• Character Council Meeting
• -May 18, 2012, 7:30 am to 8:30 am
• Character Council Luncheon Featuring James Lankford
• -May 22, 2012, 11:30 am to 1:00 pm
• Character Council Meeting
• -June 15, 2012, 7:30 am to 8:30 am
• Character Council Luncheon Featuring Jay Wilkinson
• -June 26, 2012, 11:30 am to 1:00 pm
• Character Council Meeting
• -July 20, 2012, 12:00 am to 1:00 am

The Champions of Character Program

Background: Since 2003, the Character Council of Central Oklahoma (CCCO) has worked to bring awareness to the importance of character and character education in all segments of society, including business, family, education and government. In addition to sponsoring the State Schools of Character Award Program in association with the national Character Education Partnership (CEP) and hosting monthly community luncheons, CCCO now seeks to encourage businesses to put character at the center of their corporate culture and reap the benefits that good character can bring to the business, the employees, their families and the community at large.

Purpose: The purpose of the “Champions of Character” program is to honor local businesses and non-profits that complete a yearlong strategic program developed by CCCO that emphasizes character education and helps the business or non-profit to put character as the center of their organization’s culture. Those businesses completing the program will be honored as a Central Oklahoma Champion of Character at an annual celebration luncheon and will then be able to utilize a Champion of Character seal on their corporate materials, website, etc.

Program Description: Champions of Character (COC) partner businesses and organizations are contracting to complete the following character-related requirements and upon completion, will be honored with the designation of “Central Oklahoma Champion of Character” by the Character Council of Central Oklahoma.

The following implementation requirements have been developed to be broad enough to allow each partner to adapt character education to fit their own organization’s needs but also complete enough to insure that the organization goes beyond the ordinary to truly experience the difference that employees of good character can create. Other important components that are a part of the project include an employee/family outreach program and demonstrated community service.

A completed and satisfactory annual review will enable all partners to continue to be recognized as Champions of Character.

The Requirements of Partner Organizations:

• Partner organizations must demonstrate their commitment to a comprehensive, intentional & proactive approach to character education within their organization. (Part of this character education program should include a character recognition program of employees.) The organization will send management and employees to a half-day workshop presented by CCCO. Further, CCCO will provide time during a designated monthly luncheon for the partner to publicly recognize their staff.
• Each organization must appoint a person or committee to give oversight & accountability for the implementation of the program. Also, the organization will appoint someone to serve on the Character Council.
• Organizations will demonstrate the character trait of responsibility through active participation in CCCO luncheons, training and events throughout the calendar year.
• Organizations will demonstrate the character trait of compassion through evidence of active support of local and/or national non-profit organizations both at the corporate level and the employee level.
• Organizations will demonstrate the character trait of creativity through planning and executing corporate events for both employees and their families, at least one of which incorporates a character education component.
• Organizations will demonstrate the character trait of alertness through corporate programs designed to care for the needs of employees and their families.

Cost of Program:

• Enrollment Fee - $1,000
• CCCO Luncheon Presence - Organizations with 15 and more employees will pay $300 per reservation for at least four (4) to attend monthly CCCO for one year; companies with less than 15 employees will pay $300 per reservation for at least two (2) to attend.
• Optional: To fulfill the employee family event requirement, the company could choose to pay $1000 towards an annual character event, for families, coordinated by CCCO.