Pulling together to resurrect onsite training
Cindy Hargis | EfM Diocesan Relations
Since we moved most of our training online when the pandemic hit, we have heard over and over how much our EfM family members miss the community, a signature element of EfM, that forms at onsite mentor training. We do, too. Consultants advised us that we could no longer afford to offer mentor training onsite in all sponsoring dioceses as we did before. That was and may remain true. They suggested that we offer training at hub sites. We have offered a few of these events and learned that they are very expensive for the EfM constituent and for the program. I had the pleasure of working with a new coordinator recently to devise a training model that could work in many locations if we all pull together. We put together a proposal for EfM’s executive director, the Rev. Kevin M. Goodman, and he approved that we try this two-day (Friday and Saturday) non-residential training model.
We thought about what a two-day schedule would look like. Folks would gather at the church at 9:00 AM on Friday with announcements at 9:45. Training would start promptly at 10:00 AM. Lunch would be from 12-1:00 PM, 1-5:00 class, dinner 5-6:00 PM, 6-8:00 PM class. Saturday 8:00-noon class, 12:00-1 PM lunch, 1-4:30 PM class.
The coordinator chose an Episcopal Church in his diocese that is willing to host up to three Foundations training groups for zero venue cost and no deposit to hold space. This church has what EfM requires: three training rooms (two with write and wipe boards and one with easel and newsprint), video and Internet access, break-out space, Bibles, and Books of Common Prayer.
I asked the coordinator how meals would be handled at the church. He worked with a caterer who will prepare three meals, Friday lunch and dinner and Saturday lunch for up to 30 people for $1200, a $50 total food cost for each person. This includes beverages and snacks. The church provides coffee and water at no charge and allows trainees to bring in more snacks if they wish. The local hotels that the coordinator researched and that we recommend to potential training registrants provide breakfast.
There are several nice hotels within less than four miles from the host church. Rooms at the two that we recommend based on best value for the price are $130 per night plus taxes. The coordinator provided a list of other nearby hotels to choose from also. Further, a local EfM trainer who was available on the chosen dates offered to host the other two trainers we might need. That means no housing cost to the program for three trainers and travel cost for just two of them. If trainers must fly in, the coordinator will recruit local EfM participants to do airport runs.
We came up with a per-person training registration fee that includes the EfM program fee and food cost ($225 + $50 for food for folks from sponsored dioceses and $275 + $50 for food for those from non-sponsored dioceses) for a total of $275 sponsored or $325 non-sponsored. In the above scenario, the local EfM consituents provided housing for the trainers. If the sponsoring diocese cannot make housing arrangements for the trainers the cost will be $400.00 for a sponsoring diocese and $450.00 for a non-sponsoring diocese. EfM will handle registration for these trainings electronically on the EfM Google calendar, collect all fees, pay the caterer, and reimburse the coordinator and trainers for their expenses.
Everyone is pulling together here: the coordinator, the trainers, the local EfM participants, the mentors, the church, and the program. Let’s pull together as a community to bring onsite mentor training back. Coordinators who would like to work on a proposal for mentor training at a church or similar venue in your diocese that would be equally affordable should let me know at chargis@sewanee.edu. Blessings, peace, and deep thanks to all of you.
