River Rally Mentoring | Sunday, May 4th

Need a Little Personalized Attention? River Rally Mentors Can Help!
Yes, this is a very special opportunity available only to River Rally participants. You can now sign up for your very own Rally Mentoring Session. For the past 3 years, River Rally Mentoring Sessions have provided attendees with individual attention from experienced practitioners. While mentors' areas of expertise vary, they all bring very broad experience with many of the issues you and your organization face. Organizational or personal topics of your choice can be addressed confidentially, ranging from developing your leadership skills, building your confidence and handling stress, to building your board, fundraising, managing your group's finances, planning projects, meeting your IT needs, human resources issues and working with volunteers. Other topics may also be raised.

Mentors will be available on Sunday, May 4th for three 50-minute long sessions starting at 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30 PM. New this year is that we’re asking you (like, right now, if that works) to sign up ahead for these sessions.Mentoring sessions have been very popular in the past; so we suggest you sign up re-e-e-ealy (very) soon!

The Process

1. Maximum of one session per River Rally attendee
2. First come, first served
3. Select Mentors from list below and select preferred times (1:30, 2:30, or 3:30 pm Sunday) in order of preference.
4. You may select several mentors and times in order to increase your chances of getting a slot. (Note: you may want to first check the River Rally program to make sure you won’t be missing any “must-see” sessions)
5. Email these choices to marc_alston@comcast.net
6. Marc will email you back confirming your Mentor and meeting time
7. Come to the Bobcat Room to meet with your Mentor.

Note: As noted below, a couple of mentors are willing to meet with participants at other times as noted in their listing.

The Mentors

• Marc Alston, Resource Conservation Coaching (leadership, organizational development, strategizing)
• Carolyn Bausch, GrantMD (grant preparation / writing) (1:30 and 2:30 pm Saturday and 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30 pm Sunday). Carolyn can assist you with your grantwriting by providing you with a detailed critique of letters of inquiry and/or grant proposals she receives prior to Rally. Preference will be given to interested individuals who can submit such materials prior to Rally. You will receive submittal details when we confirm your mentoring session via email.
• Eric Eckl, Water Words that Work (marketing, fundraising and online activities)
• Will Illingworth, OpenSourcery (web design, general information technology)
• Kevin Kasowski, River Network (fundraising, membership)
• Peter Lane, ICL (organizational development, leadership, fundraising and membership)
• Sean Larkin, OpenSourcery (web design, general information technology)
• Susan Schwartz, River Network (financial management, budgeting, human resources, employee benefits, Board development) (3:45 pm Sunday and 2 Saturday sessions to be arranged by Susan and the interested participant directly)
• Baird Straughan, LeadGreen (organizational development, leadership (especially grassroots leadership), coalitions, strategic and advocacy campaign planning)
• Suzi Wilkins Berl, River Network Board (organizational development and leadership)