2016-2017 Cypress Lakes FFA Officer Application
Name: ______Grade:______
Desired Officer Position: ______Due Date:___4/1/2016___
Please answer the following questions in complete sentences. Please attach a separate page if needed.
1. List all LDEs you have participated in, level advanced to, and the years you competed:
2. List all CDEs you have participated in, level advanced to, and the year you competed:
3. List any speaking events, officer positions, awards, or other honors you have earned through the FFA:
4. What does the FFA mean to you and why do you want to be an officer?
5. What type of attributes would you bring to the Officer Team? How would those help to better the team?
6. Do you have a job outside of school? If yes, where and what are your weekly hours?
7. Are you involved in other extra-curricular activities? If yes, which ones and what are the time commitments?
8. What part of the FFA emblem do you think best describes you and why?
9. If there was one thing you would want your interviewers to know about you, what would it be?
Officer Roles & Responsibilities
Please read the following descriptions detailing the various officer roles and responsibilities to better understand what is expected of each position. The following includes requirements from the Official FFA Manual. Be sure and read every available Officer Position if you run and are elected to Office, you must assume all responsibilities of that office whether or not it was your original desired position.
President
"The rising sun is the token of a new era in agriculture. If we will follow the leadership of our president, we shall be led out of the darkness of selfishness and into the glorious sunlight of brotherhood and cooperation."
1. Preside over meetings according to accepted rules of parliamentary procedure.
2. Appoint committees and serve on them as an ex-officio (non-voting) member.
3. Coordinate the activities of the chapter and evaluate the progress of each division of the Program of Activities.
4. Represent the chapter in public relations and official functions.
Vice President
"The plow is the symbol of labor and tillage of the soil. Without labor, neither knowledge nor wisdom can accomplish much. My duties require me to assist at all times in directing the work of our organization. I preside over meetings in the absence of our president, whose place is beneath the rising sun."
5. Assume all duties of the president if necessary.
6. Develop the Program of Activities and serve as an ex-officio (non voting) member of the POA committees.
7. Coordinate all committee work.
8. Work closely with the president and advisor to assess progress toward meeting chapter goals.
9. Establish and maintain a chapter resource file.
***The President and Vice President work hand in hand, no position is better than the other. If both officers don’t work as a team, the entire chapter will suffer.
Secretary
"I keep an accurate record of all meetings and correspond with other secretaries wherever corn is grown and FFA members meet."
10. Prepare and post the agenda for each chapter meeting.
11. Prepare and present the minutes of each chapter meeting.
12. Place all committee reports in the designated area
13. Be responsible for chapter correspondence.
14. Maintain member attendance and activity records and issue membership cards.
15. Keep the Program of Activities wall chart up-to-date.
16. Have on hand for each meeting:
Official FFA Chapter Secretary's Book including minutes of the previous meeting.
Copy of the Program of Activities including all standing and special committees.
Official FFA Manual and the National FFA Student Handbook.
Copies of the chapter constitution and bylaws
Treasurer
"I keep a record of receipts and disbursements just as Washington kept his farm accounts-carefully and accurately. I encourage thrift among the members and strive to build up our financial standing through savings and investments. George Washington was better able to serve his country because he was financially independent."
17. Receive, record and deposit FFA funds and issue receipts.
18. Present monthly treasurer's reports at chapter meetings.
19. Collect dues and special assessments including fundraisers.
20. Prepare and submit the membership roster and dues to the National FFA Organization in cooperation with the secretary.
21. Serve as chairperson of the earnings and savings committee.
**Students are not responsible for handling or depositing chapter money.
Reporter
"As the flag covers the United States of America, so I strive to inform the people in order that every man, woman and child may know that the FFA is a national organization that reaches from the state of Alaska to Puerto Rico and from the state of Maine to Hawaii."
22. Plan public information programs with local radio, television, newspaper and service clubs and make use of other opportunities to tell the FFA story.
23. Release news and information to local and regional news media.
24. Publish a chapter newsletter.
25. Prepare and maintain a chapter scrapbook.
26. Send local stories to area, district and state reporters.
27. Send articles and photographs to FFA New Horizons and other national and/or regional publications and school publications.
28. Serve as the chapter photographer.
Sentinel
"Through this door pass many friends of the FFA. It is my duty to see that the door is open to our friends at all times and that they are welcome. I care for the meeting room and paraphernalia. I strive to keep the room comfortable and assist the president in maintaining order."
29. Assist the president in maintaining order.
30. Keep the meeting room, chapter equipment and supplies in proper condition.
31. Welcome guests and visitors.
32. Keep the meeting room comfortable.
33. Take charge of candidates for degree ceremonies.
34. Assist with special features and refreshments.
Historian
“Tradition and history are a source of pride for our organization. It is my duty
to maintain a record of chapter achievements and promote excellence through
highlighting activities, events and accomplishments so that our chapter membership is
motivated by our past successes and looks to future achievements.”
35. Develop and maintain a scrapbook of memorabilia in which to record the chapter's history
36. Research and prepare items of significance of the chapter's history.
37. Prepare displays of chapter activities and submit stories of former members to the media.
38. Assist the reporter in providing photography for chapter needs.
Livestock Show Association Representative
39. Represent the chapter on a district wide level.
40. Assist the advisors in setting up pens at the CFISD Livestock Show.
41. Correspond with the rest of the chapter anything discussed at district LSA meetings
42. Assist members in answering questions about local and livestock shows.
Information about the Application Process
The application process is made up of 3 categories: the panel interview, the FFA knowledge test and the general vote. Each counts for a third of their overall total. Students will run for ALL positions. After each category is completed, every applicant is ranked. The candidate that has the highest average among all three categories will be elected to office. Below is the breakdown of the application process.
Interview-1/3
The interview will be conducted in front of a panel of people. The panel will consist of two agricultural science teachers and the retiring senior officers. Questions asked will be based off of your application. You are being judged based upon your ability to represent yourself and the FFA with your public speaking skills.
Knowledge Test-1/3
The test consists of common knowledge every FFA member should possess such as history of the organization, parts of the emblem, important people etc. When the student turns in their application, they will be given a study guide for the test. Official FFA Manuals and Official FFA Handbooks will be available for the student to take home to study from. Students will be ranked based on their test scores.
General Vote-1/3
FFA Members will vote for the candidate they think is best suited for the position by ballot during their classes. Students will only be allowed to vote once and only FFA members will be allowed to vote. Voting will be confidential and Ms. Dominguez will tabulate the votes. The number of votes each student receives in their respective categories will determine rankings.
By signing below, I agree that I understand the application process and officer roles and responsibilities in their entirety.
Applicant signature: ______
Parent/Guardian signature: ______