Here is the key information you need to know in order to become a Home Team Leader.
Home Team Leader Questions & Answers:
As a Home Team Leader (HTL) you are a very important part of our team in preparing and planning for Hands On. Your help in making the Gathering a success is appreciated. The planning committee for the Gathering acknowledges that Home Team Leaders have a lot of responsibility before, during, and after the Gathering.
You are in the process of planning to register and make arrangements to attend Hands On. This HTL Q&A section is meant to provide further information about the registration process, highlight some significant changes to our registration and housing process, hopefully answer some questions you may have, and to assist you in the Home Team building process.
Q: What is a Home Team Leader?
A: As a Home Team Leader (HTL), you play a very important and integral role in the functioning of a Youth Gathering. The National Planning Committee relies heavily on you as a valued partner with them in making the Gathering successful, and appreciates the time and energy you put into this vital position.
As a Home Team Leader, you will need to take an active part in all of the activities that are scheduled to take place at the Gathering. Your enthusiasm and the example you set goes a long way to a positive experience for the youth. You will become actively involved with your youth and their experiences before, during, and after the Gathering.
Q: How old is a Home Team Leader?
A: The minimum age for a Home Team Leader is 21 years on or before December 31, 2010. It is preferred that the Home Team Leader be someone who is 25 years of age or older.
Q: What are the EXPECTATIONS of a Home Team Leader?
A: To help the youth prepare for the Gathering, travel with the youth to and from the Gathering, experience the Gathering with the youth, and help them share their experiences when they return home.
To be attentive to the needs of youth in the following ways at the Gathering:
AS A FRIEND – Someone who is available to youth; someone who is concerned about youth and can consult freely with them.
AS A LISTENER – Someone who can listen and be aware of what others are saying, feeling, and doing; someone who can respond to problems that arise.
AS A SUPPORTER – Someone who can give encouragement and moral support to young people and fellow Home Team Leaders.
AS A SPIRITUAL LEADER – Someone who can help youth in their faith development, lead Bible Studies (pre and post Gathering), and can lead the group in prayer before, during and after the Gathering.
AS A FACILITATOR – Someone who can communicate with youth and Gathering leaders about activities, procedures and rules.
Q: What are the RESPONSIBILITIES of a Home Team Leader?
A:
1. Actively worship, study and plan together with the Home Team before, during, and after the Gathering.
2. Assist members of the Home Team in registering for the Gathering.
3. Have a meeting with the members of the Home Team and their parents to review the expectations of the Gathering. These expectations include:
a) full commitment to participate in all Gathering activities.
b) full commitment to abide by Gathering rules. This includes abstaining from the use of alcohol and/or non-prescription drugs at any time at the Gathering. This is prohibited for everyone, including Home Team Leaders.
c) any other expectations you have or that are in our material.
4. Obtain the names, addresses and phone numbers of everyone on your Home Team and be alert to any medical problems before you leave for the Gathering. Photocopy all registration forms (for your own records) before sending them in. There will be a nursing office onsite, as well as a hospital nearby.
5. Read the Pre-Gathering Booklet including the Bible Study material when it arrives, and set a time to do the pre-gathering Bible Study with your Home Team.
6. Attend all Home Team Leader meetings at the Gathering to obtain vital update information, and discuss leader and group concerns.
7. Monitor your group at the Gathering. This means knowing the whereabouts of everyone on your Home Team at all times and ensuring that the Gathering rules and schedule requirements are met.
8. Strive to fulfill the Home Team Leader expectations as outlined. All of this means that you are much more than a guardian. Remember that you are a vital and valued partner to the success of the Gathering. Your leadership enables the Gathering to fully accomplish its mission.
Q: What’s new/different regarding Home Team Leader registration?
A:Each Home Team has a minimum of three people and a maximum of eleven (two adult Home Team Leaders of opposite gender and two to nine youth). The second adult HTL is allotted to meet the requirements of the Gathering’s Protection Policies (the ELCIC’s Children Youth and Other Vulnerable People Policy and the Diocese of Huron’s Safe Church Policy).
In the event that your youth are all of the same gender (i.e. all male youth) only an adult male HTL is required and therefore permitted. If you have a mixed gender team, both a male and a female adult HTL are required. Mixed gender teams will be required to register/indicate two Home Team Leaders.
Home Team Leaders are strongly encouraged to link with other Home Team Leaders in their area prior to registration. By registering together, Home team Leaders can indicate the other Leader to meet the requirements, providing each congregation approves.
Q: How do we implement this policy?
A:Review it with your congregational council as ultimately your congregation is responsible for following this policy. Work with other home team leaders in your area so that the gender requirement is met.
Q: What about HTL-in-training?
A:HTL’s-in-training can be younger than the required 21 years of age. This person must be included as part of the 2 to 9 members on the Home Team and complete a Participant Registration form. HTL’s-in-training can fulfill the opposite gender leader role, providing they are 18 years of age at the time of the gathering. In this case, please list them as the second Home Team Leader on your registration form.
Q: My congregation/group cannot afford to send another leader or we do not have an opposite sex leader, what can we do?
A:Pair up with another Home Team from your area that has an opposite sex leader and work together with your congregations. Arrange your travel and housing together and set out any required responsibilities and actions with your congregation. Each congregation must be involved in this process.
Q: I don’t know any other leaders in my area, how do I find one?
A:Ask your pastor for assistance or contact your synod office or synod youth committee for assistance.
Q: Are there any resources available to help me be a great Home Team Leader?
A:Home Team Leader orientation videos such as “The No Frills, No Gimmicks, No Budget Truth About Becoming A Home Team Leader” are available through your Synod office. Also contact your Synod office to see if there are any Youth Leadership Workshops being held in your synod prior to the Gathering. They would be of benefit to you, especially if you are a first time Home Team Leader, equipping you with general youth ministry skills.
Use the Called document as a guide. Look for it on the Deeper website under Leadership Resources. Other sources of information include thoroughly reading the Registration materials, including the Pre-Registration booklet. Contact other Home team Leaders, past or present in your area, or Synod youth staff.
Q: What’s new/different regarding Accommodation/Housing?
A: Book your own accommodations for Hands On.
Each Home Team will be responsible for their housing arrangements during the Gathering. Special room rates have been negotiated within a 15 minute walk of the London Convention Centre. Home Teams are encouraged to stay in the recommended London hotels in order to fully experience the Gathering.
PLEASE MAKE SURE TO STATE THAT YOU ARE WITH THE “CANADIAN LUTHERAN YOUTH GATHERING”, AND MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS BY JUNE 15, 2010 IN ORDER TO GET THE SPECIALLY NEGOTIATED ROOM RATES. RESERVATIONS MADE AFTER THS DATE WILL BE SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY.
Please note: In order to adhere to protections policies, it is important that Home Team Leaders not be housed in the same room as youth at all, and that male and female leaders as well as male and female participants are accommodated separately.
Q: Can I bring my child?
A:The Canadian Lutheran and Anglican Youth Gathering is just that, a youth gathering. There will be no children under the registration age permitted to attend. NO EXCEPTIONS WILL BE MADE. Any children and their guardians/parents will be denied participation at the gathering, and no refund will be provided.
Q: Where can I get more information?
A:Please read all materials found in the Pre-Registration package and check back here often for updates.
Registration questions should be sent to the Registrar, and Home team leader questions can be directed to the Home Team Leader Coordinator:
