Volunteer Opportunities
Call us if you'd like to volunteer in our Lansing office putting together Onsite folders or helping with promotional mailings or phone calls. The holiday season is also a great time to volunteer in your community shelter, food bank, orphanage, or hospital.
Agent Point Totals
(Last Update: 12-22-08)
Courtney B - 4 Points
Traci B - 6 Points
Hanniyah C - 0 Points
Shaina D - 0 Points
David H - 6 Points
Matthew H - 3 Points
Grace H - 5 Points
Jack H - 5 Points
Donald J - 0 Points
Chandler K - 3 Points
Nathan K - 5 Points
Brooke K - 5 Points
Lauren L - 9 Points
Jessica L - 2 Points
Cassandra O - 3 Points
Katie P - 6 Points
Nathan P - 1 Point
Paul P - 10 Points
Brooke R - 2 Points
Amber T - 0 Points
Rebecca V - 0 Points
Kyle W - 5 Points
Natalie W - 4 Points
David W - 0 Points
Highlighted Resource
For the MISSION: OBSERVE tasks, you have to watch a local meeting of some sort: school board, city/village/town council, trial, library board, etc. Here is a collection of links to help you find local meetings.
Michigan Trial Court Directory by County
Michigan School Districts
Michigan Libraries
Michigan Counties
Michigan Townships
Michigan Cities and Villages
Don't forget to check the resource page for additional tips and help.
Recent Agent Reports
Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions
Bible Studies & Book Reports
Interviewing & Shadowing
Letters to the Editor
Mentors
Volunteering & Attending Events
If you have any questions not addressed by this FAQ or just need a little encouragement, please contact SSI at 517-321-6233 or ssi@ssi-online.org. We want you to succeed!
General Questions
Should I send my reports by email or by regular
mail?
Yes! In other words, some reports can be sent via
email, while others require a verification or other form to be mailed to headquarters. These are
noted in your packets with 
.
If you do not have email, please mail all reports to SSI:
Student Statesmanship Institute
ATTN Ambassador League
PO Box 80108
Lansing MI 48908-0108
Remember to keep a copy of ALL reports in a safe place such as a folder or binder in case you need
them for verification purposes and for your mentor meetings.
What do I need to include in emailed reports?
Along with the report you email to SSI at
amleague@ssi-online.org, your email MUST include your
name, address, and phone number. This way our records are always up to date, and you'll get credit for
your hard work.
Will I receive updates from Headquarters?
Once every two weeks, or thereabouts, you will
receive an "Ambassador Alert" email from us. This email
lists every agent's full name and which reports have been verified by headquarters. It will also contain
answers to questions not already covered by this F.A.Q., volunteer opportunities, and lots of
encouragement. If you do not have email, you will receive your Ambassador Alerts by mail.
To which email address should I send my reports?
Please send all reports to
amleague@ssi-online.org. Any personal
correspondence for Mr. Muffett can be sent to his own email address, which is
james@ssi-online.org. To contact SSI about anything not related
to Ambassador League, please send your email to ssi@ssi-online.org.
If I know others who want to sign up for the
Ambassador League, how should they go about it?
First, only SSI Summer Program and SSI On-Site alumni
can sign up for the Ambassador League. Please note, however, that SSI On-Site alumni who did NOT attend
the Summer Program in a year before they started the Ambassador League MUST attend the Summer Program in
the summer that ends the Ambassador League season. While assignments may be completed throughout the year
prior to the Summer Program, they will only officially be counted once the alum has been through the
Summer Program.
Second, anyone meeting the above criteria wishing to join the Ambassador League may contact Headquarters
at 877-464-6388 or ssi@ssi-online.org to sign up and receive the
Ambassador League packet in the mail.
When it comes time for me to promote SSI, how do
I go about getting the video and/or brochures, etc.?
We are very happy to help you promote us.
Just contact our office at 877-464-6388, and tell us about
the nature of the event where you'll be promoting SSI, and we'll get you everything you'll need (minus
the TV/VCR!). Please try to contact us 1-2 weeks before the event, so we'll be sure to get your supplies
to you in time. Brochures for each summer are typically available during the previous December (example:
2007 brochures are available in December of 2006).
What is the Ambassador Resources document? Am I
supposed to read all those resources???
The Ambassador
Resources are just for your information and to aid you in your research. We may add some of these
books and/or other items to the curriculum in future years, so you may even get a head start on future
projects! They're just plain good reading, too.
What are the exact deadlines for finishing
assignments?
The Ambassador League officially begins on September 1
and runs through August 31 of the following year. Therefore, any volunteer work, campaign work, interviews,
etc. completed before September 1 of this year will not count. However, feel free to get a head start on
the reading and/or Bible studies! All reports must be RECEIVED at Headquarters no later than 5:00 p.m. on
August 31. If August 31 falls on a weekend (Saturday or Sunday), there will be an extension until 5:00 p.m.
on the next business day (Monday-Friday) following August 31.
How will I ever get all of this done in only a
year??
Pace yourself. When you look at the entire list, it
can seem overwhelming. I know it seems like a lot to do, but here's a plan for you: to reach
AGENT status, you need to complete enough assignments to earn an average
of only 2 points a month. If you're going for SPECIAL AGENT, you only
have to turn in reports to earn an average of 3 points per month. This is definitely do-able! Stick
with it! You can do it!
Bible Studies & Book Reports
Pick a subject and then go to the Bible, using a
concordance, or a Bible dictionary, and try to find as many verses on that subject that you can. Read
each verse with the view of answering the question, What does the Word of God have to say about this?
Then, write a report about your findings, including some or all of the scriptures, maybe commenting on
each verse as to how it relates to the topic. Make it at least one page and click the send button.
This Bible
search can help you find Bible verses that can be copied
into your document. Also, there are other Bible study tools on line that you can find by doing a search.
What is the proper length of the book reports,
the Bible studies and the interviews?
All reports should be at least one page, single
spaced, 12 pt. font. You may feel free to increase the length if you wish. The final Ambassador
League report, however, needs to be 2 or more pages.
Rather than buy the required books, can I just sign
them out from the library, or are there any other books I can read instead?
Ideally, you should make every attempt to develop your
own reading library. These books are great resources, and I often turn to them over and over again. If you
are unable to purchase them, however, you certainly may borrow them instead. CHECK NOW with your library
to be sure they have them on hand. They may find them via an inter-library loan, or you may need to be
resourceful in getting your hands on these wonderful books.
I think after you read them, you'll indeed try to find a way to own them. To keep the assignments equal
to all, you may choose only from the books listed on the Mission: Reading
page for your reports. Feel free to read more than the required reading for your own growth and enjoyment
- go for it!
Note: There are books out there with similar titles as the ones on our list; therefore, be sure
to match the book title with the author to ensure you read and report on the correct books.
I haven't been able to find the books at my local
bookstore. Are they available online?
Yes. We found all five books available at Amazon.com. You may also search other sites as you wish.
With all the hubbub in the news right
now about the definition of Marriage and homosexuality and all, can I combine the two Bible studies into
one?
The short answer is no. You have a good point about
the "relationship" of these two issues. If you want to get a comparison view they should be
done back to back, but not together. Each issue is different. If we forget to study the benefits
of marriage between a man and a woman and focus only on the negative aspect of homosexual 'marriage',
we will have lost the battle.
What if I don't agree with the books we're assigned
to read?
Just as you experienced when preparing for and giving
your speeches at SSI, we need to be aware of both sides of the issues. Reading a book with which you don't
necessarily agree will only serve to enlighten you on the opposing viewpoint, thereby strengthening your
own arguments.
Interviewing & Shadowing
Someone who has a degree of influence in others'
lives. The greater the influence, the more desirable the interview, so you can learn from their
perspective. Pastors and teachers are fine in that regard, but you might learn something new through
interviewing government, media, business and other types of leaders.
What is the proper length of the book reports,
the Bible studies and the interviews?
All reports should be at least one page, single
spaced, 12 pt. font. You may feel free to increase the length if you wish. The final Ambassador
League report, however, needs to be 2 or more pages.
I'd like to shadow my state representative, my
senator or a judge. How do I find out how to contact these people?
There are several ways to locate them. Find out who
your state legislators are by looking in the government section of your phone book under 'Michigan,
State of' and then under 'House of Representatives' or 'Senate'. There is usually a general number
listed, which you can call for information.
Also check out sites on the web such as the following:
AOL (U.S. & State Senators & Representatives
Michigan Courts Website (Judges by County)
Michigan Supreme Court Website
There are numerous other websites to check out as well, many of which are listed on the Ambassador Resources
document included in your packet.
Many of the Mission: Take
Action & Mission: Observe assignments require a full-page report on our activities. What are you looking
for in these reports?
When doing your 'Mission: Take
Action' and 'Mission: Observe' assignments, you should try to include as
much of the following as possible: 1) Your expectations as you began the assignment and how it differed
from what you'd expected; 2) How you planned and executed the assignment; 3) What you did to complete the
assignment - your own impression and quotes from others; 4) What you learned from the assignment; 5) The
manner in which you learned it. Feel free, of course, to include more.
Letters to the Editor
Do all of the letters to the
editor need to include scripture?
The short answer is no. But, I would like to
encourage everyone to include scripture as a way of influencing our society toward God whenever possible.
If you include scripture, and meet the Amy Foundation
criteria, you may enter your letters in their competition to win a cash prize of up to $10,000.
Can I submit letters to the editor to other
publications besides the local newspaper?
Yes. You may submit them to any publication. Remember,
letters do not have to be published to qualify, only submitted. If they are published, however, we want
you to send us a hard copy for our files. Whether or not your letter is published, someone still has to
read it - we rarely know which of the seeds we have sown will take root in someone's heart.
You may also submit your letters to the Amy Foundation
Writing Awards program. As long as your letters or articles meet their criteria, you may enter to
win a very large cash prize (up to $10,000!).
Any other guidelines you can offer me about
writing letters to the editor?
Word choice is key when writing letters to the editor.
It's very easy to offend people without meaning to, and it's important that even if someone is wrong,
we show them the truth in the most loving way. If the truth is not shared lovingly, people think ill
of the bearer of truth and forget about what he/she actually said; therefore, any truth that was shared
is forgotten, and any good that could have been accomplished is lost. Always pray beforehand that the
Lord will share His message through you in His way, with His words.
Mentors
What if I can't meet with my Mentor very often
because we live too far apart?
When choosing your Mentor, be sure to select someone
you will be able to meet with regularly, ideally, someone in your own community. You do not have to
choose someone you already know. You'll be like Jabez and expand your territory if you seek out and meet
with someone beyond your current sphere of acquaintances, friends and relatives.
What's the story on the Mentor Meetings Form?
We want to encourage you to meet with your mentor
six times throughout the year for accountability, encouragement and direction. Each time you meet,
have your mentor fill in a section of the form. After you have met with your mentor six times
throughout the year, send in the form via snail mail. This should be one of the last reports you
send to Headquarters, since you'll be doing this throughout the whole year. If you signed up for
Ambassador League in the middle of the year, you still get the benefit of meeting with your mentor
six times, but you won't have to wait so long between meetings!
While the form needs to be signed, sealed and delivered to Headquarters via the US Postal Service,
feel free to email Headquarters in the meantime just to share your experience with us. We'd love to
hear some of the great advice your mentor is sharing with you... we may even share it in the Ambassador
Alerts!
Can my mom or dad be my Mentor?
No. Part of the Mentor assignment is designed to help
you learn to seek counsel from adults other than those with whom you are related. This is an essential life skill. However, your
parents can and should play a major role in this effort.
Volunteering & Attending Events
Many of the Mission: Take
Action & Mission: Observe assignments require a full-page report on our activities. What are you looking
for in these reports?
When doing your 'Mission: Take
Action' and 'Mission: Observe' assignments, you should try to include as
much of the following as possible: 1) Your expectations as you began the assignment and how it differed
from what you'd expected; 2) How you planned and executed the assignment; 3) What you did to complete the
assignment - your own impression and quotes from others; 4) What you learned from the assignment; 5) The
manner in which you learned it. Feel free, of course, to include more.
Can I volunteer at Student Statesmanship
Institute for points?
Absolutely! We often have much to do and not enough
hands to do it, so the answer to your question is yes, Yes, YES! Volunteering for SSI will count
toward volunteering for a non-profit. You can either come to our office here in Lansing or volunteer
at an On-Site, at our annual banquet or at a number of other events throughout the state. Just call our
office at 877-464-6388 to let us know your availability. You'll also get requests for help in your
Ambassador Alerts via email or snail mail. Opportunities abound!
For the requirement where we have to volunteer 10
hours at a local organization that provides a service to the underprivileged... would volunteering at a
hospital or my church count?
Think more along the lines of the Salvation Army, a
soup kitchen, Volunteers of America, Habitat for Humanity, a women's shelter, Youth Ranch, etc.
When it says 'attend a local judicial trial', what
kind of trial qualifies?
Any hearing held in a real courthouse
with a real judge (or official referee of the court) counts. It can be over a misdemeanor or a civil
suit or any other kind of judicial hearing where the public is invited.
Any adult can verify as long as they are with you,
but please try to meet someone in the proceeding, explain SSI and why you are there, and get them to
sign if possible.
"Whatever you eat or drink or whatever you do, you must do all for the glory of God." - I Corinthians 10:31