What are the roles and responsibilities of a mentor?

Local mentors can provide a variety of support, including on a face-to-face basis. You will be responsible for:

1. Meeting your mentor "seeker" at section/division meetings.
2. Introducing the Young Plastics Professional (YPP) to others at local events, and (if possible) seminars/workshops , technical conferences , and worldwide plastics events , helping him or her to establish contacts and begin a pattern of networking.
3. Learn about the YPP contacts, their background, career goals, specialties, and needs. Much of this information will be provided to you as part of the YPP mentoring process. Share information to them about yourself and your career.
4. Establish a line of communication. Find out how you can best communicate- by phone, e-mail, or face-to-face. Get to know each other!
5. Finally, begin the real task of mentoring- respond to questions, offer advice, and take an interest in their development.

On-line mentoring is done differently. If you are selected to be an on-line mentor, we will set up a "profile" of you on the YPP internet site. This may include a photograph, and some information about your background and career. People who come to the YPP site and wish to gain your advice on topics can then send you e-mail notes to which you respond. There will also be "discussion threads", where many people can post questions, then read and respond to your comments. They and others can then respond to those comments, etc. These are basically on-line "discussions". It requires a willingness to check your mentoring "page" a few times a week, responding to questions and contributing to and maintaining your discussion threads.