This week I've felt more or less like real office staff. The office is going through a LEAN process and I had to got to the introduction of it. For those of you who don't know what LEAN is, its essentially taking a process in the office, mapping out all the steps of it, and seeing where things can be cut out to make things go faster. The introduction that was bright and early Monday morning just introduced us to what it was, and sort of how the process would work, and showed us some examples of successful LEAN projects. One specific example was a process at Western Union, which originally took on average nineteen days, but they were able to cut it down to twenty two minutes. Unbelievable! Yet, true. On Friday I get to find out what all they did this week, and hopefully put it into action.
As far as my other VISTA projects are going, they are coming together quite nicely. I've spent lots of time trying to decide what I want to do at the JDC, and figuring out what activities will give them the greatest benefits. I also am working on writing a curriculum for whoever takes this over so they won't have to plan as much, and all the activities will be tested and tweaked, so things will run smoothly. I think I want to try to come up with a mission statement or a goal for the year with JDC. I know it won't be the same kids over and over again working on this goal, but I think it needs to be a small goal that they can start reaching on their own. We didn't go this week because of the LEAN training, but that is ok, it gave me a chance to do some more planning. I think maybe next week I will try to do the Eco-Bot project with them. With this, they have to build an eco-bot out of supplies I provide, and then do some problem solving with it. Not only will this enhance their skills and abilities with robotics and problem solving, but team work as well. Hopefully they enjoy it. I enjoyed building it.
For the Leadership grant that we're working on with WIPPS and the United Way, I'm supposed to be putting together a focus group of eight to ten 4-H youth ages 16 and up. I've sent out three handfuls of emails and facebook messages, but so far I have two people tell me they are coming. Everything else has been radio silent. Hopefully I hear something soon, otherwise I will have to resort to phone calls. I guess I should have mentioned there would be food available. I'll do that in my next round of emails.
Planning for the group home is going well. I met with the Wisconsin River Valley chapter of Trout Unlimited and found some volunteers who are willing to teach the boys how to tie flies. They also donated some vises for the boys to use as well as some other tying supplies. Now we just need to work out some dates for them. The guys at Trout Unlimited said this activity will work best spread out over several sessions over the course of several weeks. This should be fun. I'm excited for it, plus it will give the boys something to do with their spare time. Something they can focus on rather than getting into trouble. Its good to have hobbies other than shenanigans and hooliganism. (Not that the group home boys are hooligans of course.)
I've also been working on putting together an after school science program for fourth and fifth grade students at the low income schools. I'm hoping I will be able to find students at the local colleges who would be willing to run this program and continue it in the future. I need to start advertising and looking for people. As well as talking to the schools about it.
I also gotten a hold of the Spanish teachers at one of the high schools here, and she is excited about the Spanish Reading Program. Now I just need to get a hold of one of the Elementary schools to see who else is interested in it. Cross your fingers!
Well I suppose i should get back to planning.
Until then!
No comments:
Post a Comment