1. Participate in All Training and Planning Sessions Required of Elected Officials

SOUTH CAROLINA YOUTH IN GOVERNMENT

C A N D I D A T E C O D E O F C O N DUC T A N D

P A R T I C I P A T I O N, A G R E E M E N T

Running for an elected office in the South Carolina YMCA Youth in Government program is a serious undertaking, and implies an agreement to a level of commitment and participation above and beyond that of a delegate. Candidates for office agree to the following:

If elected, I will:

1.  Participate in all training and planning sessions required of elected officials.

2.  Youth Governor agrees to attend the National Youth Governor’s Conference in June and the YMCA Youth in Government Conference on National Affairs in July of 2016. (Scholarship assistance may be available for elected officials whose families are unable to pay the CONA fee.) All other elected officials are strongly encouraged to attend.

3.  Elected officials are expected to attend at least three YIG events during their term.

4.  All elected officials must attend the Pawley’s Island Leadership Conference in the fall of their term.

5.  Elected officials should do their best to attend Horizons Values Conference in May and recruit other students to attend.

6.  Elected Officials should also attend at least one of the following YIG events: Middle School Model UN Resource Staff, YIG Leadership Training, and CONA.

7.  YIG elected officials are expected to serve as Team Captains and recruit and oversee a team of students to participate in our annual Open Doors scholarship drive.

8.  All elected officials agree to work to promote Youth in Government, its values and its mission, through their activities at school and in the community.

9.  Elected officials agree to abide by the YMCA’s core values of Honesty, Respect, Responsibility and Caring.

10.  Elected officials understand and agree to accept the decision of the YMCA Youth in Government Executive Director and Board of Directors in any decisions concerning an elected official’s ability to serve. Specifically, if an elected official’s behavior at school, outside of school, or during any YIG event does not reflect the standard of excellence expected of YIG officials, and if any behavior casts the Youth in Government program in a negative light, the YMCA Youth in Government program has the right to remove an elected official from that position. The elected official agrees to this policy, and understands that the decision of the Board of Directors and/or the Executive Director is final.

I have read the expectations of conduct and participation and I agree to abide by the terms of this agreement if I am elected.

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Name (Print and sign) Date

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Parent (Print and sign) Date

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Advisor (Print and sign) Date

YIG Campaign Regulations

The following rules and regulations apply to all students seeking election to a statewide office at the 2015 Youth in Government conference. The purpose of these regulations is not to be burdensome or punitive, but to create a framework that allows all students to compete fairly, without any advantage given to students or schools with more resources than others. Any questions or interpretations about these regulations should be directed to Mary Capers Bledsoe at .

1.  Total spending for a campaign may not exceed $100 (with the exception listed in Rule 2, below). Donations of goods count the same as a purchase. If a campaign receives a donation of a case of paper, for instance, the campaign must report that donation and its fair market value.

2.  Campaigns may spend an additional $50 if that $50 is raised through campaign donations. Campaigns that select this option must provide an itemized list of donors, with contact information for each donor.

3.  Under no circumstances may a campaign spend more than a total of $150 ($100 of regular campaign funding, plus $50 of optional donated campaign funds).

4.  All campaigns must provide full accounting of expenditures and donations. These must be turned in to the Secretary of State or conference staff on Wednesday, upon arrival in Columbia, and before campaigning begins.

5.  Items that are found at home may be used without an additional cost to the candidate, as long as the items could reasonably be expected to be found at home. These items could include, for instance, yardsticks or other items that could be used to put campaign signs on. Questions and clarifications should be directed to Mary Capers Bledsoe at .

6.  No posters or campaign signage may be taped, glued or attached in any way to walls, elevators, desks, doors, etc. at any of the hotels, or at the Statehouse and Statehouse buildings.

7.  Unless prior approval is given, no food, gum or any other edible items may be used in campaigns.

8.  Slogans must be appropriate, respectful, and in keeping with the YMCA’s core values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility.

9.  Campaigns are prohibited from any activities, actions, and statements that would negatively affect another candidate or campaign.

10. Candidates and their campaign staff must conduct themselves in a manner that demonstrates the core values of the YMCA, and the level of respectful behavior expected of Youth in Government participants and leadership.

11. Violations of any campaign rules and regulations may result in any or all of the following sanctions:

·  Campaign material confiscated and not returned

·  Candidate disqualified from race

·  Election results nullified

These sanctions will be determined by YMCA Youth in Government staff and volunteers. The Youth in Government Executive Director will have the final say in applying sanctions.

Candidate Profile

Please email this form and the completed candidate code of conduct and include a photograph (not required, but highly recommended).

Please circle one:

Governor Lt. Governor Speaker of the House

Secretary of State Attorney General

NOTE: all candidates MUST have previous YIG experience.

Name: ______

Phone: ______E-mail: ______

School: ______Grade: ______

Previous YIG Experience:

Extracurricular/Community Activities:

Why are you running for this office, what do you plan to do if elected, and why do you believe you are the most qualified candidate?

Please return to YMCA YIG Office by September 16th by email, mail or fax.

Email:

Mail: SC YMCA YIG

100 Adams Mill Road

Simpsonville, SC 29681

Fax: 864-228-0216