GOVERNORS’ DESK Dear Junior Statesmen and Stateswomen, The Council of Governors, commonly referred to as “CoG,” is often viewed as an elusive, obscure body with a generally unknown purpose. However, this body of the ten Junior State Governors has a clear duty to ensure that the JSA states remain connected, cohesive, and best able to serve every single member in the nation. There is often a joke amongst JSA students that JSA functions as the Articles of Confederation – strong state government, but virtually no national unity. However, we as a Council wish to fight that precedent by connecting the nation, while still allowing each state to take on a unique identity. CoG meets three times a year: in May and August in the JSA headquarters in San Mateo, California, and in December in Washington, D.C. These meetings are designed to carry out our five duties as a national body. In July, the Council of Governors appointed seven members of National Cabinet to help spearhead the completion of national goals and responsibilities. Firstly and most importantly, our job is to unite the organization. Secondly, we sit as a legislative body and set policy for the organization in our National Constitution (revisions or changes are carried out by means of the Council’s approval). Next, we handle finances for the organization, such as convention fees, leadership conferences, and general administrative costs. We also work extremely hard toward bettering our national strategic communication, leveraging the power of the media to ensure that in political and education circles JSA is known as the premiere student-run organization. Lastly, our most important responsibility is to support the chapters, providing them with up-to-date relevant curriculum guides, monthly debate topics and activism activities, and encouragement to remain consistent and thriving. In our August meeting, we set goals for the entire nation – results we would like to see across every single JSA state. In short, these goals include upward growth in each state through retention of chapters, improvement of our public relations, and a majority of our chapters participating in civic activism projects. The Council endorses five exciting activism projects for the next year. In order to harness the excitement of 2012 Presidential Election, the Council will produce guides to encourage chapters to host Debate Watch Parties, Voter Registration Drives, and 2012 Mock Elections. After the 2012 Election, two other civic activism projects we encourage are attending School Board meetings and Letter Writing Campaigns. The Council will also have nationally-endorsed chapter activities for Constitution and Citizenship Day, which is September 19. Each JSA chapter has limitless potential to greatly impact their respective schools and communities, and this year, the Council and its National Cabinet will be releasing guides and activities to give chapters the tools they need to thrive. We are looking forward to an incredible year of serving you! Sincerely, Julianna Joss Chairwoman, Council of Governors
Junior State of America
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