How to make your school school organization outstanding

For Students & Campus Leaders
How to make your school
organization outstanding
Rodel J. Ramos, 1971 – ramos123@rogers.com
A Philippine experience

(The Author was an Outstanding Student Leader at the University of the East for two consecutive years - 1968-69. His organization also won the Most Outstanding Organization award for two years. He triggered the awakening of the “Sleeping Giant” the 60,000 students of the University of the East, which was passive. This became the core of student resistance against the Marcos abuses during the First Quarter Storm that culminated at the 1st Battle of Mendiola. This Student Power also successfully stopped tuition fee increases in the University.)

Introduction

This is a rapidly changing world. The old and slow pace of development in campus organizations is one of those being challenged by new and innovative ideas. Scientific and modern methods of generating efficiency and success are constantly tested in the campus battle of achievements. School campus is the training ground for future leaders in every field from business to politics, for the same principles are used. I hope this article will help you join the new breed of student leaders.

This booklet attempts to help aspiring student leaders develop their potentials by showing them proven techniques.

The MAUE experience

In the school year 1968-69, when for the first time the Management Association of the University of the East (MAUE) garnered the Most Outstanding Campus Organization Award, not a few people wondered what made MAUE “stand out” and how they were able to accomplish more than forty (40) successful projects in two semesters. The following year, they proved that such a success was not a mere stroke of luck. They retained the same highly coveted title. .

Many called it amazing, others said it was phenomenal, but the record was there and now stands as an example and a challenge to both present and future student leaders.

What made them different from the many campus groups who would start and end with an induction ball? How did they achieve so much in so short a time?

This article is an informative discussion of how you can catapult your organization above all the others. As you read it, let the author, out of his experiences, studies, and observations help you make your campus group outstanding. Constant mentioning of the MAUE is not meant to boast about it but only to give an example since he is more authoritative on the subject. In between the lines is the top-secret formula of MAUE’s success.

PLAN AHEAD

To plan in management parlance is to decide in advance the organization’s objectives, policies, procedures and programs of action.

Planning is the first and one of the so many pitfalls of our campus leaders. Not a few of them are so engrossed in their ambition of winning a position that they don’t stop to think what they will do after being elected or how their projects could be done. And so we have quite a number of “student leaders” who start and end up with impossible promises or who are only good in delivering speeches, playing politics, shaking hands and smiling at people. Most of them don’t really know how to plan.

School prohibitions

In many campuses where activities are prohibited a week before the preliminary exams and mid-term exams, and two weeks before the finals, time is of great value. The above prohibition alone cuts off at least seven (7) weeks in your schedule of activities for one semester. That leaves you only thirteen (13) weeks. If the election in your organization is held in the middle of the semester, you have only a few weeks to plan, organize, and execute your desired projects. This is a gigantic proof of our non-realization of the value of planning in campus organizations.

In other universities, elections are held at the end of the second semester preceding the school year giving the student leaders the whole summer vacation to plan well, conduct studies on the practicality of their plans and to organize their group into a solid working team. Besides, in this new practice, only the group elects the most deserving and most active since the achievements and participation of the candidates are still fresh in the minds of the members. The “hakot” system or bringing in truckloads of supporters during elections will also be eliminated if there is a provision in the organization’s constitution that recruitment of members should stop three months before the election.

In this method, proper and orderly turnover of positions, records, assets and accounts are possible and the new set of officers can be properly trained in their respective responsibilities. Grave mistakes from ignorance and misinformation can be avoided this way.

Competition

Competition in getting a place for your project is another big reason for you to plan ahead. With limited space for campus activities, and with the many organizations trying to find a location for their own, there would be a stampede in getting these places if everybody decides to be active. One alternative is to hold your activities outside the campus.

Using foresight or planning ahead has many other advantages. It practically eliminates half-hazard decisions, preventing failures in any undertaking. For instance in having a party, you have not anticipated that the live band is delayed or will not come. The party would be a flop. But if you had thought of that earlier and prepared for the eventuality by either having an emergency substitute band or a sound system, then the party will still be a success.

Or perhaps in your seminar the speaker did not arrive or was late. Had you arranged for an alternative program or activity to keep your seminar delegates busy like a group discussion session, some socials, a problem solving session or better still arranged a substitute speaker? They way you will never experience embarrassment. In planning it is necessary to think or anticipate possible problems and prepare for them. Most of the time, it is impossible to have a perfect affair without hindrances or problems and the man who thinks of their solutions ahead has the edge.

With planning, you find the most economical way - minimizing cost, time and effort. You can canvass the cheapest place for your affairs, the most economical but delicious refreshments, the cheapest printer for programs and tickets etc. and do the right budgeting to avoid loss. Planning to minimize time and effort are essential also even in Campus activities. You’ll find this quite necessary specially when you invite speakers or solicit funds and prizes.

In inviting speakers, the most convenient procedure is to call up the proposed or suggested person by phone and ask if he is available on such a date and if he is willing to accept the invitation. If he does accept, inform him that the formal or written invitation will follow. This is a better arrangement than typing the invitation, going to his office and finding out that he cannot make the appointment or that he is not even in his office. Here you waste effort and time in going and in preparing the letter. In soliciting funds or prizes, it is proper for you to present a letter of solicitation and it is advisable to prepare this in advance rather than go back again to bring the letter. In both cases, plan your route so as to save transportation expenses and call for appointment.

Most of all, planning serves as a measuring stick or standard of performance to determine your success or failure pinpointing in what things you need to improve and in what points you excelled.

Usually if you’re a good observer and a good learner, you will note that there are lessons in both your success and failures. Some groups have evaluation sessions after their affairs to analyze where they were successful and how they can improve or innovate on them in future activities. They study both their weak points and strength and how to avoid failure. You must remember that even failures have their great lessons.

Programs and schedule of activities should, if possible be set for the whole year. In our group, a calendar of activities was lined up for every established committee with an objective or having at least one project a month for most committees. In fact we had a committee, which took care of planning alone.

How do you plan?

The trend of well informed and highly trained leaders and organizations these days is to hold brain storming sessions at the start of their administration where all kinds of ideas and projects are brought out and discussed. This brain storming session start with a meeting where suggestions are taken from the members. During this first session, three rules are strictly observed:

1. Wild ideas are welcome;
2. Criticism is abhorred;
3. Combination or innovation of ideas is encouraged.

Some groups break down their problems and divide the members present into small groups of ten (10) to fifteen (15) each having a specific problem to handle like finances, projects for the social action committee etc. Or that the groups try to pinpoint the problems of the association first before going into discussion of solutions. Here they gather as much ideas or solutions as can be thought of.

Then a second meeting is arranged again to extract more ideas from the members. This time, all members are given, long in advance, a copy of the ideas presented during the first meeting, which they can study and improve. In many occasions, better ideas are brought out in the second meeting.

On both sessions, the three valuable rules are observed. This is to encourage members to freely voice out their thoughts and ideas without fear of criticism. The brain storming session is a different approach from the normal process of meetings where ideas are presented through resolutions one at a time in a formal atmosphere. Here, anyone is free to comment and criticize them, which often turn into long debates and endless discussions monopolized by a few and participation of shy members is seldom. The brain storming session is also based on the premise that it is harder to think of creative ideas than to criticize them.

The third session is usually held among officers only or an expert committee to study and screen the ideas or plans presented by the different groups. It is only in this session that criticisms and judgment are made. A smaller group of seven (7) with a different composition from those who made the proposals handle the judgment portion on the presumption that those who proposed the ideas or plans will not be objective in their judgment as they would fight like hell to defend their ideas. Sometimes however, it is best to invite the persons who suggested the plans to explain them clearly without privilege of voting.

Creative problem solving approach which is adapted in brain storming sessions and in other sessions where problems are tackled by a group usually undergo these steps:

1. Problem Finding - Searching for the real problem and breaking it into specifics. It is said that once you have zeroed on the problem, it is half solved. But many people mistake symptoms to be the real trouble like absenteeism of members when it is only a sign of the loss of interest among members.

2. Fact Finding - Trying to know the facts of a certain problem and its real situation, its history, its causes and effects.

3. Alternative Solutions - All possible solutions and suggestions are received without criticism or premature judgment.

4. Choosing the Best Solution - In reality there are no best solutions, but it is perhaps the most practical to measure solutions in the maximum advantage of the club at minimum expense having always in mind the goal, resources of the organization and the prevailing conditions.

In certain organizations, like political parties or in schools where there is keen competition, secrecy is essential. Only a committee, a ruling junta or a planning director handles the planning. Plans are revealed only to the people involved and at the right time on a piece meal basis. In most cases, participation of members in discussions of projects is important.

Take note that planning is continuous and is subject to change. Uncertainties happen like failure to get funding or not getting the right people to do the job. These things drastically change your course of action. What you thought as the best plan today could be impractical or outmoded tomorrow. It is therefore wise to constantly recheck and countercheck your plans with the resources, objectives, and competitions of the organizations and the prevailing situations. Most often, unexpected problems or emergencies crop us. So be flexible.

If you intend to have the best plans, take time out in gathering information. See ideas and advise from others - professors, former student leaders and outside entities like civic groups and other universities. They are the best sources of new and practical ideas. Be observant of what they are doing and how they them. Then try to adapt those, which can be useful in your group but if possible innovate. There are simple Rules in creating ideas:

a) Minify or make it smaller;
b) Maxify or expand the scope;
c) Simplify or break it down into specifics, sometimes removing other parts;
d) Combine or complicate;
e) Substitute. An example could be using different ideas from various sources in one project. (Steel to plastic)

You can also spy on other campus groups. Find out their resources - finances, manpower and other capabilities - the pace and trend of their activities. If you can have their blue print, so much the better. This is unethical although it is being practiced by some organizations. Sometimes by just looking at the number of their committees, manpower or their posters announcing various activities, background or experiences of their leaders, you can predict their capacities.

Still others pirate trained and competent committee chairmen and members by offering them higher positions and other incentives. It is because of this fowl tactic that a few trusted men should only know the overall plan of an organization.

MAUE’s being ahead of others was a result of a long range planning and a product of systems and ideas taken from various sources. Adapted where the closeness and brotherhood of the fraternities, the frequent meetings of the Student Catholic Action, the autonomy program of the barangays (barrio organizations), the various management principles and techniques of business firms to mention only a few. It also took note of campus competition and was watchful of the pace and trends of competitors.

The best plans however are useless unless properly communicated to your team. Be clear-cut, direct and understandable. Explain to them every detail and don’t presume that they already know. Guide them in the performance of their duties specially if it is their first time in doing such a job or project. Check them every now and then. Be aware that you’re dealing with greenhorns who are greatly liable to commit mistakes. It is also necessary to tell them the main goals or objectives of the group and their vital roles in the attainment of such objectives.

The many hindrances may set back your activities, give you a lot of embarrassments and destroy your timetable if you don’t make the proper planning. So to have a successful organization, take time out to plan, take note of prevailing situations and resources, gather information and ideas, and communicate your plans well.

ORGANIZE FOR MORE RESULTS

If you intend to come out with one or two small projects and sleep it out during the rest of the year, this part of the article is not for you.

When there’s a school competition for an outstanding group, there are only two ways of getting it. Either you make some extra-ordinary projects or you accomplish the most number of projects with some significant ones. The latter has the greater chance of getting the award. So your greater aim would be to achieve as many projects as possible in a very short time, not forgetting that the main goals of campus organizations is to train students as leaders. To develop the individual talents and personalities of your members.

So, what organizational set-up can achieve as many projects as possible in a short period of time and train as many potential leaders?

MAUE answered this question by organizing as much as 30 working teams or committees, some only assisting the others but most have their own monthly projects. Some teams with difficult task like organizing seminars and Work Camps of course have only one or two projects for the whole year.

With 30 working committees, you can expect a greater number of projects. Even if one half of them fail to work, you can still expect the others to produce good results. Having numerous teams will also mean involvement and training to many members who would otherwise be laid idle. It exposes their hidden talents and develops their leadership potentials. It will also show who are responsible and dependable. The creation of committees however would depend much on whether they are needed and on the availability of competent persons to handle them and finances.

To make these committees really work, there are things, which you have to do.

Train your leaders

First is to train the different committee chairmen and their vice chairmen. This can be done in a closed leadership seminar or a series of orientation meetings where they are briefed on the organization - its objectives, policies, procedures, program of action etc.; prevailing situations in the campus, rules and regulations in the school; competitions; duties, privileges and responsibilities of members and the vital role of everyone in the attainment of the goals. A lesson in parliamentary rules, creative problem solving techniques and group discussion are standard parts of this seminar. Leadership seminars are today of process oriented rather than content oriented. The heart of the training is found in the small groups where a high level of participation, involvement and free communication is encouraged.
Proper incentives

Giving them the right incentives. Positive incentives - best committees, best officers and members wins trophies, medals, certificates or cash. Negative incentives - warn them that if they cannot produce results within a month or two, they will be automatically replaced and be strict about this. The merit system rather than the “palakasan” or whom you know should be observed in the giving out of promotions and appointments. Seniority can be used only if the qualified candidates have the same qualifications.

Give them specific jobs and projects to do or you can ask them to submit their suggestions within a time frame. Let the chairmen choose their own Co-chairmen and members so as to have greater cooperation, teamwork and coordination in the committee.

Supervise

Then the hard task of closely supervising them comes. Remember that their leadership training does not end in the seminar. It is a continuous task and following up their progress and guiding them is sometimes the most difficult job for a leader. This sometimes forces a leader to do the job himself rather than assign it to others, but here is where your leadership ability is tested.

Usually, you would encounter a lot of resistance from your members. Many would just keep on promising without doing their jobs. This is mostly found in beginners of campus groups. Some experts attribute this to “inertia” which is defined as that quality or property of matter (including people) whereby it remains at rest or continues to be at rest unless a strong force acts upon it, just like a car which needs a strong energy to make it start moving and once it is in motion it requires also a strong force to stop it. The best way to destroy this resistance to action or work is to push them hard without their noticing it. Motivate them, offer them incentives and go with them in the first few tasks. Once they have started the job, they will go on with it easily.

Other people however are just fond of accepting positions and getting honors without working for it. This is mostly true to old-timers or professional “student leaders”. Still others are there to sabotage the organization to support their evil ambitions and plans. Watch these people closely and kick them out fast. Be quick to respond to emergencies resulting from these tactics and from the irresponsibility and apathy of other members and officers.

Still others have the habit of saying “yes” even if they can’t do the task because of “hiya” (ashamed) to say “no” to others, which is analyzed fully as actually “nakakahiya” (shameful).

Assign supervisors

If you create numerous committees, it will be impossible for you to supervise all these by yourself. So you have to assign supervisors to see to it that all committees are functioning well. This is where Assistants come in. The appropriate number of committees to be handled by one supervisor is from 5 to 7 usually of similar or correlated task or it may depend on the frequency or difficulty of their activities. Often, the vice presidents are available for this job of supervision and guidance.

Communicate

Continuity and constancy of communication is an essential factor in a successful organization. This requires as much as possible weekly meetings of the officers and committees. It is perhaps even necessary to assign a place or a table where you can see each other during your leisure hours or break time every day to discuss things or just to chat. This will bring stronger ties among the officers and members. A bulletin board for notices and announcements is necessary to inform members of activities and meetings of the group.

These things will keep you in constant contact with your officers and members - hearing their problems and progress reports and communicating with them new developments and changes or ideas. This is an effective medium of supervision specially when having a lot of simultaneous projects and having neophytes as officers and members. It is also important for you to have the addresses, telephones and class schedules of your officers for your follow-ups and in case of need. If you have time, visiting them in their homes can bring you closer to them and can give them importance. The modern trend today for leaders is to be more people oriented rather than achievement or production oriented.

In most cases, you have no other choice but to accept the other elected officers. If they are not the right people - uncooperative, incompetent, etc. - this would be one of your stumbling blocks and headaches. But that would just be a nice challenge in your part as a leader. Use human relations. Talk to them individually, convince them of their importance to the team and give them incentives. If they still persist, give them warnings that if they cannot do their jobs they must resign or you kick them out. Give them a deadline, and be strict about it. Don’t be afraid that you would lose people; there are many more who can take their positions.

The second radical step that MAUE did in its organizational structure was to organize the different classes in Management into class organizations, having their own set of officers who report to the MAUE through the weekly meetings of the Council of Class Coordinators. This Council served as a liaison or a communication medium between the organization and its members in the classrooms. It also broadened the supervision and control of the association with its members. Through this, all activities and communications are announced and problems of the different classrooms handled. This Council gives leadership training to more members and gave the MAUE a lot of reserved manpower and leaders.

When other competing groups copied the creation of various committees, MAUE utilized this Council of Class Coordinators and Co-sponsored with the different management classes projects they wished to organize except parties and excursions. Money incentives were given to subsidize part of projects were given to any class organization who wished to sponsor a project and the MAUE was willing to spend for awards like trophies, medals and certificates. Expert advisers and technical help were also provided. An award for the best class project, and best class officers were given as another incentive. This Co-sponsorship program gained for the group two seminars organized by neophyte members in the classrooms with the guidance and help of seminar experts training more students as leaders. If this program were given more emphasis, it would have surely produced unprecedented number of projects and training more students. Its potential however was discovered after the threat of other organizations copying the massive committees structure.

The class organizations in fact can outwit campus groups if they can only be organized because they have the available and captive manpower and they meet every day. This will however depend much on the teachers, if they allow their class to be active.

To push further ahead of the other campus groups, MAUE went to the extent of creating committees that Co-sponsored projects with outside organizations and business firms. A movie whose proceeds were given to the National Mental Hospital was Co-sponsored with the Christian Family Movement Youth Chapter. The Junior Executive Training Seminar participated by no less than 300 students from U.E. and other schools were Co-sponsored with Seven Up and other business corporations. This Co-sponsorship program with outside groups from other schools or particularly moneyed people in the business world will give your organization the finances and expertise needed, sometimes to pay for your rent of space and even refreshments. It also gives your members opportunities to meet and deal with professional business people and other prominent individuals. It develops their contacts, which might be useful in their future careers. But most of all, it increases your projects with less expense.

MAUE’S organizational structure:

Executive Board - - - - - - -Advisory Council

Chairman & President

Executive Vice President

VP, Academic Affairs; VP, Cultural; VP, Internal Affairs

Gen. Secretary - Gen. Treasurer - Purchasing Manager - Auditor - Planning Board

Council of Supervisors

Council of Class Coordinators

Committees

Executive Vice President (Membership Committee)
Council of Supervisors
Council of Class Coordinators
Classroom Units


Vice President, Academic Affairs
Junior Executive Training Seminar (JETS)
Special Management Seminars
Dialogue Committee
Field Trips
Educational Film Committee
Lecture Program
Internship Training
Research Committee
Junior Enterprises Circle (JEC) - A trading Company owned by the Association
Symposium
Vice President, Cultural Affairs
Civic Action Team (MAUECAT) - Sponsored Work Camps
Cultural Committee
MAUE Singing Group
MAUE Dance Troupe
Newsletter - The Challenge
Sports Committee
Socials Committee
Arts & Speech Development
Vice President, Internal Affairs:
Hard-core Leadership Seminar - Internal seminars for aspiring leaders
Press Relations - Press Releases and Newsletter.
CARE - Visits sick members or helps members with problems
Arts & Speech Committee - Arts exhibits & Oratorical Contest
Decorations Committee -
Inter-Organization Relations - Co-Sponsors projects with other organizations.
Inter-School Relations - Co-Sponsor projects with others schools
Legal Assistance Program - helped members on legal problems
Fund Raising Committee
Personality Development - sponsored Miss MAUE Beauty Contest
Special Projects
Advisory Council
Planning Board
Political Orientation Committee

So if its more projects you want, organize in the most practical way - create more committees, decentralize into the classroom units, Co-sponsor with other groups, business, etc. - train your leaders, create an effective communication system, give them the right incentives - and supervise them well.

You want to recruit

Now you’re organized. So you want to expand, to get more members in order to have more manpower working for the group but most of all more members means membership fees and that means money for your activities. What are you to do?

With the cooperation of professors, MAUE having organized their classroom units and the Council of Class Coordinators, let loose its Membership Drive Contest and in due time, it had 4,500 members, the biggest in the campus, compared to the 300 the previous year. How was it done?

The contest was a search for the top ten class coordinators who can deliver the most number of recruits at the end of each semester and be active in the activities of the association. Cash prizes, medals and banners were offered as incentives. Those who reached the quota of 10 recruits were given certificates of appreciation. Memos were circulated to all class coordinators and professors to this effect and application forms distributed. Attractive posters around the campus also announced the contest.

Every week during the Council of Class Coordinator’s meeting, applications and membership fees were collected. Receipts and IDs were issued in return. Officers were also assigned in the MAUE table - a permanent place made as an office - to receive applicants. Some officers recruited room to room. Later, we organized the supervisors board - a supervisor for each hour - to see to it that the class coordinators are recruiting during that particular time and stimulating more students to be members, and for them to participate actively in the projects of the association.

Perhaps, you can even go as far as requiring every students enrolled in, for example management classes to be members and automatically pay the membership fee and be given ID and receipts. But this will require the approval of the Dean or teachers.

The result of this drive was amazing. Some coordinators recruited as many as 100 members. It was also a good training for them in selling and dealing with people, which is more important.

This idea could be used by Co-curricular organizations. They can of course use other gimmicks. It will however be difficult for extra-curricular groups. They have to content themselves with having a table where applicants may come to apply. Putting up posters could help a lot. However, they can sponsor a membership drive contest among their existing members with some awards. You can also ask your members to solicit membership from their classmates and other classrooms with the blessings of the teachers. The Student Christian Movement and the Student Catholic Action are quite successful in this venture also.

If you are seeking quality in membership and you want a stronger sense of loyalty to the organization, this drive is not advisable for you. Some campus groups with quality membership in mind gives entrance examinations to their members and/or a period of probation. With this technique, the members strive to attain status in the group. Fraternities and sororities are geared on this way of recruitment with their initiations and selections. Others would put up ranks in members like the Freemasons and Knights of Columbus which has the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and up to 34th degrees of membership, giving the members more challenges and making them strive through the ladder. The best though is a combination of quantity and then develop quality within by raising them up to a higher ladder of membership.

The selective or qualitative approach of requiring prospective members to undergo a test, or initiation or making them do a difficult task for the organization develops a strong commitment and loyalty to the group and self-discipline within themselves. A lot of leaders believe that commitment is a strong force that binds a person to an organization and that it can be developed easier if you demand more than what can be done by members. This becomes a great challenge for them and in case they fail there are still worthwhile things done. While if you demand less, you can also expect less result, or less achievement.

Some groups, particularly the activists ask people to join their activities like teach-ins, rallies and demonstrations or just contribute money to their cause to get their commitment. Once they have been involved, even if they do not believe in their goal, they already have the feeling of oneness with the group.

Now, how can you motivate your members to be active? The key to the solution of this problem perhaps is the proven observation in human nature propagated by social scientists.

They say that man has four basic social needs or desires. They are:

1. The need or desire for security;
2. The desire for belonging;
3. The desire for recognition; and
4. The desire for achievement.

The desire for achievement is the highest goal of a social being but new and ordinary members are quite contented if you can give them the satisfaction of their desire for belonging in the organization. To achieve this, give them importance. Just being close to them, sharing their problems and joys can do the trick. But you can go further by making the group a happy and enjoyable one to be with. Usually having some inexpensive social gatherings where you can gain closeness is helpful. Avoid big formal parties where each one will invite their partners and cling to his or her exclusive clique.

Mostly a combination of all these basic social desires is present in your members. So to give them the feeling of recognition and achievement, share with them responsibilities with the corresponding authority and incentives. You can assign them to committees or just give them something challenging to do but guide and follow them up. The inertia is still very strong with newcomers and they are shy to get along with the group or even stay in your table or office. Be lavish with praise and slow on criticism. Show them that their services are appreciated. Thank them promptly for any work done. Give them incentives like awards at the end of the year honoring them in a special event.

The answer usually to these basic desire of people is only maximum participation or involvement. When people are not given involvement, they do not enjoy being with the group. This is noticeable in meetings where only a few big mouths keep on talking without giving chances to others. Breaking them down into smaller discussion groups gives greater participation. Diversification of programs even during meetings to cut off boredom is necessary.

In some organizations, they have a welcome committee, which has the responsibility or specialization of insuring that new members enjoy their stay with the club, and find a place for them in the organization’s life. Ask someone to introduce them during meetings including a thumbnail biography. Don’t just ask them to introduce themselves.

You should collect as much data as possible about your members. A membership committee can keep an up to date card file showing each member’s interest, what he can do for the club, schedule of classes, birthdays, etc. This file will also guide you on the scope of your activities, programs and policies, which will interest members. Honoring birthday celebrants during the month will also bring them closer to the group.

Be sensitive of the feelings and sentiments of the members towards you and the organization. Try to get their real reactions and make it clear that constructive criticism is welcome. It is better that they complain to you than to outsiders or to people who are thinking of joining. It is a Filipino character of passing complaints and criticisms through a third person and it is good for you to learn and accept the idiosyncrasy because you will encounter them often. Don’t make the mistake of having gripe sessions. Filipinos tend to keep ill feelings specially when criticized in public. If any one of them commits something bad, talk to them in private, concentrate on the act, not the person, and don’t nag.

Remember that an intelligently administered organization tries to develop leadership at all levels. Much of this could be done through participation in committees, creating workshops, seminars, giving them a chance to participate in convocations and not taking all the limelight for you. A newsletter could develop those with writing talents and is a good way of disseminating information. It is also a good publicity. Give them all the chance to discover their talents, abilities and skills.

The development of members through campus activities is amazing. In our few months of involvement, many of our members who used to be snobs, shy types and loners learned to get along with all types of people. They forgot their shyness and are now well equipped in parliamentary rules and rudiments of leading an organization. Our Work Camp in the provinces alone produced civic-minded people with their greater understanding on the problems of our cultural minorities. Some girls who never did household jobs learned them the hard way.

Show your members that joining campus groups and being active in them are really fun and it gives them fruitful and priceless experiences, which they will need in their adult life. That it will give them a meaningful college life. That they also get to know people who could help them in their predicaments in college and could be good contacts in their careers in politics, business or merely job hunting. That people whom they meet are also sources of new ideas or knowledge and with whom they could also share theirs.

Once they have learned to accept responsibilities and authorities, and cope up with what is expected of them, they will gradually be trained as leaders. Leadership as they will find is the same in principle whether you are in politics or business or in a small group, and that it is the little things they do today that will shape their destiny.

Financing is your big problem?

Mostly the bulk of the problems of any campus group are centered on one vital factor and that is finance. On this depend most if not the entire club’s activities and expansion programs. Without it, nothing would move in the organization. So, your activities or achievements would rely much on your ability to generating funds and budgeting.

The initial way of getting funds is usually from membership fees. The more members the more funds for the group.

Another way is having socials like induction balls and other parties where tickets are sold. These are big money making ventures but they also need initial expenses and you are not sure if you’ll really make profit or lost. The success of this venture depends much on the enthusiasm of members in the disposal of tickets, the right timing and budgeting. Many campus groups commit the mistake of having grandiose plans and over projection of income. They have their socials in exclusive restaurants or hotels and they just make money for these people. Many incur big debts, which put an end to all their plans.

Soliciting sponsors and donors for such socials add to your income. There is a legal hindrance for selling tickets in schools though because a law prohibits its sales inside the classroom, and campus premises. And this requires a lot of supervision and follow-ups because one mistake would blow up the whole event.

Benefit shows - movies, band concerts, variety shows, dramas, mini-fairs, fashion shows, dance troupes, etc. are great money makers but heed the biggest capital to initiate. One way of getting started without much expense is asking a company, a textile firm for example to sponsor a fashion show or another firm to print tickets with their logo in it. Printing a program for sale and getting sponsors, donors and ads will also increase your income in this venture. The grave disadvantages of benefit shows though are that it requires a lot of preparation, manpower and money to start with.

Beauty contest or money contest as some would prefer to call it is quite a popular profit-making gimmick in some campuses. One way of encouraging contestants is to give them a percentage of the amount they collect over a given quota. Other incentive could be trips, scholarships, trophies, and supplies of goods from sponsors.

Soliciting ads for a souvenir program, newsletter, directory or any campus publication is a lucrative venture for finances if one knows how to get them, and it is a good training for students in business, although some does not pay after their ads are published. A contest for the best solicitor can encourage members to work hard.

Another self-liquidating project is a seminar where participants are charged registration fees and donations from companies like soft drink firms are solicited. Sponsoring tournaments with registration fees from participants can add income to your projects.

Direct solicitation of cash, trophies, medals or goods for projects specially civic action are usually done house to house from prominent families, politicians, business firms, civic groups, room to room in schools, teachers, etc. and for Varsitarians, their province mates who are holding high positions in the city. Still others would solicit old newspapers and sell them. But in direct solicitation, you have to present an attractive or worthwhile project.

The correct budgeting is definitely essential in an association especially in the campus where extravagant and worthless spending is often committed. A simple oratorical contest where trophies and medals can be easily solicited or a symposium where only a minimal expense is supposed to be incurred sometimes reaches hundreds of pesos in expenses.

Proper accounting

Since money is one of the greatest temptations even among uncorrupted students, you as a leader have to take steps in insuring safeguards for money matters in your group. If possible, funds should be deposited in a bank where it requires 2 or 3 signatures, the president, treasurer, and adviser of the association before any withdrawals can be accomplished. But the group must have a revolving fund or a petty cash on hand. All cash taken from the treasurer must be with disbursement slips signed by the president and all expenses must be with receipts. Periodic accounting of income and expenses must be done by the auditor and strict disciplinary action must be taken for people who malverse funds of the organization. This is a grave dishonesty, which should never be tolerated.

But don’t be too strict in such a way that there would be too much red tape in the acquisition of funds. Each committee must be given their initial budget at the start of each project. It can be given in installment basis to insure less temptation.

Leadership qualities you must develop

There are many leadership qualities known and sometimes a single quality of character can raise a man into power but mostly a combination holds him longer in power. Some of these qualities, which we observe present in successful campus leaders, are:

1. They have a word of honor - You would perhaps say that there are campus leaders who are like dirty national politicians but these people do not stay long in power and are unpopular. You can fool your officers and members once or twice but this will be the start of your downfall. Being late during meetings or not fulfilling appointments are the usual destructive habits of campus leaders. Remember that every broken promise destroys your credibility and the organization and you’re setting a bad example. A leader is in a house of glass where all his actions are observed and most of the time followed.

2. Know how to plan, organize and make timely and accurate decisions. This is vital, unless you have a man or a group who can advise you well and work things for you.

3. Know how to work through people and delegate responsibility - If you cannot do this either you will be overburdened or you will not be able to generate enthusiasm and participation among members.

4. Can impose impartial and strict discipline - sometimes one single unjust decision especially on disciplinary actions ruins the group and generate abuses from members. Often, giving a verbal warning in the first offense, then a written warning in the second and suspension or dismissal on the third is a standard procedure. Malversation of funds however is an exception. Never accuse people in front of others.

5. Know how to follow up and supervise - Some leaders would assign duties in the beginning and would complain why people are not doing their responsibilities. As we have discussed, people need follow-up and motivation.

6. Have good human relations - If you are a snob you will not even win an election. Learn the Ten Commandments of Human Relations. They are:

a) Speak to people;
b) Smile at people;
c) Call people by name;
d) Be friendly and helpful;
e) Be cordial;
f) Be genuinely interested on people;
g) Be considerate with the feelings of others;
h) Be generous with praise - cautious with criticism;
i) Be considerate with the feelings of others;
j) Be thoughtful of the opinion of others;
k) Be alert to give service.

7. Have initiative, courage and creative mind - In order to compete with other groups, you must have an innovative mind and is willing to venture on new ideas. It is also said that a stout heart carries you through difficulties.

8. Know how to communicate ideas with others - Many who are good in the play of words or who are good speakers become leaders even if they achieve nothing after being elected.

9. Is not vindictive - A leader who seek vengeance when offended finds himself with plenty of enemies. Learn to forgive and forget. The first is good for the soul, the second for your peace of mind and body.

Unleashing student power

A potential strength of young people is the cultivation of Student Power for national issues. This seems to be untapped in Canada . It could be apathy or the youth refusing to the drawn into National Issues. It is also possible that because the issues have not affected them directly. But the tuition hikes and the rising unemployment will soon move them into action. Or perhaps, student leaders do not know how to organize them. Our Filipino youth can lead in this direction. But be careful, because Student Power has been manipulated and abused by political groups and various interest groups in the past. In the Philippines , political factions fund and influence this sector.

In the early 70s, the Students were militant and deeply involved in national issues in the Philippines . During those times the issues were the rising threat of a Marcos dictatorship, the increasing Communist insurgencies, increasing tuition fees, bus fares, gasoline and food.
The leftist groups were well organized led by young intellectuals from the University of the Philippines , Lyceum, and Philippine College of Commerce. According to rumors, Communist movements from China and Russia funded them. Some say that Marcos funded them. He was trying to create chaos and disturbances in order to impose Marshal Law. I was sure, different factions were manipulating the student community.

The Kabataang Makabayan, the student front of the leftist movement held teach-ins everywhere and had rallies well attended by students and the masses. I was then a member of the Ruling Junta of the Young Christian Social Movement, the moderate group that was engrossed in endless debates and no program of action. I left this group and went on my own, doing my own silent revolution.

The University of the East with its 60,000 students, the largest student population was then called the “The Sleeping Giant” because of the apathy of its students. No matter how student leaders pushed them, they can only sway 300 to 500 students. While U.P. and other schools brought thousands of protesters in the streets, U.E. was a different story. People asked, “What or who can move this vast energies of humanity?”

As a student of management and marketing, the “Sleeping Giant” became a challenge to me. I studied various models and when a bright idea came to my mind, I set up the plan and went to the President of the Student Government and gave him my proposal.

I asked him to organize the classes in 9:30 a.m., 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. into class organizations. Then we brought these Class Presidents to a Leadership Seminar. We invited the most vocal opposition speakers in the Country to orient them on National Issues.
We created the Council of Leaders composed of these class presidents and held meetings every two weeks. Unknown to the students, these were indoctrination sessions, touching on National Issues. This created the organizational structure, the link to the grassroots of the student body and awareness to the issues affecting the Country.

After a month, the Management of the University of the East increased tuition fees. I told the Student Government President that the time has come to test the effectiveness of our experiment. I advised the President to send a memo to all the Class Presidents inviting the students to join the rally. In 15 minutes, the whole studentry where out in the streets rallying against the tuition increase.

We called a meeting among members of the Student Congress and other influential Student Leaders to draft a list of demands to the Administration. We finalized 16 demands including no tuition increase, free hospitalization of sick students, abolition of the Women’s Club and the Reserved Officers Training Course (ROTC). The last one, we knew was an impossible demand, because it needs the Philippine Governments approval. But we placed it anyway so that the School Management won’t say that they gave to all our demands a hundred percent. We also developed a signal system. During the deliberations, when we agree on the proposal, we would place our arms on the table. If we disagree, we place them on our lap.
The next day, the Student Negotiation Panel went to see the President of the University of the East. Again, we asked the students to get out of their classrooms to put pressure on the Management Panel. They complained, but we assured them that it was not our intention to do so. Out of the 16 demands, we got 15 except the abolition of the ROTC, which we knew, was not under their power to decide on.

When the gasoline and bus fares increase, we again used this newly acquired power to rally the students, this time to the streets of Metro Manila. We accosted every bus that passed by to show our anger and opposition to the increase. In the afternoon, the rally became a mob, and the students started to throw stones on buses. When night fell, buses were burned and police came shooting at the students and throwing tear gas to the crowd. The students retaliated with Molotov bombs and “pill boxes” (explosives with broken glasses) later, some groups lead the students to Malacanang Palace and it ended up with the infamous Battle of Mendiola. Three students died in this attack and someone rammed a station wagon in the gates of Malacanang.

The Dawn newspaper of U.E. headlined “The giant has awakened!” but nobody knew or understood how this came about except me the author of these events, the President and Vice President of the Student Government.

Our mistake was because we were not use to rallies of this magnitude; we did not appoint marshals, which should have prevented the creation of a mob and chaos. But the Philippine Government relented on the increase and our goals were attained.

This is to show you that Student Power can be unleashed to create a National Change. And apathy can be changed by organizational techniques. Student power can change the whole country and the whole world, if you know how to use them.

Youth power

One of the things that brought hardship among the people of the Philippines was the yearly celebration of Town Fiestas. The poor people, because of hiya (shame) were forced to borrow money to prepare food for their friends and relatives who visit them during these yearly occasions. Raul Manglapus, the President of the Christian Social Movement, advocated the abolition of this tradition but did not know how to implement them.

When the people felt hardship because of the recession of the 70s, I tested an idea against this tradition. I recruited students from different schools who were residents of Quirino District in Quezon City , which was going to hold their annual Fiesta. We asked the parishioners of St. Joseph to sign a petition to limit the celebration of the fiesta within the Church premises. Most of the people signed and we presented this petition to the Parish Priest and the Parish Council. The Parish Priest had a high blood during the deliberation because this was one of his source of revenue. Sponsors and donations during this event is more than P50, 000. A loyal parishioner said, “It is not your business if I burn my money!” But we argued that it is our business to save the poor from poverty.

This petition ended the lavish fiestas in Quirino District that tied up traffic in Quezon City and forced the poor people to borrow money just to entertain their friends and families to a fiesta.

An agent of change

So you see, you are not just mere students out there in the schools trying to earn a diploma. You can be an agent of change. Train yourself to be a leader at an early age. Leadership has the same principle whether in the campus, business, politics or community groups. You will be successful in your adult life wherever you go.