Some would say one of the best parts of gathering with other youth ministers is the practical sharing. I think it would be great to be fed with the details of how peers around the country gather to grow professionally. E-mail kmunsee@stcharles-kettering.org to share how your group feeds each other and it will be communicated in future newsletters.

Support and Professional Development

Here in Dayton, Ohio, there is a very active professional association. We refer to ourselves as D.A.Y.M.—(said as damn—yet our meetings are anything but…)— Dayton Area Youth Ministers. We have developed goals such as encouraging collaboration, professional development, personal support, and advocacy. Our group meets once a month to share lunch, prayer, and then conversation and sharing on a specific topic. Sometimes the conversation involves an outside speaker. This past year topics included sharing of resources, conversation on athletics with local Catholic high school ministers, computer technology, budgets and salaries, collaboration, and a meeting with the Dayton directors of religious education. Coming to the table each month is a dedicated group of youth ministers who together total more than 200 years of experience—so you know there is some wisdom being relayed.

Community-Wide Planning

Some of the most memorable moments include awesome prayer services. The most looked-forward-to meeting is the collaborative meeting. This spring, we will come together with calendars to plan monthly events for all Dayton youth. Activities have included a trip to Cedar Point amusement park, Dayton Dragon’s game, summer pool parties, a Fall Fest, coffee houses, canoe trips, service retreat, white water rafting, and a production company, “Storytellers”, which performs plays and musicals involving youth from over 10 different parishes.

New members are always welcomed and receive a “Pizza Box Survival Kit” made just for youth ministers. Our D.A.Y.M. group is a special group that continues to look for ways to feed all Dayton youth ministers, allow networking, gain new ideas, connect with our Office of Youth Ministry staff, and share lots of laughter (always trying to win the coveted gold ketchup bottle but that is another story!).