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Fantastic (and Magical) Time Just North of Philly

February 15th, 2010

On Feb. 2 and 3 I attended the Pennsylvania Region 2 conference at Bucks County Technical High School. It was an excellent event loaded with spirit and enthusiasm, great meals, sessions, competitions and an outstanding awards ceremony. One of the many highlights for me was judging the Extemporaneous Speech contest. The topic was “What would you like to tell President Obama?” One student said: “I’d tell him how SkillsUSA has changed my life.”  Another said: “I’m happy to see a president elected who looks like me. It gives me a whole new perspective on my future.”

There was another magical moment. A few days before the conference, the local newspaper published an article about the upcoming conference. It included a quote from chapter advisor Gail Watts who said the biggest challenge in putting on the conference was fielding enough volunteer judges. Wonder of wonders, on Wednesday morning there they were. Hundreds of people from local businesses and the military showed up to volunteer. That outpouring of support was proof of how highly regarded the Bucks County Technical High School is in the community. It also showed the importance of SkillsUSA as a catalyst of support from both the private and public sectors for what career and technical education does for students.

I also had a great time meeting with our Pennsylvania state association director, Jeri Widdowson, and being upstaged by the Philadelphia Phillies mascot, the Philly Fanatic, during the opening session. It was a fantastic time north of Philly.

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Recent Retirements from National Staff

February 15th, 2010

Both Ada Kranenberg, program director for the SkillsUSA Championships, and Karen Perrino, director of our Office of Marketing and Membership Services retired during the week of Jan. 22. Both are long-tenured. Ada joined the staff in 1982, and Karen has been with us for nearly 18 years. Both have been vital to the success of SkillsUSA.

Karen has been a leader in many areas through the years in publications, marketing and membership. SkillsUSA reached record levels of membership during her time as director of Marketing and Membership Services, and she was instrumental to our entire brand initiative. “I’m thankful Karen will continue to help us during this transition on marketing initiatives already underway and on the Lowe’s project where she has been such a leader for us. She is a consummate professional, and all of us wish her well with her move to Florida.

Ada began work with SkillsUSA back when it was VICA and worked with me when I managed the Championships from 1996 to 2001. She has been instrumental in guiding the Championships’ phenomenal growth from 36 contests to today’s 96, and she’s worked tirelessly with all of the technical committees and sponsors who make the Championships possible. Ada has also been our point person for the WorldSkills Competition for the past two decades. I’m happy to say that Ada will continue as a consultant and manager for the SkillsUSA WorldTeam through the WorldSkills Competition to be held in London in 2011. She will also lead our delegation to the AmericaSkills events in Brazil next month. SkillsUSA will be sending two students; six technical experts; Mark Claypool (our team leader), and Don Hatton, the U.S. technical delegate. This is all in preparation for the WorldSkills event in London, England in 2011.

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Planning and Staff Realignment

February 15th, 2010

I met on Tuesday, Feb. 2, with the directors and then with the staff to present and then discuss a proposed realignment of staff responsibilities. For the most part, departments have remained about the same for the past nine years. During that same time, however, initiatives and programs have been added although few have been dropped. In light of Vision 2020 and strategic planning for the FY 2011-12 years I felt it was time to shift some responsibilities around so we can ensure high-quality service to our members and deliver the same high-quality service to our partners. Changes in the alignment of responsibilities will be phased in during the remainder of this fiscal year and then be fully in place in FY11.

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Highlights

February 15th, 2010
  • As the Kellogg project is winding down in March, we held a PMO planning meeting on Feb. 2. We’re seeing the results of the past three years come to fruition. We’re getting good responses to our marketing mailings and to the assessments from the field. More mailings are scheduled this month for the big launch in March. We are booked for our final Technical Advisory committee meeting at the Office of Vocational and Adult Education, U.S. Department of Education, in March so the department can witness first-hand the results of our efforts with the Work Force Ready System and the vulnerable communities projects.
  • We had two new state directors here at the National Leadership Center on Feb. 5 from Vermont and the Virgin Islands for training on state association management. We also had six people here from colleges across the country working with staff to guide our college/postsecondary initiatives
  • State Farm zone managers have announced the 12 recipients of the $10,000 Innovation in Sustainability grants. The list is located on our Web site at www.skillsusa.org/educators/statefarm.shtml. A big thank -you to State Farm for its support.
  • The Engineering Alliance should be launched soon. We’re doing the last run-through of the Web site, making sure everything is where it’s supposed to be and that all the buttons, bells and whistles work. We’re also polishing up the press release, Web postings and e-mail announcements. Before the general announcement goes to the field, we’ll send a special announcement to our own state association directors so they’re prepared.

Happy CTE Month and SkillsUSA Week last week. It’s a pleasure to know that together we are doing so much good for so many people.

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Teacher and State Director Event in Leesburg

February 15th, 2010

Because of severe weather during the week of Feb. 8-12, SkillsUSA cancelled the SkillsUSA Week Teacher and State Director Event and Web conference, but both have now been rescheduled.

SkillsUSA will be holding the Web conference on Feb. 25th at 11:00 a.m. and the live teacher event at the SkillsUSA National Leadership Center will now be held on March 10 at 3 p.m.

Both the event and the Web conference will be held to announce the release of the new ASK: Advisor’s Success Kit and the newly updated PDP Online. Attendees at the teacher meeting at the National Leadership Center and those who register in advance for the Web conference will receive a free copy of the new ASK: Advisor’s Success Kit and other SkillsUSA materials (total value of $50 or more). I will give a SkillsUSA organization update, and members of the SkillsUSA training team will also update teachers on various SkillsUSA resources.

All state directors and instructors are welcome to attend the teacher meeting and/or participate in the Web conference. To attend the teacher meeting, please RSVP to Niki Clausen at nclausen@skillsusa.org. To participate in the Web conference, go to the following link on Feb. 25 at 11:00 EST: http://web.ganconference.com/?meeting=3663486. To dial in for an audio, call 888-222-0475, Attendee code: 6837807

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Mentoring Submissions Wanted!

February 15th, 2010

SkillsUSA sponsors a national recognition program based on the Student2Student mentoring program. Any chapter involved in mentoring can submit their project plan, description and outcomes. The winning chapter will be given a cash prize, recognized at the National Leadership and Skills Conference, in Medallion magazine, in the Awards and Recognition booklet and at an event during the conference. In addition, the overall winning chapter will be invited to present their winning mentoring program as a part of SkillsUSA University. For information: www.skillsusa.org/educators/mentrecog.shtml. All entries must be submitted online to the national office by April 4. Winners will be announced in May.

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Alumni Coordinating Committee Nominations

February 15th, 2010

SkillsUSA is accepting nominations for service on the Alumni Coordinating Committee. Nominations are being accepted for the following positions:

  • Executive Chair: open to any registered members of the SkillsUSA Alumni Association
  • Region II: open to registered alumni members from Virginia, North Carolina,  South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee, Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands.
  • Region IV: open to registered alumni members from North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Missouri, Iowa or Minnesota.

All nominees must be active Annual, Lifetime or Honorary Life members in good standing of the SkillsUSA Alumni & Friends Association. Additionally, nominees must have been registered members for at least 12 months preceding the date of nomination. Candidates should be nominated as soon as possible. Alumni may nominate themselves or any alumni member. Nominations are due by close of business on April 15.

To complete an online nomination form or to download and print a form, go to: www.skillsusa.org/supporters/alumniballot.shtml.

The completed form is due to Niki Clausen in the national office by April 15, 2010. If you have any questions, please contact her at 703-737-0639 or by e-mail to nclausen@skillsusa.org.

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College Start-up Kit

February 15th, 2010

Many high school seniors want to continue their experiences with SkillsUSA at the college level, but the school they will be attending does not have a SkillsUSA chapter. To help these students, SkillsUSA has created a College Start-up Kit. This kit is ideal for local or district officers, state officers, or recent graduates who now attend college. It is also a great resource for any college that requests information about starting a new SkillsUSA program. For a sample of the college kit or to request more information on college programs, contact: Heidi Ambrose at 703-737-0615 or hambrose@skillsusa.org.

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Plan Now for the 2010 SkillsUSA National Week of Service

February 15th, 2010

We would like to invite all our chapters to plan a community service project during the week of May 2-8. This will help commemorate the founding of SkillsUSA on May 8.

The SkillsUSA National Week of Service not only shines a spotlight on SkillsUSA’s dedication to serving others, but it also showcases the skills and expertise of career and technical education students who are learning to become tomorrow’s leaders.

Many SkillsUSA chapters are already participating in local community service projects. All we ask is that you hold at least one event during the week of May 2-8. By coordinating hundreds of events during the same week, SkillsUSA has the potential to command nationwide attention.

We encourage chapter advisors to send in a brief report on their community service activities to the national headquarters. Let us know in a paragraph or two what your chapter does to help your community, and we’ll post these reports and photos online.

Imagine one amazing week in May when SkillsUSA students nationwide are busy repairing, building, cleaning, teaching, or serving the needs of their communities. Imagine the power you’ll hold in your hands as you and your fellow SkillsUSA members work nationwide to improve the lives of your neighbors in countless ways. Imagine the difference one week can make!

For planning materials, go to: www.skillsusa.org/events/service.shtml.

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Great Visit from Ohio Delegation

February 1st, 2010

SkillsUSA Ohio brought 60 student regional officers and their state officers to the Washington area for a week’s worth of leadership training. Ten advisors were with them, half coming to the conference for the first time. State director Mike Cowles put together a tremendous agenda for training and visits to Washington including a trip to the Capitol to meet with their senators. As one of the advisors said as he climbed on the bus: “This trip will be a lifelong memory.”

One of the Ohio student officers said to me on Tuesday, January 19: “I’m just not used to this. Being here with all of these students from Ohio, and the teachers, and the SkillsUSA national staff. I feel as though I’ve stepped up into a whole new league. I hope I’m ready for it.” I assured her that I was sure she was ready for it. That’s why she was here. To me, that’s one of those SkillsUSA moments when students discover they can be surrounded by students who are just as engaged and energetic as they are. It’s fun to see.

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