What the Heck is a Contact YARP?

So Louise and Barbara have called you and said "I need you to be the contact YARP for this event." In your head, you’re thinking….’Man, I wish we’d talked about that at training.’ Wake up, fellow YARP, because we’re about to dive into that topic right now.

What do you think a contact YARP is? Who can be a contact YARP?

Why do we need a contact YARP?

What is the contact YARP’s role?

How does their role change for the big gatherings (Christian Ed., Junior High, Senior High)?

The Definition of a contact YARP
(From the dictionary of Kristine- can be abridged if necessary)

A contact YARP is a YARP or team of YARPS responsible for contacting the event’s contact person to find out vital information about the event (this information differs from event to event, but includes:

• Basic information about the group (#of kids, age of kids etc.)
• the YARP role and responsibilities
• the schedule of the event
• the role and responsibilities of the adults/ leaders that will be present at the event
• where the YARPS will be sleeping (small, but important thing)
• what supplies are provided and what the YARPS need to bring

*This conversation usually happens after a phone call with a YARP mom, and/or after the contact receives information about the event in the mail.

After this initial conversation, the contact YARP(s) then need to get in touch with the team for the event to set up planning and replay the conversation that took place with the event’s contact person. During planning, it is the contact’s role to facilitate and offer ideas, BUT NOT TO PLAN THE EVENT. (Go back and read that sentence one more time). Also, the contact YARP needs to initiate prayer and focus for the event.

At the event, the contact YARP role includes:

• Initiating prayer before the event starts and throughout the event (of course, anyone can initiate prayer, but it needs to be at the front of the contact’s mind).
• Finding the event’s contact person and introducing the person to the rest of the YARP team.
• Making sure communication is happening throughout the whole event.
• Delegating responsibility and making sure everything that needs to happen for the event is happening.
• Depending on the length of the event, calling the YARP team together at different times for evaluation, self-checks, and YARP time. (This is important at the bigger, longer events).

After the event, the contact YARP(s)’ role includes:

• Talking with the event’s contact person to see if anything else is needed from the YARPS before they leave.
• Getting the team together for evaluation of the event.
• Making sure a copy of the evaluation is sent to the correct YARP mom.
• Taking the YARP team out for a meal (just kidding. Wanted to see if you were paying attention J).
• Initiating a closing prayer to end the event.

*Note: a contact yarp is usually a yarp who has done a few events, and is comfortable with the role. That doesn’t mean Barbara and Louise won’t surprise you and ask you to be a contact yarp at your first event (or ask you to do a big gathering as your first experience as a contact yarp. It’s happened. But we love our moms anyway!).

What is a Contact YARP?

Workshop by Kristine Walsh
YARP Training 1999

• Pray.
• Play ‘Come Back Honey” just for fun.
• Explain that we are going to define a contact yarp as we see it, talk about their role, how it affects the yarp team, the event, and how it changes for big events.
• Pass out the sheet to YARPS. Give them time to fill it out.
• Talk about each question.
• Pass out definition page. Go over it and ask for questions.
• Talk how a yarp contact affects the team and the event.
• Talk about how it changes for big events.
• Ask if there is any insight from veteran contact yarps that can give us insight- funny stories, lessons learned, etc.
• Ask for questions.
• Pray.