YSA Stake Rep?

[eternalpromise516]

Hi Everyone!

I was just recently called, sustained, and set apart as my ward's YSA rep for the stake. Do you have any suggestions of activities that proved to work well?

One thing I am trying to do right now, as it was brought up in my Institute class that I'm the President of, is a temple trip. So I already know that's an option.

Thanks for all the help!

[Gwen]

that was my first calling after i turned 18. the hardest calling i've ever had (maybe because i was so young in inexperienced), and i've had a few (though those may have been easier due to the preparation i received as stake ysa rep). it was a calling that came with a lot of tears for me. it's also the calling where i learned to really really receive revelation. congratulations....ummmm.... yeah, that's the right word. lol

i don't know what your area is like. where i was we focused on ysa conferences. some were big "full conferences" where part of the cost to attend was a place to stay (usually hotel) and started with a friday dance and went to sunday sacrament mtg. that was once a yr. then we had "mini conferences" in between. those were usually a simpler program. would help ppl find a place to stay at member's homes but in the end they were responsible for a place to stay. didn't plan a sacrament mtg on sunday, anyone still in town would just attend one of the local wards. they were a blast but a headache to plan.

other than that and ces broadcasts, firesides, etc most the activities were on the ward level. we had a singles fhe on mondays. if you have a temple close enough i think temple trips is great. when/where i was as ysa rep the closest temple was 8 hours or so. there were surrounding areas that had temples that also had yearly conferences (yes we traveled up to 8 hours to attend conferences and those areas came to ours), those conferences had time to attend the temple planned in so we would go then if we wanted to.

hope i didn't make you to nervous. it really is a wonderful opportunity to learn a lot. make sure they call a priesthood counterpart and get others involved, don't do it all yourself.

[Guest mormonmusic]

Hi Everyone!

I was just recently called, sustained, and set apart as my ward's YSA rep for the stake. Do you have any suggestions of activities that proved to work well?

One thing I am trying to do right now, as it was brought up in my Institute class that I'm the President of, is a temple trip. So I already know that's an option.

Thanks for all the help!

You need to poll/survey/consult the people who are currently supporting the YSA program and find out what they want to do. What works with one group won't work with another, so you need to get their input.

Try this -- put out a survey where everyone lists what they want to do. Then, assemble what everone suggested into a checklist and have people check off the top 5 or 10 activities from the list. Compile it all and see what's the most popular.

Or, just meet with as many YSA's as you can to find out what they want to do.

If you plan it all alone, without their input, you might find a large portion of them aren't interested in what you plan....I was as YSA for a long time and found doing it democratically worked the best.

[dazed-and-confused]

I just want to congradulate you and wish you well on your calling.

[beefche]

EP, if I'm understanding this correctly, you are the ward rep, not the stake rep. That means you are responsible for the YSAs in your ward, not your stake.

I recommend you contact your stake YSA rep. Where you live, you may or may not have a male and female stake YSA rep. I am a stake SA rep and I work directly with the ward SA reps.

Some things I advise my ward reps, which I think will apply to your ward YSAs. 1. Seek out the inactives. Make real efforts to have them have VT/HT and visit them yourself. Be their friend. Invite them lovingly to church, activities, and just things to do with you or your friends. But, regardless of their level of interest in churchy things, be their sincere friend. 2. Plan fun and spiritual things for your ward YSA. A temple trip is a fantastic idea--be sure to plan something afterwards as well (like a picnic lunch, lunch at a restaurant, meet at Susie's house for late lunch/dinner and games, etc.). Consider organizing service projects--there are older people in your ward that could use some help in their yard or help cleaning their house. 3. Support the stake activities by attending, being outgoing and friendly to others, and personally inviting YSAs to the stake activities.

Good luck with this calling. Each calling is given to us for a reason. Sometimes it is to serve others as someone needs you (the personal you--your personality, your strengths, etc.). Sometimes, it is for us to grow and learn. And sometimes, it is for both of those reasons.

[eternalpromise516]

yes beefie, i am my ward's rep for the stake - there's one for every ward/branch in the stake. my fingers weren't cooperating with me that day i wrote this thread originally. but, i can and sometimes may act as a "stake rep" in speaking during sacrament to our ysa's here in the ward and a few other local ones. i'm also considered a stake ysa activities rep for the entire stake. it's a little goofy right now X_X (and don't count how many times i kept typing beffie or beffe or beefchei before i finally got beefie right X_X silly fingers). #1 is really high on my list, and 2 will be very soon, as soon as i get my feet completely under me. 3 already happens, as that's how they snagged me

MM, that's already in my plans and working up.

thanks gwen :)

a couple thoughts:

we already have a YSA FHE monday evenings, which is hosted by the missionaries and myself. no one else comes other than us three that go to the college here, despite constant and regular invitation to everyone in the ward.

service projects sound great. i'll definitely look into that. i'm also going to see what kind, if any, of a YSA budget our ward may have for us. if not, it may be time to start one, no matter how small it is at first. but i'm going to concentrate on getting the ysa's a little more active first before i look at that. any particular service projects that come to mind that have worked well in the past for your YSA's? that'll give me a few ideas when i approach mine to see what they're interested in doing. i know we have a chapel beautification ward activity coming up soon, so i kinda have something invisioned in us assisting with that.

thanks all! now i know why i love you so much LOL. and keep the suggestions coming!!!