Big Changes in MIA Programs

This month a new MIA year begins, and due to a number of important changes recently announced, many MIA programs will wear a new face. Aside from several very big changes—such as no more all-Church anything, including sports tournaments and dance festivals,—there are dozens of minor yet significant changes in MIA programs designed to make the 1971–72 season a winner.

To discover these changes, the New Era recruited twenty-three youth reporters who worked throughout the recent June Conference, covering all departments.

Young Men’s Athletic Program

1. No more all-Church tournaments. The Church, now worldwide, wants to emphasize sports on a local basis rather than have teams travel to Salt Lake City.

2. Athletic tournaments will be held on an area basis. An area consists of one or more zones; a zone is comprised of two or more priesthood regions, which are in turn comprised of about three to five stakes. Zone or area tournaments will be held in Great Britain, Europe, and in nine areas in the U.S. and Canada.

3. The emphasis on zone or area sports will allow sports that are popular in different countries or areas to be played.

4. Changes in age limitations. For example, basketball will have three divisions: Aaronic Priesthood-Youth, up to age 19; Melchizedek and Aaronic Priesthood Youth, 19 to 25; Melchizedek and Aaronic Priesthood-Adult Senior, 26 and over. Other sports have special age changes also.

Young Women’s Sports and Camp Programs

1. Your basketball, volleyball, and softball games may be a little different this year—an officials training program is underway so that girls and leaders may serve as qualified officials!

2. Track and field meets are added, with competition in all the major events. Girls are classified by age.

3. Jump rope skills, jogging, and other individual sports programs will receive emphasis this year.

4. A Summiteer camping program permits certified Campcrafter girls to plan and execute a major camp trek on their own.

Music

1. A new song book for MIA is out, Sing a New Song, containing fourteen new songs to be sung at your youth-artists choral festival schedules for January.

2. In the spring, each ward or branch will hold a spring sing ensemble—something designed along the lines of old-time vaudeville shows.

Drama

1. Parent and Youth Night will now be known as the Family Evening Theater. This year’s special drama is And Suddenly You’re Older, a great play all about youth (old age becoming) and old age (youth gone by).

2. Spring will feature ward and stake one-act play festivals.

3. A readers theater play of Hi There, Nobody is optional. It is a play of the mind, involving a clash of ideas rather than a visual production.

Dance

1. No more all-Church dance festivals. Instead, area or regional festivals may be held. This gives opportunity for more people to perform.

2. Instructional dance films will be available so you can more easily learn new dance steps and routines and how to dance contemporary dances in keeping with Church standards.

Speech

1. Renewed emphasis on helping all youth to prepare talks—especially through speech workshops, where the topics are how to pick a speech subject, how to organize a speech, and how to deliver a speech.

2. The language of prayer will be stressed this year so that no youth of the Church need feel inadequate when asked to give a prayer in public.

Here’s What Is Ahead for You This Year If You Are a—Deacon-Scout

1. Note the name change. We no longer call the 12- and 13-year-old boys Scouts. Instead, a young man of this age is a deacon-Scout. First and foremost, a boy and man hold the priesthood. Nothing tops that privilege!

2. Scout troops throughout the Church will compete for the top 50 troop awards, a program that will receive strong impetus this year.

Teacher-Venturer

1. Note the name change. Your priesthood designation comes first. A Venturer is you, venturing in the program. Venture-Exploring is the term related to the Boy Scouts.

2. A major push will be made to see that teacher-Venturers work for and attain the rank of Eagle Scout in the U.S. and the Queen’s Venture award in the Commonwealth.

3. You can look forward this year to at least one superactivity, such as a trip down a river or a major mountain expedition.

4. Extra-mile projects, coordinated with the Aaronic Priesthood, will get a boost, and you can plan on really using your priesthood to help someone.

5. Plan on a teacher-Venturer conference where you’ll get together with fellows like yourself and take up fascinating topics and hear well-known personalities.

Priest-Explorer

1. Note the name change. Your priesthood designation comes first.

2. Several major trips and post projects will highlight the year—perhaps the making of a post movie.

3. Citizenship will get strong impetus, in order to prepare you to join the ranks of voters and active community builders.

4. Group socials on a ward and stake basis will acquaint you with the Laurels of the area.

Beehive

1. If you are a new Beehive girl, you will attend a program with your parents and see the film And Everything Nice, which explains your new role in the MIA.

2. During the year another choice experience with your parents will be held—a standards night program called “For Such a Time as This.”

3. In your classes you will learn how to build a fire, how to build your personality, how to apply makeup or to make up with a friend, and how to set and accomplish your goals.

Mia Maid

1. Four joint Mia Maid and teacher-Venturer programs have been planned. The first evening will be on health tips.

2. “Fondue Fun” will highlight the traditional Kitchen Karnival.

3. A Summeree will close out the MIA year. It is a special summer party with the teacher-Venturers.

Laurel

1. You can look forward to a stakewide Laurel conference—giving you opportunities for participation and leadership.

2. Plan on some fun activities with the priest-Explorers built around the idea of “Show Me”—priest-Explorers show Laurels how to change a tire, fix a faucet; and Laurels show priest-Explorers how to wash clothes, prepare meals, iron shirts, and so forth.

3. Suggested plans call for a formal party, fashion show, mother-daughter camp-out, as well as panel discussions with the priest-Explorers on dating.

M Men and Gleaners

1. The big goal is to encourage you to become a Master M Man or a Golden Gleaner. This traditional achievement program will be emphasized throughout the Church.

2. Service projects—meaningful Christianity—will be implemented, ranging from servicemen projects to big brother and sister programs.

3. Flexibility is the keyword. Your group can literally plan and accomplish just about anything it wants, from in-depth gospel symposiums to scheduling a trip to a distant Church site.

4. For Gleaners, an all-day event on the specialness of being a woman will be held.