Can Volunteers be Paid?

As homeschool groups grow and change, leaders face new challenges and responsibilities. It is so important to gain the knowledge needed to make right decisions and fulfill legal requirements. Knowing where to go to find truly reliable information is critical.

Carol Topp, CPA is just such an expert to go to gain the financial knowledge you need. She offers many ways to learn what is needed for homeschool groups and co-ops through books, private consultations, webinars, speaking engagements and her blog. One of Carol's recent blog posts answers an important question from a homeschool group leader about paying workers and volunteers within the co-op. The situation and Carol's wise answer can be found here:
http://www.homeschoolcpa.com/paying-co-op-leaders/

P.S. Tax time is upon us and Carol has tons of info on homeschool groups and co-ops filing with the IRS correctly, as well. It is all at HomeschoolCPA.com.

Our e-book, One By One: The Homeschool Leader's Guide to Motivating Your Members, is found at www.HomeschoolGroupLeader.com.

Free Leadership Webinar Tomorrow

We heard amazing reports coming from the Texas Home School Coalition (THSC) Leadership Seminar with Doug Bartsch. We are excited to pass on the news that THSC is offering a live webinar with Doug tomorrow for free. Here is the information for you:

Would You Like to Improve Your Ability to Lead Others?

Join THSC in this FREE Leadership Webinar with Doug Bartsch,
THSC's 2011 Leadership Training Conference Keynote Speaker
Online at 7 p.m.
This Tuesday, January 18

THSC was blessed beyond measure as Pastor Bartsch, a homeschool husband and father, shared with our Leadership Training Conference attendees' leadership skills and techniques he has learned from both his own experience as a minister and some exceptional mentors that God has brought into his life. A life-long learner with a passion for helping other leaders, Doug will bring practical insights that can transform your life and ministry.

His workshops were so beneficial to our LTC attendees that many who missed this session, Positioned for Effective Leadership, asked to have it repeated, so . . .

THSC is excited to once again welcome Doug Bartsch and
provide leaders with this wonderful opportunity!

In this informative workshop, Doug will use 2 Timothy 2:1-10 to help you discover your spiritual job description and teach you how to structure your ministry to fulfill God's plans.

Leading effectively can be challenging, so don't miss out!

Join us online tomorrow night; reserve your webinar seat now . . .

Too Busy to be the Expert

Even during this busy Christmas season, homeschool group leaders are often contacted by prospective homeschooling families that are exploring the possibility of educating their children at home. It can be difficult to keep your family priorities in place, take care of current homeschool group commitments, AND help these people understand their next steps.

Keep it simple. Take down their name, phone number and email address. Tell them you will send them some great information by email to get them started. Then invite them to call you back when they have read these and have definitely made their decision to homeschool.

What can you send them? Here are some suggestions:

1. This Mary Pride article is a great one to answer basic questions and start them on their way: http://www.home-school.com/Articles/GetStarted.html


2. A link to your state and local homeschool laws and regulations (usually found at your state homeschool group's website)


3. A link to your homeschool group website or web page that explains what your local group is all about.
   

Send this email out to the family as quickly as possible. Don't think about it too hard or too long. Give yourself permission not to expend all your energy on someone who isn't homeschooling yet. You are there to get them information, not convince them.

Believe us, it is tempting and easy to soak up tons of time chatting with someone on the phone who's just gathering information. And then they never even show up to any of your events or meetings. Do yourself and your group a favor, and save the bulk of your energy for those who are already committed to the journey of homeschooling and to your local group.

Have wonderful Christmas season,
Denise & Kristen

Make it Personal

No one can do what you can like you can. Your life experiences give you an ability to relate to the homeschool families in your group like no else. That is what makes you a great homeschool group leader.

Your story--the way you overcame challenges, the why you made decisions, the learning-curve you went through, your personality and personal growth, your strengths, your weaknesses, your talents, and the things you love--all make you unique. These things make up your story. They make up you.

Thank you for being you. Thank you for your dedication to serve the homeschooling community. You are making a difference. Your sacrifice of time and energy is admirable. It is because of your leadership and support that many families can have the strength to continue in their calling.

Our heart here at Homeschool Group Leader is to applaud you today. You are amazing!

Here is an inspiring video to remind you of how influential your heart of service truly is. Today, embrace your story and inspire others with a personal touch.

http://www.stservicemovie.com/


Have a fabulous Thanksgiving!
Denise & Kristen

Homeschool Group Leader

P.S. Watch for a special discount on our book, One by One, coming up soon!

7 Habits of Very Organized People

Just a few recent stints of de-cluttering my home makes me feel like I have been set free from mental bondage. LOL. Yes, I keep things way too long, always thinking that I am going to do something with them someday.

But the piles grow and become all-too-overwhelming after awhile. After so many times of writing it on my "to-do-list-that-never-gets-done," I begin to just ignore the ideas/piles and the pressure they bring. So, for today, I am being a realist and throwing out or giving away several things that I know I'll never get done.

In the process I found this printed ebook, "Tips to Get Organized and to Declutter Your Home." Skimming it quickly, I was reminded of an advertisement for a book I saw recently that claimed the secret to success. The premise was to just do what you already know to do! Ah, yes, that would work, wouldn't it!

Well, to summarize this whole ebooklet for you before I declutter it into the trash. . . just take every room or problem area that you fight and put this word in front of it--SIMPLIFY. Yep, that's it.

Simplify your routine.
Simplify your possessions.
Simplify your meals.
Simplify your cleaning.

Simplify, simplify, simplify. It sounds so simple, doesn't it?

The last page did have this interesting list, and I just have to pass it on. (I could not find the author listed anywhere.)


The 7 Habits of Very Organized People

1. They have a place for everything. Every item has a consistent, assigned home.


2. They put things back. Whenever an item has been removed from its assigned home, it is used and then immediately returned to its home. There are no temporary holding places.


3. They write things down. Organized people make lists and notes, and keep these in one consistent place--such as a planner, notebook, computer or calendar. They don't try to remember things in their heads. They simply reference their lists and notes throughout the day.


4. They don't allow papers to pile up. Papers are filed each day, not left to grow into mountains. Mail is opened over the trash bin, bills are tucked into a system until bill-paying day, and magazines are read within a week or two and then recycled.


5. They don't procrastinate. When something has to be done, organized people schedule time to do it and then they keep that scheduled appointment. They know that the more they delay, the more likely opportunities will pass.


6. They set goals and assign deadlines. Organized people know that if they want to get things done, they need to know exactly what they want the end result to be. . . and by what date. They review these goals often, and set aside time each day to work on achieving them. They review what they've accomplished and never forget to reward themselves for reaching their goal.


7. They only keep what they use and/or enjoy. Organized people can't stand anything taking up space that doesn't have a useful or pleasurable purpose in their lives. They are big believers in simplicity. [italics mine]

Well, I'm relieved that I only have 7 things to work on to become a "very organized person." That's very encouraging. How about you?

Simply thankful,

Denise

My Reason for Homeschooling

These last couple of weeks I have been carving out time to de-clutter. Talk about a stress reliever! It seems to help me in so many ways, even helping me breathe easier.

Along the way I have come upon a few things that I would like to share. This poem is great for encouraging you or the homeschool families in your group. I identified with it because of my daughters. It always helps to remember the deeper reasons of why we homeschool, keeping the focus on what really matters.
Why do you homeschool?
Enjoy. Denise



My Reason for Homeschooling
by Anita Doran

I want to be the special potter,
Who molds and shapes my little daughter.
To keep her closely to my side,
To teach her why our Jesus died.

I think that she is doing great,
Especially since she's only eight.
She shops, she bakes, she mops the floor,
Has two cats she's responsible for.

She can read a product label
To see if it's fit for our table.
I teach her all about life, you see,
As she tags along with me.

And no matter where we roam,
We keep on learning, just like home.
We add a little mystery,
By learning the state's history.

Although she reads and writes and sings,
She's learning more important things.
Like love and kindness and God's word,
How to be humble, yet still be heard.

Sure it's hard and I have doubts,
"Am I doing this right?" "How will she turn out?"
And my house gets such a mess!
Too many papers strewn, I guess.

Sometimes frustration rears its head,
She didn't do what I said.
Yet, all in all, it is a charm,
To have my daughter on my arm.

If I ever have a doubt,
I get our big old Bible out.
In the book, I always see
That this is how it's meant to be.

Side by side, day by day,
Teaching her the Godly way.

Confronting Co-op Complaints

One experienced Homeschool Group Leader covers many complaints that homeschool families might have about co-ops and how their homeschool co-op overcomes these in a great article:

http://homeschoolcpa.com/overcome-common-co-op-problems/

Caren Joye shares from her heart, the group's philosophy, and from real experiences. This article can help you formulate your co-op or overcome the complaints you might be confronting yourself.
Enjoy!