Our Personal Progress Plan
by Holly Schwendiman / ga11142007
 

I'm following a successful program in my last ward where I was Young Women's President.  We started with a Pizza Party. The girls earned their "ticket" to come by finishing one thing in the Personal Progress book - be it an experience or project. By chance, this coincides with Young Women In Excellence just as it did in our last ward so it's a great introduction to the idea of working toward something without being too overwhelming to start. Further, because it's so close to Young Women In Excellence, the girls are already working to have a project ready for that night so it works well for both events. Our motivators are not theme specific, rather they follow holiday and season stuff. It's a great jump start for the next level.

At the Pizza party (ours will be in December before the holidays) we play games and just have an evening of food and fun. We emphasize how much progress each girl has already made on their own program building on their success. At that celebration we introduce what and when the next celebration will be. And really talk it up telling them if they think this was fun to do wait until they hear how big a deal the next party will be sharing what details we have planned or are working on.

Our next party will be at the start of summer and it's going to be a luau theme. The party is planned by assigned members of the presidency (in this case myself as Laurel advisor and Secretary as we both volunteered) and girls who have already earned their medallion. It will include food, games, entertainment, gifts and reminders/motivators that follow the luau theme.  Because this is a BIG event/party, the requirement is also big. Every girl must choose one value to completely finish to qualify. Most already have a few things done, others may have all six experiences and one project to complete. But the point is they are making a choice to attend this party and are learning accountability. Because there is always a minimum of three months (or more depending on how often you choose to have one) there is plenty of time to work on and complete the goals as well as feed a steady stream of encouragement and motivation. In this ward we've decided we'll do two parties a year, the Luau at the start of summer and another party sometime in the fall before holidays. We pull all the stops on these events and really make it fun by ordering luau items from Oriental trader for little handouts, themed invitations, decorations and gifts (we made ankle bracelets in our last ward with the color of the value earned), etc.

In my last ward the first big party (also a luau) was such a hit that not only did almost every girl choose to come, they talked about it so much that it really fed a desire to make it to the next celebration. The leaders got right into it too and although my secretary spearheaded things, she had a list of other leaders waiting and wanting to help her with the fun. We had one laurel that would not have received her medallion if it hadn't been for the extra help and push of these parties. She wanted to do it but it always slipped on the back burner and this kept it in the forefront.  Making and displaying the poster is also a HUGE help.