Program of Activities (POA)

Objectives l Define the function and purpose of a program of activities. l State the three major divisions of a POA. l Explain the goals of each major division. l Explain how to develop a POA. l Explain why the POA is important and how it is connected to State Superior Chapter Award and to the National Chapter Award. l State the Quality Standards of the National Chapter Award.

Objectives 1: What is a POA? l A document with chapter goals (activities) and plans on how to accomplish them. l It is developed by students with guidance from the advisor. l A new one is developed every year. l Every student should have a copy of the chapter POA.

A well-planned POA will: l Ensure that chapter activities meet the needs of students l Provide direction from year to year l Lead to a workable budget l Provide experience in planning l Serve as reference point throughout the year

What is the difference between a POA and a Chapter Handbook? l POA is simply a listing of planned activities along with action steps l A Chapter Handbook includes the POA plus some of the following: –Directory of members –Constitution and By-Laws –List of past award winners –Chapter history

Objective 2: Divisions of a POA l Student Development –Promotes personal and group activities that promote life skills l Chapter Development –Encourages students to work together l Community Development –Cooperate with other groups to make the community a better place to live & work.

Objective 3: Student Development l I-1 Leadership activities that help the individual develop, technical, human relations and decision-making skills to enhance personal success. WLC

Student Development l I-2 Healthy lifestyles activities that promote the well-being and self-esteem of the student, either mentally or physically.

Student Development l I-3 Supervised agricultural experience activities that promote student involvement and growth through agriculture-related experience and/or entrepreneurship.

Student Development l I-4 Scholarship activities that develop a positive attitude toward lifelong learning experiences.

Student Development l I-5 Agricultural career skills activities that develop agricultural competencies and career skills through a progressive learning environment.

Chapter Development l II-1 Chapter recruitment activities conducted to increase the agricultural education enrollment and/or FFA membership and encourage greater partipation.

Chapter Development l II-2 Financial activities conducted to encourage thrift and good financial management among members through earnings, savings and investments.

Chapter Development l II-3 Public Relations activities conducted to promote a positive image and inform students, parents, school officials and the community about chapter and member accomplishments.

Chapter Development l II-4 Leadership activities conducted to develop team-work and cooperative skills among chapter officers, committees and members.

Chapter Development l II-5 Support group activities conducted to develop and maintain positive relations among the FFA, parents, community leaders and industry.

Community Development l III-1 Economic activities conducted to improve the economic welfare of the community.

Community Development l III-2 Environmental activities conducted to preserve natural resources and develop more environmentally responsible individuals.

Community Development l III-3 Human resources activities conducted to improve the welfare and well-being of members and citizens of the community.

Community Development l III-4 Citizenship activities conducted to promote and encourage members to become active, involved citizens of their school, community, and country.

Community Development l III-5 Agricultural awareness activities conducted to help the public become better informed about the food system and related agricultural issues.

Objective 4: How is a POA developed? l Divide students into committees –3 or 15 committees suggested –Consider using students in intact classes as committees l Review past POAs l Use forms in POA Handbook l Use class time to develop POA

When is the POA developed? l After new officers are elected

Objective 5: National Chapter Award Program l Recognizes top chapters l Let’s public know of chapter accomplishments l Recognition for students l Develops pride

State Level Awards

National Level Awards

How to Develop a Program of Activities Your Chapter’s Roadmap to Success!

Simply stated the POA is: l A record of WHAT is going to be done, WHO is going to do it, WHEN it is going to be done, WHERE it will happen, WHY it is happening, HOW it will be done, and HOW MUCH it is going to cost.

POA Organization l Chapters build their Program of Activities around their committee structure. l Committee structure will depend on: –size of chapter –involvement of members –number of activities to complete –school and community support –number of advisors

Committee Structure l Standing committees –committees that serve a function from year to year –examples: SAEs, Leadership, Recreation l Executive committee –usually consists of the chapter officers and changes each year l Special committees –committees that may meet to plan only one event –examples: Safety Fair, Hayride, Auction

Committee Structure l The Vice President has the responsibility of coordination all standing committee work. l Chapter officers have the responsibility of coordinating chapter activities, but need not serve as committee chairs. l Every chapter member should actively serve on at least one committee.

Committee Structure l Number of committees –Three committees –Nine committee –Fifteen committees l Names of committees –standards –tradition –function

Committee Structure l Student participation in committees should be based on: –member interest –member abilities –member availability –desired representation of student diversity

POA Divisions l Student Development Division –to promote personal and group activities that improve life skills l Chapter Development Division –encourage students to work together l Community Development Division –cooperate with other groups to make the community a better place to live and work

Student Development Division l Leadership l Healthy Lifestyles l Supervised Agricultural Experience l Scholarship l Agricultural Career Skills

Chapter Development Division l Chapter Recruitment l Financial l Public Relations l Leadership l Support Group

Community Development Division l Economic l Environmental l Human Resources l Citizenship l Agricultural Awareness

Developing your POA l Suggested forms (in handbook) –POA-1-brainstorming, setting goals –POA-2-planning, steps involved –POA-3-committee report, action taken –POA-4-final report, results and evaluation –

Brainstorming l Review last year’s POA l Review other chapters’ POAs l Model Innovators booklet l Chapter needs l Student interests

Writing SMART Goals l Specific l Measurable l Attainable l Realistic l Trackable

Plan of Action l What is necessary to meet the goal? –Step by step processes –listed in order –clear and detailed –who, what, why, where, when, how, how much

Committee reports l Inform chapter of progress made l Provide a system of responsibility l Allow for discussion and ideas l Allow for feedback from members

Final Report l Did the chapter meet all of the goals for the activity? –Why or why not l Did the activity stay within budget? l Recommendations for future activities

Completed POA l Should be provided to all members. l Should be approved by all members. l Can be used as an informational tool to parents, administration, school board, advisory committee and others.

Next step? l Apply for your Superior Chapter Award at the state level then hopefully it will be selected to go to the National level. l Arkansas Superior Chapter Award Application –