Getting to Know and Grow Cabrini Connections and Tutor/Mentor Connection

[Kate Lulinski]

On my first day, I am excited to get started on learning the ins and outs of CC-T/MC and familiarizing myself with the vast web of knowledge shared here. First and foremost, I can see the importance of NETWORKING here, and I am happy to combine my network with CC-T/MC's in order to add to the growth and development of these great programs. I can see that there is alot of potential to expand CC-T/MC's network and I think one of my goals while I am here will be to increase the awareness of the CC and T/MC programs overall in order to build the network. I also plan on doing research to find people and companies who would be key contacts and assets to the programs by asking and answering the questions:

Who are the best people to be informing?
What is the best way to inform them?
What are innovative ways to clearly, efficiently, and effectively spread the message of the programs overall?
How are we going to implement these communication strategies to the best of our abilities?

I am also going to be focusing my energy on raising awareness, interest, and donations for the upcoming CC events: Martini Madness and the conference in November. The Brainstorming has begun! I would love to discuss this further with anyone else who is interested.

Moving myself along the path from the uninformed to the informed, thus enabling myself to inform others (woo! that's alot of "informing") is my primary goal for the next week. I can see that there are alot of great people working together here to make a positive impact and I am really happy to be a part of what seems to be a wonderful intelligent group of people.

My Network Map:

[Daniel Bassill]

If everyone will take time to create a map of their personal network, they will see that they have friends and connections in places who might already share the same concern for kids living in poverty as we do, such as the Ingalls Hospital, or those living in Southern Illinois and the St. Louis area.

Communicating a message of purpose, on an on-going basis is the secret to engaging members of a network into a common goal. For instance, since school is now starting, all of our messages focus on volunteer recruitment, and helping tutor/mentor programs get the year started. Anyone who can either be a volunteer, or spread the message to other potential volunteers, or even give a donation, is a potential recipient of this message. If they pass it on, they inform others, and this increases the impact of the message.

[Bradley Troast]

Welcome, Kate! I didn't get to meet you this morning, but I look forward to meeting you next week. We are glad you have chosen to spend your time with T/MC and we are determined to make the most of it! Have a good weekend.

[Daniel Bassill]

Thanks Kate. You're on target. I've created a variety of graphics to illustrate ideas. The one below shows how you and others will share what you are learning, so that more people are informed, and they begin to use their own time, talent and resources to reach out to the people they know with the same information.

[Karina Walker]

So glad to meet you and have you here Kate! I am looking forward to working with you on these shared goals!