Delegation Resource Manual: Serving as a Delegate
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YMCA PA Youth & Government Program
CHAPTER 4: Serving as a Delegate
You are not misreading the title of this section, “serving as a delegate.” You might be asking yourself
why the word “serving” instead of words such as “being”, “acting”, or “becoming.” The answer is
simple – you really are serving. We consider your role as a delegate an important one; one where
you can and will leave your mark on the program. We each share a similar responsibility (including
the staff!) to leave the program better off than when we began.
The strength of the program has always been delegates serving the program in real, meaningful ways.
This Club will prepare you to serve the program, improve yourself, and have a fun experience!
When we talk about preparing to serve as a delegate, we are not talking about a short-term exam
cram. Successful delegates are those who have prepared themselves throughout the year and added
to their preparation a good knowledge of the rules and topics that will be discussed.
General Preparation
1.
Learn about Pennsylvania and National Issues. Be up to date with the news!
You can learn the topics to be debated as early as February at the PA Youth & Government
online bill room. You will have time to research the topics and help discern your viewpoint
ahead of time (and you should!). General knowledge, however, will prove much more
valuable not only at conference, but in life. You might get a new bill at the conference, or
you may want to bring in outside knowledge to make analogies and comparisons in your
speeches.
Furthermore, many of the topics have continuing developments and you may need to be up
to date with these developments. To this end, we suggest you read both your local paper
and a national paper online (such as the Philadelphia Inquirer, Washington Post, Wall Street
Journal, or New York Times). Current affairs magazines also provide a wealth of information
(such as The Economist, Time, Newsweek, etc.) Try to watch the local and national news
regularly on television. Finally, read books or online articles about politics, history,
economics, or whatever that may be useful for you to gain a better understanding of world
affairs.
2.
Advance Your Speaking and Debating Abilities
Experience does count! The more you speak in front of crowds, the more comfortable you
become with it. As you do a research project for school or research possible bill topics
(either your own or someone else’s), write short paragraphs or speeches. These can be short
summaries of an article you read, or a short description on the impact a bill will have on your
area of the state. Then read these aloud to your family or a friend (or two).
Get feedback from these people on the content of your speech, tone of your voice, and your
body language. If no one volunteers, use a mirror and try to judge your own performance.
If your delegation conducts mock debates (and they should – and if they do not, initiate
them yourself!) in preparation of the conference, take them seriously because they are your
