Dear Service Leaders,
In keeping with COOL's mission to educate and empower students to
strengthen our nation through service we are launching COOL Leaders, a new
program to enhance student leadership, at our National Conference in
Cleveland, March 13-16.
As you know, COOL has always been committed to student voice and to
enabling students to take a lead role in addressing social concerns within
their community, as well as building the capacity of student initiatives
and campus-based structures. For over a decade COOL has helped launch
student leaders into positions of responsibility both within and beyond the
university arena. The COOL Leaders program is being started to meet the
demand locally (and nationally) for students with the skills, commitment,
and creativity to lead the organizations which will continue to shape
America's future.
The COOL Leaders Program will require a year long commitment beginning with
attendance at a special training track offered at this year's COOL
Conference and followed by another training weekend next fall as well as
on-going participation in listserv discussions and training. In addition,
COOL Leaders will be expected to play a national leadership role in shaping
COOL's agenda for the coming year and organizing subsequent trainings.
The COOL Leaders program will help students develop skills and leadership
abilities at a national level through practical training that is easily
transferable to your individual campus. Workshops and discussions will
cover topics such as: assessing community needs, forming partnerships,
fundraising, and enhancing service infrastructure through assessment.
The framework for COOL Leaders has been shaped by many students and
administrators over the past 18 months, but it will be the first class of
Leaders who will take this model and solidify the curriculum, the
recruitment process, and the requirements for participation for future
classes of leaders. This program is an unparalleled opportunity for student
voice to shape the continued efforts of student community service.
If you know a student leader that welcomes a challenge, is seeking an
opportunity to learn and grow, and who leads by example, then we invite you
to give them the enclosed application for selection in the first COOL
Leaders class. We invite both you and your students leaders to give us a
call and we will gladly discuss how they can take advantage of this
opportunity.
In Service,
Melissa Kendrick Lloyd Jacobson
Executive Director National Programs Director
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THE GOALS OF THE COOL LEADERS PROGRAM ARE TO:
* develop and strengthen the leadership skills of student leaders so that
they might be able to provide more effective leadership to their
campus-based service initiative;
*identify and train a group of student leaders to develop a broad
understanding of national community service initiatives;
*convene a group of students from around the country to provide leadership,
vision, and energy for COOL, its mission and programs and the national
community service movement in general.
With these goals in mind, COOL Leaders are expected to:
1. Participate in the COOL Leaders program at the COOL Conference where
the Leaders will:
*attend workshops that strengthen leadership and management skills;
*engage in discussion and reflection on the status and direction of
students in community service;
*commit to ongoing discussion, planning, and participation with other COOL
Leaders by offering support and leadership for COOL throughout the year
following the COOL Leaders training.
2. Following the COOL Leaders training, Leaders will be asked to:
*assume a leadership role in one of the several different advisory
committees (meetings, peer consulting, publications, etc.);
*attend certain conferences, public hearings and other events in the
capacity of a COOL Leader. COOL Leaders may be asked to make a public
presentation, visit a nearby campus, or participate in planning discussions
by different organizations and groups to represent student voice;
*work with the staff of COOL to provide thoughtful, effective, and
inspiring leadership both to COOL as an organization and the community
service movement in general.
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For more information or to request an application please contact us at:
E-Mail: homeoffice@COOL2SERVE.org
Phone: (202)637-7004
Applications can be faxed to you or sent as attached e-mail documents.
(MS-Word for Macintosh)
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* It's COOL to Serve! *
* C.O.O.L. - Campus Outreach Opportunity League *
* *
* Founded in 1984, COOL is a national non-profit *
* organization working to encourage, support and expand *
* campus-based community service efforts. *
* COOL's mission is to educate and empower students *
* to strengthen our nation through service. *
* *
* For more information contact us at: *
* 1511 K Street, NW, Suite 307 *
* Washington, DC 20005 *
* (202)637-7004 phone *
* (202)637-7021 fax *
* E-Mail: homeoffice@COOL2SERVE.org *
* Web Site: http://www.COOL2SERVE.org *
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