Part of a successful youth ministry is creating and maintaining sustainable systems and organizational tools, like calendaring, directories and templates, to keep the youth ministry program running as a vital part of the congregation and so it can live on after a volunteer or staff member leaves. Adults need to be competent in practicing compassionate communication, handling conflict with grace and humility, expressing needs, and being a good listener. And they need to be able to model these skills for youth. Youth Ministry Advising: A Complete Guide has some tips for developing these skills. Volunteers and staff must be competent with social media. Supervisors should inform volunteers and staff if their congregation has something akin to what the UUA staff uses as their Youth Inclusion Guidelines (PDF). Adults should be conscious of keeping records of online communication and maintaining their own privacy online. Are you hip with the Facebook? Are your Snaps fire? Did someone once praise you on your ability to communicate in 140 characters or less? Recently, have you used emojis in place of words? Do you know what a meme is? Whatever your answer is to these questions, you should join us on our Communications and Social Media with Youth Webinar with Bart Frost, Director of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries, and Tim Atkins, UUA Board member and DRE at Morristown UU Fellowship, as they explore what you need to know in order to communicate in best ways possible with your youth, parents, and other leaders. They will go over tips and tricks, as well as answer any sticky questions you might have about communicating effectively and using social media. Register now at uua.org/ymwebinars