​Hello all,


Well, we are only a few days away from the WACA conference.  The schedule is in place, the speakers are ready, the entertainment has been arranged, and the class sessions are full.  I’m looking forward to seeing you all.  
 
Some final details to your conference planning:
 
#1:  Attire -  The conference is very casual; jeans and a t-shirt usually work very well.  Since our theme is Tune in to Leadership, how about bringing a concert/music shirt to wear on Thursday, but not a necessity.  Don't spend extra money...unless you want to do some shopping.  =0)  Friday, we try to show off our school colors, so find some spirit gear from your school.  Some people like to dress a bit nicer for the Thursday evening awards banquet, but that is very optional.
 
#2:  Clock Hours -  Recall that 10 clock hours are available at the close of the conference.  The sign-in will be quick, but please plan for a few minutes to complete that task.
 
#3:  Area Meetings -  I am looking to having a chance to see everyone, hang out and share resources and ideas at our area meetings.  Looking forward to some great networking!
 
All right, that should do until we see each other this Wednesday.  Please let me know what questions you have.
See you soon!


Jen Nelson
WACA Area 9 Rep
Yelm Middle School

Hello Area 9...WACA is only a month away!  I hope you are as excited as I am for this year's conference.
 
I have three quick conference items for you:
First, Barnes and Noble is managing our Resource Room this year.  That means that they will provide the books and supplies for us.  One of the advantages of using them, is that they are available during the conference, and beyond.  They have set up a special code for us (bookfair ID is 12325999), that is active from March 15 – 20.  So if you don’t pick up an item during the conference, you can go to the local B & N store, or online, and get that item for the same price as during the conference (but only from March 15-20).  
Second, we still have a couple of spots to fill for our conference Meet the Pros session.  Meet the Pros is really nice, because it is just a 10 minute chat (actually less, when you consider discussion and questions!)  You have something cool at your school… so present it!  All delegates that present at Meet the Pros get a copy of all Meet the Pro presenter handouts!!  Wow!   
 So…
Share one of the amazing things that is happening at your school!
The presenter application is really easy to find on the website (wacaonline.org). 
Get your application in TODAY!  
Last thing...our conference theme is "Tune into Leadership."  Along that vein, you have the opportunity to request songs to be played at the conference.  Follow think link to make your requests. 
https://tinyurl.com/WACArequests 
 
Happy Friday!
​

Happy New Semester Area 9!
Are you ready for a March break?  Don't forget to register for WACA 2018...Tune into Leadership!

Just a quick note:
Laurel Robillard, WACA Board President, sent out the following update regarding our conference hotels.  Looks like there a some rooms left for reserving!  I’ve added the contact phone numbers, if that is how you want to contact them.  But you can also find them online.  Please note the address of the Red Lion; there are two of them in the Kennewick area.
February 9th is the reservation deadline...after that rooms not reserved (with names) will be released to the public...we are getting the group rate...
Springhill Suites        (509) 820-3026

• $139/night
• 8 rooms just opened up

Hilton Garden Inn    (509) 735-4600

• $129/night
• 11 rooms left

Red Lion        (509) 396-9979 602 N Young St

• $129/night
• 22 rooms left

A couple more quick items for you:

•  Clock Hours:  10 clock hours are available for attending the instructional sessions of the conference.  These are FREE (yep!), and they are available at the end of the conference AFTER THE CLOSING SESSION.  No, I’m not using all caps to “yell” at you.  I’m using them to emphasize when they are available – we have to maintain the integrity of our offerings, so they are not available before the closing of the conference.  So please, plan for this time.  We too are planning; we know that things were a bit slow last year, and we are planning on streamlining the process and offering MULTIPLE pick-up stations.
• WACA Board:  We have elections this year for the following positions:  President-Elect, Middle-Level Rep, Secretary, and Even # Area Reps (Areas 2, 4, 6, and 8). We also have an appointed position up for selection this year:  the Partner Coordinator.  If you are interested in any of these positions, check out the info (and application) on the website.
• Lastly, please consider presenting.  You are the secret sauce for this conference.  What you do really does help other people improve their programs.  Go to wacaonline.org to sign up to present.  Thanks!

Please let me know what questions you have!

Thanks,
Jen Nelson

Hello Area 9!
 
I hope you all had a great weekend!
 
We recently had our Winter Board meeting at the Convention Center in Kennewick, and we’re gearing up for another great conference.  There are a lot of items to share with you… too many to put into a single email.  So I’ll send just a few items at a time, hopefully all well-timed.  Here goes!
 
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:  wacaonline.org.  The conference registration is there.
·              Note:  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 haven’t registered for a hotel room, that info is also on the website.  The rooms are filling up pretty quickly (we’re hearing reports), which means that we should have a big conference this year!  Yeah!
·              Note:  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).
·              Also note:  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 RHS, Kari will reserve rooms for Tim, John, and Jim.  If “Kari” 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.

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!
 
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.
 
Presenters!  Hey, Area 9, how about presenting a session at the conference?  Could you present an idea at our Meet the Pros session (a short/10-minute presentation that you repeat several times as delegates “rotate” to you)?  Do you have a longer presentation that could occupy a 50 minute session?  Please, please consider presenting.  We are always looking for presenters for ASB Law and sessions focused on our bookkeepers.  But delegates have been asking about topics like:  how to transition from summer leadership camp to home school; how to partner with administrators to promote school culture, how to creatively repeat programs like Character Strong.  One of our area delegates is looking for a session on curriculum instruction/leadership lessons.  Can you help?  And remember:  we all take ideas, and “tweak” them.  We don’t think much of it, but those tweaks are what make them so valuable, and so important to share with others.  And hey, that application to present will be found on… yep, you guessed it, wacaonline.org!
 
Okay, that’s enough for now!  Read this email, complete a couple of the tasks, and have a great week!
 
See you soon!


Jen Nelson
WACA Area 9 Representative
Yelm Middle School

Hello Area 9,

A fellow Area 9er wanted me to pass along this information to you all.  It sounds like a great opportunity for  Area 9 schools to work with Houston Kraft.
I will be sending out another Area Communication regarding the WACA conference soon.  I hope you all are having a fabulous 2018!

Thanks,
Jen Nelson

Elma High School is hosting a Leadership Summit with Houston Kraft on February 23rd. We would like to invite area schools to join this amazing event. 

If anyone has questions, please contact Christi Kershaw at ckershaw@eagles.edu.

Thank you,

Hello Everyone!
 
Welcome back to another school year, and another exciting year of activities.
 
I’m Jen Nelson, your WACA Area 9 Representative.  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 and let me know.  Then I can update my contact list.  Thanks!
 
We recently held our fall WACA Board meeting in Wenatchee.  We went to Wenatchee 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 want to pass on to you:
 
1.  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, please email Tim Turner at tim.turner@rsd.edu.
 
2.  The State Fall Student Leadership Conference (AWSL) is this weekend, October 13-15, in Yakima.  Wishing all of you a great weekend! 
 
3.  This year, NCSA (National Conference on Student Activities) is being held in Spokane December 1-3, 2017. It’s a great conference; where you have the chance to connect with our state advisors, but the greatest part is discovering how other states address activities.  There is a link to the conference site at the bottom of our homepage (wacaonline.org).  Check it out!
 
4.  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.
 
5.  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.  In fact, the registration is now open.  There’s information about the conference on our website.  Things to note:
·    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.   
·    There is conference hotel information available this month 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. 
·   Please note that we are always looking for good secretary/bookkeeper sessions.  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. 
 
I hope you’re having a great day and please contact me with concerns or questions.
 
Have a great weekend!
 
Jen Nelson
Area 9 Rep

Hello Area 9...

I hope that you all had an enjoyable time at the conference and were able to rest up before heading back to work last week.  If you haven't already done so, would you please take a moment and fill out the survey that was sent to you.  The Board uses this information when planning and developing the next conference.

Also, Christi Kershaw from Elma sent me the following email.  She wanted me to share with you all.
"Elma will be hosting a Leadership Summit with Houston Kraft. We have four dates in 2018 to propose to Area 9:

Jan. 30 or 31 or Feb. 6 or 7 in 2018

The event would be a fun filled, intense kindness workshop by Houston Kraft from 9 AM to 1 PM. The cost would be $15 per person for leaders from Southwest Washington. Costs would cover t-shirt, snacks, etc. Lunch not included.

Would you send this out to our area advisers and get input on what date would be best and if they would be interested? We would like to have schools bring 15 to 30 leaders to this event for an estimate of 800 students.

Thank you,
Christi Kershaw
360.470.3972"

Please contact Christi with any questions/comments.

Thanks and Happy Monday!!! =0)

Jen Nelson

​Happy Monday WACA Area 9 Folks - 
 
WACA is here and that means it’s time to GO FISHING FOR SOME GOOD IDEAS!
 
The conference begins Wednesday!  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.
 
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. You should have received an email from Dick Caldwell, WACA President, regarding food restrictions.  If you have food restrictions please let him know by noon today.  If you didn’t receive an email, let me know and I will pass along the information. 
 
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. In the past, we have had multiple baskets so we have plenty of opportunities for you to win!
 
Our give away baskets are:
CHOCOLATE
SCHOOL SUPPLIES
 
If you have any questions or comments please email me! 
 
I'm excited to see you on Wednesday!
 
Thanks,
Jen Nelson
Area 9 Rep

​Happy Friday!


I hope everyone has had a wonderful week.  

Again, I am sending out a request for presenters.  Please consider… 


PRESENTERS NEEDED
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 & ROOM AVAILABILITY AT THE HILTON
The registration for the conference is going great! If you haven’t registered, you still can.  I was asked to mention that there may be a few rooms opening up at the Hilton, but you need to contact them by today..sorry for the late notice. 


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 Hilton Hotel if you are staying there:

• 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”.  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…which is great.  But, because it is secured, it is locked at 10pm each night.   

 
 
A final note for now: 
As we have done in the past, we’ll do some give-away baskets in our area.  Here’s how it works – you bring an item with you and add it to the basket.  For your contribution, you get a ticket for that basket.  On the final day of the conference, we’ll draw from those tickets to give away the basket. 

• Chocolate basket:  Bring a bar/package of your favorite chocolate, and add it to the basket.  Pick up a “chocolate basket” ticket.
• Movie basket:  Bring a favorite DVD (perhaps one that you show to teach a Leadership lesson) or favorite movie treat, and add it to the basket.  Collect a “movie basket” ticket.
• We’ve also done a school supply basket…one can never have enough post-it notes, right???
• Other ideas?

Which of the basket ideas sound like something you would want to participate in and have a chance at winning big?
 
In the coming weeks, expect another email with more detailed information regarding the conference – conference nuts and bolts, 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!


Have a great weekend!


Jen Nelson
Area 9 Rep