Midwest Cabinet Application

CABINET APPLICATION
JUNIOR STATE OF AMERICA
MIDWEST STATE
2015 – 2016
Dear Midwest State:
Congratulations on opening up this application, it is your first step to
joining the challenging, fun, intense, incredible, busy, rewarding group that
is Midwest Cabinet. It's a step we've taken ourselves for the last two years
(Kristine, weeks before the due date, Shruti, days) and for which we've
become better communicators, collaborators, statesmen, and people.
Without a doubt, Cabinet will challenge you. You might stay up late
on school nights writing debate blurbs, or formatting the agenda. You'll
schedule your other activities around phone calls, be it with expansion
contacts, chapter presidents, or activism organizations. Maybe you'll spend
your Saturday nights drafting emails to Cabinet, or grant proposals for the
Midwest scholarship fund. You'll experience JSA conventions like you've
never experienced them before, running around taking pictures, or
collecting ballots, or resolving emergencies. But Midwest Cabinet will be
worth it, we promise you - at the end of the year you will find yourself a
better writer, a better speaker, and a better JSAer, with friends all over the
country and a new admiration for Google Docs and GoToMeeting.
This year, we hope to bring the Midwest to unparalleled heights.
More fundraising, more activism, more events, more chapters. Debates
where everyone's voices are heard and publicity that everyone knows
about. We want stronger chapters, and better conventions. Above all, we
want to make the Midwest JSA experience as magical (if not more) for this
year's delegates as it has been for us. Applying to Midwest Cabinet can be
the best decision you ever make, and we can't wait to work with you!
Warmly,
Shruti Baxi and Kristine Xu
Governor and Lieutenant Governor
Midwest Junior State of America
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Applications are due by email to sbaxi@jsa.org and
kxu@midwest.jsa.org by Monday, July 6th at 11:59:59 PM.
Applications will be accepted starting Monday, June 8th.
Decisions will be released on or before Monday, July 20th.
IMPORTANT DATES
*Cabinet Convention – August 29th-30th, Schaumburg, IL
Fall State – November 14th-15th, Madison, WI
Winter Congress – February 12th-14th, Washington, D.C.
Spring State – April 16th-17th, Schaumburg, IL
*Date and Location subject to change. Attendance at the Cabinet Convention is mandatory. There
will be a relatively small fee associated with attendance to cover the cost of hotel rooms. Please do not
let this fee hinder your application to Midwest Cabinet; arrangements can be made if you anticipate
this fee being a problem.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Governor:
Shruti Baxi
(630) 445-3565
sbaxi@jsa.org
Lieutenant Governor:
Kristine Xu
(630) 362-5110
kxu@midwest.jsa.org
MIDWEST CABINET POSITIONS
-At a GlanceThe Executive Department
Governor
Lieutenant Governor
Governor’s Chief of Staff
Lieutenant Governor’s Chief of Staff
The Convention Department
Convention Coordinator
Logistics Director
The Debate Department
Director of Debate
Debate Agent
The Chapter Internal Affairs
Department
Director of Chapter Internal Affairs
Chapter Internal Affairs Agent
Isolated and Collapsing Chapter
Specialist
The Expansion Department
Director of Expansion
Expansion Agent
The Publicity Department
Director of Publicity
Publicity Agent
Technology Specialist
The Fundraising Department
Director of Fundraising
Fundraising Agent
The Activism Department
Director of Activism
Activism Agent
CABINET RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Always maintain JSA as your top extracurricular priority. There are
hundreds of students depending on you, and Cabinet is an honor.
2. Follow deadlines and submit high-quality work; take initiative,
volunteer for additional work, and assist others. We are all working
towards the same goal!
3. Check your JSA email regularly and remain accessible by phone and
Facebook. Open pathways of communication are required.
4. Attend all three major conventions (Fall State, Winter Congress, and
Spring State), the Cabinet Conference, and as many chapter events as
is logistically possible. If you foresee difficulty attending any of these
conventions, please let us know and we will plan accordingly.
5. Send a weekly Sunday Update and participate in conference calls as
directed.
6. Remain an active member of your chapter and a model for your
peers.
BASIC INFORMATION
Name: ____________________________________________________
School Name: ______________________________________________
Graduation Year: ___________________________________________
Email Address: _____________________________________________
Cell phone: ________________________________________________
Home phone: ______________________________________________
Address: __________________________________________________
State: __________________
Zip code: __________________
BASIC QUESTIONS (FOR ALL POSITIONS):
List the positions you are applying for this year in the order that you prefer them
(Applying for three positions is not required):
#1.
#2.
#3.
If you do not receive any of the above, do you wish to be considered for another
position? (Yes/No)
1. When did you join JSA?
2. What JSA events have you attended? What contributions have you made to your
chapter and the Midwest state? Have you spoken or moderated at any events?
3. Describe your extracurricular commitments and school schedule. How have they
prepared you to be a leader in JSA, how will you manage JSA on top of schoolwork,
and how will you fit in JSA as your foremost extracurricular priority?
4. What can you been seen doing at conventions or chapter conferences?
a. Debating my heart out
b. Moderating
c. Volunteering
d. Sitting in chambers and listening to debates
e. Other:__________________________________
5. Next year, all Midwest Cabinet members will be expected to help start chapters. What
are some personal connections or networks that you can use as starting blocks to help
spread JSA? List them here.
6. Why should you be on Midwest Cab? What differentiates you from your peers?
7. Why you are suited for the role(s) that you are applying for?
8. (Director applicants only) Nobody in your school group project is doing anything.
How do you deal with the situation?
PERSONAL QUESTIONS (FOR ALL POSITIONS):
Five words that best describe you:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Two of your biggest strengths and weaknesses:
1.
1.
2.
2.
1. What is your favorite JSA memory?
2. Are you comfortable on the phone? How frequently do you check your email and
facebook? Do you text?
3. How would you describe yourself as a worker? (Consistent working energy vs bursts
of high energy, better alone or in teams, etc.)
4. Choose one of the following to answer: What kind of ice cream, shoe, candy, brand,
or song are you?
5. Describe your dream Governor and Lieutenant Governor.
6. Make up a question that you wish we had asked, and answer it in your favorite font.
POSITION-SPECIFIC QUESTIONS:
CHIEFS OF STAFF
The Chief of Staff is responsible for keeping track of departmental progress, sending
updates to Cabinet, and collaborating with elected officials on a range of activities; Sunday
Updates, phone conferences, and enforcement of deadlines are three examples of specific
responsibilities under this position's jurisdiction. The scope and nature of this role require an
easily-accessible individual willing to make a massive time commitment. During events, the
Chief of Staff is charged with helping ensure things run smoothly, and can be found leading
an activity, saving a debate, or finding best speaker ballots. Applicants should have excellent
writing and telecommunications skills, social networking experience, a strong grasp of time
management, and a demonstrated interest in JSA at the chapter level.
● Are you interested in the Governor’s or Lieutenant Governor’s Chief of Staff
position, or both?
● What prior experiences, both within and outside the context of JSA, will facilitate
your relations with the other members of Cabinet, the Governor, and the Lieutenant
Governor?
● The Chief of Staff does not have a clearly defined role. How have you demonstrated
initiative in the past, and what do you see as the role of the Chief of Staff? What
would you like to accomplish in this position?
● If a Cabinet member is not doing his/her job properly, how would you motivate this
individual to get back on track? What would you do if a Cabinet member was
unresponsive and/or did not finish his/her work by a deadline?
● A main speaker has told you they are dropping out of their debate, someone turned
on the lights at the dance, and Speed Dating has a full room of rowdy statesmen and
the person leading it has strangely fallen sick before it has started. How do you try
and resolve these issues?
● As the link between Cabinet and the elected officials, the Chief of Staff works closely
with different departments throughout the year. With what departments do you think
you would work best?
● (Governor’s Chief of Staff applicants only) Write a draft of your first Sunday Update
email to Cabinet. Sunday Updates are mandatory emails chains for every Cabinet
member initiated by the Governor’s Chief of Staff, in which Cabinet members
describe what they’ve accomplished in the past week and what they plan on
accomplishing in the upcoming week. Email sbaxi@jsa.org for a sample from
previous years, if you would find it useful.
CONVENTION COORDINATOR
The Convention Coordinator is the well-organized, proactive, and creative manager of the
conventions and other events that unite the Midwest. This Cabinet member writes the
agenda and must be in constant contact with all departments to ensure accuracy and a wellrounded program. Changes can be made at the last minute, so the Convention Coordinator
must be flexible and quick-thinking; this latter trait also comes in handy when dealing with
the inevitable behavior, debate, and meeting room crises that arise during events. As a very
public face of the Midwest, the Convention Coordinator must be a confident speaker and
writer. This individual will diversify convention activities and ensure logistical success.
Perfectionism is a desired trait in the Convention Coordinator – with hundreds of delegates,
the agenda should be flawless, as should the event plans.
● What is your experience with organizing large events? Be specific.
● Email sbaxi@jsa.org to receive agenda information. Attach a formatted agenda
to your Cabinet Application.
● Email sbaxi@jsa.org to receive an unedited page from an agenda. Edit it for
content and grammar, reformat it, and attach the finish page to your Cabinet
Application.
● There is a miscommunication and the hotel accidentally forgets to book a debate
room for the weekend. How do you react, and what do you do?
● What changes and additions do you plan to make to JSA conventions in order to
improve the overall experience for delegates?
● During Night Activities, you have 3 rooms to fill for 2 hours each. What activities
would you schedule for how long, and what supplies would you buy (if any)?
● What are some of the strengths and weaknesses of JSA conventions you have
attended in the past, and how would you address the weaknesses?
LOGISTICS DIRECTOR
The Logistics Director is the second and final member of the Convention department, with
a focus of handling all logistical details and emergencies during the conventions themselves.
Aside from working with the Convention Coordinator to plan the conventions, the Logistics
Director leads volunteer signups and distribution, and finds restaurants discounts. The
Logistics Director must be flexible, quick-thinking, and calm under pressure, able to handle a
multitude of convention emergencies like missing moderators and room overcrowding, all
while being responsible for the “customer service” aspect of each convention. The position
of Logistics Director is new this year, so the person who fills the position must take initiative
and define the role.
● A debate room is overcrowded at the Capitol building, and kids are starting to crowd
around the doorway. What do you do?
● How do you plan to improve the navigation system utilized at Fall State?
● What changes would you make to the current convention volunteer system, for
Activism, Fundraising, Publicity, and Navigation?
● Compile a list of 15 restaurants within walking distance of the Crystal City
Doubletree in Washington, DC (where Winter Congress is held) and write a sample
script you would use when calling to ask about a discount for JSA members during
the convention.
● What experience do you have organizing and/or overseeing events?
● Design a Google Form for convention feedback and provide the link below.
DIRECTOR OF DEBATE
The Director of Debate, affectionately known as the DoD, crafts debate resolutions,
thought talks, and blurbs. The DoD manages the Debate Department and assigns debaterelated tasks to Debate Agents. Proficiency with grammar and knowledge of current events
is required, as he/she is responsible for ensuring debate resolutions and blurbs are
grammatically and factually correct. Additionally, the DoD is in charge of selecting and
coordinating speakers and moderators, with a general goal of assigning positions that
diversify speakers and moderators and accurately reflect chapter attendance at a convention.
The DoD plays a critical role at conventions, overseeing debate agents and keeping debates
under control, all while counting ballots and organizing best speaker results. Another
primary duty of the DoD is to create and implement new forms of debate (i.e. a 180-Debate,
Stutter Debate, Mock Trial, etc.). Ultimately, the DoD is responsible for keeping debate
quality at a high and sustainable level throughout the Midwest, particularly at conventions.
This position requires a great deal of time, ingenuity, and patience, and only those who can
make JSA their top priority will be considered.
● Write ten resolutions accompanied by debate blurbs and pro/con lists for four of
these resolutions, with proper formatting. Two resolutions must be humorous.
● There are four weeks until the agenda must be finished, and five until the convention.
You must develop and choose resolutions with your team, release debate signups,
choose speakers, contact speakers, prepare the Debate/Moderator workshops, and
prepare blurbs and pro/con lists with your team. What does your schedule look like,
and how do you see it through?
● A debate stalls: Resolved, that the United States government should increase
subsidies for alternative energy There are no con speakers. What do you do? Attach a
video if you feel it will enhance your response.
● How will you ensure that controversial debates don’t get out of hand? How will you
handle rowdy debaters?
● What new styles or formats of debates and thought talks will you propose? Be
descriptive.
● Describe what you see as your role at conventions, and the role of your agents. How
would you organize and prepare your agents for their first convention?
DEBATE AGENT
Debate agents are responsible for the selection of timely and engaging resolutions as well as
the composition of accompanying Pro/Con lists and background blurbs. They work by
deadline under the direction of the Director of Debate, and must be strong writers and
speakers as they are also responsible for ensuring a smooth convention and could plausibly
need to jump into a debate. Novel thinkers are appreciated, as are individuals skilled with
logistics and navigation.
● Write eight sample resolutions and three accompanying debate blurbs and pro/con
lists. Include the sources you used for your research. Two resolutions must be
humorous.
●
●
●
●
o Also write a debate blurb for “Resolved, that posting grades publicly with
names improves academic performance.” (This will not count as one of your
resolutions)
Brainstorm creative ideas you have for next year’s conventions. Include other styles
of debate, special activities, and ways to improve the quality of debate in the Midwest.
What characteristics make a quality debater? Who are some of the debaters, past or
present, within Midwest JSA that you most admire?
Describe a problem you’ve seen with JSA debates at previous conventions, and how
you will approach it next year with the rest of your department.
What are you favorite topics to debate at conventions?
DIRECTOR OF CHAPTER INTERNAL AFFAIRS
Maintaining open pathways of communication and good relationships with Chapter
Presidents across the Midwest requires tremendous patience, a strong work ethic, and
unfailing organizational skills. The CIA Director is responsible for ensuring that chapters
receive information about upcoming events and deadlines in a timely fashion. Because the
CIA department answers questions about all aspects of JSA and guides chapters to stability
and success, the CIA Director must have an extensive knowledge of internal affairs at all
levels. Collaboration with other members of Cabinet occurs frequently as the Director refers
specialized questions to their proper destination. It is the Director's job to offer assistance to
struggling chapters and oversee the quality of work carried out by the CIA agents. Crisis
management occurs frequently, so a flair for improvisation is highly recommended. Items
under CIA’s jurisdiction include Chapter Leadership forms, taxes, transitions from
expansion, convention registration, convention recruitment, chapter sustainability, and more.
MyJSA training will be required.
● How can Cabinet improve relationships with chapters, and what additional forms of
support should we offer?
● A chapter has not turned in its taxes and is having difficulty recruiting new members.
You call the Chapter President but reach the answering machine. Summarizing your
advice, what message would you leave? You may attach a video to enrich your
answer.
● What qualities do you see as most characteristic of a successful Director of CIA?
● Describe your expertise with Cabinet-chapter relationships. What constitutes a
functional relationship in this context?
● What experience do you have with communication and organization for JSA events?
● Recently, we have seen school administrations pull support for schools attending
conventions and transportation become large obstacles that chapters have had to
overcome in order to attend a convention. How do you plan to combat these issues
this upcoming year?
CHAPTER INTERNAL AFFAIRS AGENT
Regular communication between chapters and Cabinet is vital. A Chapter Internal Affairs
agent is responsible for building a successful relationship with Chapter Presidents and acting
as a knowledgeable resource throughout the year. Agents are required to use many forms of
communication--traditionally the telephone, email, and facebook--and must be articulate and
concise. While certain positions fluctuate in workload, CIA agents are responsible for
remaining accessible at all times and contacting chapters at regular intervals throughout the
year. CIA agents distribute information and patiently help Chapter Presidents resolve
conflicts with administration, attendance, registration, transportation, and many other
common roadblocks; therefore, they must remain updated on State affairs. Not every
Cabinet position has direct access to the chapter, so it falls to the CIA agent to encourage
Chapter Presidents to be prompt with deadlines and bring the largest delegation possible to
every event.
● Describe your chapter. What are some areas for improvement within your own
chapter? How can you use what you've learned from your own chapter to assist new
or struggling chapters?
● How can Cabinet improve relationships with chapters, and what additional forms of
support should we offer?
● A chapter has not turned in its taxes and is having difficulty recruiting new members.
You call the Chapter President but reach the answering machine. Summarizing your
advice, what message would you leave? You may attach a video to enrich your
answer.
● What qualities do you see as most characteristic of a successful CIA Agent?
ISOLATED AND COLLAPSING CHAPTER SPECIALIST
The Isolated and Collapsing Chapter Specialist, also known as the ICCS, is the proactive,
resourceful, creative member of Midwest Cabinet who serves as a liaison specifically for
chapters classified as collapsing and/or isolated. The ICCS provides struggling chapters with
resources to recruit new members, get involved in their communities, and organize
transportation and administration support for conventions. The position of ICCS is new this
year, established at Spring State 2015 through Council of Chapter Presidents legislation, so
the member of Midwest Cabinet who holds this position must be a fast learner who takes
initiative and is willing to define the role.
● Describe your chapter. How has your experience in your own chapter prepared you
to specialize in supporting chapters that are isolated or collapsing?
● A chapter president who leads the only chapter in his state asks you for help. He says
he’s having trouble recruiting new members, and doesn’t know if he can sustain
people’s interests since they are too far away from other chapters to attend chapter
conferences and haven’t yet received administration approval for the next
convention. What advice would you give him?
● The position of ICCS is new for this year. Why do you think the position is
important to have?
● A chapter needs help getting from Omaha, Nebraska to Madison, Wisconsin for Fall
State. Provide, in detail, three different transportation options, accounting for a
variety of budgets and delegation sizes.
DIRECTOR OF EXPANSION
Outgoing and efficient, this Director is the leader of the fast-moving team responsible for
the expansion of the vast Midwest State. In order to found numerous and stable chapters,
the Director of Expansion must have a thorough understanding of JSA on the local, state,
and national levels as well as a genuine passion for the organization and a solid grasp of
chapter internal affairs. Successful propagators of JSA are persuasive and well-connected in
addition to well-organized so they can manage the massive efforts of the expansion team;
this individual must be enthusiastic, persistent, and encouraging with prospective Chapter
Presidents. Convincing students to attend events is a priority. Often overlooked is the
frustrating aspect of working in Chapter Outreach; the Director of Expansion must be
resilient and a strong leader in order to ensure a proactive approach to chapter creation yearround.
● How will you convince a potential Chapter President/administration that JSA is
different (better) than Youth and Government, Model UN, and/or traditional
debate?
● How do you plan on using different networks (including networks of friends or other
connections, not just your own) to find expansion contacts? List at least five.
● Give a personal anecdote describing an instance when you displayed dogged
persistence.
● A curious high schooler asks you about the JSA lanyard that you are wearing. You
have 2 minutes. How would you pitch the organization to him/her?
● What are the foundations of a strong chapter?
● What is your general plan for expanding the Midwest next year? (How will you gather
contacts and direct your agents? What regions will you focus on?)
EXPANSION AGENT
As expansion agents collaborate with one another and other JSAers to find contacts, they
must be prepared to reach out to students with an interest in starting a chapter from schools
that have never heard of JSA. Expansion Agents are responsible for guiding JSA Summer
School graduates through the chapter development process and convincing prospective
Chapter Presidents to attend conventions and other functions. The nature of expansion
work dictates that agents be independent, easily accessible, and persistent. Because each
contacted school has the potential to contribute dozens of new statesmen and ideas,
expansion agents are critical to the future of the Midwest. Those applying for an Expansion
Agent must be personable, hardworking, knowledgeable about JSA, and passionate about
bringing JSA to new schools and new people.
● What are networks (including networks of friends or other connections, not just your
own) you can utilize to find contacts from new schools? List at least three.
● Give a personal anecdote describing an instance when you displayed dogged
persistence.
● A curious high schooler asks you about the JSA lanyard that you are wearing. You
have 2 minutes. How would you pitch the organization to him/her?
● How would your friends describe you?
● What are some of the qualities essential to being a successful expansion agent, and
how do you demonstrate them?
DIRECTOR OF PUBLICITY
Because the Publicity Department contacts media organizations about upcoming events and
issues press releases and news articles, the Director is expected to be articulate, experienced
with PR, and strong in writing. The Publicity Director manages logistics plans for coverage
and documentation of JSA events and uses social media (facebook, twitter, tumblr) to
advertise opportunities and events in the Midwest. This individual will continue working on
creative initiatives to make JSA a household name.
● Explain your experience with media communications and how you would improve
the Midwest’s information dispersal network and use of social media.
● Create a one-page length flyer advertising Spring State.
● How can we make JSA a household name in the Midwest? Why is improving JSA’s
reach important?
● What is your talent (photography, videography, journalism) and experience in that
area? Include or attach samples of your work.
● A media organization calls you back and tells you that you’re live on the radio. They
ask you what JSA is, and what you do at conventions. How do you respond? You
may attach a recording to enhance your response.
● Submit an original press release about a JSA event you attended this past year.
PUBLICITY AGENT
The Publicity agent is a multi-talented documentarian of JSA events responsible for the
advertisement of conventions, creative dispersal of information, use of social media
(facebook, twitter, tumblr) to enrich the Midwest, and press coverage. Agents are expected
to attend as many conventions, conferences, and JSA activities as possible, and to possess
basic skills in writing and photography. They will work with their Director and Pubsquad
team to attract media attention and expand the influence of JSA.
● How can we make JSA a household name in the Midwest? Why is improving JSA’s
reach important?
● What is your talent (photography, videography, journalism) and experience in that
area? Include or attach samples of your work.
● A media organization calls you back and tells you that you’re live on the radio. They
ask you what JSA is, and what you do at conventions. How do you respond?
● Draft an email asking a reporter from the Chicago Tribune to cover a convention.
● What aspects of a convention need publicizing? How would you publicize Fall State
using all resources?
● How would you suggest improving the Midwest’s use of social media platforms?
TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST
The technology specialist is a chameleon on Cabinet. Serving as a member of the Pubsquad
(Publicity Department) during events as well as a manager of the Midwest’s website and all
other technological platforms used to spread and enhance JSA, this individual must have a
well-rounded background with technology and the website’s platform, Wordpress. The
technology specialist should be highly accessible and reliable; he/she is responsible for
uploading fresh content on the site and assisting the publicity team with social media.
● What is the scope of your expertise with technology? Submit any websites, apps, or
programs that demonstrate this ability.
● What are current issues that you see with the Midwest website and how do you
intend to improve it?
● What do you think the website’s function is, and how would you increase the use of
the Midwest website?
● If you have any experience with video editing, please describe it here and include a
sample project.
● Is there a large technical project that you would like to take on as Technology
specialist? If so, how do you plan to do so?
DIRECTOR OF FUNDRAISING
This role demands a charismatic, persuasive, and well-organized individual prepared to host
successful fundraisers at Midwest events and court private/corporate donors to contribute
to our state. The Director of Fundraising will be in charge of raising money for the Midwest
scholarship fund, through StayClassy and grant proposals. The Director of Fundraising must
also serve as a reference for chapter leaders looking for financial assistance. Soliciting
donations can be challenging, so this individual must be self-motivated.
● List five original ideas for logistically plausible fundraisers at conventions and
describe two, along with their plans for implementation, in detail.
● List five original ideas for logistically plausible fundraisers at the chapter level and
describe two, along with their plans for implementation, in detail.
● How would you search for private donors and solicit donations?
● A cynical student asks why he/she should buy the merchandise at the fundraising
table. Describe what items you’ve purchased (wristbands, etc.) and your sales pitch.
You may attach a video to enhance your response.
● Why is fundraising important? What criteria would you use to determine eligibility for
a delegate scholarship?
FUNDRAISING AGENT
The Fundraising Agent must be able to assist the Fundraising Director for all the State’s
financial needs. This includes writing grants, acquiring and selling merchandise, and helping
chapters with Fundraising projects. Fundraising Agents must be well organized, creative, and
ready to take on any project.
● List three original ideas for logistically plausible fundraisers at conventions and
describe two, along with their plans for implementation, in detail.
● List three original ideas for logistically plausible fundraisers at the chapter level and
describe two, along with their plans for implementation, in detail.
● A cynical student asks why he/she should buy the merchandise at the fundraising
table. Describe what items you’ve purchased (wristbands, etc.) and your sales pitch.
You may attach a video to enhance your response.
● Have you had any experience writing grants? If so, please explain. If not, please
explain how you plan on doing so.
DIRECTOR OF ACTIVISM
The Director of Activism is the individual charged with promoting the social justice and
civic engagement focus of the Junior State of America. With an emphasis on tangible
projects and action based on thoughtful debate, next year’s activism must fully engage
delegates both during conventions and at the chapter level; the Director of Activism is
responsible for planning activism activities during events and acting as a resource for
chapters. Communication skills are a must as the Director of Activism frequently contacts
special interest organizations; enthusiasm and creativity are also required traits in order to
ensure delegate participation.
● List five original ideas for logistically plausible activism projects at conventions and
describe two, along with their plans for implementation, in detail. Try to avoid
activities focused on fundraising.
● List three local activism events that chapters around you could take part in. Go into
details about the level of commitment, the ease of participating, and how you would
“sell” these ideas to chapters looking for ideas.
● List two activism events that chapters can implement at chapter conferences,
including detailed plans.
● Debates are the mainstays of JSA conventions, and sometimes activism projects are
not as properly advertised. How will you increase participation in these events?
● Why do you feel activism is important, and how do you think it is connected to the
all-around well-being of Midwest JSA, including chapter affairs?
● What is your experience with activism? Do you have any causes, political or
humanitarian, to which you have dedicated significant time and effort?
ACTIVISM AGENT
An Activism Agent needs to be passionate, creative, and ready to assemble our State to fight
the political issues of the present day. Along with assisting the Activism Director with state
and convention projects, they must assist Chapters with local Activism projects as well.
● List three original ideas for logistically plausible activism projects at conventions and
describe two, along with their plans for implementation, in detail. Try to avoid
activities focused on fundraising.
● List three local activism events that chapters around you could take part in. Go into
details about the level of commitment, the ease of participating, and how you would
“sell” these ideas to chapters looking for ideas.
● Write or record a sample voicemail explaining JSA and inviting an organization to
participate in a Political Activism Fair at one of our conventions. Keep in mind that
outside organizations cancel frequently, include how you will ensure their attendance.
● What is your experience with activism? Do you have any causes, political or
humanitarian, to which you have dedicated significant time and effort?
Are you interested in a job other than the ones listed above? If so, please explain
in detail why this position should be included on Cabinet and what it would
entail.
Applications are due to sbaxi@jsa.org and kxu@midwest.jsa.org by
Monday, July 6th at 11:59:59 PM
Applications will be accepted starting Monday, June 8th.
We look forward to reading your applications! Decisions will be released by
Monday, July 20th. If you have any questions about specific positions, please do
not hesitate to ask.