Reflection Report (20 points)

Your semester report should be a culmination of all projects and endeavors you and your committee have taken on and accomplished this semester.

• Overview of semester goals and a progress report for each goal
• Strategies used and successes and drawbacks of your strategies
• Future projects and timeline for project completion
• Personal reflection on areas of strengths and weaknesses in program coordination/organization, ability to serve on a team, facilitation skills, follow-through with project completion, and innovation/creativity

Remember that your reflection will be graded on Description/ Writing/ Application of class concepts/ Evaluation of class concepts

The monetary amount that is needed to accomplish my vision statement is not a substantial amount. However, there are funds for the sole purpose of public relations through the AS&F Executive Board budget. There is roughly $1,000 in this fund and it has not been used in the past to full potential. Fortunately the past two years have shown good use to this budget.
My predecessor started the process of advertising AS&F. She had the logo redesigned from a generic basic logo that had been used for many years prior, to a modern, well designed, bear logo. Using that year’s funds, she was able to pay for the redesign of the logo, banners, and posters for public relations. Unfortunately, Adams State College changed to Adams State University; therefore, all the banners and signs that had the “College” branding on it had to be replaced.
Since these things had to be replaced, I also added to the one banner that we had, one that had Adams State University on it as well as two additional banners for our front doors. This was also a promotional item because many students had (Or still have) no idea where the AS&F office is. With these additional banners, it will help promote AS&F, and draw people in to the office.
That process started this year and has already cost $175. Additionally, the head of our public relations committee has decided to order scarfs in order to promote the bear logo and to get out the AS&F name. These scarfs will be ordered through the Adams State Bookstore in order to save money and additionally helping promote working with other organizations.
Additionally, I have ordered shirts for all of our AS&F members not just to wear during the meetings but additional public relations. These shirts cost roughly $30 a shirt and come out of a basic operating fund of about $10,000 a year. I chose to use the operating budget because I think that even though I like to use them as a public relations item, that the Executive Board can better fund shirt purchases with $10,000 opposed to $1,000. Included with this cost, I would like to purchase window clings for the outside windows to the AS&F office to promote from the outside as well. These will be done by Extreme Graphics, and they will need to come in to take measurements before a final price is announced.
Each of these funds is managed by the Vice President of Finance, the Advisors and myself. Thorough records must be kept, receipts, and all purchase orders must be filed in our records in order to keep track of funds coming in or out of our accounts. There would be no need for fundraising; the difficult task is to convince the other Executive Board members to go along with the idea. Without their approval, it makes things difficult and can cause a torn Executive Team.

My Executive Report for AS&F is the handling of a vacancy on the Executive Board. Due to an unfortunate string of events, a member of our Executive Board was unable to fulfill their duties and thus the process of finding a replacement started.
The overall goal of this process was to first and foremost to find a replacement for our now vacant position. The second goal was to test our constitution to see if the process that were in place in an event as such. The third and last goal was to make sure that the process was effective and efficient with as little flaws as possible.
My personal goal for this event was to get as much involvement as possible and to have a contested election for an Executive Board position for the first time in three years.
One action item that was completed was the advertising aspect. Through various media sources, such as Facebook, the AS&F website, and the Adams State Portal, the job position was advertised. Additionally, at multiple Senate meetings, I advertised the job. Another action item that was completed was testing the current constitution.
Looking through the fine print, it was determined what could be done with the path of least resistance. The President of AS&F could either appoint a new Executive Board member or hold a run-off election. At this time I determined that if only one person were to apply then I could simply appoint, however, if more than one person were to apply, a run-off election would be appropriate. Another action item that was completed was the time table for this task. I had established that by the end of the semester, that all who wanted to apply would have to have their packets turned into the Senate office. At that point, I would verify if each candidate met the requirements during the winter break, and then if we had more than one, we would run it just like a normal election.
The only real questions that came up was making sure we were following our constitution was being followed throughout this process. After verifying with the Chief Justice, it was agreed that this was the best action that was constitutional.
As a self-assessment for this process I think things were handled accordingly and that the proper time tables were used. I was afraid of rushing into decisions if we pushed up the deadlines trying to get someone in the position before the end of the semester. By weighing the options, as a team we decided that there wasn’t anything pertinent remaining in the semester, so it would be best to allow for a longer application period for the best results. If I had to go back I would make the applications more accessible and I think that it would improve how many applicants we had. Also, I want to applaud the team for the hard work they put in and help making AS&F so successful and possibly having the first contested elections in at least three years.
I feel that I achieved my leadership role by in essence guiding the ship. I have felt this year I don’t need to be as forward in my leadership style, and I can make suggestions and allow the team members to accomplish their tasks. I offer up ideas, and the team will tweak and modify the ideas and it is successful.
The only challenges I have been facing is time management between doing all of my activities and the most important thing which is being a student! I think if I can better task organize things I can be more successful with all of my endeavors.

Executive Report #4

All my blog posts have been about/focused on SWAG, but this time I think I’m going to take a deeper look in to my Housing and Resident Life job as an RA. Our last in-service (meeting in which all halls of ASU gather) was just this past Monday night. Right off the bat, I felt the meeting was poorly planned. Usually we have our meetings in the bigger portion of Coronado lobby because we have such a large group meeting all at once. This meeting we all crammed in to the smaller portion of the lobby because a few students were studying in the larger area. People were lapped up and sitting on the floor. I enjoy the more intimate settings for meetings, but only when there is appropriate seating arranged. It was hard for the group to focus because it was so crammed.

Other than the not so ideal setting, the meeting was very productive in a lot of ways. We went over policy and procedure for winter checkouts. I feel that this is a necessary topic for all newer resident assistants, but not so much for the RA’s who have been here a full year or longer. Most of the meetings become very repetitive and tell us things we already know, such as this meeting.I feel that our big bosses can incorporate the more experienced RA’s in the meetings more so it’s not so bland for us. That would also take pressure off of them facilitating the meetings alone and put some of that responsibility on us.

As far as goals go for our meeting, they just wanted us to understand the procedure fully (of the checkout process) and make sure that all the steps up until the checkout point are completed as they told us. The main goals were to hang up flyers, bulletin boards about checkouts, and sign up sheets for check out times. I have completed all of the goals listed above, and am now just waiting for the check out week to come!

I feel like I am a great RA. I really get along with all of the Housing staff and enjoy socializing with them very much! As an RA, I would really like to improve on a few things though, such as:

• Programming
• Getting to know all 52 of my residents
• Getting to know all residents in the high rise apartments
• Connecting with people
• Creativity
• Time management

To achieve these goals, I really need to utilize my senior staff and bosses. I feel like once I can complete these goals as an RA, I will be the ULTIMATE resident assistant! Hahahaha okay, maybe not ultimate, but I thought it would sound WAY cooler if I over exaggerated

These goals reflect my challenges. These are the areas I struggle with most and have goals to overcome these challenges. But, all in all.. I love my job and believe I am doing great at it!

PS…

Thank you for all of your advise and teachings this semester. They really have helped me in multiple aspects of my college career and will continue to help me throughout life. You’re AWESOME Aaron!!!

Vision: Provide reflection and remorse for those affected by AIDS or those suffering with HIV or AIDS.

Purpose: Reflective culmination for AIDS Awareness Week for the ASU campus and community through collaborations.

My 5 Goals
To create a global view on AIDS through statistics. I want to show that AIDS just does not affect a certain type of people. AIDS affects people from all over the globe.

I want to provide a reflective piece through a group prayer. Also show reflection by taking a walk through Coronado. I want the use of candles to provide a little light through the darkness.

I want as many clubs as possible to to collaborations with the Newman Club and the psychology club to gain more attendance and more help throughout.

For the closing of the Vigil I want to create an understanding through poems, songs, and the AIDS quilt. And all previous goals are met by the closing.

Time Line for Completion
-reservations Reserve the Mall court
-promotions
-Weekly meetings to make sure everyone is on task

For this event, my biggest strategies was through collaborations and meetings outside of class.

As for funding because of my collaborations with other clubs and organizations, funding provided itself and made for a great vigil.

My facilitation observation is on the recent conference that the AS&F Executive Board attended recently in Orlando, Florida. This conference was hosted by the National Student Leadership Conference. This was over a four day period all held within the hotel which made everything more accessible.
The way the conference was run was great, during the mornings there was breakfast offered while the first speaker of the day gave his or her presentation. This allowed the students to feel more relaxed yet hear something inspirational to jump start their morning.
The conference sessions were set up like a typical conference, a set of rooms within the hotel was blocked off into appropriate sections to accommodate individual sessions. From experiences, some conferences hire for profit speakers to come in and the quality is not the same. The NSLC was different, although I’m almost positive that all of the speakers that attended got paid, and pretty well, it was a different feel then last year’s conference in Washington D.C. for ASGA.
The presenters at ASGA would talk for about fifteen minutes at a twenty minute presentation about who they were, and listing off their resume and why they were qualified to be talking at the conference. At NSLC the presenters gave a brief thirty second bit on who they were and then began their talk. This set well with me because instead of trying to convince me why I should pay attention, these presenters had the mentality of I’m going to give you this information, and if you want it, take it, if not, oh well. This forces the individual to listen to the presenters and pick and choose what they will take away.
Additionally, the presenters did not just present on how to enhance student leadership skills, but some sessions were for those who were seniors and who were going to be out in the job field in the near future and teaching the skills that they will need to be successful in the real world. These sessions included how to manage finances, writing resumes, what employers are looking for and how to separate you from the other college graduates. I thought these were great because of the fact that these presenters cared about what happens after graduation and they wanted those at the conference to be successful after school and wanted to give those in attendance the tools to do just that.
Although there were many good presenters at this conference, there were also some not so good ones. Some of the presenters instead of giving meaningful material instead chose to spit out flashy words or catchy sayings in order to grab the attention of the audience, but in actuality, there was no meaningful information. I will admit that on occasion throwing out certain sayings or catch phrases helps your argument, but when the whole presentation is based off of those catch phrases, it is just poor.
Each session started promptly and ended accordingly to the schedule and all times were met. There was also time in between session that allowed the students to talk one on one with the presenters and get any questions answered that they needed. Additionally, the presenters had information available to have the students try to get these presenters at their individual schools. This was more than just a card, they actually talked with the individuals about what they would like and how to better adapt their presentation for the individual school.
All in all this was a great conference, students left empowered and felt connected and the most important thing, that there were sessions that applied to life after being a student and how to continue being successful. The students left feeling that they had learned about ways to help them in their leadership abilities as well as life after being a student, to continue the excelling in everyday activities such as finances, finding a job, and writing amazing resumes!

This executive report will cover the events leading up to the second quarterly of the year. For the first quarterly there was a set process in order to ensure that every member of the executive board has the opportunity to check each bill and reassure that it meets the standards set by our constitution.
This quarterly with our new secretary, the process was to remain the same, however, each executive board member would have a folder, and it was the duty of each member to check their folder. Once their part of the process was finished, they would place all bill for the quarterly in the next folder. This seemed to be a more organized step to the process.
Unfortunately, due to extenuating circumstances, this process wasn’t as successful as it could have been. One member of the team was out of the office due to personal needs and that part of the process was skipped, and no one else was able to continue the process and therefore it stopped at step two of the vetting, and never picked up again.
The key thing to take from this is that I needed to explain the process better about if someone is unavailable, or that if the bills had been sitting in the folders for substantial time, then the next person in line needs to do their part and keep the process going. That way, even if one step isn’t carried out, the other steps are still done and it is easier to deal with one step opposed to five.
Although these steps were missed, I could have done a better job at delegating duties to the executive members and giving them clear objective goals in order to ensure that the tasks were being carried out.
Some goals for the next quarterly is to improve upon the process that was started is to possibly have each folder or in box essentially sit on each executive board members desk, that way it is clearly visible when there are bills that need to be vetted. Secondly, I could set deadlines for each executive member to have their part of the process finished. This would set clear goals and a clear end state for each executive board member, and ensure the process runs smoothly.
Although the second part of the process was not completed, I talked to my executive board members and stressed the importance of the process and by not achieving the goal, how detrimental it was to not only the students but to the clubs that are a part of AS&F. After this, all of the executive board members, myself included, put in extra time, and were able to not only meet the deadline that I had set, but did it a day early, which gave us an extra day to inform the clubs and have more time to answer their questions.
My biggest challenge is trying to keep the team together through tough times or times that challenge or test the team’s weaknesses. It is easy to be a leader in fair weather, but the true leadership comes out when times get rough. The AS&F Executive Team was able to band together and get the mission accomplished.

Hey Ladies & Gentleman! Can you please put down times that you will be able to sign up to work the table throughout the week of Aid’s Awareness! please and thank you need the information ASAP!! thank you for taking the time out to do so! =] (comment back with a reply)

For SWAG’s walk for suicide prevention, I have budgeted the funds accordingly:

• Beads: 12 per package, $1.99 per package, 4 per color, $74.63 (including s&h, not including taxes)
• T-shirts: 60 shirts is $894.00 at $14.90 each free shipping and handling
• Volunteer drivers: $100.00
• Food/beverages: $200.00

This totals: $1,268.63. I would round this number up to $1,300.00 for shipping and handling fees on the beads.

SWAG has a budget of about $200.00 that I can use.

I can also use about $50.00-$150.00 of housing’s budget if I work it in to a program or just talk with Mark Pittman about helping.

If need be, SWAG can host some sort of fundraising event to try and collect money that way.

Right now, I have about $1,000.00 still needed. I would, for the rest of the money, send in a request to senate for funding at their spring quarterly. Of that, I would receive about 40% of what I’m asking which would be $400.00. I would receive (possibly) 60% of what I am asking if the HPPE would sponsor my request, which then would give me about $600.00.

Still with the request I am approximately $400.00-$600.00 short of funding needed. At this point, I would either raise the amount of items needed to increase our budget for senate to get back more, or cut out some of the items I have for this event. I can also ask store if they would donate anything or match my spending to save or receive money back.

Vision: To host an entertaining event that students will attend, while also supporting local business and giving back to the community.

Every event HPPE club has hosted has always been for fundraising purposes, this event however will be totally free! This event will take place on the ASU track. Students will strip down to their undies and their clothes will be donated to La Puente. Students will receive a free t-shirt for completing this race provided by HPPE Club and local sponsors. We want this to make a fun event by providing food and a social afterwards

GOALS

• Get Sponsorships

¨       Ask Local Businesses

¨       Explain Event

¨       Explain free advertisement

• Order T-shirts

¨       Design

¨       Sponsors

¨       Place Order

•  Food/Social

¨       Reserve Vistas

¨       Provide Music

¨       Order Food Sodexo

• Reserve Track

¨       Talk To Athletics Practice Time

¨       Set up

• Make Plans with Local Business

¨       Contact La Puente

¨       Sponsors

¨       Advertisement

Goals will be completed two weeks prior to event. This will allow us to be prepared if something falls through or goes wrong. I would like to get sponsorships done at least a month before the run.

The biggest thing I want to work on is having a good turnout. We would like a lot of students to participate not just strictly athletes. So our main strategy is advertisement with this event and also explains that is going to be a lot of fun and FREE!!