Program of Activities (POA)
Dec 19, 2015
Program of Activities (POA)
Objectives Define the function and purpose of a
program of activities. State the three major divisions of a POA. Explain the goals of each major division. Explain how to develop a POA. Explain why the POA is important and how
it is connected to State Superior Chapter Award and to the National Chapter Award.
State the Quality Standards of the National Chapter Award.
Objectives 1: What is a POA?
A document with chapter goals (activities) and plans on how to accomplish them.
It is developed by students with guidance from the advisor.
A new one is developed every year. Every student should have a copy of
the chapter POA.
A well-planned POA will: Ensure that chapter activities meet
the needs of students Provide direction from year to year Lead to a workable budget Provide experience in planning Serve as reference point
throughout the year
What is the difference between a POA and
a Chapter Handbook? POA is simply a listing of planned
activities along with action steps A Chapter Handbook includes the
POA plus some of the following:– Directory of members– Constitution and By-Laws– List of past award winners– Chapter history
Objective 2: Divisions of a POA
Student Development– Promotes personal and group activities
that promote life skills Chapter Development
– Encourages students to work together Community Development
– Cooperate with other groups to make the community a better place to live & work.
Objective 3: Student Development
I-1 Leadership activities that help the individual develop, technical, human relations and decision-making skills to enhance personal success.
WLC
Student Development I-2 Healthy lifestyles activities that
promote the well-being and self-esteem of the student, either mentally or physically.
Student Development I-3 Supervised agricultural
experience activities that promote student involvement and growth through agriculture-related experience and/or entrepreneurship.
Student Development I-4 Scholarship activities that
develop a positive attitude toward lifelong learning experiences.
Student Development I-5 Agricultural career skills
activities that develop agricultural competencies and career skills through a progressive learning environment.
Chapter Development II-1 Chapter recruitment activities
conducted to increase the agricultural education enrollment and/or FFA membership and encourage greater partipation.
Chapter Development II-2 Financial activities conducted
to encourage thrift and good financial management among members through earnings, savings and investments.
Chapter Development II-3 Public Relations activities
conducted to promote a positive image and inform students, parents, school officials and the community about chapter and member accomplishments.
Chapter Development II-4 Leadership activities
conducted to develop team-work and cooperative skills among chapter officers, committees and members.
Chapter Development II-5 Support group activities
conducted to develop and maintain positive relations among the FFA, parents, community leaders and industry.
Community Development III-1 Economic activities conducted
to improve the economic welfare of the community.
Community Development III-2 Environmental activities
conducted to preserve natural resources and develop more environmentally responsible individuals.
Community Development III-3 Human resources activities
conducted to improve the welfare and well-being of members and citizens of the community.
Community Development III-4 Citizenship activities
conducted to promote and encourage members to become active, involved citizens of their school, community, and country.
Community Development III-5 Agricultural awareness
activities conducted to help the public become better informed about the food system and related agricultural issues.
Objective 4: How is a POA developed?
Divide students into committees– 3 or 15 committees suggested– Consider using students in intact
classes as committees Review past POAs Use forms in POA Handbook Use class time to develop POA
When is the POA developed?
After new officers are elected
Objective 5: National Chapter Award Program
Recognizes top chapters Let’s public know of chapter
accomplishments Recognition for students Develops pride
State Level AwardsAward Recognition Form
Superior Certificate I
Gold Plaque II
Silver Plaque II
Bronze Plaque II
National Level AwardsAward RecognitionOne Star Gold PlaqueTwo Star Gold PlaqueThree Star Gold PlaqueTop 10 Student PlaqueTop 10 Chapter PlaqueTop 10 Community PlaqueTop in each division Plaque
How to Develop a Program of Activities
Your Chapter’s Roadmap to Success!
Simply stated the POA is:
A record of WHAT is going to be done,
WHO is going to do it, WHEN it is
going to be done, WHERE it will
happen, WHY it is happening, HOW it
will be done, and HOW MUCH it is
going to cost.
POA Organization Chapters build their Program of
Activities around their committee structure.
Committee structure will depend on:– size of chapter– involvement of members– number of activities to complete– school and community support– number of advisors
Committee Structure
Standing committees– committees that serve a function from year to
year– examples: SAEs, Leadership, Recreation
Executive committee– usually consists of the chapter officers and
changes each year Special committees
– committees that may meet to plan only one event
– examples: Safety Fair, Hayride, Auction
Committee Structure The Vice President has the
responsibility of coordination all standing committee work.
Chapter officers have the responsibility of coordinating chapter activities, but need not serve as committee chairs.
Every chapter member should actively serve on at least one committee.
Committee Structure
Number of committees– Three committees– Nine committee– Fifteen committees
Names of committees– standards– tradition– function
Committee Structure
Student participation in committees should be based on:– member interest– member abilities– member availability– desired representation of student
diversity
POA Divisions Student Development Division
– to promote personal and group activities that improve life skills
Chapter Development Division– encourage students to work together
Community Development Division– cooperate with other groups to make the
community a better place to live and work
Student Development Division
Leadership
Healthy Lifestyles
Supervised Agricultural Experience
Scholarship
Agricultural Career Skills
Chapter Development Division
Chapter Recruitment
Financial
Public Relations
Leadership
Support Group
Community Development Division
Economic
Environmental
Human Resources
Citizenship
Agricultural Awareness
Developing your POA Suggested forms (in handbook)
– POA-1-brainstorming, setting goals POA Form 1 (.pdf)
– POA-2-planning, steps involved POA Form 2 (.pdf)
– POA-3-committee report, action taken
POA Form 3 (.pdf)
– POA-4-final report, results and evaluation
POA Form 4 (.pdf)
Brainstorming
Review last year’s POA
Review other chapters’ POAs
Model Innovators booklet
Chapter needs
Student interests
Writing SMART Goals
Specific
Measurable
Attainable
Realistic
Trackable
Plan of Action
What is necessary to meet the goal?
– Step by step processes
– listed in order
– clear and detailed
– who, what, why, where, when, how, how
much
Committee reports
Inform chapter of progress made
Provide a system of responsibility
Allow for discussion and ideas
Allow for feedback from members
Final Report
Did the chapter meet all of the goals
for the activity?
– Why or why not
Did the activity stay within budget?
Recommendations for future activities
Completed POA
Should be provided to all members.
Should be approved by all members.
Can be used as an informational tool
to parents, administration, school
board, advisory committee and others.
Next step?
Apply for your Superior
Chapter Award at the state
level then hopefully it will be
selected to go to the National
level.