Definition
Mentoring can be assistance provided by one affiliate to a different geographic region with the potential for becoming a new FPSPI affiliate.
     Or
Assistance provided from one affiliate to another affiliate with specific needs.

Goal
      Mentoring goal is to help all affiliates or potential affiliates to move toward free-standing, stable affiliate standing – offering all components of FPSPI.  Mentoring affiliates should be reimbursed for services provided to mentored regions or affiliates through fees charged to participants or other funding sources.
      Mentoring arrangements are optional and changeable, within the guidelines established by the Board of Trustees and should be mutually beneficial.

Stages of Mentoring

Stage 1 – Basic responsibility taken by mentor affiliate for specific need(s) of mentored region (i.e. Training of coaches, guidance in recruitment, formation of local committees, evaluation of student work, participation in affiliate finals or assistance to established affiliates which might include guidance in incorporation procedures, training in specific program components, administrative support, conflict resolution within affiliate, or assistance with similar identified needs.)

Stage 2 – Monitoring: potential affiliate begins to establish own administration, evaluation, training, funding, etc. with guidance and support from mentor.  In the case of established affiliates, gradual assumption of specific needs area responsibility is assumed by the mentored affiliate.

Stage 3 – Associate Affiliate
              A.  Potential affiliate signs commitment to work toward affiliate status.
              B.  Determination of individual willing to take on affiliate director (AD) role is completed.

• Potential AD is invited to attend IC with $500 stipend from FPSPI toward travel and room and board provided.
• Attends AD training.

              C.  Potential affiliate has fully functioning affiliate governing committee and financial structure established.
                

Steps in establishing mentoring process
1.         Once a mentoring request has been received by either the international office (IO) or the Board of Trustees (BOT) Programs representative or a contact is established with a region with a mentoring potential, a match will be made between a mentor who has volunteered (IO and the BOT representative will work together to find best possible match.)

2.         Contact information will be sent to the mentoring affiliate and the mentored area.  The mentor will have responsibility for the initial contact.

3.         IO and the BOT representative will be notified of results of communication which relates to mentoring situation.

4.         Mentoring affiliate will send out letter of agreement to the mentored region which will contain the following:

• Statement of principles of FPSPI and willingness to abide by principles and rules of FPSPI and mentoring affiliate.
• Timelines*
• Costs*
• Responsibilities of mentoring affiliate (i.e. evaluation, marketing, training, support, administration, affiliate bowl/finals)*
• Responsibilities of mentored area (i.e. supplying evaluators, training sites, marketing options, etc.)*
• Determination of IC qualification is established
• Future attendance at Governing Council
• Use of FPSPI name

(Asterisk items are determined by mentoring affiliate and may vary from one affiliate to another, based on specific situations.)

Mentor Responsibilities
   1. Communicate with mentored region contact to assess FPS needs and other contacts within the area.
   2. Develop letter of agreement between mentor and mentored region to explain fees, services to be offered, deadline dates and expectations from mentored area.
   3. Act as liaison between mentored area, IO and Program chair.
   4. Report to IO and Program chair the participation numbers at each level and in each component for end of year report and for purposes of determining numbers of potential IC participants for mentored region.
   5. Verify for IO eligibility of participants from mentored area to participate at IC.
   6. Apply for mentoring support funds, based on expenses which are not covered by fees charged to mentored area participants.
   7. Communicate any problems with mentoring situation to mentor AD, FPSPI Executive Director, Program chair or Board of Trustees President.

Mentored Region Responsibilities
1. Maintain contact with mentoring affiliate as relates to FPS needs.
2. Follow all participation for mentored affiliate.
3. Share information with mentoring affiliate which assist with: