Getting the Most out of Your ACHEV Membership – Step One: Show Up!
Welcome to the new school year! Many of you have already begun your teaching adventure. I used to try to hold out until after Labor Day just to squeeze out a smidgen more from summer, but that is part of the beauty of home education, is it not? We get to choose what works best for our family.
New members and long-time members alike, Fall is a good time to consider how to get the most out of your membership. ACHEV is a low-cost, low-demand, high-yield group. (What could be better than that?) It may seem simple, but it is true: participation is a big part of making the “high-yield” possible.
You are busy. Believe me, I am too! Life has a way of trying to draw us away from what is best for us. I understand. There are days I wake up on Sunday and just don’t feel like I have the energy to go to church! But I do, because I know it is good and right, and I am always, always, glad I did. Similarly, there will be demands that try to pull us away from investing in ACHEV. However, not investing, and not showing up is a sure way to let the membership year go by without getting the support and encouragement you need, and perhaps missing the opportunity to be used by God to support and encourage someone else. I hear feedback like this: “I almost didn’t come to the meeting tonight, but I am so glad I came! I made a new friend, learned so much, and now I am encouraged! Thank you!” All because they showed up.
Practical steps you can do right now:
- Stay up on our news: I exhort you to read ACHEV news. Perhaps set a reminder in your phone to look for our newsletter the first week of each month. That is where you will find out what is happening in ACHEV.
- Choose something from the newsletter to do: I challenge you to pray, and choose one way per month or week or quarter in which to participate. It is through consistent participation over time that you will find and build friendships for your children and yourself. Trust me, you will be encouraged, and in doing so, you will encourage others as well.
ACHEV is a Christian group in which we have the common bond of private home education. We operate best in community. You may be surprised how your smile and kind words will bless someone who needs exactly what you have to bring to the event by just being there. I look forward to seeing you!
Whether you are new or long-time member, enjoy our Overview of ACHEV blog series. It covers our founding, purpose, structure, and roles. https://achev.org/2022/11/30/overview-of-achev-part-one-what-is-achev/
Stay tuned for – Step Two: Step Up!
Thanks for this blog Susan! Getting away from all the responsibilities and stressors at home can be a challenge, but once I’m out of the house it’s easy and I’m so glad we went and did whatever it is we did that day.