Frequently Asked Questions about Chapters - Institute for Cultural Communicators

A: The Young Speakers Guild Training Series was designed to equip Chapter Sponsors to prepare students for the platform. A student will become eligible to become a member of the Young Speakers Guild upon completion of three handbooks that guide them, with the help of their Sponsor and fellow students, through a process of developing character and competence for the public platform. Students will progress toward effective speaking and student leadership opportunities. The Series incorporates many of the training resources that are currently available in the ICC online bookstore.

Q: What is involved in the Chapter Presentation (Community Project) that is required?

A: The heart behind this is to have something that all of your Chapter members work on and toward together. There will be opportunities for individual students to achieve personal goals, but an important message we want students to get is that “It’s not about me”. What the project looks like is completely up to you and your group. We are happy to help you if you need assistance with ideas, but it is a good idea to let the group participate in coming up with the project. It can be as simple or as ambitious as the group and the sponsor wish.

Q: If some of our students complete the required community speeches but others do not, what happens?

A: The idea is to provide a number of incentives so that students want to meet the goals. A sponsor can build up the incentives provided or come up with in-chapter contests and other incentives. Of course, there could be a student who simply does not participate. There are no “penalties” built into the program.

Q: How often do Chapters meet?

A: Some Chapters are meeting once a week and some are meeting once or twice a month. Having just concluded our pilot year of the program, we are working at determining a recommended model.

Q: How much time does it take to train a Chapter Sponsor?

A: Sponsor training can happen in a number of ways, with varying time commitments for each. Training happens at Institute for Cultural Communicator events, including special Chapter Sponsor tracks designed specifically for training and equipping Sponsors. Also, in order to equip Sponsors, we offer a growing number of resources to read and study as well as a network of Chapter Sponsors for support via our monthly conference calls.

Q: Does the chapter enrollment deadline also apply to individual students who wish to join?

A: Sponsors may add to their membership past the Chapter enrollment deadline if they wish.

Q: Do in-Chapter presentations count toward a student’s community speaking goals?

A: The Chapter is a great place for students to practice for the community platform. That said, in a school setting, there may be opportunity for presenting to a group that is not a student’s usual practice group. For example, beginning students could present to another class or grade. A Chapter may invite the public into the Chapter setting to hear student presentations, making for a public speaking experience.

Q: When are the conference calls held?

A: The conference calls currently take place monthly, on a Tuesday at 11:00-am and 7pm CST. This is when a nation-wide network of coaches, teachers, and leaders meets for 60 to 90 minutes for devotion, idea sharing, encouragement, program announcements and news.

Q: Who can participate in the conference calls?

A: They are intended for Chapter Sponsors and Assistant Sponsors, however, in the event they cannot be present, a delegate may attend in their place.

Q: Where can we find platforms for our student members to speak on?

A: Here is a list of platforms that Chapter members across the country have spoken on to give you an idea for your own Chapter members.

Assisted Living Centers/Nursing Homes
Senior Citizen Centers: Patriotic and other programs
Libraries: Story hour drama series, children's programs
Community Festivals: Promoting an organization or even
Churches: Opening skits for VBS, summer story-time for children
Local Nature and Science Centers: Butterfly House Guide, Teen Docent
Local History Museums: Character portrayals and re-encatments
Municipal Teen Court system: Peer attorneys
Mission Trips: Teaching in Mexico, Thailand, Nicaragua, and Peru
Political Groups and Campaigns: Phone-banking, organizing a youth rally with press coverage
Educational Events and Conferences: Inspirational speaking, skits, Day at the Capitol
Event Promotion
Host an Evening of Student Presentations: “We are going to have the boy scouts in our Chapter recite the meaning of the thirteen folds during a flag folding ceremony.”
Local Community Theater: Announcements - “Turn off your cell phones, the restrooms are this way.” Each student can come up with a script. They can do it in groups or alone.
Upward Basketball: Half-time devotions
Backyard Bible Clubs
Chapter Informational Meetings
Military Bases
Right to Life: Chapter students were asked to promote RTL and abstinence
Ronald McDonald House: Volunteers can come to serve meals and provide entertainment
Volunteer Match (www.volunteermatch.org): Type in your zip code and their database produces a list of volunteer opportunities close to home. Look for appropriate opportunities to help promote organizations and efforts, speak to groups, mentor children, and more.
Camps: Offer a devotion for staff or campers
YMCA
Parties: Offer to give a speech or an interpretation
Boys and Girls Clubs
Community Patriotic Observances and Memorials
Community, Civic and Social Clubs: Meetings and dinners
Fellowship of Christian Athletes Meetings
Sports Teams
Neighborhood Associations
Toastmasters
Pre-schools
Country Clubs
Hospitals
Bookstores

You have more questions?

Email.... chapters@insituteforculturalcommunicators.org