The origins of mentoring can be traced back to Homer's Odyssey where Mentor, an elder from Ithaca, was asked by Odysseus to become guide, advisor and teacher to his son Telemachus when he was away fighting the Trojan Wars. Mentor was actually the goddess Athena, the goddess of wisdom. She had assumed Mentor's form and was a wise and capable teacher to Telemachus. The meaning of mentor has evolved through the ages and a mentor is now regarded as someone who is a wise counselor, a sponsor, a guide, a facilitator, a coach, a teacher and a role model.

REGIONAL MENTOR LIAISONS are "super mentors" who will be the contact people for special educational programs/needs in their regions and will be available to answer mentors' questions. They will keep mentors in their region abreast of new educational material available for distribution. Here are AERC's Regional Mentor Liaisons: Central: Vonita Bowers, e-mail: mikeitafarm@aol.com Midwest: Roberta Harms, e-mail: equiphil@aol.com Northeast: Ellen Tully, e-mail: et-albert@msn.com Northwest: Suzanne Hayes, e-mail: hlm5506@blackfoot.net Pacific Southwest: Jane McGrath, e-mail: janejfmcgrath@msn.com Southeast: Carol Thompson, e-mail: carolythompson@msn.com West: Jan Jeffers, e-mail: sleeeker@garlic.com