01
EXECUTIVE ELECTIONS
by Emily Thang, President
Executive Board Elections are fast approaching, and you may be wondering: how does the elections process work? Any tips for candidates? Well, you’re in luck because I’ve got you covered!
ELECTIONS
Elections will take place over the course of 2 days in Mr. David’s room during lunch. Each candidate will give a 2-minute speech and 3-minute caucus (in which members may ask any appropriate questions they would like to the candidate). The order of the candidates’ presentations will be determined randomly. After all candidates have presented, members will cast their vote.
TIPS/GUIDELINES FOR VOTERS
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Only dues-paid members (9-12th graders) may vote.
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Come on-time at the beginning of lunch; otherwise, you may be denied admission.
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Must listen to all candidates’ speeches and caucus. Members will not be allowed to come in and vote at the end.
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An educated voter is an excellent voter; make sure to read the candidates’ literature and questionnaire to learn more about their platforms (they also worked very hard on them).
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Keep a just, fair mindset when deciding who to vote for, as these positions hold a lot of weight for the future of the club and its members.
TIPS/GUIDELINES FOR CANDIDATES
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Candidates are not allowed to listen to others’ speeches/caucus for the same position they are running for.
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While encouraging members to come out to elections is allowed, candidates may not explicitly ask members to vote for them.
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Come prepared. Anticipate any questions, practice, and do your research.
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Speeches do not necessarily have to be memorized.
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Be confident! Fake it ‘til you make it.
To the candidates: I know election season can be a very nerve-wracking and stressful time (been there, done that), but try to remain calm and composed through it all. Be proud of what you’ve accomplished, and regardless of the outcome, know that this experience is not for nothing; by simply running, you have shown your dedication to the club and challenged yourself to be a better leader!
I hope to see you all at our Executive Board Elections. Exercise your right to vote and make your voice heard for the future of Whitney Key Club! ^_^
02
LOCK-IN 2021 RECAP
by Ayush Shah, Treasurer
What’s poppin’ Whitney Key Club? I hope you all had an amazing holiday season! Recently, our club held its 11th annual Lock-In on December 22nd, which was a major success! Throughout the 12 hours, members were able to bond with new people, participate in service projects, and, overall, have lots of fun! Even though it was a very long day, everyone worked so hard while bonding, so I am so happy to see that everyone enjoyed the event!
Lock-In started at 6:30 in the morning, and right after check-in, we did an icebreaker to energize everyone for the upcoming service events! The first service event we did was making placemats for the hungry, and even though it was early in the morning, we were able to make more than 150 placemats, which was wonderful! A lot of these people going through hunger issues need motivation and hope, and our encouraging placemats will make their lives a lot more positive! After placemats, we made wooden ornaments for a children’s hospital to lighten the mood during the holiday season. Some children aren’t able to celebrate Christmas like us, so giving that holiday spirit to them is the least we can do. We even made sun plushies to sell for the Pediatric Trauma Program, and in the end, all of the sun plushies came out lovely! Although the day had been very tiresome, all the members also participated in a canned food drive around the Wittmann neighborhood, and we collected around 10 full boxes of non-perishables which is amazing. Some other service events we did were painting jars for senior citizens and making posters for a Los Angeles hospital! Throughout the whole event, we had been trying our hardest to do as many service projects possible in order to make everyone’s Christmas and winter break a lot better.
Lock-In was full of service events, but throughout the whole event, all the members were bonding and talking to new people! Music was being played the whole time and everyone was talking and having fun, which made the event a lot more enjoyable. Even though it was a full 12 hours, this bonding aspect of Lock-In made this time fly by quickly. Overall, Lock-In was a major success, and I am happy to see that so many people came out even though it was winter break. Therefore, I want to thank all the members for coming out since this event wouldn’t have been possible without you all. It took an exceeding amount of time to plan the event, but it was all worth it in the end as we were able to do so many service projects and bond with new people even from different schools. I truly can’t wait for Lock-In 2022, and for those of you who couldn’t come this year, I hope to see you there
next year!
03
WHAT IS A DOA?
by Vedika Kothari, Director of Activities
What’s Poppin’ Whitney Key Club! The 2021-2022 Key Club term is passing
by in a blink of an eye, with only a few months left until cabinet applications
come out for the next term. So, I wanted to tell you all a bit more about the work
of a DOA.
A DOA (Director of Activities) has to find in-person and online events, send
out weekly service event emails, and plan our own events. Finding service
events can be difficult at times, and Alyssa and I usually spend time going
through Facebook groups, volunteer websites, and city websites to make a list
of possible events. Then, we call or email the organization, and follow through
with the coordinators to bring the events to you guys! Online events are
generally easier to find through simple internet searches and looking at other
Key Clubs, and most times they are apps or websites that give back to the
community!
But, sometimes events are low throughout certain months (we’ve seen this
so much with COVID) so as DOAs, we set up our own service projects at school.
We held a service week, Kiwanisgiving poster making, and painting jars for
veterans in October and November of 2021, which allowed many members who
weren’t able to go to many service events outside of school get the chance to
volunteer. Planning these events entails: coordinating with outside organizations
to find a place to donate to, buying supplies, and making sure the event follows
through smoothly.
After getting together the events, we will work together to send out the
email, updating the important announcements section and adding in the
where, when, what, and why descriptions to each event. Also, any forms or
waivers that need to be signed for specific events get added to the email. The
last thing we do before sending out the email is update the google sheets, so
you can sign up for the events!
At first, the list of responsibilities a DOA has can go on and on, and there’s
no doubt that this position is a lot of work. But, staying on top of things and
reaching out for help will make the term a lot less overwhelming. Although
stressful at times, I couldn't imagine myself in a better position in Key Club
cabinet this term, and I am extremely grateful for the opportunities I am
provided.
