Hello everyone!
Happy 2018, Area 2 people! If we haven't had the pleasure of meeting, I am your WACA Area 2 representative and I represent King County on the Washington Activity Coordinators Association board. If you work with ASB/student leadership in any capacity at your school, this message is for you! If not, please let me know so I can take you off the list and replace you with the person who does.
 
We held our Winter Board meeting last weekend at the Convention Center in Kennewick, and we’re gearing up for another great conference in March. If you haven’t yet registered for the conference, please do so!  We have a great line-up of speakers and events. Of course, all that you need to know is outlined on our website:  http://www.wacaonline.org/


Registration for the conference:
·There is a spot on the registration form to make special meal requests.  Be sure to fill out this section, and the banquet folks will try to help out as much as possible.
·If you have registered for a hotel room, but haven’t yet registered for the conference, please do that soon.  After February 1st, we need to have conference registrations matched with each room registration.  If not, they will start contacting people and releasing those rooms to other delegates who need them.  (This happened last year too.)
·If your room was reserved by a bookkeeper or secretary or someone else who was reserving several rooms for a group, be sure that there is more than the just the bookkeeper’s name on each room.  For example, at LHS, Janine will reserve rooms for Michelle, Erin and Vanessa.  If “Janine” is the only name on the registration, that would be bad (see above note).  If she adds each of our names, that will verify that there are three people attending the conference, each with a conference registration and hotel registration.  Make sense?  Let me know if you need clarification.  ;-)
 
Advisor Certification:
On the website, notice that there is an advisor certification menu.  Please consider applying.  We had 37 advisors apply last year, and have added more than a dozen this year so far.  You can apply anytime, but if you want your certification recognized at the conference, you’ll need to complete the application by February 1st.  The certification sure is nice when working with TPEP, National Board certification, or just being recognized for the amazing work that you do!
 
Partners:
Our partner coordinator Jen Durham is always looking for conference partners.  If you have a local vendor that you really like, or a product that you use frequently, let me know and I’ll pass the info on to Jen.  She will contact that person/s, and see if they’re interested in being one of our Partners.
 
Presenting:
The conference doesn’t happen without the sharing of great ideas from our amazing presenters. I encourage you to step into that roll this year!  Maybe you want to get your feet wet with a Meet the Pros session (a short/10-minute presentation that you repeat several times as delegates “rotate” to you).  Maybe the time is right for you to provide a longer presentation that could occupy a 50 minute session.  Either option is an awesome opportunity for you to share your voice and expertise with others.  Not only is sharing your voice helpful to others, but I believe it can be empowering for you, as well.  We all take activities we teach and put our own spin on them.  We don’t think much of it, but those tweaks are what make them so valuable, and so important to share with others.  Any topic is welcome and I know you can do it. 
 
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. 
Good luck wrapping up 1st semester and embarking on the last half of the year!
 
Michelle Munson
Liberty High School
ASB Activity Coordinator
​

Happy November WACA Area 2!
I hope this fall season finds you well.  With Homecoming and early spirit weeks behind us, it’s time to switch thoughts to Veteran’s Day and a season of gratitude. One of my goals this year is to include a lesson or an idea for you.  One lesson I do this time of year is “Thank you Thursday”.  The gift of a written note is a forgotten art for many leaders. As a class, we discuss how it feels to receive a sincere written note from someone, what information should be included in the note, and why people should express gratitude towards others. Each Thursday for the remainder of the school year, we spend 10-15 minutes writing notes to an adult, thanking them for their efforts.  An added layer is challenging them to write to an adult in their community, school, or home life that may not expect the note.
If you have a lesson you think our area folks could use, please don’t hesitate to send it my way.
Here's an update on all things WACA.
 #1 Registration is open for our WACA Conference, March 14-16 at the Tri-Cities Convention Center in Kennewick at wacaonline.org.  Get your paperwork in, reserve those substitutes and put it on the calendar so you can join us. Here are some conference details:

• The Pre-Conference session topics and the Speakers Showcase speakers are listed on the website.  The outline for the entire conference is online as well.
• Hotel information is available too.  Space is starting to fill so book now!
• When you register, look carefully at the section for menu options/concerns.  We’re trying to serve our delegates as best we can, and trying to be sensitive to dietary needs.

#2 Be a Presenter at WACA.  We need you to help make our conference great.  Share your expertise and creativity, by presenting a session at the conference.  If you have any questions about presenting, please don’t hesitate to ask so I can support you in this adventure!
#3  WACA Hall of Fame:  If you would like to nominate someone for the WACA Hall of Fame, the deadline is December 1, 2017.  Check the menu bar on the left hand side of our homepage (wacaonline.org) to access the Hall of Fame info and application
#4  Don’t forget that you can apply for Washington State Advisor Certification.  We started the program earlier this year, and have thirty or so certified advisors at this time.  If you’re interested, please refer to the application on line at wacaonline.org (it’s the third menu tab on the left side of the home page).  Application deadline is February 1, 2018.  If you have questions, feel free to shoot me an email.
Happy November, friends!
 
 
Michelle Munson
Liberty High School
ASB Activity Coordinato

Hello Everybody!

Happy Fall and another exciting season of ASB activities!

First things first… let me remind you who I am.  I am Michelle Munson, your WACA Area #2 Representative and Liberty High School Leadership teacher.  Am I talking to the right person?  ;-)  If so, great.  If you’re not the activities person at your school, or if someone else should be added to my list, would you please reply to this email right away?  Then I can update my contact list.  Thanks! 

The WACA board held our fall meeting in Wenatchee in September to check out their convention center and hotels.  We’re always keeping our eyes open for possible venues for our conference.  There were several items from the board meeting that I thought I should pass on to you:
#1.  Don’t forget that you can apply for Washington State Advisor Certification.  We started the program earlier this year, and have thirty or so certified advisors at this time.  If you’re interested, please refer to the application on line at wacaonline.org (it’s the third menu tab on the left side of the home page).  Application deadline is February 1, 2018.  If you have questions, feel free to shoot me an email.
#2.  Speaking of conferences, the NCSA (National Conference on Student Activities) is being held in Spokane this year!  It’s going to be a great conference.  The conference convenes on December 1-3, 2017, and there is a link to the conference site at the bottom of our homepage (wacaonline.org).  Check it out! 
#3.  WACA Hall of Fame:  If you would like to nominate someone for the WACA Hall of Fame, the deadline is December 1, 2017.  Again, check the menu bar on the left hand side of our homepage to access the Hall of Fame info and application. 
#4.  And finally, it’s not too early to think about the WACA Conference, March 14-16, 2018, at the Tri-Cities Convention Center in Kennewick.  And yep, you guessed it!  There’s information about the conference on our website.  Things that I’d like to highlight:
·       
The Pre-Conference session topics and the Speakers Showcase speakers are listed on the website, if you’d like a little advance peak at some highlights of the first day of the conference.  The rough outline for the entire conference is online as well.
·        Registration will open during the first week of October, online via the website.
·        There will be conference hotel information available in early October as well.
·        When you register, look carefully at the section for menu options/concerns.  We’re trying to serve our delegates as best we can, and trying to be sensitive to dietary needs.
·       
It’s not too early to think about sharing your expertise and creativity, by presenting a session at the conference.  And note that we are always looking for good secretary/bookkeeper sessions.  And last year, on our post-conference survey, our delegates mentioned a need for more sessions/discussion about ASB Law.  Think about presenting (on any item of interest)… and check out the session presenter application on the website… and email me with ideas or questions. 

Okay, this email is long enough.  So that is enough info for now.  Please do contact me with concerns or questions.  And, please do contact me to help me update this mailing list for our area.

Have a great week!

​Michelle Munson

Hello Area 2 friends!

High School folks, this note is for you:

I wanted to send out a quick reminder that the AWSL Fall conference is coming up SOON! Early-bird registrations must be postmarked no later than Tuesday, September 19th. So get yours in the mail today!

Remember, this year’s conference will be held in Yakima at Eisenhower High School. 

Have a great week!

Happy Friday WACA Area 2.
 
I can't believe it has already been a week since our great conference in Vancouver.  I am still going through my paperwork and notes trying to make sure I remember all the great ideas I heard. I hope you've found a chance to weave in an idea or two!
 
Please make sure to complete the survey at http://www.wacaonline.org/
Your feedback will help make our conference even better.  Thanks for taking the time to complete the survey.
 
Mark your calendar for next year's conference: March 14, 15, 16 at the Three Rivers Convention Center in Kennewick, WA.  Tune in to Leadership!

That is it for now.  Please contact me if you want to be removed from this email list.  
Have a GREAT spring break!
 
Michelle

​Happy Friday WACA Area Two Folks - 
 
🚣🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟
March is here and that means it’s time to GO FISHING FOR SOME GOOD IDEAS!
 
The conference is so soon and, as promised, here are the details you need to know!
 
If you are staying at the Hilton Hotel all rooms have complimentary basic internet. If you want to stay an extra night (Friday night, after the conference ends), you can reserve the extra night at the same conference rate. This is subject to availability. 
 
The hotel offers parking at $6 per night. There are only 100 spots in the parking garage, so it is first come, first served. Please consider carpooling from your school or area. There is additional secure parking across the street for $8 per day; however, the lot is locked up at 10 pm nightly. Another possibility is skip driving all together and take the train.
 
There will be coffee, tea and water available at the conference and a soda machine. Several people have already let me know about their specific food needs. If you have food restrictions please let me know in an email. 
 
If you are a presenter, THANK YOU for your time and talent. Please be aware you cannot hang anything on the walls. All presentation rooms will have a ledge that materials can be set on, perhaps on a tri-fold board. 
 
Make sure you bring contact information for vendors and a little extra cash for our WACA Store - there will be some resources and hard to find items that you will want to take home with you. 
 
Friday of the conference is school colors day.  Show your school pride on Friday.
 
If you would like to bring items for our area give-away baskets, this is how it works. For every item you bring in, you get a ticket for a random drawing to take the whole basket during our last meeting on Friday. With such a large number of Area 2 delegates, I imagine there were will be multiple baskets so we have plenty of opportunities for you to win!
 
Our give away baskets are:
CHOCOLATE
COFFEE
ADULT BEVERAGES
SCHOOL SUPPLIES
MOVIES THAT TEACH
 
If you have any questions or comments please email me! 
 
I'm excited to see you in less than two weeks!

Good morning!

How about that snow!? Wow! Some of us were hit harder than others, but never fear, WACA is almost here (not sure how snow and WACA go together, but thinking creatively after two super-fun snow days is a challenge….)
 
A few items for WACA.  
 
PRESENTERS NEEDED
Please consider presenting!  I know you are doing some incredible things at your school.   Please share with the rest of us.  Your presentations are what make this conference especially great.  Favorite lessons or activities.  Successful projects in your school.  Cool assembly ideas.  You can sign up for a short Meet the Pros session (10 min) or a longer Breakout Session (50 min).   You pick!  
Here is the link to the presentation form.
http://www.wacaonline.org/presenters.html
 
CONFERENCE REGISTRATION
The registration for the conference is going great! It looks like we have about 70 of us attending the conference from Area 2.  That’s awesome!  If you haven’t registered, you still can.  I was asked to mention that there might be a slight delay in hotel reservations while the Hilton straightens out their reservations roster this weekend.  But you should be able to register both for the conference and the hotel on Monday, using the wacaonline.org site.  And don’t forget about the pre-con sessions..  Here is the link to the registration form.
http://www.wacaonline.org/conference-2017.html
 
Some “nuts and bolts” about the hotel:
·         All rooms have complimentary basic internet.
·         If you want to stay an extra night (Friday night, after the conference ends), you can reserve the extra night at the same conference rate.  This is subject to availability.  ;-)
·         The hotel offers parking, at $6 per night.  But… there are only 100 spots in the parking garage, so it’s “first come, first served”.  And please consider carpooling to make the resources stretch further.
·         There is also a parking garage across the street ($8/day).  It is a secure lot; that’s good.  But because it is secured, it is locked at 10pm each night.
·          
In the coming weeks, expect another email with more detailed information regarding in the conference – conference nuts and bolts, Area 2 give-away buckets, and other tips for enjoying the week.
 
I hope you’re looking forward to the conference!  It is such a great time for us to gather with colleagues in our field and learn new ideas.
 
If you have ANY questions, please don’t hesitate to ask.  I’m happy to help!
 
Michelle Munson
Liberty High School
ASB Activity Coordinator

Happy Friday, Area 2!
We are just about two months until the WACA conference! This past weekend I took the train to Vancouver to meet with the board. I’m telling ya, if you can take the train to our conference, DO IT! I arrived in less than three hours, relaxed and ready to go! I hope you’ll be able to join me for a few days to focus on leadership and recharge your batteries, inspired by keynote speakers and awesome leader.  How can you NOT want to go!?
​
HOTEL RESERVATIONS:
Some of you have planned ahead and have already reserved a room in our block at the Vancouver Hilton! While this is fantastic, we also need you to register for the conference. Our block is filling up quickly. If you have reserved a room but have NOT registered for the conference by February 1st, we will have to cancel your hotel reservation to make room for others who have already registered for the conference. If you have registered for the conference AND reserved a hotel room, you are all set and thank you!
If you are staying at the Vancouver Hilton, we have 100 reserved parking spots, but there is a cost of $6 a night (this is a reduced conference rate). I encourage you to carpool with others from your area OR take the train! There is also parking near the Hilton (across the street) for $8.00 per day.  Remember, we also have rooms available at the Comfort Inn, which is just a 5 minute drive from the conference. The rooms at this newly remodeled hotel are priced at $107 per night and they provide a free continental breakfast. So you can have free first breakfast before you show up for second breakfast at the conference.

REGISTRATION AND THE WACA WEBSITE:
Remember that registration is all online at our WACA website: wacaonline.org. If you are going to pay with a credit card, please have it ready when you register. You WILL be asked to enter the card number when you register.  Also, if you notice any technical issues on the WACA website, please let our technology expert, Ryan Healy know! There are links all over the website to request help. If you can’t find a link, you can reach Ryan at[email protected]
 
PRESENTERS:
We’re always looking for presenters and you even have the choice of a short meet the pro’s session (10 minute presentation repeated several times in a small group), or a longer 50-minute presentation (will present once). Think about the great things you do and what you might share with others, then sign up to present. The presenter application is on the WACA website (wacaonline.org).

PRE-CONFERENCE:
If you register to attend one of our four amazing pre-con sessions, we are going to remind you to attend the one you signed up for. Our speakers plan for the registration numbers we provide them so please don’t switch sessions at the last minute.

DIETARY NEEDS:
If you are a vegetarian, gluten-free, or have a food allergy/restriction, please let me know. We will try to accommodate as best we can for those of you with specific needs. Please be patient, though, and understand that we might not be able to meet the individual needs of 350 people!
 
WACA BOOKSTORE:
Do you have books, tools, manipulatives, etc. that you find especially useful in your classroom? We’re always open to suggestions of what to stock in our WACA store and would love to stock up on items that have worked for you! Let your area representative know if you have any suggestions. Remember, we will have some pretty great Leadership swag available for purchase in the store as well.
Can't wait to see you all at WACA 2017!
 
Michelle Munson
Liberty High School
ASB Activity Coordinator

Happy November Area 2!
 
This past week, I had the chance to attend the KingCo Interhigh at Mt. Si HS.  I was, yet again, reminded of the immense impact our student-leaders have within their schools.  It’s the little things that matter, right? I attached a picture that our friend Emily Zimmerman shared with me.  Her students at TEC (Technology, Engineering, and Communications High School) created a project in which students were encouraged to leave notes of kindness for one another.  Such a simple, but strong act of leadership.  Thanks for sharing, Emily! 
 
Below are the details about the WACA conference in March plus a few other items.  I encourage you to sign up for a hotel room and register for the conference as soon as possible!  With October in the rear-view mirror and Thanksgiving on the horizon, I hope you have a chance in the coming weeks to recharge your batteries with much-needed time with loved ones.
 
-Michelle
 
Details and Registration for WACA 2017:
Dates: March 15-17, 2017
 
Location: Vancouver Convention Center at the Hilton in downtown Vancouver
 
Registration: online at wacaonline.org
 
This year the registration form will include meal options for vegetarian, gluten-free, and lactose-free. Please mark your selection accurately as you will be provided with the meals you selected at the conference.
 
PRE-CON:
Don’t forget to sign up for pre-con! For just a small additional registration cost ($45) you will have the opportunity to attend one of four amazing pre-con sessions. Lunch will also be provided. Options are:
SESSION 1:
ASB Finance "Up Close," Presented by Marty Fortin, AWSP
Marty Fortin is considered one of the foremost experts on ASB law at best practices for schools in the State of Washington. He will bring his extensive knowledge and experience to this pre-conference offering. Click on the link on the WACA website for a brief synopsis of the topics to be covered.
SESSION 2:
Leadership Class Lessons & Resources, Presented by Susan Fortin, AWSP & Joe Fenbert, AWSP
Participate in hands-on activities and lessons that focus on leadership skills for life. Add these lessons to your leadership toolkit to use in class, retreats, after-school programs, advisory programs and more.
SESSION 3:
Character Strong, Presented By John Norlin - Director of Student Leadership and Community Involvement K-12 Sumner School District
This session will take you through an example year long plan to intentionally build character and a positive climate throughout your student body, staff, and community! Learn about instructional content, resources, activities, and strategies to make this happen. Bring your calendars, computers, and ideas of what you are doing at your school!
SESSION 4:
Engage. Captivate. Inspire., Presented By Scott Bachovich - Youth Motivational Speaker. http://scottbackovich.com/
 
Presenters: We need you!
We are always looking for people to share their ideas! So many of you have great ideas; now I encourage you to share them through a 10 minute meet the pro’s session or a 50 minute presentation.
This year we are especially hoping to add presentations that might be of interest to administrators and secretaries. If you are interested in presenting, but aren’t sure about a topic, please contact me!
 
Hall of Fame and Advisor of the Year Nominations:
Hall of Fame and Advisor of the Year nominations are available online now at wacaonline.org! Remember that we count on you for these nominations, so be sure to get yours in by December 1st.
 
If you are no longer working with leadership please let me know who I should be sending these emails to. Or if there is someone who should be added to my email contacts, please let me know.
 
 
Michelle Munson
​

Hello WACA Area 2 friends! 
​
Welcome back to school!  I hope your school year has gotten off to a great start after a well-deserved summer break! My ultimate goal as your Area 2 rep is to help you “fill your bucket” so you can help others in your leadership role. Last weekend, I spent time with the WACA board, planning our 2017 conference so we can continue to bring you the best conference each year.  There was a strong emphasis on using the feedback provided so thank you to all who completed the survey. If you are new to the leadership world or haven’t really had a chance to check it out, I really encourage you to check out the WACA website www.wacaonline.org.  

Details and Registration for WACA 2017:
If you haven’t heard the great news yet, WACA 2017 is being held in Vancouver, WA! I am so excited to join you in the west side of the state this year.
Dates: March 15-17, 2017
Location: Vancouver Convention Center at the Hilton in downtown Vancouver
Registration: online at wacaonline.org and will be open on October 3rd
This year the registration form will include meal options for vegetarian and gluten free folks. Please mark your selection accurately as you will be provided with the meals you selected at the conference.

PRE-CON:
Don’t forget to sign up for pre-con! For just a small additional registration cost ($45) you will have the opportunity to attend one of four amazing pre-con sessions. Lunch will also be provided.

Presenters: We need you!

When I finally chose to be brave and present at WACA, I chose a 10 minute Meet the Pro’s session and my students helped me pick the topic. Everyone who sat at my table was awesome and I was glad I did it.  I highly encourage and support you to present at WACA this year. This year we are especially hoping to add presentations that might be of interest to administrators and secretaries. If you are interested in presenting, but aren’t sure about a topic, please contact me!

Hall of Fame and Advisor of the Year Nominations:
Do you know someone who deserves the recognition for the work they put in as an leadership advisor or Activity Coordinator? Hall of Fame and Advisor of the Year nominations are available online now at wacaonline.org. Remember that we count on you for these nominations, so be sure to get yours in by December 1st. 

Finally, if you are no longer working with leadership, please let me know and I’ll delete you from the list. If there is someone who should be added to my email contacts, please let me know.
Thanks for sticking with me through this long email and have a wonderful day! 

Michelle Munson
Liberty High School
ASB Activity Coordinator