YMCA MYIG

HIGH SCHOOL

CANDIDATE MEETING

AGENDA

1. Introductions
2. Leadership & Goal Setting
3. Preparing for Conference
4. Conference Experience
5. Next Steps
6. Tools
7. Q&A

INTRODUCTIONS

1. Name
2. Delegation
3. What position are you running for?
4. Why are you running?

LEADERSHIP

LEADERSHIP SKILLS

1. Think about models of good leaders you have had in your own life. Based on that, what skills do you think are important in a good leader?

​

CORE VALUES

The YMCA Core Values

1. Caring
2. Honesty
3. Inclusion
4. Respect
5. Responsibility

Other important leadership skills

1. Flexible
2. Patient
3. Active Listening
4. Good Communication
5. Decision Making

​

GOAL SETTING

1. Goal setting is important as a delegate and as a student leader!
2. When setting a goal, think about what you want to accomplish, improve on, or try that is new.
3. Be specific! (Ex: I want to make 2 new friends outside my school)
4. Remember to reflect throughout the conference. How is it going? What else do you need to do to reach your goal?
5. Reflect at the end of conference. How did it go? Why did/didn’t you reach your goal? What can you do differently for next time?
6. It’s okay if you didn’t reach your goal! It’s still a learning experience!

​

PREPARING FOR CONFERENCE

CAMPAIGN MATERIALS

1. Prepare a tri-fold board to display about themselves and why they qualify for their desired office. This will be displayed on a table throughout the conference.
• Fun facts
• Why you’re qualified for the job
• What you plan to do with the job
2. Students can make or purchase campaign materials to hand out during the conference such as: flyers, candy, buttons, pencils, etc.
• Stickers and candy with nuts (ex: Reese's, Snickers, etc) ARE BANNED
• Think about putting a campaign slogan on these!
• Spending Limit: $100, $150 for Gov and SOS

​

CAMPAIGN MATERIALS

MAKING A SLOGAN

1. Alliteration - choose a slogan that has the same letter sounds as your name. (Ex: Cole Cares! Vote for Vicky! Ben for President of the Senate! Olive is the One!)
2. Keep it short and simple. You want it easy to remember!
3. Make it meaningful. It should speak to your values or the values of the voters. (Ex: Elect Peter, Fair to All. Vote Rose for Respect and Responsibility)
4. Use your slogan a lot. It should be on your campaign poster, flyers and even in your speeches!

​

SPEECH PREPARATIONS

1. For YG and SOS candidates, ask another student to be an introductory speaker during Elections at conference. “hype person”
• There is a 1 minute time limit.
• This speech should introduce the candidate and why they are a great choice for that office.
2. Students should then prepare a speech on why they are interested in the position, what experience they have both in and outside YG, what they will bring to the position and why students should vote for them.
• There is a 3 minute time limit (Youth Governor and SOS candidates may have 5 minutes)

​

CONFERENCE EXPERIENCE

CONFERENCE ARRIVAL

1. Candidates should request a nominating petition from the Secretary of State or a member of their team.
• This will require them to get signatures from ten students, as well as their advisor.
• Once completed, they should turn it into the Secretary of State’s Office to verify their candidacy.
• Only 5 signatures may be from the candidate’s delegation
• Students can only sign one petition per office, so ask to make sure they haven’t signed someone else’s petition!
2. Students should set up their tri-fold board and campaign materials in the designated area.

​

NOMINATING CONVENTION

1. The Nominating Convention will take place on Thursday Night.
• Candidates are nominated by their Delegation Leader at this convention.
• Candidates must have submitted their nominating petition prior to the start of the convention.
• Candidates will be asked to accept their nomination at this convention.
2. Youth Gov Candidates will be allowed to select an individual from the district that nominated them, but not from their own delegation, to give an up to 1 minute nominating speech.

​

CAMPAIGNING

1. Students should campaign throughout the conference until voting closes. They should try to get to know various students and be prepared to answer individual questions.

​

SPEECHES

During Speeches, candidates will be given instructions once they arrive. They will be asked to step outside with their introductory speaker (if they have one) until it is their turn. Youth Governor and Secretary of State speeches will take place Friday night. All other speeches will be Saturday morning.

1. SOS and YG candidates may have a 1 minute introductory speaker that introduces them.
2. The candidate will step to the front of the room and give their speech. They will have 3 minutes to do so (5 if they are a Youth Governor or SOS candidate).
3. Candidates then will be asked up to three questions by a member of the press. These questions can be submitted by delegates to the press prior to the start of speeches.
4. They will then exit the room until all candidate speeches have finished.

​

​

​

VOTING

1. Students will be able to vote during a time they choose on Saturday while polls are open (11:30 am to 7:00 pm).
• Voting is done by Ranked Choice Ballot.
2. Winners will be announced at the closing General Assembly on Sunday.

​

​

​

NEXT STEPS

IF ELECTED

Students should expect to:

1. Sign a presiding officer contract
2. Take part in monthly presiding officer calls
3. Attend and help plan the leadership retreat this fall
4. Attend and help lead leadership training day and conference next year

​

​

​

​

IF NOT ELECTED

1. Don’t take it too hard! As long as you followed the core values, you should be proud of yourself.
2. Remember, you can still be a leader in your committee and chamber by stepping up in debate, helping others, volunteering if a clerk is needed, etc.
3. You can always run next time! (Or come back to help mentor as a volunteer if you’re a senior)

​

​

​

TOOLS

1. Candidate Declaration Form (Early) - DUE February 12th @ 11:59 pm
2. Candidate Expenditure Form (Early) - DUE February 24th @ 11:59 pm
3. Election Rules

​

​

​

​

Q&A

THANK YOU