Tuesday, May 30, 2006

Spring Board Success!




What things are springtime things? I think of lawn mowing, overheating in jeans (and the subsequent transition to shorts), outdoor music, garage sales, pick-up soccer, picking up litter, haircuts, exams and that lovely extra hour that conviniently tacks itself on to the end of our days. CISV often brings minicamp in the Spring, and maybe a send-off picnic too, if we're lucky.

But has Spring ever made you think of National Junior Branch cooperation before...?

No? Well maybe it should!

Why? Well, because for the first time ever, CISV JB Canad a has held the Spring Board Training Forum! The Spring Board Training Forum (or SBoTFo) is a workshop and meeting for Junior Branch leaders from each chapter of CISV Canada. The idea is to do some practical training and to give JB leaders a chance to meet and collaborate. Ultimately, we hope that Canada's 10 chapters (and one developing chapter) will grow and develop as a result of SBoTfo.

The group of about 20 found a positive group dynamic almost immediately and virtually every person actively contributed to every session. From idea sharing to action planning, here are some of the workshops and topics covered during the weekend…


The Board Building Road Trip
An activity based on sharing challenges we’ve had and solutions we’ve found relating to topics such as activity planning, financial organization, relationship with adult board and group decision making.

Finance with Romance
A simulation activity in which participants had to review a budget and banking statements in order to clear Jack Layton of embezzlement accusations! This, of course, led us to discussion on the importance of diligence and organization when it comes to JB finances.

Junior Branch Development Committee Chapter Buddies
The JBDC (Junior Branch Development Committee) has started a new chapter buddy system, in which each chapter is paired with another chapter. Chapter buddies is a way to maintain communication and encourage collaboration between chapters and also a way to strengthen the support network for JB leaders.

JB Action Plans!
After brainstorming some central chapter challenges with buddy chapters, each participant had a chance to design an ACTION PLAN related to the specific challenges in his or her chapter.

Facilitation!
Facilitation? What’s the deal? This activity focused on good facilitation skills and how to deal with some of the common challenges that come up when facilitating. How does one deal with Tangential Timmy, Too-much-information Izzy, Attention-Seeking Sam and Makes-Bracelets Mike?

It is not very often that a new program is created and probably even less often that such a program is so successful on its first run. I think that over the next few months those who were not at the workshop will have the chance feel the impact of it as the juniors in their own chapters take the ideas that were born at the SBoTFo and put them into action.

Finally, on behalf of the NJRs, I would like to thank everybody who was involved in the Spring Board Training Forum as well as everyone who helped make it happen. Putting it together has been an incredible experience and it couldn’t have happened without YOU!