I know this discussion is going on elsewhere at the group's Cursus Honorum Thread but I am only a volunteer member of the Help and Hood Teams, so I will keep my comments to these threads until, unless directed otherwise.

I really admire and appreciate this discussion to perhaps go with the mentor SE/neophyte scribe program; however, I would like to bring about one important thought concerning this mentor program:

-Instead of or Along with pairing one mentor to one new scribe, why not allow the neophyte scribes the ability to seek out and discuss suggestions, comments, concerns, advice, and gain overall mentoriship from several SEs [much like there is a volunteer database for scribes to contact a list of volunteers]. In RL and here at AW, many things can come up. Allowing access to all SEs who have signed up for mentorship program, gives the new scribe the lattitude to discover his/her own identity or path. If you do indeed target a neophyte scribe with a specific SE, perhaps then too show the neophyte scribe the list of mentors and should the access to new scribe's mentor be blocked or unreachable the new scribe could contact another SEs on the list.

Say mentor SE has pledged to assist with Gold Fest and his child has the big soccer game that weekend also....he only need contact the new scribe and let him know that he will not be around for some time and to contact SE A, B, or C from the list till his return...

~Just some thoughts...
Marduk