Thank Your Mentor Day, 2006

[KathieK]

Did you know that the second highest topic of concern to FRC teams is recruiting and retaining mentors? Every year FRC teams fall by the wayside because of a lack of mentors...

January is National Mentoring Month and January 25, 2006 marks the 3rd annual Thank Your Mentor day.

The mentors who work with you on your teams are giving up time with their families, spending money out of their own pockets and giving up vacation days to travel to competitions with you, but they do it because they see the value of the FIRST program.

This month, at some point during the busy Build season, take some time off from reading ChiefDelphi and write a thank you note to each of the mentors on your team. Better yet, at your next meeting, shake their hand, look them in the eye, and let them know how they have impacted your life. Gather your teammates and plan a special potluck dinner on January 25. Write a Letter to the Editor of your local paper thanking your mentors. Vow to become a mentor yourself someday so you can "pay it forward."

Thank your mentors. Then thank them again.