from Idaho. My question is..." This protocol made things very organized and professional. She is an important person in our country's justice system, and this protocol helped us to give her the respect that her title deserves.
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Divine Centered Leadership
My motive for service is to make sure that all students at BYU have the good experience that I have been blessed to have. When I found out how much of our tuition as students is subsidized by the Church, I was amazed! I also felt a little silly for complaining about how much tuition was. :) One of the first times our Comms are was talking Brandon told us that that knowledge about tuition got him serving because he wanted to “pay it forward.” I have adopted that mentality as well. How wonderful to have an outlet like BYUSA where we can “pay it forward” and thank those who came before us for the sacrifices they have made. I would feel selfish if I came to BYU, got a fabulous education, and then left without making my mark on the students here. There is no other time in our life that will be like this, so we need to make the most of it. My mom sometimes tells me that college is a time when you’re allowed to be a little bit selfish, because it’s a time where a lot of personal growth needs to occur. And what better way to grow than to serve? I already feel like I have grown and changed for the better, even with my short BYUSA experience.
Becoming like the Savior is another motive for my service. The Lord spent His mortal ministry serving and leading people to the truth. I can’t really dedicate my whole life to formally preaching the gospel, but I can spend my life sharing my testimony through service. Most of my friends are on missions right now, and I think it’s interesting that when someone won’t let them in the door they ask if they can perform any service for the individual. Often the people say yes, and as they serve they often get to share their message anyway. It’s a different approach than most the world would try, but it makes perfect sense. I always want my life to be full of service and share my testimony. I love the quote by Sister Hinckley that reads, “I don’t want to show ……” I too want the Lord to know that “I was really here and that I really lived.”
Last night I had a sleepover with Kelsey Page and a few other mutual friends. It was such a great night. In different trainings we’ve talked about how you can’t serve effectively with someone until you know their heart and you have their trust. Last night we covered all the standard “sleepover topics” and laughed and had fun, but what impressed me the most was what happened right before bed. We had all settled in and the light was off when all of sudden Kelsey said, “Oh, we forgot!” We were all trying to figure out what we forgot when Kelsey told us. She said, “We forgot to read scriptures! I can’t break my streak!” I smiled to myself, but I was impressed too. Someone suggested that we all recite our favorite scriptures and tell why they were our favorite. We did and it was a really neat experience. I saw Kelsey’s heart through that little experience and I saw someone who is very committed to the gospel, which I think is a very admirable characteristic.
And yes, I read the DCL section in the book. :)
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
RACE
A scripture that kept coming to my mind when we were talking about RACE is D&C 132:8, which reads, "Behold, mine house is a house of order, saith the Lord God, and not a house of confusion." The BYUSA mission teaches us that we are trying to build Zion communities, and Zion is a place that is done the way the Lord would have it. Through this scripture we learn that the Lord wants a house of order, and in order to keep things that way, we need to have planned ahead.
RACE helps us accomplish just that. I think that RACE is a tool that is as useful as we make it. I personally think it's a great idea because it forces us to plan ahead and seek out all options before we create our action plan. I rarely have my best ideas the first time around, and RACE helps me to create an organized plan so I can do my best in my programs. I also think that by understanding RACE, I can be more effective as a leader because once I understand it I can help others to understand it. If everyone is planning ahead and uses this tool then I think that it will save everyone a lot of stress and headaches down the road. :)
I plan to use RACE in my programs (True Blue Tuesdays, the "Redefine Service" campaigns, Service Squad, and the Brigham Awards). I am excited to get all my PDs on board and going. I sat in on the basecamp training with the Activities area today and got excited about that program. I think that basecamp and RACE together will make for some very effective programs! I like basecamp because we all can be on the same page, and I think that if we use RACE to its full capacity it could work the same way. I liked the way that Activities set up the RACE sheet as a Google Doc so everyone can see the edits. I'm going to be working with Dallin in the next few days to get that template set up on my programs as well because I think that will be very useful. I'm glad that we got the RACE lesson so early in the term so we can implement it.
RACE helps us accomplish just that. I think that RACE is a tool that is as useful as we make it. I personally think it's a great idea because it forces us to plan ahead and seek out all options before we create our action plan. I rarely have my best ideas the first time around, and RACE helps me to create an organized plan so I can do my best in my programs. I also think that by understanding RACE, I can be more effective as a leader because once I understand it I can help others to understand it. If everyone is planning ahead and uses this tool then I think that it will save everyone a lot of stress and headaches down the road. :)
I plan to use RACE in my programs (True Blue Tuesdays, the "Redefine Service" campaigns, Service Squad, and the Brigham Awards). I am excited to get all my PDs on board and going. I sat in on the basecamp training with the Activities area today and got excited about that program. I think that basecamp and RACE together will make for some very effective programs! I like basecamp because we all can be on the same page, and I think that if we use RACE to its full capacity it could work the same way. I liked the way that Activities set up the RACE sheet as a Google Doc so everyone can see the edits. I'm going to be working with Dallin in the next few days to get that template set up on my programs as well because I think that will be very useful. I'm glad that we got the RACE lesson so early in the term so we can implement it.
Friday, June 24, 2011
BYUSA Vision and Mission
This week I had the amazing opportunity to attend Adventure Experience for BYUSA. While there I was thinking about the challenge we were issued in class on Monday to consider how I can best implement the BYUSA vision in my role as an ED and also to study the mission statement. I think that the last few days have given me a lot of food for thought and I am excited to implement the ideas this coming year.
As cliche as this sounds, I love the vision of BYUSA. The vision says: As a part of a BYU education, the Student Service Association's vision is to be leaders centered on Jesus Christ, who contribute to the building of Zion communities which are united in heart and mind that there be no intellectually, spiritually, emotionally, or physically poor among us. I feel like all of us serving in BYUSA have a unique opportunity to implement this in our leadership. In order to be "leaders centered in Jesus Christ" we need to understand His attributes. Christ was the ultimate example of the "servant leader" that we talked about. In my New Testament class last term we talked about when Christ washed the feet of His disciples, a task usually reserved for the servant. If Christ, the Son of God, was willing to adopt that mentality, then we need to do the same.
The next part of the vision that I want to address talks about building Zion communities. I think that we got a glimpse of what a Zion community can be like these last few days. I have felt like we have become "of one heart and one mind." We have laughed, struggled through difficult hikes, played games, served, and talked together for the last few days and we became closer. Even though I won't be able to take my PDs to Park City, I think that those experiences can be recreated and that same feeling can permeate our office. I loved what Brother Cox told us this morning about how to make this experience great. I think that his suggestions can help us make sure that "there are no intellectually, spiritually, emotionally, or physically poor among us." If we are careful to include everyone, to listen effectively, and to serve with love we can make a difference. I think that each of us can make a difference in the world. Our difference won't be recognized nationally, but it will be recognized by individuals. And by making a difference in the lives of individuals, we are making a huge impact. Service starts a chain; once someone is served they serve someone who serves someone else. And if that goes around long enough, we can change the world.
The mission of BYUSA is wonderful as well. I think the mission captures what all of us are searching for in this organization. A few of the points mentioned in the mission really resonated with me and I'd like to discuss them. The first point is "a sense of belonging." Hearing our leaders talk about the students who sit at home alone on Friday nights made me want to reach as many students as I can. I think that BYU has so much more than academics to offer (even though the academics are great) and if we can get just one more student to have a good experience, then we have made a positive change.
The next point I want to discuss is "divine-centered leadership." I feel like when I am serving God's children, I become closer to Heavenly Father and His Son. Christ is the perfect example of service and I am striving to emulate Him. Christ loved everyone that He came in contact with, and made everyone feel valued. Can you imagine what would happen if every single person who walked into the office next year was greeted with a smile and found a leader who wants to get to know them and who loves them for who they are? BYU is a very diverse school. The students come from all kinds of backgrounds and have unique experiences that have affected personalities and opinions. I am excited to find PDs and get to know them because I know that I become smarter by listening to others. I'm the first to admit that my ideas are not always the best, and I feel like different personalities make the organization stronger. When we emulate Christ and His love for all people, our jobs become more enjoyable and we learn from those we are different from.
The last topic I want to address is a "commitment to future service." As I sat listening to our many inspirational speakers I couldn't help but look around at those around me. I felt like I was seeing future
Relief Society, Elders Quorum, Young Women, and even government leaders. BYUSA has inspired me and I plan to serve in the Church and my community long into the future. I think that once people catch the "service bug" as I sometimes call it, there is no going back. The feeling of love for those you serve and the knowledge that you are making a difference is too strong to resist. I know that many of the past BYUSA leaders have gone on to serve in many different capacities and I don't think it's a coincidence. I love the fact that here at BYU the majority of the students are LDS and we are all striving to become more like God. I love the quote by President Kimball that says "we cannot have spirituality without service." I know that is true. I have a testimony of the power of service and I am looking forward to a wonderful year serving with my fellow students.
As cliche as this sounds, I love the vision of BYUSA. The vision says: As a part of a BYU education, the Student Service Association's vision is to be leaders centered on Jesus Christ, who contribute to the building of Zion communities which are united in heart and mind that there be no intellectually, spiritually, emotionally, or physically poor among us. I feel like all of us serving in BYUSA have a unique opportunity to implement this in our leadership. In order to be "leaders centered in Jesus Christ" we need to understand His attributes. Christ was the ultimate example of the "servant leader" that we talked about. In my New Testament class last term we talked about when Christ washed the feet of His disciples, a task usually reserved for the servant. If Christ, the Son of God, was willing to adopt that mentality, then we need to do the same.
The next part of the vision that I want to address talks about building Zion communities. I think that we got a glimpse of what a Zion community can be like these last few days. I have felt like we have become "of one heart and one mind." We have laughed, struggled through difficult hikes, played games, served, and talked together for the last few days and we became closer. Even though I won't be able to take my PDs to Park City, I think that those experiences can be recreated and that same feeling can permeate our office. I loved what Brother Cox told us this morning about how to make this experience great. I think that his suggestions can help us make sure that "there are no intellectually, spiritually, emotionally, or physically poor among us." If we are careful to include everyone, to listen effectively, and to serve with love we can make a difference. I think that each of us can make a difference in the world. Our difference won't be recognized nationally, but it will be recognized by individuals. And by making a difference in the lives of individuals, we are making a huge impact. Service starts a chain; once someone is served they serve someone who serves someone else. And if that goes around long enough, we can change the world.
The mission of BYUSA is wonderful as well. I think the mission captures what all of us are searching for in this organization. A few of the points mentioned in the mission really resonated with me and I'd like to discuss them. The first point is "a sense of belonging." Hearing our leaders talk about the students who sit at home alone on Friday nights made me want to reach as many students as I can. I think that BYU has so much more than academics to offer (even though the academics are great) and if we can get just one more student to have a good experience, then we have made a positive change.
The next point I want to discuss is "divine-centered leadership." I feel like when I am serving God's children, I become closer to Heavenly Father and His Son. Christ is the perfect example of service and I am striving to emulate Him. Christ loved everyone that He came in contact with, and made everyone feel valued. Can you imagine what would happen if every single person who walked into the office next year was greeted with a smile and found a leader who wants to get to know them and who loves them for who they are? BYU is a very diverse school. The students come from all kinds of backgrounds and have unique experiences that have affected personalities and opinions. I am excited to find PDs and get to know them because I know that I become smarter by listening to others. I'm the first to admit that my ideas are not always the best, and I feel like different personalities make the organization stronger. When we emulate Christ and His love for all people, our jobs become more enjoyable and we learn from those we are different from.
The last topic I want to address is a "commitment to future service." As I sat listening to our many inspirational speakers I couldn't help but look around at those around me. I felt like I was seeing future
Relief Society, Elders Quorum, Young Women, and even government leaders. BYUSA has inspired me and I plan to serve in the Church and my community long into the future. I think that once people catch the "service bug" as I sometimes call it, there is no going back. The feeling of love for those you serve and the knowledge that you are making a difference is too strong to resist. I know that many of the past BYUSA leaders have gone on to serve in many different capacities and I don't think it's a coincidence. I love the fact that here at BYU the majority of the students are LDS and we are all striving to become more like God. I love the quote by President Kimball that says "we cannot have spirituality without service." I know that is true. I have a testimony of the power of service and I am looking forward to a wonderful year serving with my fellow students.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)