CHOICES Champion

CHOICES NEWS:

CHOICES Education Group Announces Achievement Awards

We are proud to announce the recipients of its first ever CHOICES Lifetime Achievement Awards. This new award recognizes CHOICES Program Managers who have given of their time, energy and dedication over many years to bring the CHOICES workshop to teens in their communities. Our first two award recipients are:

• Carol Blaeuer of the Delaware Business Industry Education Alliance in Dover, Delaware (now retired but still presenting and training!)
  
  
• Hal Wochholz of the Boeing Company (retired) and now of the Sun Lakes Rotary Club in Sun Lakes, Arizona (just outside Phoenix, from where he now manages their CHOICES program)

In addition, we are also pleased to announced its new Certificates of Incredible Achievement, for CHOICES presenters who have served more than 100 classes over at least 10 years. There are only seven presenter who have attained this lofty level, and they are:

To commemorate these awards, watch the ten-minute video we filmed to recognize the nine amazing individuals above. WARNING:The humor vainly attempted on this video is extremely corny and amateur, and does not represent the views, opinions or staff of CHOICES Education Group in a manner that is respectful of their impeccable demeanor and high professional standards. However, with tongue firmly implanted in cheek, this “production” does offer a warm and sincere acknowledgment of the terrific accomplishments of the esteemed award recipients.

Alternatively, if you prefer to bypass the video, simply read more details about our wonderful award recipients themselves.

CHOICES MANAGEMENT TIP OF THE MONTH

Tracking and Reporting Your Results. As the academic year draws to a close, many CHOICES program sites are compiling their results to report back to their schools, presenters, organizational leadership and community stakeholders, as well as forwarding information to us at CHOICES so we can compile national program statistics. We have updated our Survey Compilation Template, an informal spreadsheet that accumulates results by school and for your whole program, including surveys from students, teachers and presenters. The spreadsheet also provides space to indicate the employers your volunteers represent, and who funds your program. This valuable information allows us to identify common employers and funders across North America, which may lead to increased volunteer and financial support for CHOICES at both the local and national level. (NOTE: Employer and funder information is optional; we respect the propriety of this information and will not approach any of your financial sources without contacting you first.) Please send us your completed compilation spreadsheet no later than June 30, 2008.

Download the latest version of the Survey Compilation Template zip file, which includes complete instructions.

CHOICES FIELD REPORT

Eastern Shore Chamber (Alabama) makes Headlines Offering CHOICES to Seventh-Graders. The Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce got some great press from the Mobile, Alabama Press Register’s online news source, al.com, earlier this month when they introduced their CHOICES workshop in local schools. CHOICES Program Manager Kathie Barton recruited and trained 19 presenters to serve 32 classes along the eastern shore of Mobile Bay. When they hit the schools for the first time just a few weeks ago, they became a big hit themselves, and opened some eyes in the process! READ MORE.