Candidate

Onsite Only Competition 

Participating as an officer candidate allows Betas to actively meet convention attendees, seek support for office through campaign speeches and skits, as well as enhance personal leadership skills. Elected state officers are eligible to run for National Officer positions. The following year, state officers will facilitate during the state convention sessions.

The stage is not accessible to any school group except during campaign skit. Therefore, it is not available for rehearsals, walkthroughs, blocking for skit/speech or accessible for photos before or after sessions. 

Elementary Betas are eligible to compete in Elementary competitions only.

Junior Betas are eligible to compete in Junior competitions only.

Senior Betas are eligible to compete in Senior competitions only.

General Rules

1. ELIGIBILITY: A candidate for state office must be in good standing, officially enrolled as a Beta member and registered for the convention by the deadline date. Each club may have only one candidate for office. The club sponsors must enter the candidate online at www.betaclub.org/registration. By submitting the State Officer Nomination, candidates agree to abide by these rules and regulations. The following rules and regulations should be read carefully.
2. A state officer, who is currently serving, may not run for a state office.
3. Candidates may compete in Academic testing with the exception of Musicology, and Quiz Bowl. They may also compete in Visual Arts. However, they cannot compete in any other competitions.
4. Candidates are responsible for campaigning, campaign speech and the question-and-answer segment.
5. If elected and later dropped from the local club, moves to a school without a charter Beta Club, or if the officer is not enrolled actively in school during the entire term, the officer forfeits the right to serve as a state officer. The runner-up will automatically take office. It is imperative for the elected officer to notify the National Office immediately if he/she is unable to serve.
6. Completing the registration is a pledge stating that he/she will attend the candidate meeting and all sessions of the convention, including the Installation Ceremony, as well as fulfill all of the duties of the office the following year. Failure to fulfill this pledge will result in the candidate forfeiting his/her opportunity to run and/or serve for state office.
7. Sponsors are responsible to check appropriateness on all levels of campaigning.
8. Students elected as  state officers are not eligible to interview for a Leadership Representative position at a Regional Leadership Summit, the year in which they are elected and the year they are serving.
9. Any violations of the following guidelines may result in the candidate losing a percentage of votes based upon the rule infraction.

Campaign Guidelines

1. No handouts, balloons, food products, stickers, promotional items (buttons, trading pins, QR codes, social media account info, etc.) speakers, noise makers, or weapons are allowed.
2. No chanting at any time except during the one minute skit performance.
3. Only representatives from the candidate’s club may wear campaign T-shirts at any time during the convention. Campaign shirts MAY NOT include a QR code. 
4. Only members of the candidate’s club may participate in the campaign skit. Adults may assist with props/backdrops but cannot reamin onstage during the skit performance.
5. Costumes may be worn during the campaign session ONLY.
6. Signs and placards may ONLY be used during the skit.
7. The candidate’s slogan, movie references, or the chosen song, as performed, must not refer to alcohol, drugs, tobacco, weapons, sex, bathroom humor, violence, race or make use of inappropriate language.

Dress Code Guidelines

National Beta Club Candidate Dress Code Guidelines 

To maintain the dignity, formality, and professionalism expected of National Beta Club Candidates, all candidates are required to adhere to the following dress code during the duration of the convention. 

1. Standard Attire Requirements 

All candidates must wear: 

• Suit Style: Traditional two-piece suit consisting of: 

1. Blazer or Suit Jacket 
2. Matching Full/Ankle-Length Pants 

• Suit Color: Solid black, gray, or navy blue 
• Dress Shirt/Blouse 
• Dress Shoes 
• Accessories (if worn): Should be minimal and not distracting. Ties, scarves, or simple jewelry may be worn, but must be tasteful, and aligned with professional standards. No promotional items related to campaign theme/slogan.

2. Religious Exemption Accommodations 

Candidates who are approved and submitted by their school for religious dress exemptions may wear the following alternatives: 

• Dresses or Skirts: 

1. Must be minimum of ankle-length  
2. Must be in solid black, gray, or navy blue 
3. Should be accompanied by a solid black, gray, or navy-blue blazer or suit jacket  

• Head Coverings: 

1. Permitted if required by religious practice 
2. Must be in solid, neutral tones that complement the suit or dress (e.g., black, gray, navy) 

Note: Exemptions must be approved by the school and submitted to the Director of Convention at least one week prior to the convention. 

3. Prohibited Attire 

The following items are not allowed under any circumstances: 

• Sneakers, athletic shoes, sandals, flip-flops 
• Casual tops (T-shirts, polos, low-cut, tank tops) 
• Denim of any color 
• Skirts or Dresses (except for religious exemption) 
• Pants above the ankle (except for medical accommodation) 
• Clothing with logos, graphics, or excessive embellishments 
• Distracting or loud accessories 

4. Compliance & Enforcement 

Candidates found to be in violation of the dress code may: 

• Be asked to change before continuing participation
• Receive a vote deduction 
• Not be permitted on stage 

Candidate Speech

1. The candidate will deliver a speech no longer than two minutes.

2. The speech should have substance and not be a list of one’s qualifications nor contain references to the following: alcohol, drugs, tobacco, weapons, sex, bathroom humor, violence, race, or make use of inappropriate language.

3. National Beta recognizes and respects that participating students may have religious, political, and other beliefs that they wish to reference in their recognitions and speeches at conferences. National Beta does not censor students from making such expressions; However, students are expected to recognize that not all students participating in the Club’s activities are of the same faith or hold the same views. National Beta is a diverse organization. Our members have had different life experiences, and they also have firmly held beliefs that are not the same as other members of our organization. Therefore, each student must be respectful of the opinions and feelings of others in their speeches and communications. Students should be mindful of how their words will be received by others and should avoid any comments that could be disrespectful of another person’s beliefs or views.

4. Delivery of speech must not be suggestive in any way (no sexual connotations).

5. No singing, rapping, costuming, removal of clothing, dramatization, props, slides, videos, or inappropriate gestures during the speech.     

Candidate Skit 

Time Limit: 1 Minute  

1 minute for set up and 1 minute for breakdown                                                                                                                                                                 

1. The candidate will not take part in the promotional skit to include the use of voice/audio recording.

2. The dress for participants in the skit must be appropriate, no strapless, or low cut tops, no midriffs showing, and inappropriate removal of clothing will result in a loss of votes.

3. The candidate’s skit, movie references, or the chosen song, as performed, must not refer to alcohol, drugs, tobacco, weapons, sex, bathroom humor, violence, race, or make use of inappropriate language.

4. No inappropriate dance moves, gestures, lanugauage or music.

5. Skit participants must remain on the stage during the skit.

6. A link to the upload form will be emailed when the testing and submission window opens or can be accessed by clicking Talent Upload on the State Convention Registration page. The following file types will be allowed: mp3, mp4, or wav. If your performance contains multiple songs and/or sound effects, they must be combined into one track in order to be submitted. BE ADVISED: We strongly encourage you to bring a BACKUP copy of your music on a flash drive to convention. 

7. Backdrops must not include QR codes.

8. SAFETY - Props and backdrops can be no taller than 12 feet in height including bases.

9. SAFETY -  Balloons, hay, fog machines, live animals (Excluding service animals) or fire/open flame are prohibited by National Beta and the facility. 

10. SAFETY - Throwing items from the stage is prohibited.
    

11. SAFETY - Gymnastic/cheerleading stunts are not allowed with the exception of cartwheels, walk overs, back bends and round-offs performed singularly. No tumbling passes. 

12. SAFETY - Lifts may be used as long as the feet of the participant being lifted do not go higher than the knees of the person lifting. Lifts may be performed singularly.

13. SAFETY - No use or portrayal of ANY weapons to include the following: bo staffs, nunchaku, sabers, swords,( as used in martial arts) flag poles (as used in color guard) with the exception of  PVC pipe less 36" may be used with flags. 

14. SAFETY - Metal or wood may not be used in the construction of the backdrops. However, metal or wooden bases, no taller than 36 inches, can be used to transport and/or support backdrops. Props (table, chairs, bed frame/headboard, etc.) made of metal or wood may be used as intended. Photo/Video Studio Background Stands are NOT permitted. 

15. SAFETY - Only portable choral risers may be used to elevate participants. No raised or elevated platforms. 

16. SAFETY -  Skateboards, roller skates, rollerblades or hoverboards are prohibited.
    

Question & Answer Segment                                     Time limit: 30 seconds

1. All candidates will draw from a pool of questions.2Timing starts after the question has been read.

2. No singing, rapping, costuming, removal of clothing, dramatization, props, slides, videos, or inappropriate gestures during Q&A.

Voting Procedures

Electronic voting will be used at convention. Pre-registered members will vote using the   membership number that is printed on the convention badge. Members that register onsite who do not have a printed badge must come to a designated area during voting time. Voting will be by candidate name.

If there are infractions of the above stated candidate rules, a deduction of votes will occur as follows:

• 75% of votes per rule infraction: Skit, speech, and slogan must not refer to alcohol, drugs, sex, race, or make use of inappropriate language. Obscene dress or removal of clothing while on stage will also result in loss of votes.

• 25% of votes per rule infraction: All other infractions.

A committee made up of the State Council will rule on any loss of votes of a candidate.

How to Enter

1. Visit www.betaclub.org/events/conventions and follow directions.

2. Register students and then select competitions to enter.

3. The registration must be completed and submitted by the deadline date.

Judging Criteria

State Officer Responsibilities

Please use this link to view the responsibilities for the following year State Officer Responsibilities