State Farm® Youth Board

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State Farm® is proud to establish the State Farm Youth Advisory Board charged with helping State Farm leadership design and implement a signature service-learning initiative.

Overview
State Farm Youth Advisory Board members will play an important leadership role in creating and overseeing a $5 million/year signature service-learning initiative which will address pressing issues of importance to State Farm and communities across America. The Youth Board will collectively help identify these issues; oversee competitive site selections and grant making process for catalyzing large-scale, student-driven service-learning projects that systemically address the issues; provide technical assistance and oversight to site grantees; and assist with the communications and outreach of the initiative. The Youth Board will interact with senior State Farm leaders in presenting and defending an analysis of their grant making decisions.

State Farm's Commitment
State Farm has long believed that for communities to thrive, young people must be empowered as leaders and decision-makers to address real issues and problems. State Farm also believes that through service-learning, young people can have structured opportunities to make change in their communities while at the same time become better prepared for college, the workforce, and active community involvement. State Farm’s investment in young people as leaders of this high-profile initiative reflects its sincere commitment to tapping the passion and expertise of our younger generation.

Selection Process
State Farm leadership and some of its key national service-learning and education partners will help select a diverse group of approximately 30 young people ages 17-20 (applicants must turn 17 by 6/30/06 and not turn 20 until after 6/30/06) to serve on this State Farm Youth Advisory Board. The Board members will represent each of twelve U.S. State Farm zones and one State Farm Canadian zone (Alberta, New Brunswick or Ontario provinces only) with three at-large members nominated by State Farm’s national service-learning partners.

Commitment of Youth Board Members
Youth Advisory Board members will serve for either a one or two-year term during which time they will be engaged in the leadership work described above. Those serving one-year terms will be designated as Youth Advisory Board members. The two-year terms will be for those students willing to commit for two years, the first of which will be served as an Associate Youth Advisory Board member charged with assisting the Youth Advisory Board member within their defined zone. During the second year, the Associate Youth Advisory Board members will succeed the outgoing Youth Advisory Board member from their zone.

The work will be carried out during four in person meetings at the State Farm corporate headquarters in Bloomington, Illinois or in other State Farm locations within the U.S. as well as through electronic communications between meetings. Youth Advisory Board members will be required to attend at least three of these four Board meetings. Associate Youth Advisory Board members will be required to attend two of the four meetings. The average monthly time commitment for Youth Advisory Board members and Associate Youth Advisory Board members will be approximately 15 hours/month. Youth Advisory Board meetings will take place on:

• July 24-25, 2006- Bloomington, IL
• November 17-18, 2006- Location TBD
• (tentative) March 27, 2007 at the National Service-Learning Conference- Albuquerque, NM
• June 29-30, 2007- Location TBD

Youth Advisory Board and Associate Advisory Board applicants should only apply if they are certain that they can meet the attendance and participation requirements.

Stipends for Youth Advisory Board Members
The Youth Board, in addition to a challenging and fun experience, will provide an opportunity for Board members to develop leadership skills and be considered for designated Youth Board scholarships. Similar to an academic program, following a successfully completed year of Board service, Youth Advisory Board members will receive, a $5,000 scholarship that may be used for post-secondary education at a four-year, two-year, or vocational training program which must be used within one year of completing board experience (or within one year of completion of high school) and will be made payable to the post-secondary institution. Associate Youth Advisory Board members will receive a $3,000 stipend/scholarship under the same terms and conditions as the Youth Advisory Board member for their first year of service. Upon successful completion of the first year of service as an Associate Youth Advisory Board member, those students will be positioned to take the Youth Advisory Board position for their zone for a second-year of service with a $5,000 stipend for the second year. All travel, lodging and meal expenses of Youth Advisory Board and Associate Youth Advisory Board members will be covered for all meetings initiated by State Farm or its partners relative to Youth Advisory Board activities. Board members will not be compensated for their time other than through the scholarship at the end of their Board experience.

State Farm® Youth Advisory Board Instructions

Step 1: Fill out all parts of the application.

Part I – Applicant Information included signed statement of personal commitment

Part II – Short Answers

Step 2: Send in 2 reference letters.

One letter must be from a peer and one letter from an adult (ex: teacher, school administrator, coach, mentor, employer or parent).

Step 3: Send in signed School Principal, Dean of Students or Employer Commitment Form.

This form is to ensure that participants will not be penalized or prevented from attending Youth Board meetings.

Step 4: Send in signed Parent/Guardian Letter of Support for applicants not yet 18 years of age.

Step 5: Send in Completed Application Package postmarked no later than April 28, 2006.

Mail to:
State Farm Youth Advisory Board
Attention: Kathy Payne - B4
State Farm
One State Farm Plaza
Bloomington, IL 61710-0001

For questions, please feel free to contact Kathy Payne by phone (309) 766-9274 or e-mail at kathy.h.payne.jda2@statefarm.com.

Mark Your Calendar

April 28 -- Application must be postmarked by this date.

Week of

May 22 Applicants who will be interviewed by phone will be notified for interview scheduling.

May 30-June 9 Telephone Interviews

June 19-23 Notification of Youth Advisory Board member and Associate members.

July 25-26 First Youth Advisory Board Meeting at State Farm Corporate Headquarters in Bloomington, Illinois.

Checklist

Your completed application should include:

• Completed applicant information, signed statement of personal commitment and short answers.
• Completed Reference Letters
• Completed school or employer, and parent or guardian form

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