Frequently Asked Questions
Is National Creative Society only for schools in Georgia, and if not, why is Georgia the only state listed as being charted schools?
The National Creative Society is now entering its second decade of existence and was begun by our founders with a name that expressed its vision and scope to be "national." However, during our first decade we developed our models locally (such as the very exciting and popular Show Case for the Arts that continues annually and will possibly expand to three days next year). During this time, we drifted to only local fund-raising and programming for young artists in the Floyd County and Rome City School systems--awarding scholarships and funding youth arts programs during those years for more than $280,000. These programs provided ideas and immediate feedback, but, in fact, did not achieve a networking or joint-venturing at the national or even regional levels..
The program in its first decade was very loosely structured with no fees, forms or records of members kept in a national data base. The perception of NCS locally was that of a group that awarded scholarships and funds and promoted young artists in that way.rather than as a national honorary similar to the National Honor Society. We were totally volunteer run during the first eight of our ten years and are marvelously pleased with the children and lives we influenced. However, as for instance, the National Honor Society is over fifty years old and run under the aegis of the National Association of School Principals as its funding and canopy agency. This gives them funding and immediate access to schools. As you will note in the following paragraphs. We do also seek such partnerships or affiliative relationships to expand our outreach. Any ideas will be welcome.
At the recent beginning of our second decade of existence, our Board decided we needed to discontinue most local programming (except for our signature event of the Show Case now handled in a slightly different way) and reclaim the national outreach vision and original mission. So, basically, we rolled all (up to them very loose and informal) memberships back to zero and "began again"-- seeking to more formally enroll local chapters and advisors for them--working outward from Rome, Geogia. Our marketing outreach depends primarily on learning how to best use the internet site and by being present at affordable and sundry conferences and exhibits of a regional and national level--gathering opt-in emails and serving them well through our ezine, etc. We seek collaboration and ideas to be interchanged among similarly interested folks. Frankly, however, the growth of NCS in this new decade for us and the willingness of teachers and, advisors to sign-up has been exceptionally slow. We attribute this in part to the mandates of NCLB and its accountability demands upon schools and teachers--at least in the public system.. Our model is designed to be a chapter or afterschool or club model that does not demand any curriculum time, Also, we want to increase the incentives and ways to reach our middle school and younger kids (incentives such as contests and smaller awards, etc.) while increasing the scholarship help for senior high school students. We are still primarily a volunteer based and staffed effort.
Further, we will continue, through at least the end of 2008 to promote growth by offering free charter chapter and one year's trial membership. We are mission motivated and not profit motivated. We know, however, we will need to find the right formula for financial stability and we will need, eventually, to depend on renewed chapter memberships. I and others continue to seek ways to increase the benefits of membership in NCS. We will next be exploring an "affiliate member" relationship among Georgia's Community Arts Agencies. (Groups like the Atlanta Cyclorama, Community theaters, etc) who might offer internships, adult mentoring, reduced prices to their events, etc. All states have a "funnel" of federal monies and awards for artists that are channeled through similar states' arts agencies. (Thus, again, we are building our models statewide--first in GA--but only because of the practicality and logistics. Our intention is national) We do hope to spread "virally" by word of mouth (and internet) and join energies with others that are all around the country and beyond. While our outreach has been first in Georgia (and our results have been less than rapid growth until now) we have established a pattern and form and do provide an infrastructure that is transferable. We next want to achieve a Board of Directors, or at least advisory Board, of fairly recognizable folks who are at the national level. We expect, in the coming year, to build other affinity and affiliative relationships--with Public Broadcasting, state affiliates of Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development. A chief learning of our first year and a half of national marketing and outreach is that the parents seem to be the key. The best teachers and arts advisors are seeming overwhelmed with the demands placed upon them. Principals, at large, even in our area, are not yet apparently convinced that the minimal structure now required would be "worth it." We were pleased to adjudicate and determine our 2007-2008 scholarship award winners as of May 20th. Because no formal chapters exist outside Georgia and the only applicants were local, they too, will be Rome and Floyd County Georgia based. So, that's an honest, although lengthy response. We are firmly committed to our mission and that it be national for the sake of the gifts and talents invested in our children that need to be nourished. We expect to learn how to network and form affiliations better (for instance with home schoolers and the Lutheran School network and other credible youth organizations). We remain, personally, as parents and educators and artists, and audience members, inspired through the beauty that is reflected around us.
What is needed to establish a free charter membership?
To find the necessary information, details, and forms for "chartering a chapter" of the National Creative Society in your school, please go to the main website at www.nationalcreativesociety.org and look to the left menu under "Advisors category" and click on information for forming a chapter that you see there. Essentially, all that is needed to collaborate in our growing national outreach is to: A) Read the provided online constitution and find yourself and your school in general agreement, B) Get the Prinicipal or Organizational leader's agreement on a signed form that she or he is aware and in agreement (renewed annually if the school reups after the free first year) with the
general intent and mission of NCS and that he or she intends to support the local school chapter and appoint one or several advisors. C) Then the name and signature of that advisor(s) would be submitted on the same form as the Principal's signature. The appointing of one or several "official" chapter advisors (staff or parents who are energetic and interested and would work with the students.) is key. D) These signed papers (downladable from the website) and completed and returned to us are the necessary basics to establish a chartered chapter. (No money is paid by the school for the chartering fee of $65 and the current annual fee of $60.) The first year would be a "gift" year from NCS. We, of course, hope the school will reup for future years and participate with "best practices" shared online. The school paperwork can be returned to us as soon as it is completed. The student paperwork, below, would probably be sent during the Fall of the upcoming school year when you know your student base.
The only first- year fees sent to the national office would be a $5 per person fee (for nominated and accepted members of the Society--fifth grade and above). The advisor would see the nomination process through the suggested channels (forms for nomination are also online.) and then collect and send the five dollars per student to us at P.O. Box 1564 in Rome, GA. 30162-1564. In turn we would send each member student a membership pin and a certificate and would enter them in or online database as members of your honorary chapter. The students receive the first membership pin free with their five dollar fee. The fee, however, is to be an annual charge to maintain their records as long as they are renominated and accept. Each year they will receive a membership certificate for the five dollar fee. New pins are available if lost for a replacement fee. Tee-shirts or other logo shirts and other merchandise is available also from our merchandise selection online. Tee-shirts with appropriate sizes would be purchased from us and when the check is received from the advisor, they would be shipped to the school. (The tee-shirts and other logo merchandisce would be at the discretion of each chapter as to whether or not they wised to purchase same.)
