Hello everyone!
Happy February! And Happy Groundhog Day tomorrow! It’s amazing (stunning, startling,…) that it’s February already. Second semester is going full steam ahead, and I have just picked up a 6th class for the semester. So I feel a bit like a circus clown, juggling and trying to keep everything in the air.
Nice segue, huh? ;-)
Hey, you’ve noticed that March is just around the corner, and the WACA Conference is on March 13-15 at the Tri-Cities Convention Center. If you haven’t yet registered, please visit wacaonline.org soon! We have a great line-up of speakers and activities for you, and it looks to be a pretty big conference this year (according to the numbers that our treasurer is getting!).
The WACA Board met in the middle of January, as we continued to work on the conference. As always, there are a few things I need to remind you about right away. (I’ll also send a note out at the beginning of March to chat about area activities and last-minute reminders.) So ready? Here goes!
Okay, six items are enough to consider for now.
I’ll chat with you again soon. Let me know if you have questions or ideas.
Keep juggling!
John M. Bittinger, NBCT
Area #8 Representative
Richland High School
Happy February! And Happy Groundhog Day tomorrow! It’s amazing (stunning, startling,…) that it’s February already. Second semester is going full steam ahead, and I have just picked up a 6th class for the semester. So I feel a bit like a circus clown, juggling and trying to keep everything in the air.
Nice segue, huh? ;-)
Hey, you’ve noticed that March is just around the corner, and the WACA Conference is on March 13-15 at the Tri-Cities Convention Center. If you haven’t yet registered, please visit wacaonline.org soon! We have a great line-up of speakers and activities for you, and it looks to be a pretty big conference this year (according to the numbers that our treasurer is getting!).
The WACA Board met in the middle of January, as we continued to work on the conference. As always, there are a few things I need to remind you about right away. (I’ll also send a note out at the beginning of March to chat about area activities and last-minute reminders.) So ready? Here goes!
- As mentioned above, please register for the conference soon. See the application at wacaonline.org
- While you’re on the website, get a hotel registration. As I mentioned, the conference looks to be pretty full this year, so take care of this soon.
- AND, if you have reserved a hotel room already, but have not registered for the conference, PLEASE register quickly. Just like last year, the hotels will not honor your room reservation if you are not registered for the conference. Last year, in early February, they started cancelling reservations and releasing those rooms to WACA members who are registered for the conference. That practice will be in place this year as well. So get registered for the conference! ;-)
- On last year’s conference survey, some delegates mentioned the convenience of having breakfast at the hotel in the morning. So… we’re working with the conference hotels to see how many of them can provide breakfast. We’ll still have an option at the Convention Center.
- Have you completed your Advisor Certification application? If not, complete it soon, by 2/15. (Applications submitted after February 15th will still be processed, but the certificates won’t be ready by conference time.) I used my Advisor Certification when I re-certified for my National Boards. And this year, as we discussed professional development options in our building, I referenced several of the Advisor Certification elements as examples of our on-going work.
- Lastly, please consider presenting a session at the conference this year! The conference is in our area, and I’m so proud of the amazing and unique things that we do here in Area 8! ;-) At the Board meeting in January, there was a high interest in having some experienced bookkeepers present. It was suggested that a team of 2-3 presenters in a panel format, or round-table discussion would be very powerful. How about it? And although many of our 50 minute sessions are already filled up, there is still plenty of opportunity to present a 10-minute Meet the Pros session. Delegates have been asking about topics like: how to transition from summer leadership camp to school; how to partner with administrators to promote school culture; how to creatively repeat programs like Character Strong; how to embrace the leadership that exists in our school clubs . So… what do you think? ;-) The application to present will be found on wacaonline.org!
Okay, six items are enough to consider for now.
I’ll chat with you again soon. Let me know if you have questions or ideas.
Keep juggling!
John M. Bittinger, NBCT
Area #8 Representative
Richland High School