Texas Association of Student Councils
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The Texas Association of Student Councils (TASC) is a non-profit organization serving high school and middle level student councils in Texas. Sponsored by the Texas Association of Secondary School Principals, TASC is the Texas Affiliate of the National Association of Student Councils. Its purposes are to develop leadership abilities in students, promote democracy as a way of life and establish and uphold high standards for local councils.
Organized in 1937, TASC has grown to serve more than 1300 member schools in Texas. Any junior or senior high school, publica, parochial, or private, may become a member of this organization by paying the annual membership fee.
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[edit] Association Leadership
The TASC Board of Directors is the policy making body of the organization. The Board of Directors consists of the following:
- The TASSP/TASC Executive Director (Executive Officer of TASC)
- The advisor and student officer from the current elected officer schools
- The advisor of the immediate past president school
- Three elected senior high advisors
- Two elected junior high/middle school advisors
- Three members of the Texas Association of Secondary School Principals
- The advisor and student of the current host school serve as advisors of the Board
[edit] 2006-2007 Executive Board
- J.J. Colburn
- President school: Bailey Radley and Christie West (Advisor)
- Vice-President school: Jessica Mantey and Andy Hart (Advisor)
- Secretary school: Alex Holley and Cathy Vernon (Advisor)
- Parliamentarian school: Elliot Howard and Vicki Walters (Advisor)
- Katie Keyes
- Julie Estes, Tommy Calais, Donna Williams
- Vicki Long, Jerry de la Garza
- Dr. David Ellis, Steve Williams, Dr. Charlesetta Deaspm
- Brad Cool and Pat Finch (Advisor)
[edit] Officers
The Officer schools of the organization are (1) President (2) Vice President (3) Secretary and (4) Parliamentarian. Schools, rather than individuals, are elected by the official student delegates attending the State Annual Conference. The elected schools select the student to serive as the student officer.
[edit] 2006-2007 State Officer Schools
- President: Hardin-Jefferson High School
- Vice-President: Brenham High School
- Secretary: MacArthur High School
- Parliamentarian: Klein Collins High School
[edit] Elections
Schools wishing to run for one of the officer school positions of the Association must be a current member of the Association and must have been a member the year preceding its nomination. A school may hold only one office at a time and two full years shall have elapsed between elections before a school may hold office again.
In order to run for a state office, a candidate school must file a letter of intent with the Executive Director signed by the principal, at least 60 days prior to the opening date of the state conference. The school's campaign must be conducted within limits of the published campaign rules and regulations.
[edit] State Association Services and Activities
[edit] State Activities
- Holds the Annual Conference (high school) each year in April
- Conducts 13 week-long Summer Leadership Workships during June and July to train local officers and members
- Offers two Advanced Workshops each year during January and February
- Sponsors a Middle Level School State Annual Conference in November
- Conducts a State Workshop for Advisors each year in September
- Provides a Leadership Workshop Manual for Summer Workshop participants
[edit] National Activities
- Sponsors the TASC President School's student's attendance at the National Convention
- Provides sponsor to attend National Convention with Texas delegation
- Cooperates with Commissioner of Education in selecting delegates to the Youth Senate Conference in Washington, D.C.
- Promotes Texas Energy Education Day and National Energy Education Day
[edit] Help for Local Chapters
- Officers consultative help at District Conventions
- Promotes statewide projects in which each local student councils may participate
- Publishes 5 newsletters a year
- Provides the Advisor's Resource Guide
- Officers consultative help to local advisors by mail or phone
- Maintains liaison with State and Government youth organization
- Encourages secondary principals to organize new councils and promote Student Council Work
- Develops student leadership training materials for use on individual school campuses, including a curriculum guide for leadership course
[edit] TASC Conferences and Workshops
Advistors' Workshop Advisors from around the state come together for a weekend of learning and networking. Experienced advisors share ideas and insights in small discussion groups.
Middle Level State Annual Conference General sessions, outstanding youth speakers, discussion groups, a dance and more in a day and a half conference designed for middle level students and advisors.
Advanced Leadership Workshops These retreats, designed to allow experienced student leaders to get together and further their leadership skills, are limited to students who have attended a previous summer leadership workshop. ALWs are held at Lakeview and Mo Ranch.
Annual Conference Student Council leaders come together to celebrate accomplishments, elect state officers and attend sessions on leadership and student council issues. Nationally recognized speakers from within Texas address delegates.
Summer Leadership Workshops TASC sponsors numerous summer workshops for leadership training at various universities throughout the state. Designed to cover basic skills needed to function effectively in student leadership roles, each workshop has unique features dictated by facilities, consultants, and participants.
[edit] TASC Districts
In order to promote services and activities at a local level, TASC divides Texas in 19 geographical districts.
When a school pays TASC membership dues, it automatically becomes a member of the designated TASC District.
Each TASC District elects officer schools, has a constitution, holds conferences, provides training, conducts projects and distributes information from the state officer to member schools. Being active in a TASC District often allows student council members from schools to be involved in the organization of activities on a larger scale. Often more students from individual schoools can attend these events than can attend state level activities.
Most TASC Districts hold a Fall and a Spring Conference. Additionally, many districts hold an overnight mid-winter retreat and provide training and activities for sponsors.
