Spanish Handout for LDS Leaders

Here is a handout made by Brother Wallace to help us with our Spanish. With our new Spanish Branch and the large number of individuals who speak Spanish in our area, this sheet should help you familiarize yourself with the basics of the Spanish Language. I've added a link for future reference on the left hand sidebar.

https://docs.google.com/document/edit?id=1jZ-V1DfV4PvdJ_6ZfGE809Z5PDMmw5TCkSYFmQM0xhw&hl=en&authkey=CPm8y8gK

Going High Tech!! Well, trying too :S

1. I posted our Young Women Rosters on the right hand side bar at the top. All leaders will be able to access the leader roster. Only the Presidents and Secretaries will be able to edit any information. So please let them know if there are some changes and/or additions that need to be made. Being that these documents contain all of our private contact information I have made settings so ONLY the YW leaders can view it. I did this by putting in the email addresses located on our YW Leader Roster. If any of these email addresses are incorrect or different from the ones you use, you will not be able to view the roster or the calendar. Let your secretaries know so they can make the changes needed so you can have access to all this COOL stuff.
2. I've given you all access to view our stake calendar at the bottom of the blog. I just realized that I have been the only one that has had access to the calendar this whole time!! Sorry I'm learning all this stuff as I go--bear with me. Secretaries and Presidents can make changes and add information. Caprock Ward emailed me their yearly calendar so I have their activities listed on the calendar. Secretaries, feel free to add your activities as well. Especially those activities that you would like some stake involvement.
3. Secretaries and Presidents, please email me when you have made any changes. I've adjusted the settings so I should receive an email when someone makes a change and/or addition (at least I think I have--we'll see if it works). Until I know for sure I would appreciate a quick email letting me know you made some changes and/or additions on either the rosters or the calendar.
4. I've also put up a roster for all the YW girls in our stake on the right side bar too. Only the Presidents and Secretaries again will be able to edit any information, but all leaders have access to this roster. There are different sheets on this roster. The first sheet has all the YW in our stake, the remaining sheets are of the individual wards/branches. Presidents and Secretaries, when making changes and/or additions please make changes on the 1st sheet AND the sheet with your ward and/or branch. Thanks ladies. I'm hoping this will make less work for all of us in the long run. When I ask for an updated roster, please go to the google docs links on this blog to make your changes. Feel free to make your own rosters and dress them up how you like, but we will use the rosters on this blog for the stake. You can use them for yourself too.
5. Have fun. This is all in an effort fulfill the goal we have to have better connections with each other!

Young Women Leader and Girl Surveys

Hi Leaders!

I hope you are all doing well:). I was hoping that those of you who haven't had time to fill out a survery about yourself would take a minute and get them to me ASAP. I've haven't received very many and it's partly been my fault for not following up more closely. Those who meet in the 58th street building I have not forgotten about you. I haven't had a minute to swing by your building to pick up papers in your drop box when the building is unlocked.

I've attached a survey for you leaders and for your young women. I haven't received many of the yw surveys back either. It would be WONDERFUL if we could get all the surveys (leaders and yw) in by Nov. 7th. You can just email me your answers, mail me your surverys, drop the surveys off in the yw drop boxes located in either building, call me with your answers (I'll be calling you if I don't hear from you) whatever works for you. Then if you could get me a picture of you and/or your family that would be double wonderful!! Do what you need to do to get the surveys from your girls. There may be some that you will just have to call. Thank you sisters. I'm sorry to add yet another thing to your to-do list. I APPRECIATE all that you do!! Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns about any of this.

Cami Clifton
Stake YW Secretary
806-416-0611
cami.clifton@gmail.com

4915 Harvard Drive
Lubbock, TX 79416

Links to surveys:
YW Leaders:
https://docs.google.com/document/edit?id=1YzppAPYVYTMvXiQLcfgnC0TDUmgzAM7XYr612MeLWyI&hl=en&authkey=CNSI45YJ


Young Women Girls:
https://docs.google.com/document/edit?id=1WV6PEX8rj1rWVik6LyRwnIRucqcBo2PQpJImxpHrG5g&hl=en&authkey=CJvd66EN

General Young Women Presidency Message

Be an Example in Faith and Purity

In the recent general conference, Sister Mary N. Cook invited leaders to set a clear example for young women to follow. "If we have one hand on the rod and one hand in the world, we put our children and youth in danger of losing their way on the path. If our example is confusing, then in Jacob’s words, we lose “the confidence of [our] children, because of [our] bad examples" (Jacob 2:35). Parents, grandparents and leaders, your message must be clear. Clarity can only result from having both hands on the rod and from living by the truths found in the scriptures and the words of latter-day prophets. You may not be raising a prophet as Lucy was, but you are certainly raising tomorrow’s leaders, and your actions are just as tangibly linked to their faith."

Leaders are invited to view this clip from Sister Cook and to study the full text of her talk.

http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-1298-25,00.html

To watch a video of the talk go to the link below. You can also read other messages from previous months there as well. Enjoy!!

http://lds.org/pa/display/0,17884,6821-1,00.html

Stake Young Women in Excellence

November 3rd we will be hosting a Young Women in Excellence for the entire Lubbock Stake. YW Presidents and Secretaries, you should have received a flyer for the event in your email so you can make copies for your young women. Please emphasize that this event is for young women AND their PARENTS. It will be a special evening where we will be focusing on the spirit of Personal Progress.

Items for the Meeting:

* Recognition of girls, leaders, and mothers that have received their Young Women Medallion

* Testimonies from one young woman in each of the wards and branches

* Recognition of young women, leaders, and mothers who have received their Young Women Medallion--Please contact Sister Wallace if you have girls that need to be recognized

* Special musical number from the Regal Park Ward Young Women

* Melissa Kimball with be our keynote speaker

Link to Flyer to print off:

https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B6yAWUtcJ9TbMjE0MDc3MmQtNTZlNi00NjA2LTllYWMtYTNiMDU1NTM0Yjk3&hl=en&authkey=CIq35tUF

Regal Park Missionary Activity

We recently had a really wonderful missionary activity. I got the idea for the relay portion from www.alittletipsy.com/2010/09/young-women-activity.html.

We started off with a relay. I had prepared an individualized mission call for each of the girls, complete with a unique mission assigned to them and the actual wording from the mission calls that the Church extends. Each girl had to find their mission call and open it.

Then they had to get dressed in missionary attire. I rounded up some elastic waist skirts and cardigans so they would be quick to take on and off.

Next they had to find their mission on a world map and place an arrow there.

Then they made their way to the MTC where they had to memorize one phrase in Spanish, and find the reference for D&C 4 (I gave them a print out of the verses and they had to open in the scriptures to where it was.)

Last really was the hardest part…make a paper airplane and land it in the box, arriving at your mission. The first team to have all team members arrive at the mission won. The girls really had a lot of fun. My husband was skeptical when I told him about the activity, thinking that the older girls would think it was silly. But I was proud to report that the Laurel class won!

Next was certainly the highlight of the evening. We invited the sister missionaries from the Canyon West ward to come and share with us. When I asked them, I gave them very little direction, mostly just saying that I would like them to talk about serving a mission (how they decided to go, what it was like for a sister, etc). I didn’t want them to convince the girls to go, knowing that decision is very personal and individual, just to share something about missions with them. I came away from the evening so inspired, with a great testimony of the inspiration that missionaries receive. Their message was perfect. They shared about how neither of them wanted to serve originally, but how they changed their mindset to ask what the Lord wanted from them instead of what they wanted with their life. They both shared how they loved their missions. They invited the girls to prepare to serve, because even if they decide not to serve, they will be more prepared for service in the Church, for marriage, and for life. It was a wonderful message, encouraging them to live now so that their future will be easier and clearer when they get there. I was so grateful for the spirit that the sisters brought. It helped me realize the need for more spiritual Wednesday night activities.

After the sisters finished, we had some time to write to the missionaries serving in our ward. Talking with the other leaders afterwards, we found that one of the reasons we liked the activity so much was because it was so balanced…the relay was fun, loud, silly, and crazy. The sisters shared a powerful and spiritual message. Then we were able to end with the girls quietly talking while writing letters. I think all of the girls really enjoyed themselves.

Monster Mash Regional Stake Dance

There has been some confusion about whether or not the dance scheduled on Oct. 16th was happening since we just had a dance.

This dance is still happening.

This is a regional dance and I believe the Abilene Stake (I could be wrong) is in charge of it. They have worked really hard on planning it. Please inform your youth. Your SYC members were informed about the dance last night. Refer to the flyer for more information. Here is a link to a pdf file if you would like to print some copies off for your youth ( I couldn't figure out how to attach a file on blogger, I would be open to any feedback if anyone knows how to do that). Let me know if the link doesn't work and I'll email you the pdf file.

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=gmail&attid=0.1&thid=12b5a05d6bb1213a&mt=application/pdf&url=https://mail.google.com/mail/?ui%3D2%26ik%3D70900d4a86%26view%3Datt%26th%3D12b5a05d6bb1213a%26attid%3D0.1%26disp%3Dattd%26realattid%3Df_gen7vo0n0%26zw&sig=AHIEtbRuukdj-gtrXbFG25HVgTp5hiDbfg&pli=1

FYI: Presidents, I have put your email addresses in the system so you will receive an email whenever something new is posted. I would put everyone's email in, but it will only let me put in 10--bummer. Presidents if this is a problem, let me know and I will take your email off. One reason for the blog is so your email doesn't get bombarded. If anyone knows how to create one email address that sends to many email addresses I would love to hear from you. Following this blog would be an idea too for those that would like to do that.

PP on the Internet

Personal Progress Moves to the Internet!

Now young women can do their Personal Progress on the computer by going to personalprogress.lds.org. Each young woman can link to all of the scriptures, track her progress, submit her plans and report when she is finished with each step as she earns her Young Womanhood Recognition award and medallion. Plus, she can keep her journal securely online and print out the entire book (including her journal) when she is finished.

Parents and leaders may approve the plans and projects of their young women. Leaders will be able to track the progress of the entire Young Women class.

Go to personalprogress.lds.org and start today!

What is the YW History Report

I just received an email from one of our YW leaders asking what a YW History Report is. Assuming that she is not the only one with that question, here is the answer:

Near the end of the year--around late November or early December--your ward clerk will be asking for a history of happening in young womens over the past year. He will use the history he receives from you to compile a history for the ward which will then be sent to the stake where they will use the information they get from the wards to compile a stake history which will then be sent to church headquarters in Salt Lake City.

Typically the wark clerk will ask the Presidents of the auxiliaries for these reports and then the Presidents can ask for the assistance of their secretaries to help them compile a history. This blog, we hope, will help you compile your histories for your wards and keep a running history of the good things that are going on in our stake.

Here is the link from lds.org if you want to read more in detail. I've included excerpts below from there:

www.lds.org/AnnualHistory

Purpose
The purpose of the annual history program is to bring members closer to Christ and to collect the contemporary history of the Church by gathering, remembering, preserving, and sharing experiences of how God is working in members’ lives and in His kingdom.

The annual history, comprised of stake and ward histories, helps fulfill the Lord’s charge: “Continue in writing and making a history of all the important things . . . concerning my church; . . . And also, my servants who are abroad in the earth should send forth the accounts of their stewardships” (D&C 69:3, 5).

Preparing the Annual History

1. A narrative summary of the work of the Church and faith of the members in the geographical area of the stake or ward. This summary includes challenges, achievements, and important events and meetings. Lists of ordinances performed and changes in officers may also be included. Stake and ward clerks should include faith-promoting events taking place in the lives of members and in Church units. They may draw from the following sources to create the narrative and, where appropriate, may include excerpts from or photocopies of the following:

Notes or reports or reminiscences
Extracts from minutes and so forth. (These require the clearance of the stake president or bishop and should not contain sacred or confidential material.)
Stake, ward, quorum, and auxiliary organization reports
Correspondence
Photographs (preferably black and white, with place, name, and date identification)
Newspaper clippings (preferably photocopies)

We're Back!!

We are about to get this blog up and running again. MORE to come soon!!

New Personal Progress Website!!!

The church has put together a new website for personal progress!!

The new online Personal Progress will help you to:

• Work on value experiences and projects on the computer.


• Find online resources to enhance value experiences.


• Keep track of completed experiences and projects.


• Keep an online Personal Progress journal.


• Notify parents and leaders when you've completed each step.


• Print a completed book (including your journal) when you are finished.


• You can access the new Personal Progress booklet right now at LDS.org.

This is SO EXCITING!! Please let your girls know. I've also sent a message on our Youth Facebook page to let the girls know. Click on the link below to access it. I've also added a link on our blog on the left hand sidebar for you to access it.

http://www.lds.org/pa/yw/pp/cs/index.html

The Power of Believing in Someone

Somehow this reminded me of our young women :) ~delisa

As she stood in front of her 5th grade class on the very first day of school, she told the children an untruth. Like most teachers, she looked at her students and said that she loved them all the same. However, that was impossible, because there in the front row, slumped in his seat, was a little boy named Teddy Stoddard.

Mrs. Thompson had watched Teddy the year before and noticed that he did not play well with the other children, that his clothes were messy and that he constantly needed a bath. In addition, Teddy could be unpleasant. It got to the point where Mrs. Thompson would actually take delight in marking his papers with a broad red pen, making bold X's and then putting a big 'F' at the top of his papers.

At the school where Mrs. Thompson taught, she was required to review each child's past records and she put Teddy's off until last. However, when she reviewed his file, she was in for a surprise.
Teddy's first grade teacher wrote, 'Teddy is a bright child with a ready laugh. He does his work neatly and has good manners... he is a joy to be around..'

His second grade teacher wrote, 'Teddy is an excellent student, well liked by his classmates, but he is troubled because his mother has a terminal illness and life at home must be a struggle.'
His third grade teacher wrote, 'His mother's death has been hard on him. He tries to do his best, but his father doesn't show much interest, and his home life will soon affect him if some steps aren't taken.'

Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote, 'Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school. He doesn't have many friends and he sometimes sleeps in class.'

By now, Mrs. Thompson realized the problem and she was ashamed of herself. She felt even worse when her students brought her Christmas presents, wrapped in beautiful ribbons and bright paper, except for Teddy's. His present was clumsily wrapped in the heavy, brown paper that he got from a grocery bag. Mrs. Thompson took pains to open it in the middle of the other presents. Some of the children started to laugh when she found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the stones missing, and a bottle that was one-quarter full of perfume.. But she stifled the children's laughter when she exclaimed how pretty the bracelet was, putting it on, and dabbing some of the perfume on her wrist. Teddy Stoddard stayed after school that day just long enough to say, 'Mrs. Thompson, today you smelled just like my Mom used to..'

After the children left, she cried for at least an hour. On that very day, she quit teaching reading, writing and arithmetic. Instead, she began to teach children. Mrs. Thompson paid particular attention to Teddy. As she worked with him, his mind seemed to come alive. The more she encouraged him, the faster he responded. By the end of the year, Teddy had become one of the smartest children in the class and, despite her lie that she would love all the children the same, Teddy became one of her 'teacher's pets..'

A year later, she found a note under her door, from Teddy, telling her that she was the best teacher he ever had in his whole life.

Six years went by before she got another note from Teddy. He then wrote that he had finished high school, third in his class, and she was still the best teacher he ever had in life.
Four years after that, she got another letter, saying that while things had been tough at times, he'd stayed in school, had stuck with it, and would soon graduate from college with the highest of honors. He assured Mrs. Thompson that she was still the best and favorite teacher he had ever had in his whole life.

Then four more years passed and yet another letter came. This time he explained that after he got his bachelor's degree, he decided to go a little further. The letter explained that she was still the best and favorite teacher he ever had. But now his name was a little longer.... The letter was signed, Theodore F. Stoddard, MD.

The story does not end there. You see, there was yet another letter that spring. Teddy said he had met this girl and was going to be married. He explained that his father had died a couple of years ago and he was wondering if Mrs. Thompson might agree to sit at the wedding in the place that was usually reserved for the mother of the groom. Of course, Mrs. Thompson did. And guess what? She wore that bracelet, the one with several rhinestones missing. Moreover, she made sure she was wearing the perfume that Teddy remembered his mother wearing on their last Christmas together.

They hugged each other, and Dr. Stoddard whispered in Mrs. Thompson's ear, 'Thank you Mrs. Thompson for believing in me. Thank you so much for making me feel important and showing me that I could make a difference.'

Mrs. Thompson, with tears in her eyes, whispered back.. She said, 'Teddy, you have it all wrong. You were the one who taught me that I could make a difference. I didn't know how to teach until I met you.'

(For you that don't know, Teddy Stoddard is the Dr at Iowa Methodist in Des Moines that has the Stoddard Cancer Wing.)

Warm someone's heart today. . . pass this along. I love this story so very much, I cry every time I read it. Just try to make a difference in someone's life today, tomorrow, just 'do it'.

Web Sites for the Youth

Here are some good websites for our youth to know about. Please let your girls know about them.

youth.lds.org

and

newera.lds.org

Personal Progress Tracker for Leaders

Hi sisters, I thought this tracker might be helpful for some of you. This is a tracking sheet including the value virtue where you can keep track of all of your girls' personal progress on one sheet.

Here is the link in PDF format:

http://downloads.sugardoodle.net/PersonalProgressTracking2010.pdf

or in excel format so you can edit it to your liking:

http://downloads.sugardoodle.net/PersonalProgressTracking2010.xls

Modest Dresses for School Dances

Hi ladies,

Do you have daughters looking for prom/dance/wedding dresses? When I was in high school I remember the difficult task of finding a modest dress. So, go figure, I got my degree in Clothing, Textiles, and Design! I am looking for anyone who wants a custom dress made. I make my own patterns so you can bring me pictures of what you want and I will whip it up! Or, if you have a dress, I can do alterations and(modesty) modifications. Email me or give me a call :)

Marcie Meredithmarciemeredith@live.com
208-860-7309

YW Program Updates

2010 Mutual Theme: Be Strong and of Good Courage

"Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest" (Joshua 1:9)

A new DVD for youth, A Brand New Year 2010, is being delivered to Church units worldwide. The program features international youth testifying of the standards in For the Strength of Youth . Ideas for using the DVD and introducing the 2010 Mutual theme are available for leaders(http://www.lds.org/pa/display/0,17884,8784-1,00.html). Video segments will be available for download on youth.lds.org beginning January 1.

Improved and Revised Personal Progress Materials

The revised Personal Progress materials will be available through Distribution Services on Friday, January 15, 2010 (United States and Canada). Young Women leaders are asked to consider the following as they order:

Be conservative in your initial order so all wards and stakes will have access to the new materials.
Approve all purchases with your priesthood leaders prior to placing your order.
Stake and ward leaders should coordinate the purchase of materials to avoid duplication of efforts and possible waste.

Click (http://www.lds.org/pa/display/0,17884,6884-1,00.html) for more information on the new Personal Progress Program.

January Presidency Message

I hope the holidays have been memorable and special this year for you all. What an amazing and special time it is to live in Lubbock, Texas. We hope you have gained a testimony as we have as a Young Women Presidency of the vision the Stake Presidency has for our stake. We have been praying as a presidency and have been seeking the Lord’s counsel in what direction He would like us to take in the young women’s program to help build our stake and bring more souls to Christ. What a blessing it is that we can start the year off with this incredible vision fresh on our minds. We encourage you to think of ways you can build your young women’s program in your individual wards and branches to better align it with the vision our Stake Presidency has for our stake. As you strive to do this, remember the testimony of President Shumway that we all belong here. Let your young women know this! Take every opportunity to let them know that they are loved and needed.
We love you sisters and are excited about this New Year. We will do our best to keep you posted on any important announcements. We love you and know that we think of you often and are here to serve you!!

Love, the Young Women Stake Presidency