Notebook Questionnaire for Orchestra Officer Candidates

1.

What qualities do you possess that will benefit the Orchestra Program?
I am intelligent, hard working, and committed to benefiting the orchestra program.

2.

What qualities do you have that will make you a leader and someone the orchestra can trust?
I am persistent, understanding, and honest, qualities that will make me a leader and someone
the orchestra can trust.

3.

Explain what other major responsibilities you anticipate and how you will devote
adequate time assisting us and the program?
Although I am in many other activities (such as Quiz Bowl, Academic Decathlon, Scouting, etc.), I
will devote adequate time to orchestra through careful scheduling.

4.

How will you represent the Orchestra to the rest of the students at Cinco Ranch High School?
I will represent the Orchestra as a fun and fulfilling organization that allows students to enjoy
themselves and expand their minds at the same time.

5.

Tell me about your experiences leading your peers and how that makes you an effective leader
for that position.
I have had several leadership roles including being a Patrol Leader in my scout troop and
President of Cinco Ranch Quiz Bowl. In these roles I have learned how to work with others and
how to communicate effectively, giving me the skills I need to be an effective leader for a class
representative.

6.

Describe how you will make the incoming freshmen learn our traditions.
This will be accomplished primarily by communicating to and encouraging incoming freshmen to
attend Orchestra camp, where they will have ample opportunity to learn our traditions.

7.

How would you improve the weakest aspect of the orchestra program?
I would encourage increased participation in the Region and Solo and Ensemble contests to
improve the weakest aspect of the orchestra program.

8.

Describe how you will be an advocate for the orchestra program.

I will be an advocate for the orchestra program by defending it from attacks by outsiders and by
discouraging people from quitting.

9.

Are all Upperclassmen leaders of the orchestra program simply because they are
Upperclassmen?
Upperclassmen are leaders of orchestra program because they have more experience and ability
with the instruments, not simply because they are Upperclassmen.

10.

If someone made negative comments about anyone in the orchestra or about the Director, what
would you do or how would you handle it?
I would either offer evidence to rebut the comments or, if the comments have merit, I would
record the comments and talk to the Officers/Directors on how to address the issue

11.

Discuss social events that should be added or removed this year and convince us how they
should be implemented.
A social event that should be added is an excursion to Schlitterbahn or Splashtown on a
Saturday near the end of the year as a way of saying good-bye before the summer starts. This
could be organized as a day trip where people pay for the ticket and transportation in advance.

12.

Should there be a minimum percentage from the orchestra that is committed to attending a
social event before one is placed on the calendar?
No, because the Orchestra is large enough in that if only a relatively small percentage of people
can show up to a given event, it is still enough people that the event can run, and also people
might not be able to make commitments in advance due to the nature of changing schedules.

13.

In what ways would you suggest we work together to continue our feeling of family in the
orchestra?
I would suggest that we start a mentorship program where Upperclassmen can mentor
Lowerclassmen on schoolwork, Region, Solo and Ensemble, and auditions.

14.

Why do you want to be an officer?

I want to be an officer because I love orchestra and I want to help make it better for the future.

Interview
Date of Interview: 9-23-14
Name of Leader: Bharati Patil
Signature: _________________________________
Position: Owner of Orange Leaf

Amol Patil: In your opinion, what are the most important character traits of a good leader?
Bharati Patil: A good leader is first a good worker. He or she works his best everyday without fail. In
addition a leader must know how to communicate with others.
Amol Patil: What are some of the challenges you have faced as a business leader? How did you
overcome these?
Bharati Patil: A couple of challenges I have faced is how to keep employee on- task and productive and
having employees who only know a limited amount of English. To fix these problems I go to the store
regularly to check on the employees and by using Google Translate to translate messages into their
native languages.
Amol Patil: Which historical figures do you consider have been great leaders and why?
Bharati Patil: I consider Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela to be great leaders because they
achieved their aims of freedom without resorting to violence.
Amol Patil: How do you know when you have been successful as a leader?
Bharati Patil: I know when Ive been successful as a leader when the business is running smoothly
without hiccups.
Amol Patil: What are your methods for encouraging others to be good members of the team?
Bharati Patil: My methods are giving constructive criticism and instruction when an employee is doing
something wrong and by rewarding employees who do a good job.
Amol Patil: What are some common mistakes leaders make?
Bharati Patil: One common mistake is that sometimes leaders are initially too hard with people and
dont give them time to adjust to the demands of what theyre expected to do.

Evidence of Advocacy on Behalf of the Orchestra Program

I encouraged Angeline Fonseca, Katherine Cuya and Ray Blackwell to stay in Orchestra instead of
quitting.

Evidence of Initiative for the Benefit of the Orchestra Program

I have participated in Orchestra car washes and am currently serving as an Orchestra Buddy.