What exactly is a Boy's State Junior Counselor (JC)?

- - A JC is the link between his citizens and the program. To be selected as a JC is a honor and not to be taken lightly. The staff and legionnaires hold the role of the JC in great esteem for a JC's job is long and arduous, but the rewards are great. The JC's role is of utter importance. He is the guide to his citizens. His citizens will have many questions and his job is to guide them to an answer. A JC is a young man with the qualities and know how to be a leader.

Like all leaders, the JC must first form a base in which to build from. Throughout his life the JC has been instilled with qualities enabling him to become an intelligent and responsible individual. The Boy's State program requires the JC to use these qualities and expects even more. JC participation is 100% and more.

There are 3 key components to building the base to become a JC: Enthusiasm, Knowledge, Reliability

(1) Enthusiasm: To be enthusiastic is essential to a JC's success. An enthusiastic person portrays confidence, character, and approachability. A JC that encompasses these three characteristics will have citizens taking their cues from him and following his lead. The citizens need to be guided. They have been placed into unfamiliar surroundings and will have questions. The JC is the ideal of Boy's State. The citizens will learn through his example, therefore, the JC must involve, provide opportunities, and inspire his citizens. Having an enthusiastic and positive persona will let the citizens know his JC is happy to be there, thus the citizens will feel welcome and happy to be there.

*Suggestions on how to portray enthusiasm:

-Social

-Honest

-Respectful

-Smile

-Eye Contact

-Presentable Appearance

-Organized

-Alert

(2) Knowledge: To be knowledgeable often connotes experience, thus leading to wisdom. At this point the JC has had the greatest training -- his citizen year. His own personal experience is valuable and noteworthy due to the fact he as already lived the cliché, "walk a mile in another man's shoes." A JC should feel free to share experiences from his "citizen year." This will make him identifiable to his citizens and his sharing will help them to respect him. Remember he must be sincere in his actions because his citizens are more than capable of sensing a false facade.

Knowledge, of course, comes from knowing the handbook. The JC must read the handbook and be familiar with its contents. As said before, the citizens will have questions and their initial action will be to ask their JC. If he is oblivious to what he is being asked the citizens will know and his position in their minds will be lowered. To avoid this scenario, the JC familiarizes himself with the handbook and in doing so is avoiding the possibility of setting himself up for a fall.

* Suggestions

-read the handbook and be aware of specific sections

-know the programs and the person running it

-avoid saying, "I don't know."

-Refer citizens to handbook for answers

-direct citizens to person with answers

-find answer and relay ASAP

-know rules and regulations

-be aware of locales for activities/programs

(3) Reliability: A JC requires a tremendous amount of self governing. He has a great deal of responsibility and must perform under heavy loads of stress. His word is gold and will be respected as long as he is reliable. His citizens are counting on him to be their guide. He must not take for granted their knowledge of the program, therefore, all their questions are valid and should be attended to quickly.

The JC does not rely completely on himself He is expected to be prompt and affective in his work. At times there may be more than is possible for him to complete and that is why the Senior Staff and Legionnaires are there to assist in any way possible to enable a smoother run of the session. Do not be afraid to ask for help. If the JC is not affective then he is not being responsible. He will be depriving his citizens of his service to allow them to continue on in a productive manner. And he is responsible for his citizens.

* Suggestions

-follow through

-know abilities and what can be realistically achieved

-be on time

-do what is said will be done

-know the program and resources

This meeting is the citizens first substantial interaction with his JC, therefore, to get off on the right foot this meeting must be entertaining, informative, and connective. The JC has the power to mold his citizens and their reaction to him is based on this meeting. Which means the JC is obligated to exude positive energy.

The meeting requires the JC to be quick on his feet or rather to appear quick on his feet. The JC has time to rehearse the meeting before it actually occurs. Rehearsing ensures he will be confident and comfortable with the material. Remember, everything he plans may or may not happen and he must be prepared for changes in his itinerary. Creating an itinerary is an excellent idea. The JC does not want to stumble about in front of his citizens. The JC must avoid the "three pitfalls" when communicating with his citizens. They are:

-Hogging: monopolizing the conversation

-Frogging: leaping from topic to topic or person to person without resolution

-Bogging: getting stuck on a single point without making any progress

A good idea would be to create a timeline of information to cover during this meeting as to avoid unfortunate mishaps For example create a brief timeline like this:

-IntroductionjWelcome

-Ice Breaker

-Overview of OBBS program

-Problem Solving

*Suggestions on running a successful first meeting

(I) Here and Now

-Anecdotes and ancient history prove distracting

(2) What and How

-Rather than '⁴why"

-Asking why the citizen feels a certain way creates a feeling of inadequacy

(3) IandThou

(1) Avoid judgment of citizens. Do not assume citizen's motives. A JC is a non-bias party, therefore, lacking in judgment to create a feeling of equality for all values and lifestyles.

(2) Be detailed. Citizens will want to learn more if they know what to expect.

(3) Be clear about the role of the JC. The JC ensures safety, instructs, facilitates, observes, raises issues, and clarifies. The JC does not judge, alter, or impose.

(4) In the process of making choices, the JC must provide the perimeters which need to be considered in decision making.

(5) Relate experiences of Boy's State to familiar experiences.

(6) Timing and pacing are essential. Follow the detailed schedule. Reassess goals, individuals' needs, and group needs regularly.

(7) Provide an arena in which citizens have the opportunity for growth.

(1) The atmosphere of the group is informal, comfortable, and relaxed.

(2) There is high participation, group discussion of pertinent issues.

(3) The group's objectives and goals are understood. They have been discussed and are understood by each member.

(4) The citizens listen to one another. All ideas are being voiced and volunteering is high.

(5) Disagreements are discussed and resolved. The dissenter is not banished by premature group action.

(6) Decisions are made by consensus when the group appears to be in general agreement. Formal voting is at a minimum. The group does not accept majority as a proper basis for action.

(7) Criticism is frequent, frank, and relatively comfortable. There is little evidence of personal attack.

(8) Citizens express their feelings, as well as, their ideas on the problems and the group's operation.

(9) When action is taken, clear assignments are made and accepted.

(10) There is no hindering struggle for power. The issue is not who controls, but how to get the job done.

(11) The citizens are conscious of their own operation.

Discrimination is the most frustrating and intolerable ways of acting on the part of a

group or individual. Discrimination towards religion, race, sexual preference, gender, physical appearance, etc. is inappropriate and will not be tolerated To discriminate causes fragmentation of the Boy's State society, as well as, causing hurt feelings and feelings of aggression.

Discrimination arises from an individual's need to be accepted by his peer group. Boy's State brings a diverse group of young men together and places them in an unfamiliar group situation. At times comfort zones are invaded and citizens will seek peers the

deem equal to themselves. Polarization occurs most often in groups forming in this nature. The idea of "other" is supported by the similar opinions of the group and concludes in the exclusion or dehumanization of a particular group or individual with different views.

Discrimination is a learned phenomenon and often is an extension of the citizens home life. This often occurs from a lack of exposure and receiving only half-truth information about ways of life dissimilar to their own. The possibility this form of discrimination is habitual and environment based is high, therefore, know the downgrading of another group is possibly unintentional.

(I) First, the JC must deal with his own prejudices

(3) Keep all citizens involved

(4) Shut down discriminatory comments as soon as they occur

-Redirect the conversation: "Hey, we are supposed to be talking about..."

-Point out how the act or statement offends others: "The Legion does not appreciate that kind of talk."

-Diffuse the joke: "I do not understand why that is funny," "Not funny," "What?"

-Disprove the comment with humor or fact: "Heaven was all out of the white mold that day," or "70% of women are raped by men they know"

-The JC should point out how he is offended: "My best friend is..."

-Label the comment as prejudiced: "Racists comment are not appreciated

(5) Do not demean or humiliate the discriminator

(6) Remind group of Golden Rule

(7) Ask discriminator to put themselves into the shoes of the discriminated

Conflicting points of view arising from debates are common during the session, but at times the debates become excessively heated to the brink of violence. Conflicts of a violent nature will more than likely not occur, but the situations must be diffused quickly to avoid personal harm, physical or mental, of the citizens or staff.

The possibility the JC could be angered is likely as well. Do not confront a citizen. Anger should be managed and discussed.

*Suggestions for diffusing conflict

-Denial or withdrawal is appropriate when the issue is relatively unimportant and only a short cooling off period is needed.

-Suppression is used when the antagonists are reluctant to deal with situation. Should only be used when the situation is relatively unimportant and a relationship can be maintained without discussion to create surface harmony, but problem is still unsolved.

-Power or dominance is used when power comes with a position of authority. Used when the answer to the conflict is cut and dry.

-Compromise or negotiation is used when an issue can be met half way by each party. Results in a win/win situation.

-Collaboration takes time, but all abilities, values, and expertise are recognized. Should be used for more serious conflicts. A SC or Legionnaire should be present when solving conflicts of a more serious nature.

The city in which negative energy has run rampant and control cannot be regained by the

JC. This is unlikely to happen if the above suggestions are done, but if an unfortunate

occurrence of a Hell City transpires the JC should not hesitate to ask a SC or Legionnaire

to step in and help solve the problems.

*Suggestion to avoid Hell City

-Try to keep all citizens involved. An uninvolved individual is more likely to speak out and spread negative energy.

-Squash all signs of prejudice