ADCs (Aides-de-camp)
SSI's Aides-de-camp are alumni who are too old to be students in the Summer or On-Site programs, but who still want to participate in SSI's programs. To qualify, they apply to SSI after having been out of high school for at least one full year. In past years, many ADC's participated with the Summer Program, some of whom participated all three weeks!
Most ADC's have been both Representatives and Senators in the Mock Legislature tracks of the Summer Program and some will
have been Attorneys in the Mock Trial track or business owners in the Mock Business track. ADC's are aides to the SSI staff,
and because they've been through the programs, ADC's are great resources for the students participating in the programs.
ADC's take turns role playing as Clerk, Speaker of the House in the House session, or President of the Mock Senate Session in the capitol building on Friday.
If you are an SSI alum and are interested in serving as an ADC for a full week (or more) during the Summer Program, fill out an application and send it in with payment to Student Statesmanship Institute, PO Box 80108, Lansing, MI 48908-0108. Contact Jeff Visscher with any questions.
Guidelines: The following is provided in order for you to know what is expected of our ADCs. Please feel free to call the SSI office for clarification or questions.
Please review the Policies document, Student Covenant and sample schedule. As you know, this is the standard of behavior for our students, and we need our Aides-de-camp (ADCs) to model that behavior. ADCs will not be asked or required to handle disciplinary actions, nor should you assume that responsibility. You will need to fill out the ADC application and send it to SSI. Please also pay attention to details in these documents that you will need to know.
Start Time: Student registration begins on Sunday evening at 6:00 PM. Chaperone and ADC orientation begins at 4 PM.
Please arrive no later than 3:45 PM. One of your first ADC duties will be to help with registration and dorm room assignments.
Training for registration will begin immediately following Chaperone & ADC orientation, and we'll be ready to receive
students by 6:00 PM.
Assignments: As you know, in the Legislature track, students are divided into smaller groups called "committees" for the week (approx. 15 students per committee). You will be assigned to a particular committee along with a chaperone. Alternatively, Trial students are divided by cases, and you may be assigned to one or more of these groups. Business and Media students may need assistance as well.
You should help the chaperone with questions regarding procedures, and help make sure that students are present and accounted for whenever a new session or activity is beginning and ending. When the students have activities off campus, you will need to pay special attention when the schedule includes students loading onto buses, helping to ensure no one is left behind.
Participation: ADCs will have certain responsibilities each day; however, there will be some free time as well. You will be asked to assist with sports/adventure activities, all the SSI components including Legislature, Trial, Business & Media, and other general assignments. You are welcome to attend all teaching sessions but not required. There may be advanced sessions for alumni, which you will be required to attend. You will also be required to attend all other activities, including evening sessions, unless you are requested to help with another assignment.
You are encouraged to assist students with their assignments; however, you should never "do the work" for them.
They are there to learn, not just "do the assignments." Because you "know the drill," you can be a great
help to first-year students. You can assist in helping them find their way around campus, explaining the mock legislature, or
providing some instruction about a particular assignment. Of course, the biggest way you can help is just being a friend and an
encouragement to the students.
You may also be asked to assist with the Committee meetings (perhaps serving as Committee Clerk), the Legislative Session (serving as Sergeant at Arms, Clerk, or maybe even Speaker), and the Judiciary (serving as a witness).
Devotions: We ask chaperones to rotate giving devotions each morning. If you are interested, you may be asked to give a devotion. Devotion outlines are prepared for you.
Room Assignments: Depending on space considerations, most likely ADCs will room with other ADCs and/or with chaperones. However, you may also be asked to room with students. NOTE: Depending on space, ADC's may be asked to stay off-campus at locations arranged by SSI.
End Time: We arrive back from the Capitol on Friday around 3:30 PM. From 3:30 - 4:00 PM there is a 'closing ceremony' for the students and parents. Afterward the students pack to go home. The parents have been instructed to pick up their students by 6:00 PM on Friday. Each chaperone will be responsible for post-camp room inspections, ADCs may be asked to assist with this responsibility.