Staff Positions

For information regarding staff at Oregon Girls State, please scroll down or click any of the following links to go directly to these categories:

Staff Positions Available

Staff Dress Code

What to Bring

County Staff positions available:

Junior Counselor: This is where first-year returning girls will be placed. The JC, as she is better known, is the link from the senior staff to the citizens. The JC is responsible for making door signs, staying with the citizens, waking them up, making sure they are where they are supposed to be when they are supposed to be there, and hearing their problems. JCs can be very good for managing girls and helping to manage cliques, as JCs and citizens are usually very close in age. JCs are there to take care of anything that needs to be done, and provide energy for the group.

Senior Counselor: Citizens returning for years after their JC year will be SCs. SCs work closely with JCs and provide the crucial link between senior staff and JCs and the citizens. Typical duties of an SC include preparing documents for girls, assisting with elections, helping girls with speeches, assisting with legislature or other workshops, and helping all elements of Girls State run smoothly.

County Senior Staff:

Government Leader: This staff member, the GL, is essentially responsible for the government aspect of the program. The GL is responsible, first and foremost, for ensuring that the girls in her county understand and take advantage of the program—elections, legislature, etc. Secondarily, the GL is responsible for the integrity of the government education of the entire body of citizens. Duties of the GL include leadership of the county elections, supervision of party conventions and general county organization, and explanations of any government/political issues. Most GLs also assist in other program areas, such as the building of party platforms, primary elections, or legislature. The GL is a staff member that has returned for several years of Girls State.

County Coordinator: The CC is a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, and is responsible for connecting the county and their processes to The Commission. Duties of County Coordinators include general support of all county staff, and facilitation of a smooth program.

Note: All county staff is responsible for each other, no one position is responsible for more than any other. The county staff is a cohesive unit assembled to facilitate Girls State.

General Staff:

The Commission: The Commission is comprised of the Program Director and two other members. Currently, the Commission is made up of Cherita Potter, Sondra Lino (director) and Sarah Mariani. These staff members do not belong to any particular county, and are ultimately responsible for all decisions made at Girls State. They are housed in “headquarters” and are available to help with any issues that may arise. Each member of The Commission is a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and is reappointed each year.

Government Coordinator: The Government Coordinator also does not belong to a county. She is responsible for oversight of all government-related aspects of the program. Under her supervision, the Government Leaders will run each program-wide event and the Legislative Coordinators will ensure that the House and Senate run smoothly. She will make sure that all new policies are well understood and that all counties and staff are properly equipped to carry on elections, helping the girls with speeches, etc.

Governor: The Governor is the highest elected official of Girls State, and is a returning citizen who was elected the previous year. Her main responsibility is to be the public face of the program to the citizens. She will begin and end every General Assembly, make announcements, visit the citizens in their activities, make speeches, introduce speakers, and visit each county. The Governor is largely responsible for herself during the week, and must be prepared to take on a great deal of initiative.

Cabinet: The Cabinet is made up of elected officials from the previous year who live in Headquarters and assist the Governor with her duties. Some of them, such as the Speaker of the House and President of the Senate, have specific jobs during the week, or activities over which they will preside. Others are available to the Commission and the Governor to assist where they are needed and ensure that the program runs smoothly.

Note: There are other staff positions, such as nurse, music director, and Girls State Store clerk; these positions are chosen by The Commission prior to each session.

Staff Dress Code

At all times, clothing must be appropriate and look clean and neat.

It is important to dress appropriately at all times. Dress up, not down, if you are not sure!

Business Attire:

County Staff should be dressed in the staff uniform during most parts of Girls State. The staff uniform consists of a red Girls State Staff shirt and solid-color, business-appropriate slacks or skirts. Khakis of any color are not allowed. Dress sandals and business-appropriate footwear are allowed, including Birkenstocks and fancy flip flops.

Formal Business:

Formal Business is required only when the staff member is attending business at the Capital, attending Inauguration or making a presentation to the general assembly.

Formal business attire includes full suits, button down shirts with slacks and a jacket, fancy skirts and business-appropriate dresses. Dress sandals and shoes are acceptable. Birkenstocks and flip flops are not allowed.

Casual:

Casual attire may be worn during county and activity time. Also, casual attire may be worn during staff training on Saturday.

This includes jeans, sweatshirts, flip flops and tennis shoes. Casual attire must cover midriff and cover more skin than not.

Flag Ceremony:

Each of the staff members will be required to participate in flag ceremony, one time during the week

This includes a blue or black skirt, white gloves, a white dress shirt and black or blue dress shoes.

Fancy Flip Flops: rubber “old navy” flip flops are not allowed, except during casual time. Fancy flip flops are sandals that are made of leather, suede or cloth and have a sturdy rubber sole.

Staff What to Bring

Sleeping bag/bedding
Pillow
Towels
Toiletries
          Shampoo/conditioner/hair products
          Toothbrush/toothpaste
          Hairbrush/Hair ties, bobby pins
          Hair dryer/straightener/curling iron
          Tampons
          Make-up
          Soap
          Band-aids/moleskin
Camera
Laundry bag
Clothes
          Flag Ceremony clothes
                    White gloves
          Physical activity time clothes
          Costumes
          Shoes
Fan
Alarm Clock
Hangers
Iron
For your county:
Snacks/treats
Games
Markers
Stickers
Door Sign materials
Decorations
Paper (from butcher block)
Water bottle

Oregon Girls State American Legion Auxillary Department PO BOX 1730 Wilsonville, OR 97070-1730 (503) 682-3162 info@oregongirlsstate.org