[Nfb-krafters-korner] Teaching & Membership - WAS: classes & membership

Wed Jul 6 12:14:30 UTC 2016

Hello All,

A list of members who are willing to mentor is not a bad idea, especially
from the immediate perspective of the person who is looking for assistance.
Here you are, stuck in the middle of a project and you need help.  You let
your fingers do the walking over to the Krafters Korner website, look
through the list of mentors and send them an e-mail or pick up the phone and
call them.  If you are expecting a response with a short turnaround time,
that is probably not going to happen.  Most of us do not have 24/7 access to
our e-mail, nor can most of us drop everything that we are doing to
volunteer our time to help someone out when the phone rings.  I truly
believe that if you post your problem to the list even with a minimal
description of the problem with a request to be able to talk out the problem
over the phone, you have a much better chance of getting a speedy resolution
to your situation.  

I love to teach, and when I have the time, I'm willing to help people out by
e-mail or phone.  But the reality is that my time is limited, so I would not
place my name on a mentor list.  But if I see a question posted to the list
and I have time to address it, I will.  

In regards to being a teacher here at Krafters Korner, let me share a few
comments.  I've been a member for almost 8 years now.  It has been exciting
for me as a teacher to see new teacher spread their wings and learn the
enjoyment and fulfillment of teaching.  Krafters Korner is not only a place
to learn about crafting, but we can learn other stills such as teaching, as
well as the other skills that it takes to manage all of the other aspects of
what we do.  I encourage each of you to consider hosting a Monday Night Chat
or teaching some type of craft.  It could be something that takes 5 minutes
such as how to make a stack of cocktail napkins into a fanned out pile for a
fancy display, or how to fold a cloth napkin to add some creativity to the
dinner table, or make one of those things made from 2 popsicle or toothpicks
held in an "X" and yarn/string wrapped around them to make a decoration, or
maybe lead a session in making a back to basics collage.  If you have an
idea, post it to the list and see if there is interests.  If you have never
taught before, reach out to a teacher who has taught that topic before, and
see if they will partner with you, allowing you to take the lead, but being
there to guide you or working it out however the 2 of you best see fit.  Of
course, there is no need to work with another teacher, or start out with a
small lesson.  If you are comfortable with explaining how to do a craft that
your passionate about, then maybe you are ready to teach a class on that
craft.  On the other hand, being a teacher is not for everyone, and that is
fine.  All I am saying is don't be so quick to discount being a teacher here
at KK, because if you want to teach, we can work together to make it happen.
And on the other hand, let's not be so quick to demand that specific classes
be taught on some type of a schedule.  Sure, if there are 1 or more members
who are willing to take on teaching based on this type of arrangement, then
talk to Joyce and the board about it to get your class on the schedule.  To
expect that because a teacher has taught "X" class in the past that they
have to teach that class on a regularly occurring schedule is not reasonable
unless the teacher wants to do that.  As a teacher, I have a lot to offer,
and so little time to offer it.  Yes, I know that as a new member or when
you want to learn something new you do not want to wait months for a class,
but post your question to the list and see where it goes.  

Just some food for thought.

Annette

-----Original Message-----
From: Nfb-krafters-korner [mailto:nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Nella Foster via Nfb-krafters-korner
Sent: Tuesday, July 05, 2016 8:15 PM
To: 'List for blind crafters and artists'
Cc: Nella Foster
Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] classes & membership

I wonder if we could have a list of members who would be willing to offer
one on one assistance when needed.  Maybe there could be a list of members
and what craft they can assist with.  They could also say if they offer
assistance by email, telephone or both.  It wouldn't be a formal class that
way, just one member mentoring another member.

I wish I could offer to help out in this way, but don't know enough about
anything to be useful.  I volunteer to confuse people. Lol

Nella

-----Original Message-----
From: Nfb-krafters-korner [mailto:nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Courtney Fulghum Smith via Nfb-krafters-korner
Sent: Tuesday, July 05, 2016 6:37 PM
To: List for blind crafters and artists
Cc: Courtney Fulghum Smith
Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] classes & membership

>
> I would like to suggest that beginner knit, crochet & loom classes be 
> offered once per quarter. This may seem like a lot to some, but it 
> appears there are new members joining every few months who would like 
> to learn these crafts. If it is done this way, when new folks express 
> an interest, we can say, "That class will be taught in two months,"
> instead of saying, "oh, I wish you had found us two months ago. We 
> taught that class last month. Maybe someone will teach it again soon.
> Just put your interest on the list." I know I waited over a year for 
> the crochet & knitting classes to be offered & when they ere, the 
> classes were offered within just months of each other. There are 
> several great Knitters & crocheters on the list who would only need to
teach once each year if it is done this way.

Also, a student may not learn as well from one instructor as they might from
another instructor & that student would have to only wait three months
before the class would be taught again & not have to wait a year or longer.

This is just something to keep in mind & consider.

Courtney
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have a Twitter account? You can still follow Krafters Korner on Twitter. Go
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