To start a chapter at your school, follow the steps listed below!
Step One: Get JSA Introductory Materials Contact the Junior State National Headquarters to obtain copies of the Junior State Introductory Brochure, JSA Handbook, a tax form, and current literature that describes the organization and upcoming events in detail. Use these materials when you explain the program to interested students, teachers, and administrators at your school. Show this literature to all of your friends, even if you think they "wouldn’t be interested in this sort of thing." You might be surprised at their responses.
Step Two: Find a Teacher/Advisor
Every chapter must have a teacher/advisor. Teacher/advisors attend chapter meetings, offer valuable guidance to chapter officers and accompany the chapter to JSA conventions and other events. The teacher/advisor is the chapter's link to the school administration. Teachers inform the chapter of the school's guidelines for clubs and inform the school administration of the chapter's activities and their value to the school community.
Although a Junior State Chapter is student-run, the teacher/advisor is an important member of the chapter leadership. Teachers give the chapter credibility among the faculty as well as providing solid educational guidance to the chapter. While the students develop and run chapter activities and meetings, the teacher/advisor is active behind the scenes providing much more than just an official signature when needed.
If you are having trouble finding a teacher/advisor, the social studies department chair, principal or activities director may be able to help you. Review the Junior State Handbook and other materials with potential teacher/advisors and suggest that they contact the Junior State office for additional information and assistance.
Step Three: Get approval from your administration
Talk with your principal and director of student activities. Get their approval for the proposed chapter as an extra-curricular activity. Become familiar with school policies, rules, and procedures — you'll need approvals, possibly equipment, a place to meet and probably forms that need to filled out. On most campuses, new clubs must submit their chapter constitution for student government approval.
Step Four: Organize a Founders’ Meeting
Call a well-planned meeting of all interested students to organize your chapter. This "founders’ meeting" should include your teacher/advisor and three or four people who will help you put the chapter together. Have an organized agenda that deals with publicity for your new chapter and preparations for your first big chapter meeting.
Step Five: Get Support from Student Government
Approach your student government officials with your proposed chapter. Get their support as they are potential members and may be a source of financial support. You will need a charter as an official extra-curricular activity and a student council that will look out for your interests when scheduling school-wide events.
Step Six: Look for Potential Members
Get other student leaders at your school interested in the Junior State. Speak to government, speech, and history classes and tell them about the organization. Approach the Honor Society, Debate Team, Journalism Staff, ethnic clubs and other groups on campus. Ask your teachers if they know students who would be interested. Be sure reach out to students from many different groups; from cheerleaders to chess club members. Remember, all students have opinions and can contribute to your chapter, so try to get students of every type to join. For a thorough look at chapter publicity, download the Publicity Handbook from the Virtual Library or contact the JSA office for a copy.
Step Seven: Writing a Chapter Constitution
A sample constitution and guidelines for writing an acceptable constitution can be found in the Chapter Startup Guide. If you like, you can copy the framework provided there and refine it after your chapter is founded. All constitutions must adhere to the Fundamental Principles of the Junior State and to any school rules.
The structure of your chapter government and the procedures you choose to adopt are up to you and the other members of your chapter. Your Chapter Constitution should be mailed to the JSA national office. Unless you hear back quickly, you can assume that it has been approved.
Step Eight: Organize your First Meeting
Call a well planned meeting of all your potential members. This meeting should be designed to promote your new Junior State chapter and also to get the chapter organized for the year to come.
If you need assistance setting up this first meeting, contact the Junior State Office. Junior State student officials from other high schools are often available to come to your meeting and relate the Junior State experience. They can also give you organizational tips and advice. You can contact these students through the Junior State Office.
Step Nine: Collect Taxes (Membership Dues)
Collect and send your annual JSA membership dues or "taxes" of $3.00 per member to the Junior State Office. Send your ratified constitution to the Junior State Office; remember to save a copy for your records. Upon receipt of your taxes for at least eight members, your chapter will be officially a part of the Junior State.
Step Ten: Elect Chapter Officers
Elect your chapter officers and set up a chapter calendar of events. Officer descriptions can be found in the chapter start up guide.
Step Eleven: Start Having Chapter Activities
Publicize the establishment of your chapter in school and community newspapers. Start recruiting new members and chapter leaders for the years to come. Encourage underclassmen to attend Junior State conferences and to help in planning chapter events. By training them now, you can count on them to take over the chapter when you graduate.
Seek community support from local government like your school board and city council and community organizations like the Kiwanis Club, Optimist Club, Rotary Club, Lions Club and the League of Women Voters. Solid relationships with these groups can help bring speakers to your chapter meetings and may even help with fundraising. Start having chapter activities such as debates, simulations and thought talks. Starting a chapter is just the beginning, keeping it going strong requires dedication and good communication skills.
Please contact MAS Lieutenant Governor Christina Rosivack at clrosie@aol.com, who will walk you through the steps of chapter founding and development
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