OUR CHAPTER
WEEKLY MEETINGS
At our heart, we are a debate club. Every Friday after school, we meet for an hour in room 2216/2218 to discuss a wide variety of topics, ranging from deadly serious talks on gun control and terrorism to whether or not pineapple belongs on pizza. It's a lot of fun, there's often free food, and it's always amazing to be able to engage in friendly political discourse with some of the brightest students around.
At our heart, we are a debate club. Every Friday after school, we meet for an hour in room 2216/2218 to discuss a wide variety of topics, ranging from deadly serious talks on gun control and terrorism to whether or not pineapple belongs on pizza. It's a lot of fun, there's often free food, and it's always amazing to be able to engage in friendly political discourse with some of the brightest students around.
CHAPTER BOARD
Our chapter is led by an executive board consisting of a President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer, and assisted by appointed board members, including two Directors of Debate, two Directors of Publicity, and a Director of Underclassmen Development. Together, we work to run meetings, register for conventions, create and schedule debates, host chapter cons, manage social media, advertise and recruit, and much more.
Executive board positions are open to elections every spring; the newly elected board then accepts applications for appointed positions and collectively decides the rest of their team.
Our chapter is led by an executive board consisting of a President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer, and assisted by appointed board members, including two Directors of Debate, two Directors of Publicity, and a Director of Underclassmen Development. Together, we work to run meetings, register for conventions, create and schedule debates, host chapter cons, manage social media, advertise and recruit, and much more.
Executive board positions are open to elections every spring; the newly elected board then accepts applications for appointed positions and collectively decides the rest of their team.
SPARTAN PRIDE
Skyline is one of the largest and most prominent chapters in the Pacific Northwest! This year, we have two elected officials and a total of 18 PNW Cabinet members - a staggering number. We are incredibly proud of our accomplishments and influence, especially considering that four years ago, we had only 8 active members. We hope to continue strengthening the club at our school and continue dominating within the state!
Skyline is one of the largest and most prominent chapters in the Pacific Northwest! This year, we have two elected officials and a total of 18 PNW Cabinet members - a staggering number. We are incredibly proud of our accomplishments and influence, especially considering that four years ago, we had only 8 active members. We hope to continue strengthening the club at our school and continue dominating within the state!
OUR STATE
THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST
Our JSA state includes Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. Together, we form the Pacific Northwest.
The state is split into three main regions: the GPR (Greater Puget Region), the OR (Oregon Region), and the IER (Inland Empire Region). Skyline is a part of the GPR. Encompassing all of Western Washington, The Great Pacific Region is currently PNW JSA’s largest geographical division in terms of member-count and chapter participation. Spanning from the lush greenery of the Western Cascades to the thick metropolises of the Seattle/Greater Seattle region, the GPR holds a great level of diversity among all fronts. PNW Fall State and PNW Spring State are both held within this region, along with various chapter cons hosted by chapters within the area.
Currently, Hayden Miller, a Skyline delegate, represents our region on the PNW Cabinet as GPR Mayor.
Our JSA state includes Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. Together, we form the Pacific Northwest.
The state is split into three main regions: the GPR (Greater Puget Region), the OR (Oregon Region), and the IER (Inland Empire Region). Skyline is a part of the GPR. Encompassing all of Western Washington, The Great Pacific Region is currently PNW JSA’s largest geographical division in terms of member-count and chapter participation. Spanning from the lush greenery of the Western Cascades to the thick metropolises of the Seattle/Greater Seattle region, the GPR holds a great level of diversity among all fronts. PNW Fall State and PNW Spring State are both held within this region, along with various chapter cons hosted by chapters within the area.
Currently, Hayden Miller, a Skyline delegate, represents our region on the PNW Cabinet as GPR Mayor.
STATE CABINET
Since JSA is fully student-run, the state also has an executive cabinet to manage itself. Consisting of five elected officials, ten executive directors, and around 60 dedicated student leaders in total, cabinet works to organize conventions, oversee chapters, handle pubic relations, expand and develop regions, and generally run the state.
Currently, Skyline holds 18 cabinet positions! Additionally, nearly all of our chapter board members are also PNW cabinet members.
Since JSA is fully student-run, the state also has an executive cabinet to manage itself. Consisting of five elected officials, ten executive directors, and around 60 dedicated student leaders in total, cabinet works to organize conventions, oversee chapters, handle pubic relations, expand and develop regions, and generally run the state.
Currently, Skyline holds 18 cabinet positions! Additionally, nearly all of our chapter board members are also PNW cabinet members.
STATE CONVENTIONS
Every year, the PNW holds three major overnight events: Fall State, Winter Congress, and Spring State. These are honestly so much fun. There's all sorts of debates and discussions, incredible guest speakers, activism fairs, social activities, and a dance at each convention. Below are the 2018-19 dates and locations for each.
Every year, the PNW holds three major overnight events: Fall State, Winter Congress, and Spring State. These are honestly so much fun. There's all sorts of debates and discussions, incredible guest speakers, activism fairs, social activities, and a dance at each convention. Below are the 2018-19 dates and locations for each.
CHAPTER CONVENTIONS
Chapter cons are mini, typically one-day, conferences hosted by individual chapters throughout the JSA year. Usually held on Saturdays at a school or rented facility, these consist of a full day of fun debates followed by a soiree at someone's house.
Though our kick-off chapter cons generally happen in October, the majority of these mini cons occur between Winter Congress and Spring State, and become the major battleground for JSA's campaigns.
Chapter cons are mini, typically one-day, conferences hosted by individual chapters throughout the JSA year. Usually held on Saturdays at a school or rented facility, these consist of a full day of fun debates followed by a soiree at someone's house.
Though our kick-off chapter cons generally happen in October, the majority of these mini cons occur between Winter Congress and Spring State, and become the major battleground for JSA's campaigns.
ELECTED POSITIONS & CAMPAIGNS
Five elected positions are available on state cabinet: Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and the three regional Mayors (GPR, IER, OR). Students who wish to run for a position declare their bids at the end of Winter Congress, and state elections are held with live result voting at Spring State. The time in between, peppered with chapter cons, is left for candidates to attempt to swing the vote in their favor.
Working your way up to running for a position generally takes a lot of dedication and hard work; it's not a decision you can make on the fly. Most prospective candidates are already well-known and respected within the state, and most have significant chapter or cabinet experience that sets them apart.
Each candidate may choose one or two other delegates to assist them as campaign managers, and work to build an effective campaign team. Any JSA member can join any campaign team they choose.
JSAers take campaigns extremely seriously. Running a campaign is intense, intimidating, and difficult. However, the results are often very worth it, whether you win the position or not.
Five elected positions are available on state cabinet: Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and the three regional Mayors (GPR, IER, OR). Students who wish to run for a position declare their bids at the end of Winter Congress, and state elections are held with live result voting at Spring State. The time in between, peppered with chapter cons, is left for candidates to attempt to swing the vote in their favor.
Working your way up to running for a position generally takes a lot of dedication and hard work; it's not a decision you can make on the fly. Most prospective candidates are already well-known and respected within the state, and most have significant chapter or cabinet experience that sets them apart.
Each candidate may choose one or two other delegates to assist them as campaign managers, and work to build an effective campaign team. Any JSA member can join any campaign team they choose.
JSAers take campaigns extremely seriously. Running a campaign is intense, intimidating, and difficult. However, the results are often very worth it, whether you win the position or not.
OUR MISSION
To strengthen American democracy by educating and preparing high school students for life-long involvement and responsible leadership in a democratic society.
In the student-run, student-led JSA, participants learn how to engage civilly in political discourse. They cultivate democratic leadership skills, challenge one another to think critically, advocate their own opinions, develop respect for opposing views and learn to rise above self-interest to promote the public good. As a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, JSA is committed to developing a diverse, cross-section of young leaders for a democratic society.
OUR VALUES
The Junior State of America is a civil, all-partisan, welcoming community of students, teachers, alumni, board, staff, and supporters. We respect and care for each other, recognizing that the values that unite us as members of the Junior State community are grounded in learning, together, how to live, together, in a democratic society.
LEADERSHIP
We believe in lifelong engagement with others to affect positive change. We practice learning by doing, using a student-run and student-led model wherever possible. We support creative problem-solving, communication, delegation, and diplomacy. We embrace challenge, failure, and reflection as opportunities for growth.
EMPOWERMENT
We believe everyone should have the skills, resources, and opportunities to make their voices heard and generate impact. We promote informed and constructive engagement through dialogue, debate, collaboration, and public speaking. We encourage service with peers, communities, and government. We offer access to college-level curriculum that teaches critical thinking, research skills, and analyzing and evaluating information.
ACCOUNTABILITY
We believe in being informed, improving ourselves, and playing active and positive roles in community and country. We participate in respectful discourse and use reliable sources accurately. We take ownership of our words, decisions, and their consequences. We live up to our commitments.
DIVERSITY & INCLUSION
We believe in active, equitable participation. We support opportunities for all. We negotiate and create a constructive environment for open-minded engagement and growth. Through respectful dialogue, sharing perspectives, and challenging ourselves and each other, we explore differences, foster understanding, and learn collaboratively.
LEADERSHIP
We believe in lifelong engagement with others to affect positive change. We practice learning by doing, using a student-run and student-led model wherever possible. We support creative problem-solving, communication, delegation, and diplomacy. We embrace challenge, failure, and reflection as opportunities for growth.
EMPOWERMENT
We believe everyone should have the skills, resources, and opportunities to make their voices heard and generate impact. We promote informed and constructive engagement through dialogue, debate, collaboration, and public speaking. We encourage service with peers, communities, and government. We offer access to college-level curriculum that teaches critical thinking, research skills, and analyzing and evaluating information.
ACCOUNTABILITY
We believe in being informed, improving ourselves, and playing active and positive roles in community and country. We participate in respectful discourse and use reliable sources accurately. We take ownership of our words, decisions, and their consequences. We live up to our commitments.
DIVERSITY & INCLUSION
We believe in active, equitable participation. We support opportunities for all. We negotiate and create a constructive environment for open-minded engagement and growth. Through respectful dialogue, sharing perspectives, and challenging ourselves and each other, we explore differences, foster understanding, and learn collaboratively.