Update at 30000 Feet
Well, I am officially ‘geeking out’ about blogging on an airplane! As I haven’t provided an update here for a while, I thought this would be a great time to do so (since I’m using my ‘first try free’ coupon, I thought I’d use it to share news of CMR happenings).
Why am I on a plane? Well, Catholic Media Resources has been engaged as an independent contractor to become the administrator and facilitator of the Boot Camp for New Dads program at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital. While there’s nothing particularly Catholic about this role, CMR is my company and this will be part of my income. I’m very excited about it as being a good dad is obviously something near and dear to me as a full time one! As such, I’m on a plane to Denver for a two day training seminar to be certified a “Master Coach,” the name given to the person in charge of a location’s program. It’s really a cool model: ‘veteran’ dads (ones with babies, usually fairly new ones) come together with soon-to-be dads (whose first babies are due within months) and work together in a ‘nursery in the locker room’ where nothing’s left off the table for discussion. Check out the program’s guiding principles here.
What else have I been up to?
Memindia Presentations Galore!
I’ve been doing my best to get the word out about Memindia.
- New Jersey: while visiting my family, my father (a permanent deacon) kindly arranged for me to meet with interested parties from his and neighboring dioceses (Camden and Trenton, NJ). The presentation went well, with youth ministers, religious education, and diocesan folk in attendance. Thanks Dad! And to the youth minister ladies who were looking for media assistance: I haven’t forgotten and will get in touch! If you’re from another diocese and would like to have me out to speak, please contact me!
- Local Meetings: I’ve had several meetings with some of my colleagues and friends here in the Archdiocese of Chicago (hi Mandy, Jim, Anita, Alison!). These meetings have gone well, generating real interest (including an Annual Subscriber) and great feedback as well. I’m going to start writing the Memindia descriptions in The CMR Store a bit differently thanks to one of these.
- Archdiocesan Meetings: I have begun the process of introducing the Archdiocesan Office (‘downtown’ as we call it!) to Memindia by setting up a meeting with Sr Judy Dieterle. After meeting with her, I’m hoping that I might be approved to present to the catechetical coordinators for youth ministry and religious education – a great marketing opportunity if allowed.
- Catechist Meetings: I was very grateful to have the opportunity to present Memindia to the catechists of St Mary Parish in Buffalo Grove, IL. I hope to be able to do more such presenting.
Sacrament Speaking
- I was humbled and grateful to be invited back to give a CMR Talk to the parents of 2nd graders at St Mary Parish in Buffalo Grove, IL about the Sacrament of Reconciliation. I shared my vision of this important sacrament in the way in which Reconciliation is far more than a Sacramental moment in a confessional but rather a process that we live each day and must model for our children. Oh, and of course there’s the Reconciliation Dance. Contact me if you’re interested in a CMR Talk, whether for Sacramental Preparation gatherings, Adult Talks (Catholicism Plugged In), or Digital Age Parenting Talks (tech topics for today’s Catholic parent: Facebook, Internet, etc.).
Inventory Planning & Creation
- I have a LOT of Memindia planned for the next month. Highlights include: a Sacraments Bundle, a Confirmation Bundle, an Atributes of the Church Bundle, forays into younger fare (Curious George and Handy Manny can provide wonderful spiritual insights!), as well as more just-released media Memindia.
- I’m excited to announce that the first Soul Play products should be hitting The CMR Store within a week! I’m almost ready to place the Running the Paschal Mystery booklet pdf in the store as well as several Running the Pashal Mystery parish mission mp3 collections (starting with a one CD’s worth ‘reader’s digest’ abridgement with full-blown 3 CD complete mission products to follow shortly).
Well, my laptop battery is nearly gone, the guy in front of my has reclined his seat making this typing quite uncomfortable (having the prop the laptop up at a weird angle to fit into the suddenly small space in front of me!), and you now have all the CMR news you could possibly want (and perhaps more than you wanted!). Thanks for reading.
Oh! One last piece of news: CMR hit more than 100 fans on our Facebook Page and so I was able to claim a username and can announce that you can find (or even better – PROMOTE!) CMR on Facebook via facebook.com/catholicmediaresources. My sincere thanks to everyone who helped make that possible.
Image Credit: Claudio Sepulveda Geoffroy taken from stock.xchng.
