For many advisers, the Award of Excellence seems confusing and beyond the reach of their student council's leadership. In reality, by using a reasonably simple process, your council can do an excellent job and the entire council can benefit from the effort.
- The Award of Excellence is not a one-person job! In many councils, the president takes on the task and almost immediately begins to buckle under the load. Think about using a committee.
- The Award of Excellence is not a one-day job! In fact, it should begin when your officer's are elected. Introduce them to the award's requirements and let those requirements serve as a framework for their time in office.
- The Award of Excellence does not function in a vacuum! This is not an award that is well done as an after thought. Rather, by attending MASC conferences and camps your council members will better understand the methods best used to create a council year worthy of this award.
- The Award of Excellence is not a job for the file clerk! Every member of your council must be award of the requirements of the award and make sure that they provide the necessary information about their project to the Award of Excellence committee. Do not try to pull all of this together at the last minute.
- The Award of Excellence is not a "paper award"! The Award of Excellence is structured to assist every council to improve how they perform their functions. It is not an award that councils fabricate paper work to satisfy the award.
- The Award of Excellence is not a confusing job! Network! Goal setting, financial reports, problem solving, etc., can be difficult for students to understand. Networking with other schools allows them to see new ideas and ways of doing things.
- The Award of Excellence is not the Adviser's job! The Adviser should encourage the students to establish a system for producing the Award of Excellence including proof reading and critiquing of their effort.
Article written by Jack Kalousek, Franklin High School (Livonia)
