TALHA ALI
Parliamentarian
ADVICE FOR PARLIAMENTARIAN CANDIDATES
PARLIMENTARIAN'S MOST IMPORTANT DUTIES
HOW TO PREPARE FOR OFFICE
Campaigning was definitely one of the most rewarding experiences. I have both lost and won elections and I can confidently say that meeting people is the best part regardless of winning. I do have some helpful tips to make your campaign as successful as possible. Be confident! A confident candidate is one that will ultimately impress voters. Make sure you are very well versed in your platform, in case someone asks, be ready to elaborate on your ideas. As I talked about before, meeting people is the best part, so you should do just that. Have genuine conversations with them and don’t focus on pushing your platform on them. People recognize sincerity and dedication, your passion for the JCL will shine through. On that note timing is also a big deal, don't approach people when they are late for certamen or any other event, instead, go to people watching ultimate frisbee and sitting down, take the extra step and sit with someone at lunch who is sitting alone. Think of innovative ideas that have not been done before. Talk to past officers about their experience and learn as much as you can about the office. Practice your speeches in front of trusted friends who can give you the best feedback. Lastly, make sure to manage your time well. You cannot do everything and be everywhere at once. I encourage you to reach out for help from your state, you will be surprised with the amount of support you can receive, just ask!
ADVICE FOR 1ST VICE PRESIDENT CANDIDATES
1ST VICE PRESIDENT'S MOST IMPORTANT DUTIES
HOW TO PREPARE FOR OFFICE
The 2nd Vice President is responsible for the Spirit and Service across the NJCL. Your first few months in office will be primarily focused on creating the Club of the Month themes, the COTM submission form, and the spirit and dance themes at Convention. Then, you will work with the 1st Vice President to plan National Classics Week (and Classicalia if you choose to continue it). The latter half of your term will be centered around planning the spirit and service events at Convention: Roll Call, Spirit, the national service project, and your officer colloquia.
The NJCL Parliamentarian is in charge of (with the help of the Constitutional Advisor, Mr. Compton) proposing amendments to the NJCL committee and ACL Board of Directors, creating the annual NJCL Campaign Corner, and recruiting for, facilitating, and running national elections before and during convention. The Parliamentarian also helps state parliamentarians with election and constitution-related questions. The parliamentarian keeps the Executive Board aligned with Robert's Rules of Order during all meetings! A relatively new duty is the addition of carrying out the NJCL constitution contest.
The best thing in order to be prepared to run is to have a good understanding of Roberts Rules of Order, the NJCL Constitution, Bylaws, and Committee Handbook. Understanding these documents will be important for amendments and assisting your fellow officers during meetings. You may also be asked about your understanding of these during your campaign. Make sure to attend the Parliamentarian events at convention to get a better understanding of the job if you are elected. I would also highly suggest that you make the first move in candidate recruitment, it is arguably a very important part of the job. Talk to state parliamentarians and teachers around the country and find the most qualified candidates. If an underclassmen ran for office last year and lost reach out to them and encourage them to run again. Manage your time well, because it can get very stressful but if you manage your time and work on items little by little, you will be alright! Never be afraid to ask for help, Mr.Compton and your fellow officers will always be there to help!
Have a question?
Email me!