Something Shravan Savant, NJR Vice Mayoral Candidate, wrote for me that I want to share with all of you

If someone told me to write about how JSA has made a personal difference, I truly wouldn’t know where to begin. Though I was merely part of my school’s JSA chapter last year, this year I feel like I’ve been reborn into this club, and have been closely involved with the Junior State not only in my school, but throughout the Mid-Atlantic State! It’s definitely taught me how to formally debate, but also how to diplomatically respect other peoples perspectives and opinions on issues. The very same perspectives and ideas of others has also taught me a valuable lesson; in the world, whenever there is a conflict with two sides, there can always be a good argument for each viewpoint; as long as you can back it up with fact there is no wrong answer. And of course, public speaking, a common problem for many teens, has become fluent to me like a second language through JSA, which has subsequently made me a lot more confident in school for presentations and such. Not only has JSA been a skill-builder, but I have gotten the chance to debate some pretty amazing topics and have met so many people who have been so helpful to me, in and outside of my campaign. Its just so comforting to have people who are always willing to help, always ready to give advice, and more importantly, always inspiring kids like me to become a better debater and a better JSAer. All in all, I can truly say that JSA has been a like a family for me.

Soon I figured out that JSA was a club that I decided to become more involved in, and I decided to run for election as Vice-Mayor. Right then, I knew I was the under-dog, with the other candidates flaunting elaborate credentials from years of JSA experience, from graduating from JSA summer schools to holding high positions of office in their own JSA chapter. But with Barack Obama’s victory over the veterans Hilary Clinton in the primaries and eventually John McCain when he was deemed inexperienced, I didn’t feel discouraged. I simply based my campaign on the most important ideal in any governmental system, “give the people what they want.” So I talked to many people, picking up insight from the biggest of JSA leaders to the regular attendees of Winter Congress. And with that I devised my campaign, which I believe satisfies many of the issues the JSAers were concerned about. Looking back on this awesome election season, win or lose this election has been probably the most valuable experience. I’ve met people, made friends, debated wacky topics, and have become more proficient in politics as a whole than I expected. It is thanks to JSA, to all the marvelous minicons, crazy conventions and diverse debates,  that I can proudly say “democracy is not a spectator sport.”

Regards,

Shravan Savant

FHS Director of Debate

NJR Vice-Mayoral Candidate

Alex Buffer for NJR Mayor: A Platform

Hello Hello Everyone!

I, along with all the other candidates for office, was recently informed by our lovely FEC Chair, Antonia Hyman, that candidate's for elected office in the MAS and NJR are allowed to post their platforms on this fantastic little blog that she and her cabinet have created. Needless to say, such was an offer I just couldn't refuse.

So with out further ado, I'd like to present to you, my fellow JSAers, my platform for the position of New Jersey Region Mayor. The following is a condensed, bulleted version of my biggest and best ideas for the NJR:

A GREEN JSA IS A HAPPY JSA
-Print Conference Agendas on recycled paper.
-Condense Conference Agendas by eliminating superfluous components.
-Strategically station recycling bins throughout McCosh Hall to avoid wasting paper from agendas, newspapers, and flyers.
-Computerize the registration process at Regional Conferences.

GET JSA THE ATTENTION IT DESERVES
-Ensure that Regional Conferences have the press -coverage that they merit.
-Advertise Regional Conferences in order to boost numbers and gain contacts via state and local media outlets.
-Advertise JSA Conferences in schools without chapters.
-Use newfound attention and exposure to secure better speakers at Regional Conferences.
-Work towards making JSA a household name!

NO DELEGATE LEFT BEHIND
-Establish an online JSA-related help service to answer questions and provide advice when needed.
-Compose a packet of used and unused regional conference materials [debates, thought talks, contact information for speakers, etc] to be distributed to Chapter Presidents in need.
-Help the South Atlantic Region execute bigger, better regional conferences by appointing cabinet liaisons – the collective success of the MAS is contingent upon their own!

A CABINET WITH ‘THE RIGHT STUFF’
-Restructure cabinet and expedite work in ways that will foil unnecessary beaurocracy.
-Work harder than ever to familiarize the average JSAer with the cabinet and how it operates by hosting cabinet seminars at State Conventions.
-Further personalize the application process to ensure that applicants get the position they are best suited for, as opposed to a random alternate, as well as working in a conducive environment. 
-Increase accountability on cabinet!

THE BIGGER THE BETTER
-Continue breaking attendance records at Fall Regional 2009 – 300 attendees and then some!
-Work towards a substantially increased attendance at Spring Regional 2010!

On a closing note, I'd absolutely love to thank you all for a truly exhilerating campaign season -- it's been the experience of a lifetime, to put it lightly. I'd also like to kindly urge you to take a look at ALL the candidate's platforms for ALL the positions you'll be casting votes for come this Sunday at MAS Spring State 2009, because it's YOUR JSA and without the right leaders in office, no matter who they might be, you're not getting the JSA you deserve.

Best Regards,

Alex Buffer, NJR Mayoral Chief of Staff

Candidate for NJR Mayor

Freehold Township JSA State Assembly Representative

Top 15 Chapters & A Couple Corrections

Please note the following corrections.

1. Princeton Day School hosted Leadership Day & raised $850 for CAI, both tier one activities so they were awarded an extra 3000 points. Their Best Speakers were also revised to 10 points since they only received one during Winter Congress. New Total: 3705

2. Parsippany Hills: Best Speakers were also revised to 20 points since they only received one during Winter Congress. New Total: 860

TOP 15!!!

1. Freehold: 4445
2. Princeton Day School: 3705
3. Secaucus: 2525
4. Marlboro: 2500
5. South Brunsiwck: 1660
6. Manalapan: 1120
7. Villa Victoria: 1005
8. Parsippany: 860
9. Colts Neck: 840
10. Villa Walsh: 755
11. High Tech: 745
12. Governor Livingston: 730
13. Watchung: 705
14. Freehold Boro: 650
15. Plainfield: 610

Latest Chapter Challenge Standings: Listed in Alphabetical Order

SRA= Spring Regional Attendance, SRS= Spring Regional Speaker, SRCOCP= Spring Regional COCP Meeting, WC= Winter Congress


Benedictine Academy
Fall Regional: 75 Fall State: 100
Fall State Speaker: 25 Tax Paid Members: 60
Chair/Clerk WC: 50 Winter Congress: 100
Fall State COCP: 20 WC COCP: 20
SRA: 10 SRS: 25
SRCOCP: 20
TOTAL: 505

Bergen Catholic HS
SRA: 5 SRCOCP: 10
TOTAL: 15

Bergen County Academies
Fall State: 100 Fall State Speaker: 225
Best Speaker WC: 10 Tax Paid Members: 45
Fall State COCP: 20 WC COCP: 20
SRA: 25 E-mails: 125
TOTAL: 570

Biotechnology HS
Fall State: 100 Tax Paid Members: 270
SRS: 25 SRA: 25
SRCOCP: 20
TOTAL: 460

Brick Memorial HS
Tax Paid Members: 50 Winter Congress: 100
TOTAL: 150

Brick Township HS
E-mails: 25
TOTAL: 25
Butler HS
TOTAL: 0

Christian Brothers Academy
TOTAL: 0

Colegio Puertorriqueno de Ninas
Winter Congress: 100
TOTAL: 100

Colts Neck HS
Fall Regional: 75 Fall State: 100
Penalization No Mini-Con: -150 Fall State Speaker: 175
Best Speaker WC: 10 Tax Paid Members: 350
Best Mod WC: 10 Chair/Clerk WC: 75
Winter Congress: 100 Fall State COCP: 20
WC COCP: 20 SRA: 30
SRS: 25 SRCOCP: 20
TOTAL: 840
Cresskill HS

TOTAL: 0
Delbarton HS
TOTAL: 0

Dwight-Englewood HS
Fall Regional: 75 Tax Paid Members: 45
E-mails: 125
TOTAL: 245

Freehold Boro HS
Fall Regional: 75 Fall State: 100
Penalized No Mini-Con: -150 Fall State Speaker: 25
Chair/Clerk WC: 50 Winter Congress: 100
Fall State COCP: 20 WC COCP: 20
SRS: 25 SRA: 25
SRCOCP: 10 Member's E-mail: 125
E-mails: 25 Blog: 250
TOTAL: 650

Freehold Township HS
Fall Regional- 75 Fall State: 100
Fall State Speaker: 400 Tax Paid Members: 360
Best Speaker WC: 30 Chair/Clerk WC: 50
Winter Congress: 100 Fall State COCP: 20
Activism: 1500 SRS: 175
SRA: 115 SRCOCP: 20
Best Speaker SR: 50 E-mails: 1250
Blog: 200
TOTAL: 4445

Frisch Yeshiva H.S.
TOTAL: 0

Governor Livingston HS
Fall Regional: 75 Fall State: 100
Mini-Con: 150 Fall State Speaker: 50
Constitution: 5 Tax Paid Members: 160
Chair/Clerk WC: 25 Winter Congress: 100
WC COCP: 20 SRS: 25
SRCOCP: 20
TOTAL: 730

Highland Park
TOTAL: 0

High Technology HS
Fall Regional: 75 Fall State: 100
Mini-Con: 150 Fall State Speaker: 125
Constitution: 5 Tax Paid Members: 140
Winter Congress: 100 Fall State COCP: 20
WC COCP: 20 Best Speaker SR: 10
TOTAL: 745

Hunterdon Regional
TOTAL: 0

Immaculate Heart Academy
Fall Regional: 75 Fall State Speaker: 25
Tax Paid Members: 160 Chair/Clerk WC: 25
Winter Congress: 100 WC COCP: 20
Member's E-mails: 125 Activism WC Basket: 10
Constitution: 5
TOTAL: 0

Indian Hills HS
Fall Regional: 75 Fall State: 100
Fall State Speaker: 50 Tax Paid Members: 135
Chair/Clerk WC: 25 Winter Congress: 100
Fall State COCP: 20 WC COCP: 20
SRA: 30 SRCOCP: 20
TOTAL: 0

Jonathan Dayton HS
Fall State: 100 Tax Paid Members: 125
Chair/Clerk WC: 25 Winter Congress: 100
TOTAL: 0

Kent Place School
Fall Regional: 75 Fall State: 100
Fall State Speaker: 400 Tax Paid Members: 210
Best Mod WC: 10 Chair/Clerk WC: 125
Winter Congress: 100 Fall State COCP: 20
WC COCP: 20 SRS: 25
SRA: 20
TOTAL: 0

Manalapan HS
Fall Regional: 75 Fall State: 100
Mini-Con: 150 Fall State Speaker: 200
Constitution: 5 Tax Paid Members: 250
Chair/Clerk WC: 100 Winter Congress: 100
Fall State COCP: 20 WC COCP: 10
SRA: 90 SRCOCP: 20
E-mails: 25
TOTAL: 0

Marlboro HS
Fall Regional: 75 Fall Sate: 100
Fall State Speaker: 350 Constitution: 5
Tax Paid Members: 340 Penalized No Mini-Con: -100
Chair/Clerk WC: 50 Winter Congress: 100
Fall State COCP: 20 SRA: 15
SRCOCP: 10 WCCOCP: 10
Activism: 1500 E-mails: 25
TOTAL: 2500

McNair Academy
TOTAL: 0

Middlesex Academy
TOTAL: 0

Millburn HS
TOTAL: 0

Morris Hills HSTax Paid Members: 50
TOTAL: 50

Morris Knolls HS
TOTAL: 0
Parsipanny Hills HS
Fall Regional: 75 Fall State: 100
Best Speaker WC: 100 Tax Paid Members: 365
Chair/Clerk WC: 25 Winter Congress: 100
WC COCP: 20 SRS: 50
SRA: 85 Best Speaker SR: 20
TOTAL: 940

Pennington School
Tax Paid Members: 40 Winter Congress: 100
TOTAL: 140

Plainfield HS
Fall Regional: 75 Fall State: 100
Fall State Speaker: 175 Tax Paid Members: 75
Chair/Clerk WC: 25 Winter Congress: 100
SRA: 50 Best Speaker SR: 10
E-mails: 25
TOTAL: 610

Princeton Day School
Fall Regional: 75 Fall State: 100
Fall State Speaker: 325 Tax Paid Members: 65
Best Speaker WC: 50 Chair/Clerk WC: 25
Winter Congress: 100 SRA: 5
TOTAL: 745

Red Bank Catholic H.S.
TOTAL: 0

Roxbury HS
Tax Paid Members: 40 Winter Congress: 100
WC COCP: 20 SRA: 10
Member's E-mail: 125
TOTAL: 170

Ramsey HS
Fall Regional: 75
TOTAL: 75

Rutgers Prep
Best Speaker WC: 10 Winter Congress: 100
Tax Paid Members: 230
TOTAL: 340

Scotch Plains- Fanwood
Fall State: 100 Fall State Speaker: 50
Penalized No Mini-Con: -100 Tax Paid Members: 220
Winter Congress: 100 Fall State COCP: 20
SRS: 25
TOTAL: 390

Secaucus HS
Fall Regional: 75 Mini-Con: 150
Additional Con: 150 Tax Paid: 375
Winter Congress: 100 SRA: 100
Activism: 1500 SRS: 75
Best Speaker SR: 40
TOTAL: 2525

South Brunswick HS
Fall Regional: 75 Fall State: 100
Fall State Speaker: 500 Tax Paid Members: 710
Best Speaker WC: 50 Chair/Clerk WC: 75
Penalized No Mini-con: -150 Winter Congress: 100
Fall State COCP: 20 SRCOCP: 20
SRS: 100 SRA: 60
Best Speaker SR: 10
TOTAL: 1660

South Jersey Homeschoolers
Best Speaker WC: 10 Winter Congress: 100
WC COCP: 20 SRS: 50
SRA: 100 Best Speaker SR: 10
TOTAL: 290

Saint John's School
Tax Paid Members: 60 Winter Congress: 100
TOTAL: 160

Toms River North HSTax Paid Members: 116 SRA: 10
TOTAL: 160

Union County Magnet HS
Best Speaker WC: 10
TOTAL: 10

Villa Victoria HS
Fall Regional: 75 Fall State: 100
Fall State Speaker: 25 Tax Paid Members: 105
Winter Congress: 100 Fall State COCP: 20
Fall State COCP: 20 SRA: 60
Large Scale Event: 1000
TOTAL: 1505

Villa Walsh Academy
Fall Regional: 75 Fall State: 100
Fall State Speaker: 100 Tax Paid Members: 200
Chair/Clerk WC: 50 Winter Congress: 100
SRA: 5 E-mails: 125
TOTAL: 755

Wardlaw- Hartridge HS
SRA: 10 E-mails: 25
TOTAL: 35

Watchung Hills Regional HS
Fall State: 100 Mini-Con: 150
Fall State Speaker: 200 Tax Paid Members: 135
Winter Congress: 100 Fall State COCP: 20
SRA: 115
TOTAL: 705

Wayne Hills HS
Fall State: 100 Fall State Speaker: 25
WC COCP: 20 E-mails: 125
TOTAL: 270

Wayne Valley HS
Fall State: 100 Fall State Speaker: 50
Fall State COCP: 20
TOTAL: 170

West Orange HS
Fall Regional: 75 Fall State: 100
Fall State Speaker: 25 Chair/Clerk WC: 50
Winter Congress: 100 Fall State COCP: 20
WC COCP: 20 SRA: 20
TOTAL: 410

WW-P North HS
Fall Regional: 75
TOTAL: 75

WW-P South HS
Fall State: 100 Best Speaker WC: 10
Tax Paid Members: 70 Fall State COCP: 20
Winter Congress: 100 SRA: 40
SRS: 150 Best Speaker SR: 25
E-mails: 125
TOTAL: 515

Whippany Park
TOTAL: 0

Chapter Challenge Point Designation

Chapter Challenge
Chapter Challenge was designed to reward chapters that demonstrate leadership and initiative. For each of the positive actions listed below the chapter will receive a designated amount of points. However, some actions, such as registering late for a state convention, will result in the deduction of points. The winning chapter of the chapter challenge will be announced during Spring State. The entire chapter will receive a prize with one, deserving member receiving the grand prize. Note: Chapter Challenge is different from Chapter of the Year.
Section 1: Any complaints, requests, or inquiries about point designation must be e-mailed to the Vice Mayor and forwarded to the Secretary of the COCP.
Section 2: After winning Chapter Challenge, the winning chapter must provide the name of one, deserving, underclassmen member by May 1st to receive an additional grand prize.

POINT DESIGNATION

Attending a State Convention- 100
The Chapter must stay for the entirety of the state convention to receive all 100 points. However, if it necessary that the chapter departs early, points will be designated proportionately to the number of blocks attended by the chapter.
Attending a Regional Convention- 75
The Chapter must stay for the entirety of the regional convention to receive all 75 points. However, if it necessary that the chapter departs early, points will be designated proportionately to the number of blocks attended by the chapter.
Attending a Regional Convention II- 5 points per person
The number of members each chapter brings will be checkd via the "notecard' system
Hosting a Mini-Con - 50
A chapter must host a full day mini-con in order to receive all the points. In addition to doing so the chapter must sign up for a mini-con date with the Director of Mini-Con. The chapter must also provide proof of the mini-con with the verification of five different people if the Vice Mayor or a member of the Vice Mayoral cabinet is not in attendance. If a chapter is hosting a mini-con after the announcement of the Chapter Challenge winner, the respective points will still be included in the score. However, if the chapter fails to host this mini-con, the chapter will be penalized in the 2009-2010 Chapter Challenge.
Registering On Time: 10
Registration forms can be paper or online, but they must be turned into the JSA office by the deadline.
Registering Late: - 15
Chapters will penalized for registering late.
Main Debate Speaker/Moderator: 25 per person
Main Speakers (pro and con) for each debate will be awarded 25 points. If a main speaker is not present for his/her debate the chapter will be penalized 35 points. If an individual main speaks for a resolution that he/she wasn’t signed up for due to the absence of the intended main speaker the chapter will receive 25 points.
Best Speaker/Best Moderator: 10 per person
Constitution: 5 points
Constitutions must be e-mailed to the Vice Mayor via e-mail to receive points.
Tax Paid Member: 10 points for each person
The number of tax paid members will be verified with the JSA office.
Activism: Points for activism vary based on the actity.
Tier 1: 1500- Hosting a large scale, full day event or raising a substantial amount of money ($500)
* Full Scale length is that of a mini-con
Tier 2: 1000- Hosting a moderate scale, 1/2 day event, or raising a significant amount of money ($250)
Tier 3: 500- Hosting an activity that relates to the activism cause (2-3) hours ie. Holding a town hall meeting, or raising a large sum of money ($175)
Tier 4: 250- Raising at least ($75)
Money raised under $75 is awarded 2 points per dollar

Debate Styles

Debate - the formal discussion of a motion before a deliberative body according to the rules of parliamentary procedure

Dear Fellow JSAers,

I’m Komal Trivedi and I am the 2008 – 2009 NJR Parliamentarian.

On behalf of NJR, I would like to welcome you to the NJR blogspot!

Many of us have been very caught up in school. Even though midterms have ended, many still have SATs to take in the Spring. In these stressful times at school, many students turn to fun activities like sports and clubs. In these situations, I would hope many of you turn to spend your time at JSA, as do I.

I think that Junior State of America is an amazing organization that recognizes and acknowledges the talent of many students across the nation. JSA helped many people develop their public speaking, leadership qualities, and bonds with other students that will last for a lifetime.

Debate serves as the foundation of the Junior State of America. Debating is forum for members to not only articulate their ideas in an organized fashion, but to present their idea in a persuasive approach.

Using parliamentary procedure, members develop their public speaking and other attributes. Debating in parliamentary procedure helps people structure their ideas and views in a quicker and concise manner, even during pressured situations. When members debate against each other, members learn to understand that there are different opinions and they learn to respect them. Finally, I believe that debating helps members become more aware of national as well as international political, social, and economic affairs.

I hope members seize the opportunities that JSA provides. For example, I hope to see many of you at Spring Regional. As we enjoy these experiences, I hope that some of us may learn many things.

Hopefully, with this blog, Cabinet will see every member being more excited about JSA than they have ever been before. I hope that many of us try the new debate styles in their meetings. Debate styles can be found here http://www.midatlanticjsa.org/ under Chapter resources.
Thanks for your time.

Sincerely,

Komal Trivedi
NJR Parliamentarian
2008 – 2009

Greetings!

Hey NJR Members,

Welcome to the JSA New Jersey Region Blog! This blog is a new initiative to get us all connected. I know the gaps between conferences and regionals can really break down communication between individual chapters, so I'm hoping this site will promote better correspondance.

If you're reading this right now you've most likely been invited by me to become a blog contributor. As a blog contributor you'll be able to make your own posts and comment on the posts of others. Members of other chapters will now know what's going on in your chapter, so feel free to post events such as mini-cons or fundraisers your chapter will be holding for CAI. However, feel free to also post about other things ranging from new debate styles to ways we can improve the region. Additionally, I will be using this blog to make important updates such as Chapter Challenge placings, and the dates/times of other important events.

As you become more acquainted with the blog, please encourage other JSA members to create g-mail addresses so that I can invite them to contribute as well. I hope that this site is a tool that the next Vice Mayor and all subsequent Vice Mayors will use so that our region stays connected.

As always feel free to contact me with any problems or concerns at vmnjrcabinet@gmail.com. Let's maintain our position as a top JSA region!

Sincerely,
Antonia Hyman
2008-2009 NJR Vice Mayor