TASC Event & State Reporting FAQs

Do you have other questions you think should be added to these FAQ’s?  Email Patty

Project Report Forms:

Q: May a specific project be recorded more than once?
A: YES and NO!  YES…If a project serves two or more objectives (ex. a DASH project also meets Pride and Patriotism needs); the project can be recorded in multiple report forms. As long as the member school can demonstrate how the project applies in a specific area, it can be used on multiple forms. HOWEVER, the same project may not be recorded in more than one category on the same report form, even if it applies in multiple categories.

Q: What is the definition of documentation?
A: Required documentation is outlined specifically in the actual report form. A suggested format is provided, and following this format is to be considered sufficient documentation for TASC recognition. For most projects, additional documentation, such as pictures or newspaper clippings, is not required. If additional documentation is required, this will be specified on the report form.

Q: If a project that can fall into a report is being done at our school but not by the student council, may we count it?
A: In order to receive credit for any project implemented on your campus, the student council must be involved in the planning and implementation of the project. This does not mean that your student council cannot work in conjunction with other groups on campus to plan and implement projects, even in a secondary role. However, in order to count the project, the student council must have an active role (not just a member of the student council participating). For example, just because your student council president is also a cheerleader does not necessarily mean your council can claim pep rallies as a student council project (unless the student council has an active role in part of the planning/implementation).

Q: How, when, and where are report forms submitted?
A: The date, location, and process for verifying school report forms is set by your TASC District. This does vary among TASC Districts, so be sure to check early and often with your TASC District President or Advisor to verify the due date and process. DO NOT SEND REPORT FORMS TO THE TASC STATE OFFICE.

Q: What is the process for being recognized with a TASC state-level award?
A: It is the duty of the TASC District President to organize the process for verifying report form completion and providing a report to the state office that lists recognized schools. This is a verification process rather than a judging process, as this is not a competition. The verification of projects is to ensure that projects are properly categorized and documented, forms are completed, and points are totaled accurately.

Q: May THE SAME report forms be reused from year to year?
A: NO!  Make sure you are using the report form noted with the current school year. The TASC Board of Directors reviews project report forms annually to ensure that areas are current and reflect the needs of schools and the expectations of the association.

Q: Whom can I contact to help me better understand the forms?
A: For assistance with TASC Project Report forms, contact your TASC District President School, District Coordinator, or Patty Wangler. (You can find the district leader's contact information on the TASC District map.)

High School Annual Conference FAQ’s

Q.  Why doesn’t my school get t-shirts, even if I register late?  We are paying the same price as other schools.
A.  TASC does not want to risk funds by ordering shirts which may not be used. We order a specific number of shirts based on registrations that arrive by the deadline.

Q.  Why is there not a choice of activities at annual conference (other than just Six Flags)?
A.  We get a good price on Six Flags tickets by guaranteeing that we will purchase at least 4,000 tickets. Dropping down to a lower number would raise the cost of individual tickets. Also, we cannot guarantee that Rangers tickets will be available.

Q.  Is there a way to reduce the cost of registration annual conference?
A. Approximately $50.00+ of the cost for the Annual Conference is the price of Six Flags admission plus a dinner at Six Flags. The remaining cost pays for Convention Center rental, meeting space rental at the conference hotel, speaker fees, production company costs, equipment rental, programs, t-shirts, name badges, plaques and awards, staff travel costs, and Advisor Hospitality. The association also makes a small profit to help fund activities during the year.

Q.  Why do you have strict dress codes such as no hats or no shorts at conferences? My students have often had a long trip in a car when we get to the annual conference. Why should they have to change for registration?
A. the TASC Board of Directors sets TASC dress codes. Anyone who feels the dress code should be changed may talk with a board member and make that suggestion. Leadership is influence, and the way one is dressed often makes an impression one way or the other on those around him or her. TASC uses the dress code as a teaching tool regarding the way one presents himself.

Running for HS State Office

Q.  What will my school’s responsibilities be if we are elected to state office?
A.  Please see the information regarding elections. Responsibilities are listed. This is a serious job with obligations throughout the year. One of the first things to determine is if the advisor is willing to commit significant time to TASC during the summer and throughout the year. Second, is there a student who is not only committed to TASC but who also will be able to represent other students ably on the TASC board and to serve as a spokesman on stage at conferences? The student representative and advisor will sit on the state board.

Applying to be an HS Conference Coordinator School

Q.  What responsibilities will I have if my school is chosen as a Conference Coordinator School?
A: Please see the information regarding elections, etc. Again, responsibilities continue throughout the year regarding conferences, etc. First, you are responsible for suggesting the conference theme and state project. While these are worked on by all who attend the Leadership Retreat for state officers and district presidents, they are first the responsibility of the coordinator school. The host school is responsible for decorations at the annual conference, for registration at the annual conference, for entertainment at the annual conference, for advisor hospitality at the annual conference, and for working with the production company and the TASC Director to develop the annual conference program. The coordinator school will incur significant costs regarding the conference and will have to fund raise to meet those needs. The student representative and advisor will also sit on the state board as voting delegates, and the student will serve as an emcee at the ML and HS Annual Conferences.

Running for the TASC Board of Directors

Q.  What is expected of me if I am elected to the Board of Directors?
Being on the Board is more than just attending meetings. First, a Board member is the voice of the membership and must be responsive to it. Second, there are often committees that require a significant investment of time before and after Board meetings. In addition, Board members may receive requests for input or for research from the TASC Director during the year. Board members take on responsibilities at conferences, are asked to lead initiatives, and assist with building membership.  There is no power vested in any one Board member. The power is in the Board, so this also requires teamwork and collaboration. The Board makes serious decisions regarding programming and budgets; before making a decision, there is often research required.

Summer Workshop FAQ’s

Q.  Why do you not allow students to leave early?
A. Students who leave before the workshop is over miss part of the instruction; they leave an incomplete team in their small group; and the person with whom they were rooming is left without a roommate. While emergencies happen, individuals often must make choices and prioritize. TASC expects students who choose workshops to make staying the entire time a commitment.

Q.  Why don’t you have more free time at the workshop? This is the summer break.
A.  First, TASC is making a committed effort to provide value for the time and money expended on the workshop. There is much to teach in a short amount of time. Second, no one ever has enough time to get everything done in student council. Students are put in a learning laboratory in which they have to complete a great deal in a short amount of time. This takes the development of teamwork, time management, and focus.

Q.  I get frustrated when I see students breaking the dress code. Why do we have rules if you don’t enforce them?
Workshop Directors feel the same frustration. Our dress codes are guidelines and teaching points. We hope that hometown council advisors will take the time first to share the dress code and second to correct their students when they break the dress code. A director must also prioritize what is most important. If he/she sees someone out of the dress code at a banquet, there is a decision to be made.  Is it more important to correct that student on the spot and possibly change the tenor of the evening or the event for everyone, or let it go with the plan of talking with the student individually later?

Q.  Why is this workshop so expensive? 
 The price of the workshop is based on the costs at the individual university. When you consider that students receive a t-shirt, a name badge, a pen, a planner, room and board, additional treats such as snacks, pizza, or ice cream, instruction, meeting space, and supplies, the price for TASC workshops is extremely reasonable. Remember that costs also include all the shipping, the travel costs and housing of staff, training for staff members, and costs from the state office. Compare the final expense to the expense of other camps your students may attend.

Q.  Why do I not get the exact sizes of t-shirts my students want at the workshop?
Summer workshop t-shirts are ordered in bulk (to get the best price possible) before workshops begin in the summer and are shipped to universities before workshop attendees arrive. When shirts are ordered, we do not know who is attending (and advisors often will change the names of students just prior to the workshop). We do the best we can to meet size requests within these limitations.