Advise to newly called Stake RS President
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Leadership Meeting Ideas
Hi .... My name is Carolyn and I have been recently called as the Stake
Relief Society President. I am humbled, excited and wondering what
to do next. Any suggestions? besides the obvious knee work. TIA
Kay Brown
Subject: Re: RS: New Calling
Congratulations! or should I say condolences? As a relatively new Stake
RS secretary in the new Stake RS presidency, we know what you are going through.
The main thing we are learning is communication and in a timely manner. I
remember getting stuff from the stake just a week or even the day before.
That has improved under the last Stake RS presidency.
Another is to realize that although you will love all the women in your
stake, your responsibility is over the Ward RS presidencies and secretaries.
You are a RESOURCE not the AUTHORITY (their Bishop's are their direct line
of authority and they report to them and are responsible to them). It makes
it difficult sometimes because you will want to go in there and say "This
is the way to do it!!!" and yet you really can't. You can TRAIN, ENCOURAGE,
INSPIRE, etc. I would especially emphasize they (and You) read and use the
principles and guidelines in the handbook, "information for Priesthood and
Auxiliary Leaders on Curriculum 2001-2004", and the letter & topics on
Home, Family, and Personal Enrichment to get a through grounding of the programs
of RS.
I would also study section 16 in handbook book 1, "Gospel Teaching and leadership"
and "Spiritual and Temporal Welfare" in handbook book 1, pg. 255 to 260.
It helps to read all this because sometimes we think something should be done
a certain way but it really can be done in many different ways. Some things
that we think are the only way is a ward or stake tradition or are carryovers
from previous handbooks (boards are an example). That was another thing
we learned.
The Handbook is inspired because it gives principles with a few specifics.
If you follow these, you will lead the wards in the direction that is pleasing
unto the Lord. An example of what I mean of this is music. When I was president,
I had a new 2nd counselor who had the assignment of Education. The stake counselor
orienting her stressed that she had to have 3 months worth of music prepared
or it was not done right among other things. After she left, my counselor
was very overwhelmed. I encouraged her to do the program but in her own way.
It worked. We did have music every Sunday but not necessarily had 3 months
on paper. You have to work with the people and the people we had just didn't
do it this way. The principle was to have inspirational music for Sunday.
One way was to prepare 3 months in advance. Another was to have it done for
one month. Another was to tell us that Sunday!! But the end result was that
music was part of our meetings. She was performing her calling.
With Love and much prayer for your new calling, K
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