Home Educators Association of Roxboro

    Dolores likes to tease me by saying I was a city boy. I did grow up in the city (town) of Warsaw, but quickly learned that I enjoyed the things of the farm, including a certain farm girl. In addition to that farm girl, I enjoy fishing and hunting, especially bow hunting for deer. I have been employed by a power utility for 38 years. My background is electrical/electronics. Although retirement is breathing down my neck, I must say I really enjoy the opportunity that I currently have to maintain a large electric motor management program for the company. In preparation for retirement, I have taken courses to enable me to become a North Carolina licensed locksmith. I have my own locksmith business, however it is currently on hold because of quite a bit of traveling with my job. I enjoy yard work, but mainly I enjoy making my bride happy. By the way, I built the rose garden. The Lord has taught me recently (the last two years), that one of my responsibilities to my wife is to die to self in ways I never imagined. I enjoy supporting and watching Dolores succeed as the Lord enables her to develop the gifts He has given her. My salvation is related with Billy Graham as well. When I was about fourteen, I was watching a crusade on TV and realized I needed to turn my life over to God. I did so that evening. What a ride it has been ever since. He has led me down some roads I never expected to travel; unfortunately I resisted, and traveled some of my own. But in His mercy, He always draws me back. Home education was one road I never expected to travel. But I am thankful my wife had the foresight and fortitude to press on. Another road that I traveled more recently was a trip I took with some fellow believers to Ethiopia. I went to a small town called Soyama. What a blessing it was to have the opportunity to teach twelve native Christians how to use a laptop computer. I thought I was going to impact them, but God got the last laugh on that one, with the way they had an impact on me. I will never forget that experience as long as I live. I will not be surprised if I return one day.  

   As a couple, our relationship began as high school sweethearts. God has blessed in amazing ways, as we’ve just celebrated our thirty-seventh anniversary. We have three adult children, two of whom are married, and we continue to home educate our youngest. The two oldest began their schooling years in a private school. After listening to a radio program about home education, we realized that we should consider this for one of our children. After much prayer and consideration, we agreed to participate in what was at that time, a strange new movement called home education. When we announced this, our other school-aged child asked us to please teach both of them. This was more than we planned on, because at that time, home education was in its early beginnings, and we were only going to give it a try for one year. All things considered, we didn’t have the heart to say no. Therein began a long journey that isn’t yet complete. After a time, it became a conviction of our hearts to teach the children at home, so there was never any consideration of doing otherwise. Over time, it became a way of life, and we could not imagine sending the children away from home to attend school. We are so very thankful for the many years that we have had the privilege of teaching our children. Soon after beginning the homeschool process, we decided to join the Danville homeschool support group. Later, a Durham group was formed and we joined there. We eventually became charter members of the HEAR support group, which began with a small group of pioneers. Back in our beginning days of home education, the NCHE Conference was held in the basement of a church. Wow, how that strange “movement” grew. Time has brought many changes. We are now looking forward to the upcoming birth of our first grandchild. Should our children choose to home educate their children, we look forward to assisting them as the need arises. We encourage homeschool parents to look to God and keep to the task set before them. The rewards are great! We are convinced that God blesses our efforts, in spite of our failures, if we are willing to be obedient to Him. 

Job Title – HEAR Communication Directors

Job Purpose:  Communicate Information Using Most Appropriate Method

Key Responsibilities:

·        Seek persons to fill each communication coordinator position

·        Help to create communication coordinator job descriptions if needed

·        Be available to assist coordinators

·        Communicate with the coordinators to ensure they are actively working towards their individual position goals

·        Provide coordinators with position guidelines when available

·        Inform the coordinators of specific dates/deadlines that apply to their position

·        Keep the HEAR leaders informed of the communication coordinators’ progress

·        Ensure that all communication is within the Hear Statement of Purpose and Belief

·        Post coordinator information on the HEAR calendar and website

·        Serve on the Board of Directors and is expected to make effort to attend board meetings and all board functions

·        Consult with coordinators at the end of each year to verify their desire to retain their position

·        Submit a bio and photograph to the Website Administrator and confirm with coordinators their submissions

Subordinates:

      Email Coordinator:

§         Formulate the email chain to send out emails pertaining to the group e.g. announcements about upcoming events, prayer request, curriculum for sale

§         Decide what is pertinent to the group and be selective in what emails are appropriate to send to HEAR members

§         Be available to send out time sensitive emails

§         Submit a bio and photograph to the Website Administrator

       Newsletter/Publicity Coordinator:

§         Create a format for the newsletter with various categories

§         Select newsletter and publicity information that is within the HEAR Statement of Purpose and Belief

§         Material for the newsletter will come from the newsletter coordinator and articles and information from HEAR members

§         Contact the director to keep them informed of plans, and coordinate with the HEAR board to set newsletter publish dates (may vary each year)

§         Obtain the website submission deadline from the Website Administrator

§         Set a newsletter entry deadline and post for HEAR members

§         Send email announcements to the HEAR leaders

§         Submit the newsletter in electronic format to the Website Administrator

§         Provide hard copies of the newsletter only to members without computer access

§         Communicate information through various forms, e.g. newspaper, radio, TV, churches, community bulletin boards, businesses

§         Determine HEAR functions suitable for publishing

§         Arrange for function participants to provide event details and photographs

§         Be careful to submit all information promptly

§         Obtain names of members who did not sign the photograph waiver to ensure their pictures are not published

§         Understand clearly copyright guidelines and obtain permission when necessary

§         Contact the director with information for the HEAR calendar and website

§         When submitting information, strive for excellence in presentation

§         Maintain a good relationship with publicity contacts

§         Submit a bio and photograph to the Website Administrator

 Website Administrator:

It is the responsibility of the Website Administrator to ensure the privacy, security, and functionality of the HEARsupport.org website. Duties include, but are not limited to the following:

§         Annually update the URL registration and hosting services

§         Monitor the public front-end for all created content

§         Administrate the private back-end tasks

§         Update collected static content

§         Train, assist, and collaborate with web team on blog and module content

§         Upon request, attend HEAR Board meetings to provide progress reports

§         Keep the director informed of job goals and progress

§         Post personal bio and photograph on the website

Membership Coordinator:

§         Be aware of the scheduled membership sign-up date and attend to register members

§         Attend regular meetings to collect membership forms

§         Coordinate with the treasurer in collecting the membership fees

§         Record a corresponding number on each HEAR membership card

§         Fill out the membership card

§         Keep an updated hard copy of the packet available for parents to view before joining HEAR

§         Formulate a membership directory for each member using the information from the membership form

§         Make hard copy directories available only to those who do not have computer access

§         Send new members’ information to the Website Administrator

§         Send email announcements to the HEAR leaders

§         Keep the director informed with membership information

§         Submit a bio and photograph to the Website Administrator

      Website Swap Shop Coordinator:

§         Make a plan of how the swap shop will be run and inform the communication director of the plan

§         Advertise the shop to the members giving complete details of operation

§         Send email announcements to the HEAR leaders

§         Manage the site for HEAR members to buy, sell and swap goods or services

§         Decide what is appropriate for the shop

§         Reject advertising anything that is not in keeping with the HEAR Statement of Purpose and Belief

§         Keep the site up-to-date being prompt in removing items that are no longer available

§         Keep the director informed with swap shop information

§         Submit a bio and photograph to the Website Administrator