Hello all,
This email will serve three purposes:

1. I had lots of folks email me with updates/adjustments to my contact list.  How am I doing?  Any changes that I still need to complete?  Let me know.  ;-)
2. Hey WACA Board!  This is a test run of my new board contact list, since we lots of updates this year as well.  How am I doing?  (You have 48 hours to reply…. Starting… right… NOW!)  ;-)
3. Area News!  I just returned from my WACA Board meeting (last weekend in Vancouver, WA), and I have some news to share.  I’ll try to be very succinct!  ;-)

• This year’s WACA Conference will happen in Area 8  (yeah! Cheers! Start the wave!), at the Three Rivers Convention Center, on March 11-13,, 2019.  Don’t worry about it being Friday the 13th… we can’t have bad luck when our theme is “Love is the Answer”.  The conference will focus on the legacy that activities can establish in our schools.
• Now that you know about the conference, you should also know that you can begin registering on October 1st.  As usual, use the website www.wacaonline.org.  There is a menu for the conference, and for registering for the conference, and for lodging.  Again, beginning on October 1, 2019.
• Since you’re thinking about the conference now, you might remember that last year we opted to have breakfast at our individual hotels.  Well, you gave us a lot of feedback about that – yes we saved some dollars; but… you felt we lost some of our sense of community, and some hotels couldn’t handle the volume, and some folks (like us in area 8!) weren’t in hotels and didn’t have many options.  So… we will offer breakfast on Thursday and Friday morning at the Convention Center.  But, the Friday (close of conference) box lunch wasn’t well received, and many folks said they ended up getting something on the way home.  So we WILL NOT have a Friday lunch offering this year.
• Our fee schedule is changing this year (in part, due to those same food issues).  Early Bird registration goes from October 1, 2019 until February 1, 2020.  The cost at that time is $350 for the conference and $50 for the Pre-Con.  There is an additional discount for groups of four from the same school  (details on the website, of course!).  From February 2nd  through March 1st, the price of registration increases to $375 (pre-con fee stays the same, but the group discount is gone).  From March 2nd up until (and including) the conference start, the price of registration increases to $425 (again pre-con fee stays unchanged, and group discount is still gone).  Summary below:

 
Date
Registration Fee
Pre-Conference Fee

Oct 1, 2019 – Feb 1, 2020
$350 (+ group discount)
$50

Feb 2, 2020 – Mar 1, 2020
$375
$50

Mar 2, 2020 – Conference Start
$425
$50

 
             

• Finally, think about presenting a session at the Conference.  We do so many cool things here in Area 8, so we should showcase our skills!  How about presenting our Hometown Showdown Week, or how to use social media to improve communications (both of these were suggested by you last March).  Think about it.  I will send a note soon with details about presenting sessions.  Or… you got it!... you can look on wacaonline.org at the conference menu, then at the presenter menu.

 
Okay, that’s enough to get us started.  Have a great week, everyone!
Jb

​Good morning all!
I hope that you’re having a good week, and slowly digging out of all of this weather.  ;-)
 
WACA is next week!  And I have a few last minute details to share with you.

• You’ve probably just received an email from our treasurer Norm Sanford, informing you about SCHED.  SCHED is our online conference program.  It will give lots of explanations and details of the offerings at the conference.  It also has options for you to select your sessions… so it builds a schedule for you.  There will be a few printed conference programs, but most people will be using SCHED.  Will that work on my flip-phone?!  ;-)

 

• If you want to participate in our area give-away baskets, remember to bring your favorite chocolate for our chocolate basket, your favorite movie or movie treat for our movie basket, and your favorite “grape beverage” for our “give and take”.  And of course, I’ll have some other give-aways to share throughout the conference.

 

• A quick note about conference attire:  As a rule, attire is casual (jeans!).  Some folks will dress up a bit for Thursday’s Hall of Fame banquet, but that’s an option.  And on Friday, attire is school attire – represent your home school!  On a personal note, I’ll remind you that it’s dramatically cold right now in the Tri-Cities – my students were celebrating this morning, because it was almost 30 degrees by the start of school!  It’s supposed to stay cold next week, so dress warmly.

 

• Finally, thanks to everyone who is attending – we have 27 of us from Area 8.  And thanks to those of you who are presenting.

 
Okay, my friends.  I will see you soon.  Travel carefully!
Jb

​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!
 

• 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 

​Hello everyone,
I hope that you had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.  I love the family getting together and having the amazing meal.  But… I also love the left-overs.  The turkey casseroles, the turkey and cranberry sandwiches, the stuffing waffles,… (yep, that’s right, stuffing waffles!)
 
Well, as you begin your march toward the end of the calendar year, and you usher in the holidays, I have a few more WACA items to send your way:
 
1) Don’t forget!  If you want to nominate someone for the WACA Hall of Fame, you need to do so by December 1st.

• The nomination form can be found on our website, wacaonline.org.
• The nomination pool is pretty low right now; we could use your great suggestion for a person to recognize for their leading role in activities in our state.

 
2)Our program coordinator, Tammy Caldwell, just sent the board a reminder message:   start thinking about presenters for the WACA Conference in March!

• Each year, we have several rounds of 50-minute presentations.  We also have a couple of rounds of 10-minute Meet the Pros.  The 50 minute sessions allow us to go into depth on a topic or program or activity.  The Meet the Pros sessions are usually a nice summary, or a “snapshot” of our topic. 
• The Presenter applications are available on the website, wacaonline.org.
• Our conference theme this year is Come One, Come All to the Greatest Show on Earth.  As we think about the activities at our school, they seem to fall into the categories of Personal Growth, Event Planning, and Culture Building… kind of a three ring circus of activities!  What do you do at school that fits into one or more of these three rings?  Present it!
• What do you do at your school that you are proud of?  Present it!
• Many of us are familiar with TPEP evaluations.  How does your activity match up with one or more of the 8 TPEP elements?  Your WACA colleagues would be interested (… and so would your administrators).  Present it!
• It doesn’t need to seem earth-shaking!  For example, I’ve done leadership camp for a couple of decades.  But in the last few years, I have been intrigued by infusing more camp strategies into my non-leadership courses, and using these strategies to support school-wide initiatives like Character Strong.  So I presented a session on ways to use webbing loops in my freshman science classes for ice-breaking, team-building, and lab procedures.  I presented a session on how to use “manipulatives” like “thumball”, scrabble tiles, webbing loops, and Jenga games to generate class discussions and reviews.  Again, nothing earth-shaking; but if a few people leave my sessions with an idea or two they want to use, then the session is a success!  Give it a try, won’t you?
• As always, if you have an idea or question that you want to discuss, please email me, and we’ll chat.  ;-)

 
All right, that’s enough for now.  I’ll send some more information after our January Board Meeting.  Until then, have a wonderful holiday, my friends.  May health and happiness, love and laughter be yours.
jb

​Hello everyone!
I hope that this note finds you happy and healthy.  As usual, my first task at the beginning of the year is to ask, “Am I talking to the right person?”  Are you the activities/leadership person?  If so, great.  If not, could you please forward to me contact info for the correct person?  And if you know someone in a neighboring school who should be getting this email but is not, I’d love some help with their contact info as well.  Thanks!
 
As you know, we had our WACA Fall Board Meeting on Sept 22-23 in Spokane.  And my goal was to report to you the following week.  Well, that week our computer system was down three times, so I never got it done.  And last week (Homecoming Week) was just a blur, followed by a full weekend trip to Pullman.  So here we are!  I’ll bet none of you can relate to this, huh!?  ;-)
 
We covered A LOT of material at the Board Meeting.  I won’t try to cover it all with you right now.  I’ll divide it into chunks, okay?  ;-)  Here goes:
 
1) The Board uses the Fall Meeting to check out possible sites for our conference.  Since there have been several changes in the Spokane area, we decided it was time to visit again.  We have to find a site that will accommodate our many break-out sessions, our big vendor area, our large-group sessions, and our housing needs (for about 350 people).  And we try to be fiscally responsible – so we know that if we book a certain number of rooms (room block) and order a certain volume of food (banquet minimums), we can get our conference areas at no/low cost.  Make sense so far?  Well, we found ourselves involved in a “Three Bears” story at our Fall Meeting.  Many places were “too small” – they didn’t have enough meeting space or vendor space.  Some places were “too big” – like the Davenport Grand Hotel, where we were staying; they had enough space, but we can’t meet  room blocks and banquet minimums that are large enough to offset the conference costs.  So the Spokane venues weren’t the answer at this time, and we continue to look for “just right”.  And right now, the Tri-Cities is “just right” for the size of our group.  ;-)
2)Don’t forget that WACA sponsors an Advisor Certification program.  Details may be found on our website wacaonline.org.  The application is being simplified for this year.  If you haven’t already applied, I would recommend it.  I use it on my TPEP evaluation each year.  And when people ask why I attend certain conferences/events, I reply, “I’m a Certified Advisor; that’s what we do.”  Deadline for applications for this cycle (certificates handed out at the March 2019 annual meeting) is February 1st.
3)By the way, one of those events is the AWSL Conference, held this weekend (October 12-14) in Kent.  Hope to see you there!  I’ll be presenting an advisor workshop on Saturday, for all those interested.  We’ll use webbing loops and some other “hands-on” items to highlight some teambuilding and Character Strong activities.
4)Back to the WACA Conference:  Each March at the conference, we present our Hall of Fame awards.  We need some input from you, so would you please consider going online at wacaonline.org, and nominating a colleague?  Details are on the website, and the deadline is December 1st of 2018.
 
Okay, that’s enough for now.  I’ll send another email note in about a month.  Until then, have a fantastic Fall season.  Hope to see you at AWSL.  Keep doing the amazing work that you do.  ;-)
 
Take care,
Jb

Hello everyone,
I hope that your year is off to a great start!  At RHS, we're already at the mid-term progress report time!  Time flies when you've got great work.  ;-)


Hey, I'm off to the WACA Fall Board Meeting this weekend.  We're meeting in Spokane this year.  As you know, one of our tasks at Fall Board Meeting is to check out possible conference sites.  I'll let you know what we find out.


In the meantime, I hope that you're getting ready for a great fall season.  Remember that the AWSL Conference for our student leaders is next month - Oct. 12 - 14, at Kent-Meridian High School.  I hope that I'll see some of you there.  (Psst!  As of last week, they were still looking for a few student presenters...)


All right, I'll contact you soon, with news from the Fall Board Meeting.  Until then, have a great weekend!
jb

Hello all,
Well, we’re just a week 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.  Area 8 will have about 40 people in attendance… yeah!
 
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 (where is that Barry Manilow shirt from the 2005 concert at the fairgrounds?).  And 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:  Area Give-Aways -  In the past few years, delegates have brought items for our give-away baskets.  You bring an item, and I give you a ticket.  In this way, we build a nice basket.  Then, at the final area meeting, we draw a ticket to choose a winner for each basket.  How’s that?  ;-)  This year, we have:

• Chocolate basket:  bring your favorite chocolate to donate to the basket.  This is a great drawing at the last area meeting.  (We usually provide security so that you can get the chocolate safely to your car!!)
• Movie basket:  bring a favorite DVD and/or your favorite movie treat to add to the basket.
• Since we live in wine country around here, we also do an informal grape beverage exchange (“bring a bottle, take a bottle”).  Bring a bottle of your favorite grape “juice” and set it on the table.  At the end of the conference, take a different bottle home.  (Note:  I always provide some sparkling cider, and Tim Turner always selects a high-quality boxed beverage.)

 
#3:  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.
 
#4:  Area Meeting #2 -  I’ve had three advisors from Area 8 ask if we could discuss components of our leadership classes, with particular emphasis on advanced or second year students.  Could you please come prepared to share some of your great ideas?  We’ll do that informally at our second area meeting (on Thursday morning).
 
#5:  Area 8 Social!! -  On Wednesday evening, after the conference day wraps up (around 8:30pm), we have reservations for a social at Proof GastroPub.  It’s a short walk (about 3 blocks) from the Convention Center.  I’ve worked with their staff and arranged for a variety of appetizers for us.  You’ll have to take care of your beverages, and we’ll all have some fun on the fourth floor cityscape overlook room  (I just made up that name).  Should be fun!
 
All right, that should do until we see each other next Wednesday.  Until then, have a great week!
Jb

​Hello Area 8!
 
How’s it going?  Great, I hope!  ;-)
 
I have two 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).  Pretty cool, huh?
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!  ;-)  For example, I’ve been using leadership camp cheers and positive songs during football and basketball games this year.  It really promotes spirit, and keeps the climate positive.  And we’ve had amazing success, and a lot of fun.  This is the kind of thing that is great for Meet the Pros.  So…

• Have you got a novel way to celebrate students (birthday calendar each month?  Their face in a cut-out star that is taped to the cafeteria wall?)
• Do you have a cool alternative to decorating with butcher paper?
• What cool technology are you using in class?  (I have a flip-phone still, so you’ll have to fill in the details here!)
• Do you hold a leadership retreat?
• Do you have a great MLK/Black History month assembly?

You’re probably saying, “Gee John, that’s old stuff!  At my school we do…”  Cool!  Present it!
Oh, by the way, the presenter application is really easy to find on the website (wacaonline.org).   ;-)
And no pressure, but Area 8 is basically hosting this conference, since it’s in Kennewick.  Let’s represent!!
Hey, have a great day everyone!  And Happy Valentine’s Day tomorrow.  (Our choir goes around all day delivering “val-o-grams” and singing in the halls.  It’s really cool, creates a wonderful climate, and highlights the music program.  Hey… that could be a Meet the Pros topic!)
Best to you,
jb

Hello Area #8!
I hope that your Friday went well, and that you are looking forward to a great weekend.
Hey, our President, Laurel Robillard, just 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.
Some information updates regarding rooming at our sites as of 4:45 p.m. today (January 25th)...February 9th is the reservation deadline...after that rooms not reserved (with names) will be released to the public...remind them that 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 on this fine Friday afternoon:

• 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:  Everyone knows that I lead a glamorous life as a WACA Board member!  Seriously, I work with about 20 very creative, funny,  and warm people, and I get a lot of satisfaction from my work on the Board.   Do you want to be a part?  Well, 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… yep, our area!).  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.  Or drop a note to me; I’d be happy to chat with you.

Have a great weekend, everyone!
Jb

​Hi folks,
Hey, last year at WACA, our folks from area 8 met on the first evening of the conference (after all the sessions were complete) and had a social time.  Would you like to do that again this year?
 
I have a contact, a new restaurant in Kennewick.  They’re just opening up, and would love a chance to host us.  They have a small room on the fourth floor of the building (they have the third floor as well) where they can host us.  Food and drink.  Nice views of the area too.
 
What do you think?  Give me a quick “yes” or “no”, and I’ll follow up accordingly.
 
In the meantime, have a great day!
Jb