But do we WANT to be FPU coordinators?

[eljayem]

Okay, I've got the phone number to call tomorrow,but I'm wondering if anybody has any words of advice or encouragement before my dh and I jump off the deep end, drink the Kool-aid and shave our heads. We volunteered to lead an FPU group in our church. Any suggestions?:ka:

[Cathe]

You will be HUGE blessing to people!!

The couple who led our class just read the questions from the book and played the videos. They shared some personal insights and encouraged everyone. It didn't look TOO hard.

Oh, they said that teaching the classes kept them on track financially.

[Raiwoof]

You will be HUGE blessing to people!!

The couple who led our class just read the questions from the book and played the videos. They shared some personal insights and encouraged everyone. It didn't look TOO hard.

Oh, they said that teaching the classes kept them on track financially.That's exactly what we did as well! In fact, we loved it so much, we were coordinators for a second class...which just finished up today!! WOOHOO! We will be leading our third class at the end of January or beginning of February!

DO IT! You will be glad you did and it is sooo rewarding to see the people you are able to help along the way!

[Roy Randolph]

It is one of the most rewarding things you can do, plus the benefit is that it WILL help to keep you on the plan and what accountability. Next Sunday night will be the end of our current class which makes it a total of 11 classes we have coordinated. We are better for it, our Church is better for it, and most of all those that have blessed us by coming through our class are much better for it.

Have fun. And one of many tips: On the first night of class challenge each an every person to make all classes, and it will have a big impact on your attendance on night 13, especially coming into the holiday season.

[Raiwoof]

It is one of the most rewarding things you can do, plus the benefit is that it WILL help to keep you on the plan and what accountability. Next Sunday night will be the end of our current class which makes it a total of 11 classes we have coordinated. We are better for it, our Church is better for it, and most of all those that have blessed us by coming through our class are much better for it.

Have fun. And one of many tips: On the first night of class challenge each an every person to make all classes, and it will have a big impact on your attendance on night 13, especially coming into the holiday season.How exactly do you do that? I did what I thought was that within the first couple of classes, and the still fizzle out towards the end. What do you say/do??

[Dorothy]

I'm co-ordinating for the first time right now. We just finished the second class.

I'm hoping we don't "fizzle out". So far it hasn't been hard to do at all. We even actually have people talking during discussion.

[eljayem]

Just talked to Robert Faulkner at Lampo, and he's sending us the stuff to get started. Thanks for the encouragement. I'm really looking forward to this. I think the plan is to start after the holidays, rather than fight family get togethers and hectic schedules. And away we go. . . .:biggrin:

[Stein]

Just talked to Robert Faulkner at Lampo, and he's sending us the stuff to get started. Thanks for the encouragement. I'm really looking forward to this. I think the plan is to start after the holidays, rather than fight family get togethers and hectic schedules. And away we go. . . .:biggrin:

We just received our packet today, it really impressed me. I am only this far in the program but can say they seem to run a tight ship. The material helped inspire me to take the plunge. Our only worry is getting people signed up. I would hate having nobody show up, but my wife reminds me this is a pretty good time in history to be offering FPU.

[eljayem]

When would your classes start, Stein?

Our first preview night is Wednesday, 12/17. Our next preview night is 1/7, with classes starting 1/21 if we have the interest. I hope we do. Roy, what do you put out for information on the preview night? Handouts? FPU kit? Food? Any advice would be appreciated!

[eljayem]

Okay, the first teaser was done before church today, and we had three couples tell us they were coming for the preview on Wednesday. And our church secretary says she can give me a big chunk of space on the Christmas Eve bulletin! I'm so psyched!

[Timedess]

That's cool!

[Roy Randolph]

How exactly do you do that? I did what I thought was that within the first couple of classes, and the still fizzle out towards the end. What do you say/do??

Sorry, didn't see this until tonight. On thje first night, class one, right after the video we personally give our testimony as to how the plan has helped us personally, how much debt we paid off, etc. We do this in the orientation as well, except all that we tell people is that we used the plan to pay off $156,000 of BS 2 debt and leave it at that, have to come to class to get the whole story.

We then ask everyone to introduce themselves and ask why they are taking the class and what they want out of class. This can be very interesting, as sometimes the Husband will start and say every thing is OK or something like that, and the wife will say something like they are tired of living pay check to paycheck and want to change. Interesting looks on the faces, but good they are getting it out.

After the introduction I ask everyone to look around the room and I inform them that unfortunately chances are every one will not make it all the way through class, (and I explain sure some will move or have work issues, but that is the exception) I inform them those that do take the class seriously and actually do this stuff for 13 weeks will truly be blessed and be prepared to be blessed. And I encourage everyone, regardless where they are in their financial lives to try it Dave's way for 13 weeks, and after the 13 weeks is up they can always go back to their old way of handling their fiances.

I listen very carefully at the reasons each couple/single gives
to why they are there in this class and basically formulate the above into whats best for that specific group.

When would your classes start, Stein?

Our first preview night is Wednesday, 12/17. Our next preview night is 1/7, with classes starting 1/21 if we have the interest. I hope we do. Roy, what do you put out for information on the preview night? Handouts? FPU kit? Food? Any advice would be appreciated!

Well, I welcome everyone, I show the 20 minute introductory Video, and I ALWAYS tell them if Dave ask you to participate in something to participate, for instance the stand up close your eyes and point north, that one is always fun. After the video is over, I give them an idea as to how the class will work, I show them (or tell them) whats all in the kit, the cost and benefits of FPU Membership, then we talk about the local issues for our class like Child Care, Awana's etc and open the floor up to questions. We are usually in and out in about 45 to 50 minutes top, depending on the number of questions.

We always place information about the class in the Church Bulletins, we post posters around the Church, go to our small groups and let every one know about class, the days of Orientation (we do it on Sunday nights) we show a short video and we have a little "table" with info about FPU in the Church foyer, and our Pastors always promote and most of the time tie it into a sermon.

We also have placed little articles about FPU in the local community newsletters in local neighborhoods. (But you need to plan ahead as they have dead lines etc)

But as you do more class's you will start to see that the majority of people will come from outside your Church. Its a great outreach program, the people that go through this class will be your best advertisement.

And one last thought, if your doing a couple of Orientation classes, well the first Orientation class seems to always be the one that very few show up, at least in our area, and the second one seems to have more, you know the human nature of procrastinating. And then be prepared for a several people wanting to get in class right before your class starts.

In fact one Sunday night (our first orientation) we where all set up, 5 pm came rolling around no one was there, so I asked the wife well lets pack up and go home and not more than 15 secs after I said that, 5 or 6 people showed up, lol. And the one class that happened we wound up with something like 40 people in our class. So don't let the low turn out for Orientation class discourage you. God knows who needs to be in your class and he will get them there, maybe not on your schedule, just be ready for them when they come.

[KellyRHT]

Just posting to this so I can find it again later. Roy made some excellent suggestions which I want to incorporate into our next class.

We just finished leading our first class & it went very well. Out of 12 couples, we only had 2 not make it to at least 11 of the 13 classes. For the first 6 classes, if we had someone who absolutely could not make it to the class, we offered a makeup at our house. We had at least one couple take us up on that offer every week. We also had alot of young families with kids (including ourselves) so we set up cheap childcare at the church, which many people said was crucial to them being able to make all the classes.

Leading does hold you very accountable, because you now have all these people watching you & you have to set an example. We were just very open with our financial life & let poeple know about the mistakes we made before finding Ramsey as well as the mistakes we made after getting on the plan. We offered encouragement & private budget help if anyone needed it.

Overall, we really enjoyed leading the class & loved watching the positive changes people were making because of it.

[Roy Randolph]

Leading does hold you very accountable, because you now have all these people watching you & you have to set an example.


Boy you got right! And its a GREAT thing.

[Roy Randolph]

One other thing we are going to do in January, as we have been meaning to try it in the past, and since our Orientation Class is around supper/dinner time we are thinking of having a "Rice and Beans" Supper for those that show up. It would be easy to do and can put every thing in the crock pot, so that will "fit in" as well. And maybe have some home made corn bread to go with it.

[nopins]

we're starting it at our church in Feb. Oh boy am I ready for this??? :) I think so and am looking forward to the challenge. How long does it last most nights? We are going to be using the church on Wed so we can take advantage of all the kids having somewhere to go. But is 1.5 hours enough time?? Thanks for any input.:wtg:

[Roy Randolph]

we're starting it at our church in Feb. Oh boy am I ready for this??? :) I think so and am looking forward to the challenge. How long does it last most nights? We are going to be using the church on Wed so we can take advantage of all the kids having somewhere to go.
That is the reason we do it on Sunday nights as our Church has Awanas (http://www.awana.org/) on Sunday nights between 5:00 pm and 6:45 pm.
But is 1.5 hours enough time?? Thanks for any input.:wtg:
The class is designed for 2 hours, we are limited to 1:45, while most of the videos are around 60 to 64 minutes the NEW Dumping Debt Video is 1:40. On that night about all we have time to do is cut up a few credit cards after the video.
An 1:30 would be tough even with a short video, as our groups, well really start to "get into" the discussions. Wish we had 2 hours.

[KellyRHT]

I'd allow at least two hours if you can. Some nights you'll need all the time & wish you had more. Other nights you'll probably get out earlier than that.