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The executive board of MCR reviews its vision statement and mission on a yearly basis. (pdf file)
Vision Statement: MCR seeks to act as an efficient, unique, and comprehensive representative body for the secondary school students of Montgomery County, Maryland. The organization seeks to do so primarily by providing an effective forum for students to present their concerns to their peers, discuss those concerns in the hopes of bringing about positive change, and initiate action so that those concerns may also be resolved for the benefit of all involved. MCR will ensure each of these steps toward resolution by maintaining efficient and relevant General Assemblies, by facilitating communication between the members of its Executive Board and students across the county so that they may participate in discussion, and by encouraging and carrying out legislative and lobbying activities. The organization holds as its guiding principle that every student in Montgomery County has the right to speak and be heard, listen to learn the views of others, and act in order in initiate positive change. All of its members will, by virtue of their membership, be given the unique opportunity and responsibility to do so.
Promote Communication
The Executive Board will facilitate communication among both MCR staff members and SGA representatives. All of MCR's committees should work together to forward their interest, considering that rarely is an issue derived from one source or a matter for one person to acknowledge. The Secretary and President should therefore ensure that all staff has knowledge of the Executive Board meetings in order to inform all members of committee progress. SGA representatives should attend regularly in order to share and gather information in order to act more effectively. The same ideas apply to communication amongst staff members; they should be well-informed, and they should attend meetings and inform others. Staff members must also be held accountable to the Executive board for facilitating communication, discussion, and action as appropriate to the descriptions of their positions in the bylaws.
Plan the General Assembly
The Executive Board will formulate the agenda for the upcoming General Assembly so that all points of the agenda are purposeful and address the most pressing issues for the county's students. The Assembly is the single greatest opportunity for students to present their concerns to the greatest audience. SGA representatives present should therefore be prepared to offer issues about their school, as well as respect the need to have others' issues addressed. The Executive Board must be accountable for following up on issues from GA to GA, and must be aware of new issues as they arise. It is the responsibility of all Executive Board members to meeting this goal.
Representation
A significant goal is to achieve representation and attendance from every school in the county. Secondly, these representatives should be active participants in the Assembly itself. These representatives should have knowledge of ongoing MCR activities and issues in order to participate effectively. In return, all schools will be provided the opportunity to present their needs through knowledgeable representatives. When a representative who should attend does not, the school's students will not be represented.
Allow all students the opportunity to speak
Following from the above goals, if widespread attendance and participation is achieved at both the Executive Board meetings and General Assemblies, then every school will be represented and given the opportunity to speak to the county at large. All persons placed on the agenda should also be guaranteed time to present their concerns.
Speakers
The Executive Board should include in the General Assembly agenda time for relevant speakers to inform the General Assembly of arising issues, and of viewpoints concerning those issues. Speakers should not only be limited to students, and should include persons of varying opinions about important issues. MCR members will then be better able to intelligently discuss those issues and arrive at a well-informed conclusion.
Breakout groups
Attendees of the General Assembly should have the opportunity to discuss issues through breakout groups that contain students of different schools so that, again, more well-informed conclusions may be reached, and so that students countywide may be better informed of the specific concerns of their peers.
Ad hoc committees shall be formed at the Executive Board's discretion and appointed the task of addressing the issues presented and discussed at General Assemblies and other meetings. Committee heads should in turn report to the board of their progress, and communicate with other committee heads about issues they have in common and might take action about jointly in order to reach an effective solution. Committees should also follow up on any legislation referred to them for discussion, examination, or action, in a timely and effective manner.
Students should have the opportunity to present legislation at General Assemblies that would affect the organization's own structure, policy, and procedures as it fits the opinions of those students. Legislation should offer creative improvements and solutions and be addressed by a comprehensive representation at the General Assembly.
County students should be informed about the opportunity and procedure for presenting legislation and addresses county-wide and state issues and seeks to formulate MCR policy regarding those issues. Students who do not at least have a representative aware of these opportunities are not being fully represented by MCR.
MCR shall organize lobbying activity and presentation of testimony in order to achieve the goals set by the organization's legislation. All interested students will be encouraged to attend lobbying the Board of Education, County Council, and other government bodies as appropriate. They should be informed by appropriate staff members as to lobbying procedures, dates, times, and as to how they may help determine the course of the lobbying itself. The greater the participation, the greater the potential for action, and the greater the representation of the student body of Montgomery County. MCR should follow up on lobbying activity and work to achieve legislative and policy goals even if they are not achieved immediately, or within a single year.
The same as above, except in regards to the State Senate and House of Delegates, Governor, and other state government bodies as appropriate.
reaffirmed: 8/21/02; Amended 3/9/06; 12/15/10
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