Leadership
The ARC (Austin Rhetoric Club) is parent sponsored & student run. Our vision is to promote leadership among youth, while still maintaining parental involvement. ARC has both a board of directors, which is composed of a few parents, and a board of officers, made up of students who are given more specific responsibilities.
“Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.”
~1 Timothy 4:12
2009-2010 Board of Directors
David and Joyce Hullum
Bill and Liz Morgan
Tom and Ginger Umstattd
Bruce and Tracie Upham
2009-2010 Officers
President: Ben Snodgrass
Vice President: Kathryn Clarkson
Secretary: Alex Macdonald
Treasurer: David Huber
Librarian: Anna Macdonald
Male Chaplain: Nathan Exley
Female Chaplain: Avery Lill
Evidence Ringmaster (TP): Daniel Gaskell
Evidence Ringmaster (LD): Christina Hastings
Cameraman: Ben Billups
Camerawoman: Rachel Perry
Webmaster: Beth Maisano
Sergeant at Arms: Jonathan Morgan and William Umstattd
What is an Officer?
Officers are the students leaders of the club. They are each responsible for a specific function of ARC. All officers must be committed and attend regularly, for obvious reasons. Certain positions require extra commitment, and those are noted. Every officer must deliver a speech on election night to be elected. The President will call meetings and officers should attend. Each officer will serve for a one year term, and can also be reelected to that office. If at all possible, each position should be held by a separate person.
President
Sets the path for the student body and be the student body’s representative. Specifically, the President will MC regular club meetings and special officer meetings that he/she will call. The President should delegate duties to other officers and hold them accountable. Perhaps the President’s most important role is setting a good example for the students.
Qualifications:
- be very committed to the club
- in high school
- Returning club member
Vice President
Is the President’s assistant. If the president plots the route, the Vice President should be implementing it. Specifically, the Vice President will fill in for the President in case of absence and perform such duties as are delegated to him/her. A very important role is writing thank you notes.
Qualifications:
- same as with President
- needs to work well with the President
Secretary
The Secretary is somewhat like the officer’s public flowpad. He/she should take careful notes and maintain organization. The Secretary is in charge of the minutes for each officer meeting and keep track of ARC lists, such as contact information or the points that may be used to hand out letters. The secretary and treasurer will work together, and fill in during absences.
Qualifications:
- Good at taking notes
- Returning club member
- Eighth grade or above
Treasurer
To put it simply, the Treasurer is in charge of the money. He/she will keep the checkbook and make reports to the officers and board on the club’s budget. The Treasurer also plays a key role in textbook orders and as a cashier. The treasurer and secretary will work together and fill in during absences. Parental involvement is extra important for this job.
Qualifications:
- good with math and money
- very committed to the club
- Returning club member
- Eighth grade or above
Chaplain (Male/Female)
The Chaplain is there to keep the club’s focus were it should be – on our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. That means they do stuff like maintaining a list of prayer requests and leading prayer for meetings, events, tournaments, etc. Prayer requests may be emailed to the Chaplains.
Qualifications:
- Committed believer in Jesus Christ with spiritual leadership qualities
- Ninth grade or above
Webmaster
In the digital world, ARC is utilizing a lot of Internet technology. The webmaster is in charge of making sure this runs smoothly so that ARCers can easily communicate with each other and with those who are interested in what we’re doing. Specific sites on the web involve:
- Intra-club Communication: Both ARC yahoo groups (austindebate and austindebateparents)
- Extra-club Communication: The ARC website (www.austinrhetoricclub.org)
- Debate and Apologetics: Evidence Sharing (working with the ERM on this one)
Qualifications
- Good technological know-how
- Consistent Computer access
Evidence Ring Master
Is usually shortened to ERM. The ERM is in charge of evidence, as hard as that may be to believe. He/she should facilitate the club’s collaboration on research, encouraging students to stay on time with assignments and maintain the highest quality possible. (There may be a different ERM for Team Policy and Lincoln Douglas.)
Qualifications:
- Evidence and technology skills
- Committed to the club
- Returning club member
- Eighth grade or above
Sergeant at Arms
The Sergeants at Arms’ (generally there are several of them) jobs can basically be summed up in one word: facilities. They perform duties like set up and take down tables, check every room to make sure it’s clean, plug in the PA system, and control traffic flow before and during meetings. They try to make sure facilities work smoothly, and be available when they don’t.
Qualifications:
- Regular attendant
- Sixth grade or above
Librarian
Is there to make sure important club items don’t get lost. The Librarian will work with the treasurer on textbook orders. The Librarian must keep items such as the ARC flag, ARC timers (needed at tournaments), The Daniel Maximus Ping Bradberry Award, the ARC Encouragement Box for tournaments, etc.
Qualifications:
- Returning student
- Eighth grade or above
Camera Man/Woman
The Camera Man/Woman captures the memories of ARC through photography, film, etc. This can involve recording speeches, creating tutorial materials, posting pictures, and making sideshows.
Qualifications
- Access to video and photo technology
- Fourth grade or above
2008-2009 Officers
(as of September 5, 2008)
President: Ben Chambers
Vice President: Toni Maisano
Treasurer: Joshua Upham
Secretary: Lydia Miller
Evidence Ring Master: Brian Morgan
Male Chaplain: David Umstattd
Female Chaplain: Christina Hastings
Cameraman: Isaac Lill
Camerawoman: Beth Maisano
Sergeant at Arms: Kathryn Clarkson and William Umstattd