i believe//

Not Just Debates Any Longer

We must bridge the divide between debate​ and activism, this is at conventions as much as out. Every block I would dedicate at least one room to activism, whether bagging lunches lunches for hurricane relief victims or phone banking. Just like any debate, delegates to conventions could just show up and take part.

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Fundraising

I personally love competition, and know from listening to debates, many of my fellow JSAers do as well. I would harbor this competitive spirit and channel it into raising money for the scholarship fund. This would be carried out largely through chapter fundraising: my chapter has been tremendously successful in fundraising, often giving many full scholarships. It is one of my biggest points of pride as a Chapter President that I have met 100% of scholarship requests from my chapter members. I believe in harnessing the incredible potential of chapter fundraising by further increasing communication between the Director of Fundraising and the Chapter Presidents. As I will discuss later, I believe JCOCP meetings can be better harnessed to equip CPs with necessary tools and information to raise money. Then, the chapter that raises the most money by Spring State will receive a free pizza dinner the Saturday night of Spring State.

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State of the State Address

I would give tri-annual State of the Mid-Atlantic State address to be filmed, posted in the MAS facebook group, and emailed to CPs. I would use this opportunity to discuss recent accomplishments of JSAers and chapters, highlights from conventions, places the gubernatorial cabinet is actively working to improve, and future plans for the state. A State of the State could also manifest itself as a facebook live town hall event, giving viewers the opportunity to ask questions in real time.

Transparency

I would connect department heads with their national counterparts. I independently did this this year, the effects of which manifested themselves in a better convention experience for all MASers. I also would give department heads a say in picking their agents.

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The Shadow Cabinet 

Many states offer a mid-year cabinet application. We can do even better. Around January I would release an application exclusively for underclassmen to apply to shadow certain positions in the cabinet. This not only will allow more people the opportunity to be involved, but helps groom future generations of leaders in our organization.

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Activism-- the Midterms

I would be governor during the 2018 Midterms. This provides JSA with a unique opportunity to actually make a difference, and get noticed along the way for it. Along with Fight Apathy, partnering with organizations like Rock the Vote, I would promote an MAS wide, voter education and registration initiative. We ought to capitalize on low voter turnout during midterms, launching a massive, statewide initiative to buck this trend through voter registration drives and voter education. After November, I believe we can also lead a Middle school civics education initiative, this would involve chapters connecting with local middle schools and creating lesson plans to ensure that civic education starts young. In the long run, I believe we also will see an increase in membership, given that freshmen will have heard of and recognize JSA.

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The JSA Store

I would also augment our fundraising initiatives by setting up an online merchandise store on the JSA website, selling apparel, key chains, mugs, and even more. Chapters would even be able to customize and order their own official chapter merchandise through the website.

 

Expansion

The current model is not working. Period. Though we remain saturated with expansion contacts, those contacts almost never end up setting up successful chapters. This points to a failure in the proper guidance for managing  a chapter much more than a need for new expansion contacts. As Governor, I would take an active role with new CPs, encouraging them to seize upon activism opportunities that help new chapters get known. I believe that such events are what new chapters need to get a proper base of members, necessary for sustainability.​

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Meeting for All First Time Attendees

Either block one of every convention or during nightlife, I would host a meeting for all members at their first convention. Not only will this be useful for helping new attendees feel comfortable and understand convention procedure, but it also would nurture a true community of JSAers. Snacks would definitely be provided!​

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Debate

As MAS Executive Director of Debate, I have been honored and humbled to lead such a charismatic and intelligent department. I have few new ideas, because much of what I would do, I already enacted this year.

1. Select a few debates written by regular, non-cabinet JSAers, submitted via a google form in the MAS facebook group and emailed to chapter presidents. This is just another way I would work to incorporate more people into “the process”

2. Further make use of personal, one on one calls between DoDs and moderators.

3. Set up a room first block for DoDs to help main speakers write speeches

4. Further publicize quick debate tutorials so every JSAer is well acclimated to the different types of debate.​

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Better Utilize JCOCP Meetings

I would reactivate the JCOCP facebook group, along with a messenger group chat, using it to often send out information to CPs that I believe could help them. I also would restructure JCOCP meetings to be less like lectures and more like discussions, where CPs share success and questions about activism and fundraising initiatives. Furthermore, in the messenger chat, CPs would be able to pose questions, setting up communication throughout the year, not just at conventions.