Minutes of July 12, 2007 Teleconference

Those in attendance:

• Channon Big Horn, Lower Missouri Representative, Sidney
• Andrea Ceartin, Federal Women’s SEPM, Glendive
• Paula Gunderson, Chair, Upper Missouri Representative, Choteau
• Jodi Hastings, Secretary, Lower Yellowstone Representative, Hardin
• Bart Huber, Advisor, Bozeman
• Robert Moler, State Office Representative
• Val Oksendahl, SEPM, Asian American/Pacific Islander, Scobey
• Julie Sacks, Headwaters Representative, Whitehall

Those absent:

• Stacy Denny-Eneboe, Special Emphasis Program Manager (SEPM) Native American/Alaska Native, Conrad
• Valerie Robertson, SEPM Black, Billings
• Carlos Rodriques, SEPM Hispanic, Ronan
• John Bowe Columbia Basin Representative, Deer Lodge
• John Blaine, SEPM Disabled, Missoula
• David Kascht, Advisor, Bozeman

Meeting started at 9:10 p.m.

Purpose of this meeting was to determine how to proceed with the Montana Mentor Program. By today, we should have had a number of folks contact us regarding interest in becoming a mentee.

Main discussions were on the protocol to get in touch with folks that have been identified as potential candidates. When making the contact it is advised to mention the current 12 Montana mentors, or perhaps narrowing the discussion down to two or three as to who might fit the mentee's application.

ACTION ITEM Paula agreed to email the additional email invite prepared by John Bowe, to all members.

Andrea has taken the on line course entitled “Effective Mentoring”. This will be a requirement for the mentors, so they can gain the knowledge of the do’s and don’t s of becoming a mentor.

The committee’s goal is to have interaction with the Mentors so there is structure to the Mentor program. It is also their desire to follow up in six months and determine how the program is working.

Before moving into steps to do this, there was more discussion on the program itself. Perhaps there appears to be low interest due to a marketing issue. Perhaps calling the program Career Strategist or another title may make it more appealing. A point was also made there is plenty of informal mentoring occurring.

There is need for goals to gauge the success of the Montana Mentor Program.

ACTION ITEM Area Representatives will contact folks who have been with the agency three years or less. This will be done by July 27, 2007. The representatives’ will utilize the mentee questionnaire to gain background information on the mentees.

ACTION ITEM Area Representatives will send their list of names to Paula and cc: Andrea by July 30, 2007. Another teleconference date will then be determined.

ACTION ITEM Paula will get Robert Moler his list of contacts by end of today. (July 12, 2007.)

ACTION ITEM Paula will email all mentors to explain the next steps of the program and encourage them to take the “Effective Mentoring” training.

Teleconference Meeting September 11, 2007.

Meeting adjourned 10:30.

Sincerely submitted,
Jodi Hastings

Last Modified: 10/01/2007