Getting Started

• Choose a faculty advisor who will act as a facilitator for all “Check In” activities.

• Elect officers: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Activities Director and Publicity Director.

• Start planning activities such as “Check In To A Winning Life Day” on your campus and enlist speakers to come to your school. Tie into other campus events that promote life skill development. Topics could include peer networking, conflict resolution and alcohol awareness education.

• Remember to be concerned about the safety and happiness of all students.

• Getting started may be difficult at times, but many issues cannot wait to be solved. Capitalize on the leadership that comes from students and faculty members. Ask your school administration if you may establish a “Check In” club. Then conduct your initial meeting and solicit as many students as you can to attend (e.g., class presidents, student council leaders, captains of all athletic teams, editors of school papers, and other interested students).

The Art of Brainstorming

In his experiences with students from hundreds of campuses across the country, Bob Anastas has found
“brainstorming” as the most effective first step to initiate a “Check In” chapter at their schools.

Brainstorming is the process of tackling a problem or initiating a project by identifying a “problem statement” and coming up with as many ideas as possible to address it. Discussion, evaluation or elaboration is not permitted. No idea is a bad idea.

Techniques for Brainstorming

Step 1: Identify “problem statement.” Always focus on the positive by beginning the statement with the
words, “In what ways might we ... .”

Step 2: Break the group up into discussion subgroups of not more than eight, but not less than four, to stimulate discussion. If more than one problem statement is identified, assign one to each subgroup.

Step 3: Identify a “scribe” to record the ideas generated during the brainstorming session and set a time limit to the process.

Step 4: Review the ideas. Prioritize and combine the ideas.

Step 5: Have one student serve as spokesperson for each subgroup to read those ideas that are considered “keepers” to the rest of the groups.

Step 6: If time permits, or at another time, reform the subgroups asking them to take one of their brainstorming ideas and formulate an action plan. For example, if the brainstorming idea is “selling bumper stickers,” then the group might begin by asking:

A. What message will we have?
B. Where will we purchase them?
C. What is our budget? From what source?
D. How will we distribute?
E. When will we do it?

Identify Projects

“Check In” projects can be described as school-based and community-based. School-based projects would include those that are conducted primarily on campus for the students only. Community-based projects would touch various aspects outside the campus which include outreach to various civic, social and government groups, news media and external activities in the community.

School-Based Projects

Students can work through their advisors to arrange for classroom sessions or addresses to some of the campus groups you want to include in “Check In.”

One of the best ways to get students involved is through role playing. First, identify an issue that students are frequently confronted with on campus. It might include alcohol abuse, drunk driving, illegal drugs, vandalism,
cutting classes and the pressures by peers to do things that are wrong just to be part of the group.

Next, ask the students to describe the ways they would avoid these situations or help a friend from getting involved in something they shouldn’t. Practice these skills by acting out scenarios from campus life. Have the students take turns, so they can see the issues from both perspectives.

Once students are proficient in these “refusal” skills, the “Check In” members can take their show on the road to other schools, especially high schools, junior high and elementary schools.

Other projects may include:

• Distribution of the Contract for a Winning Life

• Cultural Awareness Sessions/Days
• Fundraisers
• “Meet a New Friend” Day
• National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week, Know When to Say When Poster Competition*
• Designated Driver Program for Campus Activities*

* Recommended as college activities only.

Community-Based Projects

Reaching out to the community to make them aware of “Check In” is critical to gaining encouragement and
financial support. Many groups, such as Rotary Clubs, Kiwanis Clubs, Jaycees and businesses would welcome a presentation by a member of “Check In” to discuss those issues confronting students and how those groups can
help. Frequently, financial support is available from these groups in the form of donations, project grants, etc.
Participating in events such as fairs, festivals, community assistance and awareness programs and other civic
endeavors will demonstrate your group’s commitment to community betterment. Ask various community organizations to address your group, especially those who provide insight to cultural diversity, law enforcement, volunteer work., etc. Other projects may include:

• Alcohol awareness booths in malls, etc.*

• Safe ride programs for Rush and Homecoming, etc., events with a local cab company.*

• Volunteer work in community.

*Recommended as college activities only.

To have a speaker from “Check In” speak at your high school or college, write or call:

Bob Anastas
Check In To A Winning Life
P.O. Box 1418
York Beach, ME 03910
(207) 363-3080

bobanastas@aol.com

Promoting "Check In" on Campus

• Design posters showing a winning life and place them in schools and throughout the community.

• Conduct special promotions and distribute the Contract for a Winning Life to students before school events, such as assemblies.

• Conduct awareness days (for example, emphasis on special issues such as underage drinking and drunk driving, suicide prevention, violence, etc.).

• Conduct Parent Awareness programs (for example, self-esteem, parent as a coach, overcoming setbacks by teens, the teenage years).

• Conduct fund-raising events (for example, car wash, sell “Check In” bumper stickers, key chains, etc.).

• Write articles for school or local newspapers.

• Promote the winning life theme in your school at dances and all athletic events.

• Work with orientation advisor and conduct “Living Away at College” programs for freshmen (get experts from the colleges to explain to students what it is like living away from home).

Remember the primary mission of “Check In” is to live in a positive school environment. To do this you must promote and live a winning life.