WHAT UP PIERCE COUNTY?
Holy moly! There are only 41 days until the 2016 WACA conference in Kennewick! Can you believe it?! There is quite a bit of information to roll out as we get closer, so I will apologize in advance for the novel I am about to bestow upon you :)
First of all!
If you have not yet registered for the conference, we would love to have you! Follow this link to register. All the info about the conference is available at our website, wacaonline.org, but please let me know if you have additional questions.
Conference Details!
Lodging: There was some confusion with the Springhill Suites (the hotel attached to the convention center); they thought they filled up faster than they truly did. There are some rooms left, so call ASAP! For the Hilton, you have until Feb 9th to secure the WACA rate if there are still rooms. We have secured rooms at the Red Lion on Young St. (also fairly close), so this is another option if necessary. All of the accommodation options (including the new Red Lion option) is listed here on the WACA site.
Attire: During the conference, we often try and dress to the theme (it’s our opportunity for an advisers-only Spirit Week!)
Wednesday: Come in whatever you would like!
Thursday: Wear a team jersey or any sort of sports attire for our theme: “For the Love of the Game”.
Thursday evening: For the Hall of Fame Banquet, some like to dress up a little nicer. Feel free to wear your spiff up your sports attire as well!
Friday: Rep your school spirit gear!
ALSO! To complement the conference's sports theme, we are doing a fun “Throwback Thursday” activity. Feel free to bring any old sports pics from your younger years as an athlete or fan that we can put on display. We will have cardstock templates to attach your photos to and a place to write a little something for other delegates to enjoy. Alternately, you can also come prepared with a digital copy that you can post to our tagboard during the conference.
Keynote speakers! Stu Cabe and Anthony Robles will be with us, sharing some great stories and lessons that we can connect to. Anthony is also an author, so we will have his book available for purchase in our WACA store, along with tons of other great resources.
Potential presenters: We are still looking for people to present either a 50-minute session or a 10-minute “Meet the Pros” session! Click here to view the presenter application if you are thinking that way. We have so much talent and so many great programs here in Pierce County - let’s celebrate your knowledge!
In addition to Meet the Pros, we are adding a “Book the Pros” session this year! This is another awesome rotation that offers ideas on what great resources are available to us in the form of a book. If you use a book in your class to teach from, have students read, or lead initiatives out of, let us know! This is a short 10-minute session where you would share some ideas, lesson plans, or tips about using the book you have to share.
If you have never presented before at WACA, this is a great place to start! Important!! When you see the application, you will not find an option for Book the Pros. It is classified under Meet the Pros, but do specify in your application that you intend to present during the Book the Pros Session.
WACA constitutional change/activity coordinator certification: At the opening session on the first day of the conference, you will hear about a motion to make a constitutional amendment. This is regarding an addition to the executive board to have an adviser added to the WACA board to lead the certification process. After the details are presented, you will have an opportunity to vote in our first area meeting. At the conference, you will hear more about the updates to the certification process as well.
Last but not least!
Goodie Baskets: We always have great giveaways in our area meetings, so I want to get you thinking about them now! We have done movie baskets, chocolate baskets, coffee baskets and more. Some have also suggested a school supplies basket and a “ropes in a bucket”-type basket with materials that could be useful for initiatives/team-building activities. I would be happy to supply baskets for any and all ideas, so please feel free to let me know if you have preferences, or other great ideas we can try. Again, you are not obligated to contribute, but if you do, you get another chance to be the big winner! It is always a fun way for us to celebrate one another :)
Final requests: Remember, if you know someone that should be receiving this email, but is not, please let me know! I would love to add them. Or, if you no longer want to receive these emails, let me know that too!
FINALLY: If you wanna check out that sweet trailer for the conference and get pumped up again, here it is. I always want to run through a brick wall after watching that!
Happy beginning of 2nd semester! Thank you so much for all that you do. I can't wait to meet you or reconnect soon! And in the spirit of the conference - Go Pirates! Go Ducks! Go Spartans!
Holy moly! There are only 41 days until the 2016 WACA conference in Kennewick! Can you believe it?! There is quite a bit of information to roll out as we get closer, so I will apologize in advance for the novel I am about to bestow upon you :)
First of all!
If you have not yet registered for the conference, we would love to have you! Follow this link to register. All the info about the conference is available at our website, wacaonline.org, but please let me know if you have additional questions.
Conference Details!
Lodging: There was some confusion with the Springhill Suites (the hotel attached to the convention center); they thought they filled up faster than they truly did. There are some rooms left, so call ASAP! For the Hilton, you have until Feb 9th to secure the WACA rate if there are still rooms. We have secured rooms at the Red Lion on Young St. (also fairly close), so this is another option if necessary. All of the accommodation options (including the new Red Lion option) is listed here on the WACA site.
Attire: During the conference, we often try and dress to the theme (it’s our opportunity for an advisers-only Spirit Week!)
Wednesday: Come in whatever you would like!
Thursday: Wear a team jersey or any sort of sports attire for our theme: “For the Love of the Game”.
Thursday evening: For the Hall of Fame Banquet, some like to dress up a little nicer. Feel free to wear your spiff up your sports attire as well!
Friday: Rep your school spirit gear!
ALSO! To complement the conference's sports theme, we are doing a fun “Throwback Thursday” activity. Feel free to bring any old sports pics from your younger years as an athlete or fan that we can put on display. We will have cardstock templates to attach your photos to and a place to write a little something for other delegates to enjoy. Alternately, you can also come prepared with a digital copy that you can post to our tagboard during the conference.
Keynote speakers! Stu Cabe and Anthony Robles will be with us, sharing some great stories and lessons that we can connect to. Anthony is also an author, so we will have his book available for purchase in our WACA store, along with tons of other great resources.
Potential presenters: We are still looking for people to present either a 50-minute session or a 10-minute “Meet the Pros” session! Click here to view the presenter application if you are thinking that way. We have so much talent and so many great programs here in Pierce County - let’s celebrate your knowledge!
In addition to Meet the Pros, we are adding a “Book the Pros” session this year! This is another awesome rotation that offers ideas on what great resources are available to us in the form of a book. If you use a book in your class to teach from, have students read, or lead initiatives out of, let us know! This is a short 10-minute session where you would share some ideas, lesson plans, or tips about using the book you have to share.
If you have never presented before at WACA, this is a great place to start! Important!! When you see the application, you will not find an option for Book the Pros. It is classified under Meet the Pros, but do specify in your application that you intend to present during the Book the Pros Session.
WACA constitutional change/activity coordinator certification: At the opening session on the first day of the conference, you will hear about a motion to make a constitutional amendment. This is regarding an addition to the executive board to have an adviser added to the WACA board to lead the certification process. After the details are presented, you will have an opportunity to vote in our first area meeting. At the conference, you will hear more about the updates to the certification process as well.
Last but not least!
Goodie Baskets: We always have great giveaways in our area meetings, so I want to get you thinking about them now! We have done movie baskets, chocolate baskets, coffee baskets and more. Some have also suggested a school supplies basket and a “ropes in a bucket”-type basket with materials that could be useful for initiatives/team-building activities. I would be happy to supply baskets for any and all ideas, so please feel free to let me know if you have preferences, or other great ideas we can try. Again, you are not obligated to contribute, but if you do, you get another chance to be the big winner! It is always a fun way for us to celebrate one another :)
Final requests: Remember, if you know someone that should be receiving this email, but is not, please let me know! I would love to add them. Or, if you no longer want to receive these emails, let me know that too!
FINALLY: If you wanna check out that sweet trailer for the conference and get pumped up again, here it is. I always want to run through a brick wall after watching that!
Happy beginning of 2nd semester! Thank you so much for all that you do. I can't wait to meet you or reconnect soon! And in the spirit of the conference - Go Pirates! Go Ducks! Go Spartans!