How to Make a Platform
The following steps are our recommended process for making a BBYO election platform.
Keep in mind that this process is not set in stone; it’s constantly changing as people find better and more efficient ways to execute each step. We encourage you to use this information to find what works best for you. Good luck, and have fun!
Keep in mind that this process is not set in stone; it’s constantly changing as people find better and more efficient ways to execute each step. We encourage you to use this information to find what works best for you. Good luck, and have fun!
Step 1: Brainstorm
Write down all of the goals and ideas you have for this position onto a notebook or an online document. There is no such thing as a bad idea! At this point, anything goes. To help organize your thoughts, think about what has been successful in the past, and what you want to improve about that position. Try creating a focus or vision, and building ideas that support it.
Step 2: Refine
Take all of the ideas that were written down during the first step, and narrow them down. You can sort them into categories, create lists, or even just keep them all together. It all depends on how you want to display the information on your platform. If you haven’t already, type all of your ideas into a computer document.
Step 3: Remember
Write down and organize all of your past events attended, positions held, leadership experience, and awards received. Then, organize them into 3 lists: chapter, regional, and international. Feel free to add a few bullet points under each qualification that describe your accomplishments during your term.
Step 4: Edit
Look over your ideas, and make sure that they are worded exactly how you want them to sound. Then (if the election rules deem it legal), show your ideas to some family members and friends. If they can understand your ideas without you having to add extra explanation, then you’ve done your job well!
Step 5: Outline
a. Create a physical draft outline for your platform. To do this, we recommend starting with a notebook and a pencil. Don’t hesitate to try different orientations, folds (if allowed), and layouts. You may go through quite a few trees in that process - that’s ok. The goal of the outline is to lay out your ideas in a clean, impressive, and professional way. Don’t pack your platform with 8pt text from top to bottom - a little bit of white space is easier on the eyes of the reader.
b. Find the measurements for your platform. If you’re using columns, find the measurement that makes them all equal. Asymmetric platforms look sloppy.
c. Recreate your platform on a computer program. A few of our favorites are Pages, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe InDesign, and Microsoft Word. Some programs allow for more creativity, while others are more straight forward. It all depends on your preference.
Step 6: Input
Once your outline is completed, plug all of your content into the outline. Change the font sizes of your text so it all fits. You may want to plug your content into the platform as you’re putting the outline together - that system works just as well.
Step 7: Spirit
Add some visually appealing elements to your platform, such as Menorahs, Stars of David, and/or anything that goes with your theme (if you have one). Make sure that the images compliment the platform, and not the other way around.
Step 8: Proofread
Look over everything, and search for spelling errors and other little mistakes. Check it again. And again. And then, if allowed, have a few other people check it for you.
Write down all of the goals and ideas you have for this position onto a notebook or an online document. There is no such thing as a bad idea! At this point, anything goes. To help organize your thoughts, think about what has been successful in the past, and what you want to improve about that position. Try creating a focus or vision, and building ideas that support it.
Step 2: Refine
Take all of the ideas that were written down during the first step, and narrow them down. You can sort them into categories, create lists, or even just keep them all together. It all depends on how you want to display the information on your platform. If you haven’t already, type all of your ideas into a computer document.
Step 3: Remember
Write down and organize all of your past events attended, positions held, leadership experience, and awards received. Then, organize them into 3 lists: chapter, regional, and international. Feel free to add a few bullet points under each qualification that describe your accomplishments during your term.
Step 4: Edit
Look over your ideas, and make sure that they are worded exactly how you want them to sound. Then (if the election rules deem it legal), show your ideas to some family members and friends. If they can understand your ideas without you having to add extra explanation, then you’ve done your job well!
Step 5: Outline
a. Create a physical draft outline for your platform. To do this, we recommend starting with a notebook and a pencil. Don’t hesitate to try different orientations, folds (if allowed), and layouts. You may go through quite a few trees in that process - that’s ok. The goal of the outline is to lay out your ideas in a clean, impressive, and professional way. Don’t pack your platform with 8pt text from top to bottom - a little bit of white space is easier on the eyes of the reader.
b. Find the measurements for your platform. If you’re using columns, find the measurement that makes them all equal. Asymmetric platforms look sloppy.
c. Recreate your platform on a computer program. A few of our favorites are Pages, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe InDesign, and Microsoft Word. Some programs allow for more creativity, while others are more straight forward. It all depends on your preference.
Step 6: Input
Once your outline is completed, plug all of your content into the outline. Change the font sizes of your text so it all fits. You may want to plug your content into the platform as you’re putting the outline together - that system works just as well.
Step 7: Spirit
Add some visually appealing elements to your platform, such as Menorahs, Stars of David, and/or anything that goes with your theme (if you have one). Make sure that the images compliment the platform, and not the other way around.
Step 8: Proofread
Look over everything, and search for spelling errors and other little mistakes. Check it again. And again. And then, if allowed, have a few other people check it for you.
Again,
Good luck and have fun!
*If you have any questions about making a platform, feel free to contact us through the suggestions box! We will happily get back to you as soon as possible!*
Good luck and have fun!
*If you have any questions about making a platform, feel free to contact us through the suggestions box! We will happily get back to you as soon as possible!*