Your Alabama State Thespian board of directors is proud to sponsor the Alabama Junior State Thespians Officer program. We encourage every chartered Junior Troupe director to nominate one student to serve on the JSTO board for the 2023-2024 school year.
Your delegate will serve on the JSTO board and take an active role in planning the 2024 Thespian Festival. During their time as a JSTO, they will learn leadership and time management skills and much more.
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To register your delegate, please read all the information provided, and fill out this FORM to send their contact information to the JSTO Advisors. Any delegates confirmed by May 6 will be invited to join the final JSTO Google Meet of the 2022-2023 school year on May 13th. Nominations will be accepted through September 4th. |
What is a Junior State Thespian Officer?
An Alabama Junior State Thespian Officer (JSTO) serves on the student leadership team for Alabama Junior Thespians. Their primary focus will be planning/executing the Alabama Junior Thespian Festival in February 2024. They will also learn about advocacy for the arts in Alabama. Each student member will serve for one school year.
Choose Your JSTO Delegate
Every charted Junior Thespian Troupe in the state has the option to choose one member of their troupe to serve as a JSTO. Members of JSTO will be expected to attend monthly virtual meetings, leadership events, and be involved in the planning and running of the State Junior Thespian Festival. They should also act as a liaison between State Thespians and your local troupe, to keep your members informed and excited about Thespians.
Your delegate should
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Be an inducted Junior Thespian who is excited about theatre and the arts
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Have the time, energy and dedication to carry out the responsibilities of being a JSTO.
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Be willing and able to attend all virtual meetings
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Be willing to take an active role in opening and closing ceremonies at Festival
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Have attended at least one Thespian Festival
How you choose your delegate is up to you. It may be one of your officers, or another member who will represent your troupe well and wants to be involved. Delegates should be ready to take on leadership roles and bring their love of theatre to the board.
What happens after your delegate is nominated?
The advisory board will contact them via email, and copy the troupe director, to welcome them to the JSTO board. We will send them meeting information and help to set them up for success. You will be copied on all correspondence with the JSTO so you can help your delegate as needed. You are welcome and encouraged to attend all virtual meetings, but it is not a requirement.
Where are the meetings?
All delegates are strongly encouraged to attend Leadership Day in the fall (Date TBA). This event will be in Birmingham. Transportation and any other travel considerations are the responsibility of the delegate.
At this time, we are planning for all other meetings to be virtual, and to last about an hour. This may change, especially as we get closer to the State Thespian Festival.
Here are the proposed virtual meeting dates for the 2023-2024 school year. All dates are Saturdays, and calls will be from 10am – 11am.
September 16, 2023
October 14, 2023
November 4, 2023
December 9, 2023
January 13, 2024
February 3, 2024
February 10, 2024
February 17, 2024 – Junior State Thespian Festival
March 2, 2024
April 6, 2024
May 11, 2024
Will Troupe Directors be required to be on the Adult Board if they nominate a JSTO?
The Alabama State Thespian Festival runs on volunteer power. We depend on the involvement of Troupe Directors to function effectively. While we highly encourage you to help with the festival in some way, you are not required to do so. You are encouraged and welcome to sit in on all JSTO meetings, but it is not a requirement.
Are there technology requirements for the Delegates?
Delegates must have access to the internet and the ability to communicate via email and Google Meets or Zoom on a regular and consistent basis.
General Necessities/Duties for all JSTO:
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Come to ALL scheduled meetings.
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Engage students throughout the year to spread the word about Thespians and keep current Thespians engaged.
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Attend Festival weekend, Friday – Close of Festival
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Leadership Day (Date TBA)
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Lead the Alabama Thespians as a good role model and embody all that is expected of an up-standing Thespian.
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Have regular access to a computer and the internet, with camera and microphone
Job Descriptions:
Job Descriptions vary from year to year and are typically crafted to fit the skills & talents of the incoming board. With that said, below are some example positions that are typically available on the board. Positions are assigned by the JSTO advisors once the board is selected.
Secretary:
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Take clear & detailed minutes at each meeting
Vice President:
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Support the President in agenda creation & running JSTO meetings
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Assist in follow up on deadlines & projects
President:
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Work with JSTO Advisors to create agendas for and run the JSTO meetings
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Act as a liaison between the JSTO and the Adult Junior Board
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Monitor all STO goals and help ensure deadlines are being met
Social Media Coordinator(s):
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Create a social media plan for the year
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Get all social media posts approved by a member of the Adult Junior Board
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Post and maintain the JSTO instagram account
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Respond to comments & DMs from Jr. Thespians