Passing the Baton: Electing Officers

By: Donna Corder, National Consultant Team

Whether you have officer elections in the spring or the fall, this is an essential part of developing a successful FCCLA chapter.  The officers will be the ones to plan the program of work for the year, set the chapter goals and then lead the chapter to achieve the goals and complete the program of work. 

Below are a few suggestions to ensure that the chapter foundation continues to grow:  

1.       Be sure to put the procedures of the election in the Chapter By-Laws. 

·         Be very specific about how the chapter elects officers. 

·         You may want to model the Region/District, State and/or National procedures to ensure consistency.

·         Put in a contingency plan for unexpected events like: tiebreakers, not enough candidates, complaints from parents, etc.

2.      Have candidates complete an application.

·         Have officers and/or the executive council evaluate the application, offices, and officer responsibilities on a yearly basis to see if any adjustments need to be made.

·         Set a deadline for all applications to be turned in to be eligible to run for an office and stick to the deadline.

3.      Set up a Nominating Committee and voting procedures.

·         Use alumni, graduating seniors who are officers, and Region/District, State and/or National Officers to interview officers to place them in appropriate positions.

·         Require all officers to go through the interview process.

·         Have a set number of questions that will be asked to all candidates.

·         Allow all chapter members to vote on specific offices.

4.      Require Officers to attend Officer Training

·         Set up a time where officers can be trained in their job responsibilities. 

·         Have the officers plan a program of work. 

·         Plan some bonding time

·         Keep the officers accountable

Creating a procedure to elect officers sets the foundation for a solid and successful chapter, where students can lead and learn the skills needed in their future careers.  Officers and members both benefit when there is a plan for them to follow.  Students also gain the confidence they need to lead.  The role of the adviser then becomes just that: advising students.  Advisers can challenge the officers to pass the baton and leave a legacy for others to follow for many years to come.