![]() AOK Mentor/Tutor, Theresa, shared her experience with AOK in a recent retiree newsletter for her prior employer. Below is what she wrote to her former colleagues. Thank you, Theresa, for spreading the word about AOK Mentoring & Tutoring! After seeing so many former colleagues at the holiday luncheon, I was struck by some of the amazing things people are doing in retirement. One thing we tend to have more of in retirement is time. While quite a few continue to work after their government careers, a lot of us are enjoying the time to pursue interests and hobbies. Another area where we might have more time to spend is in volunteering. Reading a recent Washington Post article (https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/12/09/volunteer-decline-homeless-pandemic/) brought the need for volunteers into focus. I know many are already volunteering but If you haven’t thought about sharing your time and talents, perhaps you might consider doing so. There are so many ways to contribute in meaningful ways and all of us have developed skills and have ample experience where we can make quite a difference. For myself, I knew I wanted to give back at the elementary school where I didn’t have time to do more than the occasional field trip or in-room help when my children were young. I was interested in tutoring and learned that [there were only a few organizations partnered with schools in Howard County who serve any child in need of academic or social support] – AOK Mentoring & Tutoring (https://www.aokmentor.org/) is one of them. After fingerprinting, a background check, and a training session (so much for thinking I was done with all that!), I was matched up with a child who needed some extra help. It didn’t require a huge time investment (only one meeting a week), but it made a big difference to the child’s academic and social skills. Since then, I’ve worked with as many as three children during a school year providing one-on-one support. You can stay with a child from year to year if that works for the both of you. I like the idea of making a difference in a child’s life when they’re young for the long-lasting effects it might have. And being on a school schedule (including those lovely snow days!) leaves plenty of time throughout the year for travel or other pastimes… Learn More about becoming a volunteer mentor/tutor today at:AOKmentor.org/volunteer
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I would like to say hello and express how proud I am to be a part of this organization as it celebrates its 20th year. As Secretary of the Board, I have spent the past 3 years assisting with our rebranding and strengthening our message and presence on the internet.
You can now explore who we are, what we do, what we hope to accomplish, and where we have been at www.aokmentor.org! I continue to be a Registered Nurse of 49 years with a Masters in Community Health. Early in my School Nursing career, I achieved National School Nurse Certification which I now hold Emeritus status (NCSN-E). Five years ago, I retired as a School Nurse after 14 years in Howard and Baltimore County, but I still felt the need to engage with the education system. I found an ad in my village center newsletter in January. AOK was quick to respond to my inquiry and I was trained and assigned to my first student by March. My mentoring was cut short by the pandemic and my student did not want to continue into 6th grade, but there was a commitment to a purpose as I grew more active within the Board. Our mission is strong as we commit ourselves to ALL OUR KIDS (AOK) in the Howard County Public Schools as our mentors provide ongoing support to enhance academic, social, and emotional development. I strongly believe that the education of children in our community belongs to all of us and it’s important that we do all that we can as an organization to connect those that can with those that need. Won’t you join us in accomplishing that goal? Donna Lyman, MS, RN, NCSN-E Board Secretary, AOK Mentoring & Tutoring The AOK Store is Live! Check out apparel with our new logo and a few special edition 20th anniversary options, too. Many options have adult and youth sizes and sizing up to 2, 3, or 5XL. And the best part? Every purchase helps place a mentor/tutor with a child who needs one. Thanks for visiting! See the AOK Store: bonfire.com/store/aokstore/ I’ve called Maryland home for nearly all my life. For the past 30 years, I’ve called Columbia home, and can’t imagine living anywhere else. With its green spaces and parks, amazing diversity, activities and services, Howard County offers a great deal to its residents. This idea was even more strongly reinforced when I entered the volunteering world in the county.
I attended the University of Maryland, earning my degree in Hearing and Speech Sciences and then decided on an entirely different career path. Shortly after graduating, I found myself at Union Privilege, the consumer-place benefits arm of the AFL-CIO and eventually worked my way to becoming the Vice President of Direct Marketing. I retired in 2016, after nearly 30 years of commitment to supporting the ideals of union membership. Like many retirees, I wanted to use my new-found free time to give back and began looking for volunteer work where I could apply my talents to helping others. AOK’s mission resonated and by the end of the informational session for potential volunteers, I knew I’d found the right organization. I’ve been a volunteer mentor with AOK since late 2016 and have worked with students in school, on zoom during the pandemic, in a classroom full of young students and one on one. In 2023, I joined AOK’s Board of Directors and soon after was elected Vice President. As we look back on 20 years of service to the community, we are also looking forward to how we can expand our reach. Students need mentors now more than ever. I continue to mentor once a week during the school year. My students have all needed the attention of a trusted adult, and I am more than happy to fill that role for them. I think I benefit as much from the mentoring relationship as my mentees do! Karol Olson Vice President of Board, AOK Mentoring & Tutoring ![]() Chaya Kaplan, founder of A-OK Mentoring – Tutoring, Inc., was a wonderful person, kind, thoughtful, wise, warm, considerate, giving, generous, and dedicated to helping children. Her genuine concern and care for young children contributed to her willingness to start and run mentoring programs, and to also being an active mentor in those programs. In 2003 when the Oakland Mills Interfaith Center expressed interest in contributing to the community by starting a mentoring program, Chaya and her co-founder Joe Wilmott stepped up and offered to get it going. They recruited volunteers and established relationships with Howard County Public Schools and after-school programs, and built a grassroots volunteer supported school based mentoring program that provided mentors/tutors to children who could use that extra support during the school day or while attending the afterschool programs. In 2009, when asked to set up a legal entity for that program and enter into a formal agreement with the school system, Chaya stepped up again and began the arduous task of turning A-OK into a formal non-profit corporation recognized by the state of Maryland and the federal government. Based on her efforts and those who collaborated with her, A-OK was incorporated in November 2009 and received its 501(c) (3) status in April 2010. With the formalities met, Chaya became A-OK’s first Executive Director, working as a volunteer approximately 20 hours a week to meet its operational needs as a mentoring program, but also ensuring that its business needs, fundraising, bookkeeping, Board interaction, insurance, and government requirements were met. She knew that for it to endure past her leadership, it needed structures to safely screen and train volunteers, and eventually funds to pay staff for many of the chores she did as a volunteer. So, before she stepped down as A-OK’s ED in July 2015, she worked with A-OK’s Board and its volunteers and ensured that all that happened. Chaya left a legacy mentoring program that continues to thrive and serve children. While I mourn her passing, I celebrate her amazing life and accomplishments. Written by Rea Goldfinger, AOK Administrator I am thrilled to announce the launch of a new look and website for AOK Mentoring & Tutoring. As the President of the Board, I am excited to witness the ongoing positive impact this program has on the lives of youth mentees in Howard County as we move into our second decade of service.
Through mentorship, AOK provides homework guidance, social skills support, and encouragement to help young minds navigate the challenges they may face and unlock their full potential. Our commitment to fostering meaningful connections between mentors and mentees is at the heart of this program, and we invite all members of our community to join us on this journey as volunteers, as donors, and as cheerleaders. Stay tuned for updates on our social media channels and in your inbox from our team, and if you're thinking about becoming a mentor/tutor -- there's no time like right now! Join us: aokmentor.org/volunteer Keith Lusby President of Board, AOK Mentoring & Tutoring |
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June 2024
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