M&M Program: "Mentor a Member"
By Julie Moore, PLS

Note: This is a program developed and currently in use by NALS of Washington. The names and dates are specific to this state association. You can change the guidelines to fit your local or state association. For more information, contact Julie Moore, PLS, at juliecookielee@comcast.net.

Mentors agree to follow the guidelines as outlined below.

Guidelines:

1. Mail a package of M&Ms with a letter to your new member, welcoming them to your Association and introducing yourself and the M&M program.

2. Call your new member from time to time just to chat; see how their job is going; and answer any questions they may have regarding the Association.

3. Upon receipt of the Journal, call the new member and see if they have read the upcoming state meeting information and volunteer your “story” as to the first state meeting you ever attended; encourage them to attend the upcoming state meeting and answer any questions they may have.

4. Encourage new member to get certified and explain the ALS and PLS Certification programs if they are interested. Refer them to our website or our Certification Director if they are interested in attending a Cram Slam, joining the Cyberspace Study Group, a Chapter Study Group, or sitting for the exam.

5. Get the name of one of the new member’s friends who works in the legal field, and who they think would be interested in receiving an informational packet about our Association from our State Membership Director; then contact our Membership Director with that person’s name, address, and phone number.

• The Membership Director will assign new members to mentors within two weeks of receiving the new member information from NALS and contact the mentor with the new member’s pertinent information.
• To start the program, our Membership Director will assign new members who joined as of May 1 to members who sign the M&M Program sign-up sheet at Fall Meeting. (The sign-up sheet should have a place for the name, address, telephone number, e-mail address, and chapter name.)
• Mentors must agree to mentor for at least one year.
• The Membership Director will keep a running list of mentors from year to year and will assign new members to mentors as needed.
• To the extent possible, mentors may not be assigned to new members from their Chapter.
• The Membership Director will contact the mentors at the end of March for feedback and sharing with the Board.

Have guidelines at each lunch setting and a sign-up sheet at each table.

Suggestion note: Use your own dates.