National Council Communication - April 2011

From AFSWiki

That Time of the Year

Here it is again, spring. Azaleas bloom and applications arrive. Swimming pools begin to open and we reconnect with our lead list. Over the sizzling barbeque the virtues of Italians vs. Japanese are once again discussed. Yes it is placement time. Easter is late this year and hosting is starting early. Two thousand five hundred kids are packing their bags and waving goodbye to their friends, headed for the USA. Each team and chapter will become its own miniature Ellis Island for one day in August.

There has been much talk once again this year of goals and commitments, staff and volunteers; what can and can’t be done; why and why not. We have had reams of data streamed to us while we are busy driving to support issues and searching for replacement families. There have been team meetings, chapter meetings, conference calls and webinars discussing all the numbers and all the areas, all in the name of AFS and the mighty 2,500.

When I joined the National Council I was given some wise advice, think nationally. It has been a challenge to look beyond my local chapter, beyond the team, out of the state and over the region. I am going to pass that challenge along to every volunteer in the country. We should all think nationally. AFS needs to place 2,500 students for 2011. It doesn’t matter if we place 2 or 22 in Texas, or 10 or 110 in Nevada or if they ALL end up in California, where so many dream of going. Each placement we make takes one off the 2,500 total. So while we should all be mindful of the individual numbers, we need to think nationally. We are off to a running start with 161 Semester students. Let’s keep some things in mind reaching for the 2,339 left to place.

• Reach out to staff EARLY for help from seasonal callers in your area
• Reach out EARLY for help in support development
• Uncover new communities in your area and pass those along for volunteer development.
• If something works, share it!

And remember, no one is doing this alone. Our commitment is for 2,500 together. And that is how we do it. We work together to each place as many as we can. When we have 2,500 placed we are done. Reach out for help if you need it; reach those you can help if you can. That is how we will reach 2,500 and that is the only number that really matters.

Frank Johnson