Group Development

Right now I think Comms is in the "storming/norming" stage. We formed in April and continued to do so in June. I don't think we have had any huge explosions, but I will admit that I have learned some things about others the hard way. :) We all have different senses of humor. I accidentally said something to one of the girls and it offended her a little bit. It was something that I would be okay if someone said it to me, but I had to learn that it wasn't okay with her. And that is just fine. We are a stronger group because of our differences, and can achieve more by relying on each other's strengths. I think we are also in the "norming" phase. We have more inside jokes than I can count, and it has been a constant party (a constant hardworking party, of course) to work with Brandon, Sarah, Olivia, Karen, and of course, you Tamara. We are learning the working styles of each other and there are expectations that we all are creating for each other.

I don't think there is one way for our areas to maintain the "performing" stage of the group development model. Like we talked about in class, the dynamics of a group are constantly changing. Just like the dynamics of a family change every time a new child is born, the dynamics of our areas will change as we get new volunteers and work with different people. The trick is to get us to be in the performing stage more than the storming. :) We talked in class about conflict and how it isn't always a bad thing. It can't be a totally bad thing, because "storming" is a normal phase. I think that our individual areas can stay in the performing stage for the majority of the time if we are willing to accept each other's differences. We need to realize that our ideas are not always going to be the best and support the best idea even if it isn't ours. 

Volunteers

I volunteer because I love the feeling that I get when I serve someone. Today in class Phil talked about how he wasn't sure if what Usher and Elmo said was totally true. Usher and Elmo defined a volunteer as someone who helps someone without getting anything in return. I think that this isn't completely accurate. I know that when I serve I feel like I get more out of the experience than the person I'm serving. I guess it's a little selfish that I volunteer sometimes to feel that feeling, but that is one reason that I do.

I also volunteer because I appreciate the friendship that I gain from serving with people. There is a special relationship that is formed from serving that cannot be formed any other way. I also volunteer because I feel a responsibility to serve. I'm glad that Phil brought up the fact that over 70% of our tuition is subsidized. I love the fact that BYUSA was established as a "gift office." I feel like BYUSA is a wonderful way for students to give back, because we are all about giving back. I haven't met anyone in the office whose whole purpose is to build a resume. We all are here because we love it.

I contribute to the culture of the office by trying to exemplify the BYUSA vision and also the vision that Communications has established. We all try to make the office professional, but I also think it is important for us to be personable. I came into the BYUSA office once and I was welcomed and felt valued, but the people I talked to told me that they would contact me again and never did. I understand that they probably got very busy, but I haven't forgotten that. I want every volunteer that I talk to to feel valued and welcomed, and then I don't want to lose contact. I want everyone to have a chance to get involved and really catch the vision of what we're trying to do. If we all act as we know Christ would act, then we will go after "the one lost sheep" and make sure that everyone who comes into the office leaves a better person.

I think that we as individuals can make a bigger difference when we talk to individuals than we could if we try to do campus-wide activities. Campus events are extremely important, but I think that we can make a bigger difference when we work with individuals. We talked in class about how sometimes we can be walking on campus or at an event and still feel alone. But when we take the time to talk to individuals, we can change that. I think it is sometimes so easy to go to class, walk to the next building, attend the next class, etc. and just get caught up in our own routine. It's not that we're trying to keep to ourselves, it just is easier. But when we extend ourselves we can make a difference. I am so excited to be leading the redefine service campaigns because I believe in it. Service does not need to be huge things. Small things like smiling, holding a door, sending a nice text, etc. can be just as effective and take a lot less time. If we all engage in these small acts of service then I think that we will be building Zion here at BYU.

Finances

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.

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.

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. :)