December 2013/January 2014 Hands-On Leadership...
Transcript of December 2013/January 2014 Hands-On Leadership...
My anxiety came to an apex
this September as my oldest daugh-
ter started the first grade at a new
school with nary a familiar face. The
shyest of my three girls, starting at
a new school scared her. Even
though I work for the school
district, the lack of information
provided by the school stressed me out. With the
exception of learning we were not on a bus route,
we had to seek out information regarding the start
and end times of the day, after school options,
parent drop off and pick up directions, etc. on our
own. Feeling uninformed, I wondered if this is how
parents felt every fall when they sent their kids to
my high school.
As I have become a parent, I look at my job
of teacher and activities director through a new
set of lenses. I have (admittedly rather critically)
observed and judged the communication from my
daughters’ schools and teachers. My husband and
I have been asked to get involved, we’ve been
asked to donate to the classroom, and we’ve been
asked for input. Too little, too much, good, bad,
or indifferent, the weekly communication coming
home with my daughters and emailed out to
parents has given this working mom a connection
to my daughters, to their journeys through their
schools, an introduction to athletic opportunities for
Continued on page 2
December 2013/January 2014
O R E G O N A S S O C I A T I O N O F S T U D E N T C O U N C I L S 707 13th Street SE, Suite 100
Salem, Oregon 97301
503-480-7206
Hands-On Leadership
Important Dates
Jan. 25-26: SEC Retreat/OASC Executive Board Meeting
Feb. 15-17: Winter Energizer at Valley Catholic HS
In this issue . . .
Winter Energizer!, pg 3
New SEC President, pg 4
Board Chair Notes, pg 5
OASC Director Notes, pg 5
Polar Plunge, pg 6
“I’m New, Now What,”
with Amo Estrada, pg 7
New SEC Board, pp 8-10
OASC Calendar, pg 11
Meet the Speaker, pg 12
Community Service
Opportunity, pg 13
Leadership Advisors Tips:
Resolutions, pp 14-15
Defeat the Label, pg 15
Lesson Plan: Excuses,
Excuses, Excuses, pg 16
Maegan MacKelvie
Board Chair
Ridgeview HS, Redmond
Leigh Church
Hazelbrook MS, Tualatin
Jeremy Crowin
Brown MS, Hillsboro
Amo Estrada
Echo Jr/Sr HS, Echo
Julie Kasper
Century HS, Hillsboro
Patrick MacKelvie
Alumni
Stacy Michaelson
Alumni
Noland Peebles
Thurston HS, Springfield
Heather Ransom
South MS, Grants Pass
Kerrie Savage
McMinnville HS, McMinnville
OASC Board Members OASC Executive Director: Sara Nilles
“A gifted leader is one who is capable of touching your heart.”
~Jacob Samuel Potofsky
Anxiety . . . Jake Halbakken
President
Oregon City HS, Oregon City
Victoria Blanger
At-Large Representative
Gresham HS, Gresham
Ana Parvankin
At-Large Representative
Sam Barlow HS, Gresham
Mica Annis
Metro Representative
Glencoe HS, Hillsboro
Lizzi Cox
Eastern Representative
Echo Sr HS, Echo
Nathan Geissel
Southern Representative
Grants Pass HS, Grants Pass
Ally Gibbons
Central Representative
The Dalles Wahtonka HS, The Dalles
Amanda Kelley
Mid-West Representative
South Albany HS, Albany
Joe Stuart
Northwest Region
McMinnville HS, McMinnville
Zeke Medley
Mid-Level Representative
South MS, Grants Pass
Corina Romero
Mid-Level Representative
Brown MS, Hillsboro
Student Executive Council
Julie Kasper
Board Member
Century HS, Hillsboro
OASC Hands-On Leadership
December 2013/January 2014
Page 2
Continued from page 1, “Anxiety,” by Julie Kasper
my kids, and a link to the schools’ activities and events. I have come to depend on that connection and that
information. After some soul searching, I started looking at what I have done as a high school teacher. More
specifically, I started picking apart how I communicated with the parents of my student government kids. In
elementary schools, parents are asked (if not begged) to be present in the classroom. In middle schools, parents
might be asked for help by the school but are often pushed away by their kids. So in high schools, I wondered
how we get the parents back. How do we send the message that parent involvement is needed, wanted and
valued? Thus far, my program had done little more than asking for help. Please help with the carwash. Please
buy this candle. Please help clean up after the dance. I realized I had been taking without giving back.
A big part of my job (and the job of our student government) is to help create and positively influence the
culture of our school. It was time to start creating a culture with our leadership parents; to send the message that
they are a valued piece of our school’s community. Equally as important, it was time to start saying thank you for
the time I am given with their kids and to justify the long hours for which I ask every year.
Information Eases the Mind:
I often refer to the “leadership bubble” with my students. It’s this bubble of information that surrounds
and engulfs our leadership program and room. While we are more than aware of what is going on, the rest of our
community might not be as informed. As leaders, we often take for granted that not everyone uses or refers to the
school calendar (or any calendar for that matter) as often as we do. It was time to start popping the bubble and
including our parents with this information. To start the year, the first assignment I require from leadership
students is a list of required leadership dates for the entire year to be signed by both parents and students. Parents
must also sign off that they have reviewed the school’s activities calendar with their son or daughter. Both let par-
ents know how often their kids will be at school with me, but also allows students to plan ahead asking for work off
or preparing for times during the year that they will need to make up hours they have missed.
This year our school district launched a mobile app available for iOS and Android devices. Available in
different languages, parents can access district notifications, news, the district calendar, information on athletic
scores, and a live sports feed. Links to important district sites are also included in this app including a district
directory, a tip line and links to the district’s social media sites, school menus, students’ lunch accounts, the
district’s grading portal and the district’s YouTube channel featuring district and student produced videos. My
students feed events into the app providing parents with notifications and “push alerts” about our school’s events.
Work Together, Play Together:
Every summer, our student government ends our three-day retreat with a celebratory BBQ. My juniors
use this as a dress rehearsal for the Homecoming BBQ that they’ll host months later. While we have always asked
parents for their barbeques or to cook for us, we started inviting parents to attend the BBQ a few years ago. This
way, they get to hear about the goals we set, the plans we made and the ideas we have for the coming school
year. For new parents, this is an especially good time to meet me, for me to answer pertinent questions and for
everyone involved to put faces with names.
Back to School Night:
Our school did away with the BTS Night format allowing parents to move through their student’s schedule
years ago. While I have always been present with my students at a booth selling spirit gear and answering
general questions to parents, I wanted to have an open house for Leadership parents so that we could meet and
preview the year. We did just that at this year’s BTS Night reviewing the contract, the required dates, the keys to
student success and left plenty of time for question and answer time. The best part of the night was when parents
heard from two of my seniors (both of whom have been in my program all four years of high school) speaking to
their own experiences in leadership and in our school.
Celebrating Successes:
While I speak at our monthly Booster Club meetings, I wanted a means to share with parents some of
their students’ successes. I wanted a way to brag to parents about how well the events their students plan were
received by our student body. We started writing a quarterly newsletter. Since our mascot is the jaguar, we
named our newsletter the “Jag-WOW-er”. On a quarterly basis, my ASB Secretary writes articles and attaches
pictures summarizing the biggest and best events, service projects and happenings at our school. The letter gets
sent home to leadership parents and posted on our school’s website as well. Continued on page 3
February 2011
December 2013/January 2014
OASC Hands-On Leadership
Page 3
“Integrity has no need of rules.”
~Albert Camus
Continued from page 2, “Anxiety,” by Julie Kasper
Closing the Year:
Inspired by OASC’s SEC officer transition ceremony, our school created our officer transition meeting
and banquet that we invite parents to attend to help us celebrate. Organized by my outgoing and incoming ASB
Presidents and Vice Presidents, we kick off the program with a slide show of the year’s events, honor each of our
outgoing officers, introduce and welcome our incoming officers, and end the night with transition meetings
between both sets officers. It is a nice way to celebrate our outgoing council and also a good way to give a
preview of what lies ahead for the following year’s officers. Many pictures are taken, tears are shed and hugs
(that I never want to let go of) are shared.
What is Next?
To improve how my leaders communicate to the student body, we have amped up our social media efforts
using Instagram, Twitter and Facebook that any of our school’s students can follow. We also started a FB page
specifically for our student government. It has become the most effective way for me to communicate with the
student government not only referring to activities and assignments but also sharing volunteer opportunities,
senior project ideas, and upcoming scholarships. Our next step is to create a similar group for our leadership
parents as an additional means to keep them informed.
FEBRUARY 15-17, 2014 at Valley Catholic HS in Beaverton—For current 8th-12th graders
Don’t wait! Get pumped up for the remainder of the year! See old friends and meet new ones!
Bring back assembly ideas, leadership activities, and community service opportunities!
Meet and work with motivational speaker, Tiana Tozer,
past member of the Paralympics U.S.A Women’s Wheelchair Basketball Team who brought
home the silver from Barcelona and the bronze from Atlanta!
Go on-line and register today at www.oasc.org.
OASC Hands-On Leadership
December 2013/January 2014
Page 4
Hello, OASC! It’s sad to see my time as OASC State President come to an end, but I
can’t stress enough how great it has been. The past four years of attending conferences
and being a part of the Student Executive Council has given me more insight into being
a leader than I ever could have imagined. I must sincerely thank every advisor who has
brought their students to Fall Conference or sent them to summer camp because OASC would not be
the same without the impact of advisors.
I remember vividly my first experience attending OASC Fall Conference,
and how I was a young freshman completely overwhelmed with the sense of unity
and spirit that OASC was filled with. Never forget that feeling because it has more
power than you imagine.
Now, I would like to introduce my successor, Jake Halbakken (pronounced
Has-a-lot-of-bacon). Jake is a junior at Oregon City High School where he is the
ASB Vice President. Jake also is the social chair of NHS, and takes a multitude of AP
classes.
As OASC State President, Jake has some great plans, “My main goal is to get
every single school in Oregon aware of OASC.” His other goals include continuing
on the magic that OASC gives to people, seeing an increase in membership, and
surpassing the legend of “THE Max Denning.” There you have it folks! Hope you have a
good year! I’ll be around.
Here’s to New Beginnings
A Last Note from Your Former SEC President . . .
Max Denning
Past SEC President
Jake Halbakken
2013-14 President
Oregon City HS, Oregon City
“Excellence is not a skill. It is an attitude.”
~Ralph Marston
Be a Joy Maker! This holiday season generation On (http://www.generationon.org/) is asking kids of all ages to give joy and Be a Joy Maker by turning acts of service into donations of toys and games for kids in need. From now through December 20th, for each action a child or teen takes to help
others, Hasbro will donate a toy or game to Toys for Tots - up to 1 million dollars’ worth!
In communities across America, thousands of kids and teens are wrapping toys for military families, conducting canned food drives, collecting clothes and blankets for homeless shelters
and doing other acts of kindness. As part of the fourth annual Be a Joy Maker program, 32 young celebrities from TV, films and music are encouraging their nearly 3 million Twitter and Facebook fans – and inspiring young people everywhere - to “give joy” this holiday season.
Go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cz7EWX-nqdU&feature=youtu.be to see a video created by generationOn’s celebrity “Joy Makers” and go to http://www.givejoy.generationon.org/
for details on how to make your action count.
December 2013/January 2014
OASC Hands-On Leadership
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“Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is the only thing.”
~Albert Schweitzer
Top 3 Activities to Ponder This Winter
From the Desk of Your OASC Board Chair . . .
Delay a Canned Food Drive?
Canned food drives are always very successful and the receiving parties are always grateful.
Although many shelters need non-perishable items and canned goods this
time of year, have you ever considered contacting your local food bank and
asking when they run into a food shortage? Rearrange your school canned
food drive around the time of year that the food banks experience shortages!
Staff Appreciation
A fun idea to warm your staff up would be for leadership to host a hot cocoa bar at a staff meeting.
Bring different fixings; marshmallows, caramel sauce, candy canes, etc. for the staff to stir into their
warm cup of cocoa and enjoy at the meeting!
Adopt a Family in Your District
Contact your local FAN advocate or district employee that works with less fortunate in your district
and adopt a local family in your district. Have the district provide you with a wish list and work as a
class, club, or school wide to make this family have a happy holiday season. A little joy goes a long
way this time of year.
From our OASC Director . . .
I just recently got home from attending the NASSCED
(National Association of State Student Council Executive Directors)
and NCSA (National Conference on Student Activities) conferences
in Austin, Texas. Wow, that’s a mouthful! As always, it’s an
exhausting and invigorating five days. It’s enjoyable to share ideas
with other people that share the same passion, listen to new speakers and gain a
wealth of knowledge. It’s also refreshing and affirming to realize that Oregon is
very well positioned in the nation with amazing programs, advisors and schools!
Throughout our meetings state directors shared with us stories from their
journeys in activities based on the Ten Principles to Live By written by James
Owen. Little did we know that James was going to also surprise us with his pres-
ence. He was inspiring to listen to and I felt his “Code of the West” had great
meaning in the lives of student leaders as well. You can learn more at
www.cowboyethics.org.
Sara Nilles
OASC Executive
Director
“We can ALL BE HEROES in our own LIVES!” James Owen, Cowboy Ethics
Maegan MacKelvie
OASC Board Chair
OASC Hands-On Leadership
December 2013/January 2014
Page 6
The Polar Plunge is what happens when thousands of people around Oregon run into icy cold water to raise money for Special Olympics Oregon. As a plunger, you register to participate in one of five plunges around the state. Then you raise a minimum of $50 in pledges from friends, family and co-workers. On plunge day you run or jump into the water and get out as fast as you can! You decide how far you want to go in. It’s all for fun and to raise money for a great cause and we invite your school to join the tradition!
AND… if your school team raises $1,000 or more, Special Olympics Oregon will give your school 20% back to be used for leadership activities!
Why Put Together a Team at Your School?
Show your school spirit while giving back to the community and supporting Special Olympics Oregon athletes Great opportunity for students to promote acceptance,
inclusion and respect
Team building experience
Enhances students skills in leadership, planning and
fundraising
Students can earn community service hours
Earn money for your school through the Polar Plunge Revenue Share
Supports any Special Olympics Oregon athletes that might
attend your school
How to Put a Team Together?
Assign a team captain
Register your team at www.PlungeOregon.com
Choose a team name that includes your school name so we
can identify your team (e.g., school name – team name)
Set a fundraising goal
Recruit students, teachers, family and friends to join your
team
Raise money
Your support through the Polar Plunge provides Training for
Life to the largest disability population in the state and provides 10,000 Special Olympics Oregon athletes with the
opportunity to participate in year-round sports training and competition opportunities.
To receive the 2014 Polar Plunge School Team Toolkit and other helpful resources, or if you have
questions contact: Alix Wasteney | [email protected] | 503-248-0600 ext.43
Polar Plunge for
Special Olympics Oregon
“Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision. The ability to direct individual accomplishment toward
organizational objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results.”
~Andrew Carnegie
December 2013/January 2014
OASC Hands-On Leadership
Page 7
“You can do what I cannot do. I can do what you cannot do. Together we can do great things .”
~Mother Teresa
When you decided to become a teacher, what did you think about? If you’re like most
people, you thought about making a difference in children’s lives, about helping them learn,
making them think. You didn’t think about IEPs, disinterested parents, students with behavior
problems, unsupportive administrators or the isolation of being alone in a classroom with thirty
students.
You weren’t wrong before you started teaching. Now, you have been given a new
duty: Leadership Advisor. Hang onto your positivity. However, you may be finding out now
that making it a reality is harder than you thought.
Unfortunately, many of us in the education profession are guilty of exacerbating the difficulties faced by
new leadership teachers. We entice young people and older professionals to become “One” with marketing
strategies that show happy students and well-ordered activities, but we don’t get the adequate support once we
actually begin. There are few handbooks and websites for beginning leadership advisors.
So now what?
OASC is here to help. This organization will help you find the resources, support, ideas, and advice you
need to make your school the rewarding, positive learning environment you want it to be. I won’t pretend that it
will be easy — but I will promise that it will be worth the effort.
Keep this in mind, teaching in itself is hard. Like anything worth doing, good teaching takes work and
experience. You can’t expect to walk into a leadership room for the first time and immediately connect with every
student, make everything clear to everyone, teach every child everything he or she needs to know and end up
with fabulous activities.
Are you feeling isolated? Lonely? Many teachers believe that they can — or
should — go it alone. You can’t go it alone (and you don’t have to.). What you can do,
though, is learn from the experience of leadership advisors. Sign up to attend the
Summer Leadership Institute, held each summer on the Western Oregon University
campus. They have the resources that will help you take advantage of mentoring,
learning to communicate more effectively with parents, colleagues and administrators,
and build a support network you need for your program to grow.
Every classroom is different. Just as every student is unique, every school is
unique, too. There are no “one size fits all” solutions in student activities. The OASC Advisor Institute gives you
the perspectives of real teachers who have faced problems like yours and overcome them. You’ll see how other
advisors have used their own talents and teaching styles to be successful in a variety of environments.
Take advantage of a great resource. Do what you can now to secure funding for the 2014 Summer Advisor
Institute. Attend regionals in your area but better yet follow the advice of advisors in your athletic league that
attended the OASC Fall Conference in Seaside. Take a leap of faith and contact your regional rep or Sara Nilles,
herself, for guidance, support, or questions.
Amo Estrada
Board Member
Echo Jr/Sr HS, Echo
I’m the new leadership teacher, now what?
OASC Hands-On Leadership
December 2013/January 2014
Page 8
From Caroline Bresler, Your Past At-Large Representative: Wow! I'd like to begin by saying what an honor it was to represent all of you on the student executive council!
My time on the SEC has been absolutely wonderful. But I couldn't have done it without any of you. It has
been so awesome seeing and getting to know all of you at various OASC events throughout the year, and I
hope to see some of you again at this year's Winter Energizer! A big thank you to Sara Nilles, my fellow
student executive council board members, and the adult executive board members for making this year on SEC
remarkable.
Although it is a little sad to say goodbye to my position of At-Large Representative, I am so
excited to introduce your next At-Large Representative, Victoria Blanger! Victoria Blanger is a
junior at Gresham High School (Go Gophs'!). Victoria has been a part of leadership since 8th grade
and absolutely loves it. But her role as a leader doesn’t stop at student government. Victoria has
been in her school’s Key Club as a sophomore officer and now is the club bulletin editor, the junior
class officer for her schools National Honor Society, a member of her school's MECHA club,
and a full IB candidate. Victoria has been to OASC Summer Camp and Fall Conference.
Right now at her school, Victoria is helping create a benefit concert for the Philippines as
well as introducing and promoting the Children's Cancer Association. Best of luck to you
this upcoming year, Victoria. I know for a fact that you will do great!
From Shayna Taylor, Your Past At-Large Representative: My time has come to an end as one of the SEC At-Large Reps, but it has been an amazing year. I learned a lot about who I am as a leader and how I can
contribute to an organization. I’ve been to camps, conferences, and workshops representing the state of
Oregon and its student leaders and I am truly grateful for the experiences I have been able
to have due to this position. Thank you to everyone who made it a great year!
Now it’s time to introduce one of your next At-Large Reps, Ana Parvankin! She is one of the
sweetest, most hard working girls you could have the pleasure to meet, and we are so lucky that
she will be representing OASC. Let’s get to know Ana a bit more! Her favorite movie is a three-way
tie between Step Up, The Proposal, and Soul Surfer. She is currently the Recording Secretary at her
school and is also the Key Club President. Her favorite Disney characters are Hercules and
Belle. Ana ran for the SEC because she wanted to work with a group of people that have the
same goal as her, and to impact the lives of fellow leaders in order to make our schools
great.
From Jake Halbakken, Your Past Metro Representative: Hello, OASC, it has been a great year on the board! I am so thankful to have been able to serve as your Metro Rep for the 2012-2013 year. I am even more
thankful that I will be spending one more year on the board as President! But less about me, I am excited to
introduce to you your new Metro Rep, Mica Annis!
Mica was one of the first friends I made my first year at camp. She is an awesome girl with a lot of
potential. At her school she is involved in a lot of different activities including: Key Club, Sparrow
Club, NEHS, Polar Plunge Committee, Unity Club, and more! She holds the elected positions of Key
Club Vice President, At-Large Member in Sparrow Club, and Sophomore Class Secretary for ASB.
Her favorite event to plan is the Polar Plunge. She helped raise over $1,000 last year! When I asked
her what her goal for being Metro Rep this year was she said, "My goal is to make the metro district
better than ever, and help make every person feel more connected with each other. I want to
support the schools by making my self a resource, attending events, and using social
networks to help connect the metro schools and make their ASB even more effective!" Let
me tell you, Metro Schools, you are in good hands with Mica Annis!
Meet Your New Student Executive Council . . .
Victoria Blanger
2013-14 At-Large Representative
Gresham HS, Gresham
Ana Parvankin
2013-14 At-Large Representative
Sam Barlow HS, Gresham
Mica Annis
2013-14 Metro Representative
Glencoe HS, Hillsboro
December 2013/January 2014
OASC Hands-On Leadership
Page 9
“Leaders must be close enough to relate to others, but far enough ahead to motivate them.”
~John C. Maxwell
From Tyler Downing, Your Past Southern Representative: Happy December, OASC! Unfortunately this is my last newsletter and I would like to take the time to say what a
wonderful experience it has been to be a part of the Student Executive Council. I
have learned so much about myself and about being a leader throughout this past
year, and OASC deserves the credit for that. OASC truly changed my life through an
environment that is unable to be replicated anywhere else, and anyone who has been to an OASC event can
say the same. So thank you to everyone who I have met along this journey and thank you to the other board
members I have had the pleasure of working with.
Now I would like to introduce you to your new Oregon Association of Student Councils
Southern Representative, Nathan Geissel. Nathan is an amazing leader and person, and I know that
he will be an outstanding representative. Nathan is a sophomore at Grants Pass High School where
he serves as Sophomore Class Vice-President, and last year he was the Freshman Class Vice-
President. When not at school, he enjoys camping, rafting and traveling. He has volunteered with
the local middle schools in the area, and organized a Locks of Love drive at GPHS last year.
Nathan is a huge Oregon State University fan and he loves watching football in his free
time. And with that, I end my term as OASC Southern Representative, and hand the reigns
over to Nathan. Stay classy, OASC.
From Naomi Sherbahn, Your Past Eastern Representative: As the New Year is approaching, a chapter in my life is coming to a close. Being a part of the Student Executive Council made a huge impact on my life. I
will carry the memories of serving as your Eastern Region Representative for the rest of my life. Thank you,
OASC, for an outstanding year and for giving me the opportunity to serve you. If you ever need anything, I
will always be here for you.
Now it is time for me to pass the torch to another great leader in our state. I would like
to introduce Lizzi Cox. Lizzi is a sophomore at Echo High School. Currently Lizzi serves on the ASB,
and she is involved in FFA, Knowledge Bowl, ACE Car Club, and Key Club. Her hobbies are read-
ing, writing, and playing sports with her friends. For her future she is working hard to graduate
with honors and is planning on attending the University of Washington in the fall of 2016. Her hope
for OASC is that every school in Oregon can be involved and receive the same inspiration
she did. As being someone who served you and our organization, I believe Lizzi will do an
outstanding job and will carry on the OASC tradition.
From Rebekah Lovsness, Your Past Central Representative: Well, OASC, this past year has been an unforgettable experience serving as your OASC Central Rep. After Fall Conference was over and done,
sitting on the bus driving home, I got to reflect on just how much this has meant to me. I remember my first
OASC experience and how much it impacted me, and being allowed to impact all of the newcomers and
our die-hard students is something I’ll never forget. It was an honor serving on the SEC, and I
am proud to introduce you to your next Central Rep, Ally Gibbons from The Dalles Wahtonka
High School.
Ally is an athletic sophomore from The Dalles. She’s been playing soccer since fifth grade,
she loves to run and do yoga, and her favorite sport to watch is baseball. She loves music and she
plays the guitar and piano. She’s really interested in photography, too! Ally is currently
serving her fourth year on ASB, and is excited about this upcoming opportunity. She
can’t wait to represent our central region, and if you have any questions or want to be
featured in an article you can get a hold of her at [email protected]. Thank you
OASC for an amazing year and remember it’s not goodbye, it’s see you later!
More New SEC Board Members . . .
Nathan Geissel
2013-14 Southern Representative
Grants Pass HS, Grants Pass
Ally Gibbons
2013-14 Central Representative
The Dalles Wahtonka HS, The Dalles
Lizzi Cox
2013-14 Eastern Representative
Echo Sr HS, Echo
OASC Hands-On Leadership
December 2013/January 2014
Page 10
.From Maria Martinez, Your Past Mid-Level
Representative: Being OASC mid-level has been an experience that I will never forget. I have
become a better leader because of this position, and
being involved with OASC. I am sad that my term is
over, but I am leaving an amazing person in my place, and
his is name is Zeke Medley. Zeke has been involved with
OASC since he was in 6th grade. Some of his hobbies are
basketball, cross country, wrestling, building
things, and exercising. He wanted to be mid
-level representative for experience with plan-
ning big events and representing people. At
fall conference, Zeke was always there willing
to help with anything you asked and was al-
ways so nice. I know that Zeke will be
an excellent mid-level represen-
tative.
From Kennedy Beck, Your Past Mid-Level
Representative: I'm sorry to say this, but this is my last letter. I had a really fun year and I loved my
student executive board. But don't you worry
because I'm leaving you in good hands. Replacing
me as your rep is Corina Romero. Corina is from Brown
Middle School. She ran for the position because she likes
helping people and being a part of something bigger. She
does soccer and cheer, and is very involved in
her school. Some of the activities she enjoys
are math, science, and engineering club. One
of the important people in her life is her step
dad, Rich Johnson. He pushes her to be better
person and he believes in her. Corina has
been in leadership for 2 years and
has been a communication officer for
1 year. Good luck, Corina, on your
new adventure!
And More New SEC Board Members . . .
Your New Northwest Representative: OASC welcomes Joe Stuart from McMinnville High School to the SEC Board.
Along with a passion for leadership, Joe enjoys being the
sports anchor for his school news broadcast
with Evergreen Aviation (MHS SOUR). With
his dedication and commitment, he is looking
forward to an outstanding year. If you need
to contact him for your upcoming events, his
email is [email protected].
He'll be happy to be at your
service.
Zeke Medley
2013-14 Mid-Level Representative
South MS, Grants Pass
Joe Stuart
2013-14 Northwest Representative
McMinnville HS, McMinnville
Your New Midwest
Representative: OASC
welcomes Amanda Kelley
from South Albany High
School to the SEC Board.
Being her school’s
sophomore class
president, an
IGNITE mentor,
and a volleyball
player fill her time when she isn’t busy with
leadership activities. Leadership has al-
ways been a huge part of her life, and she is
excited for this new experience. If you need
to contact her for your upcoming events, her
email is [email protected]. Midwest,
let her know what you need!
Amanda Kelley
2013-14 Mid-West Representative
South Albany HS, Albany
Corina Romero
2013-14 Mid-Level Representative
Brown MS, Hillsboro
December 2013/January 2014
OASC Hands-On Leadership
Page 11
April, 2014 (continued) April : Last day to update #’s for Spring Conference (email Sara)
April 26: SEC Retreat & OASC Board Meeting (Holiday Inn –
Portland Airport)
April 27-28: OASC MS/HS Spring Conference (Holiday Inn –
Portland Airport)
June, 2014 June 9: Last day to register for camp at the early-bird price and if
you have already registered at least 1/2 of your registration
fees are due today or your registration will be cancelled!
June 24-30: Oregon’s trip to NASC
June 27-29: NASC Conference, Orlando, FL
July, 2014 July 1: Last Day to register for camp (based on availability)
July 1: Final payments for camp are DUE
July 13-18: Session 1 H.S. Summer Leadership Camp (Staff
Arrive 11/12th)
July 20-25: Session 2 H.S. Summer Leadership Camp (Staff
Arrive 18/19th)
July 20-23: Session 3 M.S. Summer Leadership Camp (Staff
Arrive 18th)
July 20-23: Advisor Leadership Institute
January, 2014 Jan. 10: Camp Staff Applications DUE Before of on Jan. 23: Winter Energizer Early-Bird Registration Jan. 25: SEC Retreat at Sara’s house
Jan. 26: OASC Executive Board Meeting (Portland Metro area)
February, 2014 Beg. Of Feb.: Camp Staff notifications Feb.9: Winter Energizer Last Day to Register! Feb. 15-17: Winter Energizer at Valley Catholic HS
Feb. 20: COSA Scholarship Applications DUE
March, 2014 Beg. of March: Camp Scholarship Applications become available March 5-8: CADA Conference for Advisors in Reno, NV March 15: Camp Staff Retreat March 21: Community Leader of the Year DUE March 21: Advisor of the Year DUE March 25: Community Fundraiser for Camp Scholarships at
Oregon Public House
April, 2014 April 9: Student Council Program Recognition DUE April : Early Bird Deadline for Spring Conference Pricing . . .it may
sell out sooner! April : OASC Camp Scholarship Application Round 1 DUE April : Late Spring Conference pricing Begins
If you would like to learn more about any of the events listed above, please visit http://oasc.org/?page_id=65
for links to more information. You can also contact Sara Nilles, OASC Program Director . . .
707 13th Street SE, Suite 100 | Salem, OR 97301-4035 | 503-480-7206 voice | 503-581-9840 fax | email: [email protected]
“Individual commitment to a group effort—that is what makes a team work,
a company work, a society work, a civilization work.”
~Vince Lombardi
OASC 2014
OASC Hands-On Leadership
December 2013/January 2014
Page 12
Check it out . . . Looking for a great motivational speaker?
Looking for someone to pump up spirit at your school? Need an
expert to bring your group together? Each month, we’ll focus on a great
speaker . . . We’re working to help you find the perfect fit for you and your school!
Read on!
“Contrary to popular belief, there most certainly is an ‘I’ in ‘team.’
It is the same ‘I’ that appears three times in ‘responsibility.’”
~Amber Harding
At age 20, Tiana Tozer’s life took a dramatic turn when an
intoxicated driver ran a stop sign and hit the car in which she was
riding. She spent more than month in ICU and to date has had 35
surgeries; it took her four years to learn to walk again. Tiana went
on to compete in the Paralympics where she helped the U.S.A
Women’s Wheelchair Basketball Team bring home the silver from
Barcelona and the bronze from Atlanta. After fourteen years as a public relations specialist in corporate America,
she finally achieved her life-long dream of working internationally when she traveled to Iraq to run a program for
people with disabilities.
Since saving the world didn’t work out, she was extracted from the civil war in Sudan in June 2011, and she
is now back in the states making her living as public speaker. She encourages people to live their best lives being
true to who they are and what they value. She believes that laughter is necessary when things are at their worst
and that with hard work, tenacity and the right attitude anything is possible. In 2010, she was named University of
Oregon’s Outstanding Young Alumni and in 2012 she was honored by the University of Illinois with the Harold
Scharper Humanitarian Award for her service to others. She makes her home in Portland, Oregon where she is
currently working on getting her memoir published.
Tiana captivates her audience through her story of recovery, victories, and setbacks. Through the story of
her journey from junior high “C” team to Paralympic medalist, she shares the lessons she learned along the way
to make good choices and why they were important as well as role plays the power of those choices. Tiana shares
her best and most embarrassing moments, humorous stories about playing in the men’s division, the heartbreak
of losing the gold medal, and most importantly, how what you learn as an athlete both through winning and losing
can be translated into winning in life.
To meet Tiana IN PERSON, sign up to attend OASC’s Winter Energizer Feb. 15-17!
Learn more about Tiana at tianatozer.com.
December 2013/January 2014
OASC Hands-On Leadership
Page 13
Want to put together a community service project but not sure where to start. Interested
in learning about something you haven’t tried before? Check this one out!
“The task of the leaders is two-fold: to push us toward the rapids and away from the rocks.”
~Ron Cole
Transforming Communalities by
Empowering Youth
Red Sweater Project collaborates with developing
communities to create affordable, accessible and
advanced educational opportunities for children in
rural Tanzania.
And its about more than school buildings. This is
about building relationships and people. This is
about refusing to accept the way things are, and
creating something better.
It's such a simple gesture: put a child in a red sweater and send them to school. Provide food for each
student every day. Watch them grow. Empower them to question how they, too, can better their family,
their village, their world. It's a ripple effect. It's profound and it's not difficult.
This is also not your traditional aid model. This is about keeping kids out of hospitals and in the class-
room. Red Sweater Project brings together global resources and skills to create sustainable solutions
locally. A community donates their own land, their own resources, and their energy because they know
the status quo has to change. Now.
There are needs to be met immediately, such as food and medicines, and then there are needs that take
time. We're interested in both. And invested in both. By taking a holistic approach to education, our stu-
dents are equipped with reading, writing and arithmetic, as well as confidence, critical thinking, and a
voice of their own. They begin to hope and plan. Now they're in control.
For more information about the Red Sweater Project and what you can do to help, visit
http://www.redsweaterproject.org.
OASC Hands-On Leadership
December 2013/January 2014
Page 14
Tips for Leadership Advisors
Submitted by Heather Ransom, South Middle School
Taken from Forbes, http://www.forbes.com/sites/
dailymuse/2011/12/30/6-ways-to-actually-keep-your-new-years-
resolution/
With the new year approaching, I've begun to think about my New Year’s Resolutions,
which made me think about last year’s resolutions . . . hmmm . . . what were they? Did I
accomplish everything that I wanted to? Sadly, I can’t say that I did. I had great intentions, so
what happened? In my reading, I came across this article in Forbes on-line. It gives some
great tips a bout how to keep your resolutions this year . . . check it out.
It’s almost the New Year—the time to reflect on your aspirations and set meaningful goals to improve your
health and happiness. Which sounds great, right? But how many of us actually keep our New Year’s resolutions past
January?
Not many, according to a study by author and psychologist Richard Wiseman. His research found that 52%
of resolution-makers were confident that they’d achieve their goals, yet only 12% succeeded. What was the secret?
Those who took meaningful steps to achieve their resolutions—setting step-by-step goals or telling their friends and
family, for example—were far more likely to achieve their desires than those who made no specific commitments.
So if you really want to see results this year, it’s critical that you set your goals with sincerity, and set
yourself up for success. Read on for six practical tools for making realistic, attainable resolutions—and actually
sticking with them.
1. Get Specific
A common mistake people make is setting big, nebulous goals like, “I’ll be healthier.” Instead, make your
resolution specific, with a tangible, achievable outcome. Rather than saying, “I want to save money,” determine how
much, exactly, you want to save. What are you saving it for, and what will you do once you hit your goal?
Then, visualize what good will come when your goals and desires are met. What does it feel like? What does
it look like? It also helps to have something simple, tangible, and positive to repeat to yourself over and over again.
“I will be able to run a 5K because I’m healthy and strong,” is not only positive reinforcement, but it’s a quantifiable
goal that you can check in on and make your reality.
2. Write it Down
Write down your goals and outline the small, manageable steps you’ll need to take in order to achieve them.
If you set a big goal—say, learning a language—without a step-by-step plan, it can be overwhelming and trigger
frustration or negative thoughts that get in the way of your success. But by planning and accomplishing one small
thing at a time, you’ll stay on track, focused, and positive.
Continued on page 15
6 Ways to Actually Keep Your New Year's Resolution
“In a way, leadership is as delicate as Mozart’s melodies. The music exists and it doesn’t. It is written on the page, but it
means nothing until performed and heard. Much of it depends on the performer and the listener. The best leaders, like the
best music, inspire us to see new possibilities.”
~Max De Pree
December 2013/January 2014
OASC Hands-On Leadership
Page 15
“Excellence is to do a common thing in an uncommon way.”
~Booker T. Washington
3. Make Time
Be sure to set aside ample time for yourself to achieve your goals. If you really want to write that book
chapter, you might set aside three regular four-hour blocks during the week, and plan one day every month to
track your progress. If you want to exercise more, plot out time in your weekly schedule for runs and time at the
gym.
4. Move Past Doubt
Keep tabs on how often you “unset” your goals with your thoughts. Pay attention to self-sabotaging mind
chatter, like: “I’m not good enough” or “I can’t do it.” Every thought you have is an intention. It’s normal to feel
fear, doubt, or worry—but to make progress, it’s important to move past those negative feelings.
If you find negative thoughts surfacing, don’t criticize yourself, but stay in control. If your thoughts don’t support
you or your goals, let them go—they’re not doing you any good. Replace them with your positive mantra, instead.
5. Get a Partner
Having a group, partner, friend, or professional to encourage you can be a great way to keep you going.
Try finding a friend who has a similar resolution, and check in with each other every week to talk about your
mprogress and challenges. Or, ask a family member or significant other to keep you accountable—just make sure
they’re supportive and positive.
You can also seek professional help, whether that’s a personal trainer to help you meet your fitness goals
or a counselor who can help you tackle larger, looming issues such as low self-confidence or a lack of direction. If
you are dealing with issues of self-doubt, these can seriously get in the way of you meeting your other goals—so
do yourself a favor, and address such issues head on.
6. Be Still
You’re more likely to slip on your goals when you’re stressed or overwhelmed, so spend time every day
to getting out of your thoughts and reconnecting with yourself. Try a breathing exercise, meditation, yoga, or just
going for a walk. The more practice you have being still and calm, the more present you’ll be for each step of
achieving your goals.
Setting and reaching goals isn’t about willpower, it’s about the power of your intention. Once you’ve
mastered these few steps, you’ll be well-equipped to follow through on your resolutions—this time, for good.
Continued from page 14, “6 Ways to Actually Keep Your New Year's Resolution,” from Forbes on-line
Page 16 Hands-On Leadership Page 16
Source: Submitted by Amo Estrada, Board Member/Advisor at Echo Jr./Sr. HS, Lesson by Steve Aspleaf; Leadership Lessons: Lessons To Lead By,1998 NASCP.
Lesson Plans for Leaders on the Go . . . Busy, but you'd like to try something new? Check out this month’s featured leadership lesson plan.
Excuses, Excuses, Excuses Curriculum Unit: Group Process
Objective: To have students understand that making
excuses is a negative inhibitor to group and individual
effectiveness.
Materials: None needed
Time Required: 15 Minutes
Procedure
1. Ask the group members to sit in a circle. Designate one person to be the starter.
2. Give the first person a sentence. He/She must repeat the sentence out loud and add a “because”
to the end to complete the sentence.
3. He/She then points to another group member. That person must repeat the first person’s
“because…” statement and then makes up one of his/her own. Then that person points to a
third person, and so on.
(Example: You say, “The fish died, “and you point to a Jon. Jon says, “The fish died because he
ate too much,” and points to Sally. Sally says, “He ate too much because Bart put too much fish
food in the tank.” And so on.)
4. Be ready to assist the group if it needs a new statement because group members are stuck.
Processing
* Why do you think we did this activity?
* How could you have changed the message?
* Did you ever feel on the spot when someone pointed at you? What did you do when you weren’t
ready?
* When have you made excuses? Why?
* Does this ever sound like your school club offering excuses? How about excuses in class?
* What can be done to avoid making excuses?
OASC Hands-On Leadership
“A leader has the vision and conviction that a dream can be achieved. He inspires the power and energy to get it done.”
~Ralph Nader
December 2013/January 2014