St. Mina Church

1. St. Mina Church COYA

2. What is COYA? • COYA = Coptic Orthodox Youth Association • Youth Council • Highly structured and organized • Utilizes the talents and energy of the Church’s youth • Concept developed in the Diocese of Australia • Several years of operation in North America • Started in St. George & St. Rueiss Church in 2004 and still in operation

3. Why a youth council?

4. To Sum Up The Youth Council is “Run For The Youth By The Youth” It is simply actively engaging the youth in church activities, strengthening their ties to the Church and one another, and consequently, their faith So what are we planning to do?

5. COYA Organizational Chart Church Priest Church Board Director Assistant Director Secretary Treasurer Senior Advisors Outreach Minister Mentorship & Tutoring Minister Trips Minister Sports Minister Special Events Minister Community Service Minister Advertisement & Marketing Minister Spiritual Minister Fundraising Minister

6. COYA Structure • 9 different programs • Each program has a sub-committee • 4 general positions (non-program specific) • 13 internal positions + 1 external (no voting power) • Internal positions are for University/College students • All 13 members have equal voting power • Committee will get to decide on, plan, and execute all the activities relating to the youth • All decisions are final pending the priest’s approval • Target audience: University/College students • Future possibility of expanding COYA service to Junior High / High School students

7. 1. Mentorship & Tutoring Program • Mentorship program • Match students with mentors that will meet their specific needs • Example: Linking a Chemical Engineer with students in chemical engineering • Needs are not academics only necessarily • Tutoring program • Helping Junior High / High School / University / College students with their studies (Assignments, exams, papers, diploma prep etc…) • Career Fair Day

8. 2. Outreach Program • Maintain a complete and up-to-date database • Arrange and conduct house visits • Recruiting youth representatives to contact and encourage other youth who infrequently attend • Assist Community service program with organizing volunteering events / program to the community • Example: Sandwich Run • Long term goal: Reaching out to the community and showing them What our God is all about

9. 3. Special Events Program • Organizing events such as • Youth thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter dinners • High School graduation ceremonies • Plays, movies, etc… • Festivals • Church summer camps • Christmas break “showcase” • Assisting other programs with their special events • Examples • Outreach program with Sandwich run • Fundraising program with a car wash

10. 4. Sports Program • Coordinating sports activities all year round • Forming church teams with equal focus on boys and girls teams • Recruiting coaches for every sport and organize practice sessions • Establishing intra and inter Church tournaments • Establishing a year round league (long term goal)

11. 5. Trips Program • Organizing and coordinating • Overnight trips • Day trips • Community service trips • Committee will be in charge of every aspect • Selecting the venue • Contract negotiations • Topic and theme selection • Food menu • Schedule • Guest speakers • and more…

12. 6. Fundraising program • Organize regular fundraising events to help offset the cost of trips, special events, and sports • Car Washes • BBQs • Dinner and a Play • Food Sales • Snack vending machine run and maintained by COYA • Vision: COYA to be self-sustaining

13. 7. Spiritual Program • Working closely with the senior advisor and Abouna to put together a list of topics for the youth group • Arranging for speakers (including outside guest speakers) • Coptic learning classes • Hymn classes (for both deacons and girls) • Tasbeha Classes • Orthodoxy and Dogma Classes • Learner’s Divine Liturgy • Small groups

14. 8. Community Service Program • Organizing community service work around the Church and outside the Church • COYA services needs(e.g. special events, fundraisers, trips, etc.) • Helping with different Church services such as Kitchen service, setting up cleanup crews after major events… • Food Banks/Food Drives • Services with organizations helping the poor/disadvantaged

15. 9. Advertisement & Marketing Program • Advertising upcoming youth events through different methods of communication • Church approved posters, flyers etc.. • Announcements on the Church website • Facebook events • Regular church announcements at youth meetings

16. Non-program specific positions • Director • Quarter back  ensures that all the ministers are talking to each other so that nothing “falls through the cracks” • Figures out the gaps and quickly drives issues to resolution • Assistant Director • Shares the same responsibilities as the director • Developmental position • Secretary • Ensures all meeting outcomes and followups are captured and completed • Treasurer • Keeps the accounting books for COYA • Senior Advisor • Provides guidance and direction

17. I don’t understand how it all comes together…Let’s take a look at planning a trip Director QB Assistant Director Secretary Treasurer Senior Advisors Guidance / advice Special Events Minister special activity Outreach Minister Contact people Mentorship & Tutoring Minister Trips Minister venue / food Sports Minister organizes sports during trip Advertisement & Marketing Minister posters / flyers / announcements Community Service Minister Spiritual Minister theme / topic Fundraising Minister events to lower cost

18. MISSION STATEMENT By the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and through the intercessions of the Holy Mother of God St. Mary and the prayers of St. Mina and all the choirs of the saints, we hope to utilize the talents and energy bestowed upon the youth of St. Mina Church in a structured and organized manner geared towards enriching and leading the youth in the right direction. In doing so, we intend to promote the feeling of unity with our Lord Jesus Christand the unity between the youth

19. Why should I get involved? • Get a chance to influence your Church experience • Sharpen your skill set • Time management • Leadership • Team-playing • Initiative and ownership • Communication skills • Get to enjoy the Church and experience fellowship in a way that you never thought possible • Looks great on your resume and gives you ammunition for behavioural-based interviews

20. Basic expectations • COYA member will be an active participant in the various church activities • Holy Liturgy • Youth group • Other programs’ events • Major Church events • COYA members will participate in bi-weekly meetings • COYA members will hold regular meetings with their respective committees

21. Next Steps • Fill in your preferences in order • Friday, January 4, 2013 • Preferences will be reviewed with Abouna and positions will be appointed • Tuesday, January 8, 2013 • COYA’s first meeting • Weekend of January 11, 2012

22. COYA This whole council’s sole purpose is to serve and utilize the youth of our church, so that their light “..may so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven” (Matthew 5:16)

23. Thank you for listening. May God bless us all, bless our father the priest, bless this Church, this service and keep us in the faith, that we may all attain eternal life united with Our Lord Jesus Christ