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.