Benefits of Membership

Opportunities

• Student leadership training opportunities
• Adviser support and professional development opportunities
• Service opportunities
• Civic engagement opportunities
• Statewide networking opportunities for both students and advisers
• Opportunities to excel through awards and competitions
• Personal growth opportunities
• Opportunities for fun and lifelong friendships!

Statewide Events

One-Day NMASC District Conferences occur each fall in various locations around New Mexico. The conferences include workshops on leadership skills and feature a nationally known speaker. Member schools may take as many delegates to these conferences as they wish, which provide an opportunity for more students to experience leadership training beyond their schools.

The NMASC Annual Spring Conference is for high school and middle school delegates. The conference is focused on learning and leadership development, however it's a tremendous opportunity for delegates to renew friendships with individuals they've met at other NMASC events while having fun. The annual Roll Call Contest is a chance for schools to showcase their creativity and spirit. Advisers and students present small-group workshops on a breadth of leadership topics. Participating schools exhibit their hard work and competition entries in the annual NMASC Achievement Showcase and have the opportunity to share ideas in "Buddy School" groups. Adviser round table sessions are popular for networking, picking up valuable tips, and sharing practical strategies with one another. Throughout the conference, candidates campaign for NMASC state office and are elected at the closing general session.

The NMASC Summer Leadership Workshop includes basic, intermediate and advanced levels for high school and one level for middle school students. Workshop participants are randomly assigned to councils where they participate in activities to help jumpstart the following school year. In doing so, they practice how to write a constitution, how to conduct an election, how to plan events, how to set goals, and how to work with their school's administration and faculty. They learn about group dynamics, leadership styles, team building and communication skills. The councils compete in the annual Rowdy-O, prepare a semi-formal banquet, and compete in a Brain Battle based on what they have learned during workshop. An awards program, where students are promoted and where they receive awards, is the culminating activity for the workshop.

National Leadership Training Opportunities

Each summer NMASC sends a state delegation to the National Association of Student Councils' (NASC) National Conference, held in a different city each year. There they network and interact with student leaders and advisers from every U.S. state and a number of foreign countries. It's a unique and balanced experience that celebrates and enriches student leadership while providing memories of a lifetime. Besides the national conference, NASC presents three national LEAD Conferences during the school year which offer experiential leadership skills development at an affordable price to students and advisers in the National Honor Society, the National Junior Honor Society and the National Association of Student Councils. The LEAD Conferences are held in different cities across the United States.

Service and Civic Engagement

NMASC service and civic engagement activities throughout the year include a statewide fundraising project, a statewide service project and numerous statewide general interest projects—such as seminars at NMASC member schools on the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse, "green" initiatives, social networking dangers, anti-texting and driving, and more. Also, schools may receive training in the national R.S.V.P. (Raising Student Voice in Participation) program.

Leadership Lessons for School and Life

"You have no idea the impact that NMASC events have on helping you build a foundation for good leadership."

- Rio Rancho Associated Students

"I thought I was a born leader. After attending some NMASC events, I found that the breadth of experiences helped me to learn 'how' to lead."

- Student Council Member, La Cueva HS

"NMASC has given me the understanding of true leadership and service, which has allowed me to go from a small town in northern New Mexico to the highest ranks of politics and diplomacy. Every endeavor I embark upon will always be tied to NMASC."

- Former NMASC State President, Springer HS

"Allowing students to serve with adults in policy-making shows that NMASC 'walks its talk' when it says that students can make sound decisions if they are given time to research and enough time to debate an issue. This experience has helped me to become a mature leader."

- Former NMASC State President, Deming HS

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