September 1st, 2010
Symone Gyles, an Animal Sciences student at Edison Academy and this year’s Virginia state president, put the work of our state association directors into perspective with her opening remarks during the dinner that began the State Director Association Annual Professional Development and Training Conference on August 11 in Herndon, Va. She spoke eloquently about the difference SkillsUSA has made in her life. Then her parents rose to say the same thing and Symone’s instructor was there too. SkillsUSA is known for changing lives. That’s made possible by many people, especially by our state association directors.
Also recognized during the dinner: Karen Ward, state association director for Massachusetts and Ann Wick, state association director for Kansas were both honored for their recertification as Certified State Directors. And, Best of Brand awards were presented to Massachusetts (who won two), Georgia, Ohio and Arizona.
Kim Green, executive director of the National Association of State Directors of Career and Technical Education consortium (NASDCTEc) was our keynote speaker during the dinner. Kim and NASDCTEc believe that several factors in the domestic and global economy – in addition to trends in education – will come to favor unprecedented growth and support of career and technical education. Making that case – and covered in an earlier Executive Update – NASDCTEc has released a document called “Reflect, Transform, Lead: A New Vision for Career Technical Education.” See the document at http://careertech.org/show/new_vision. Kim discussed the paper’s recommendations and ways in which SkillsUSA could use the vision in its own work. There are some elements that are somewhat controversial, but that’s often the case in any vision.
The conference was held from August 10-15. There were 36 state associations represented in all with 45 directors and assistant directors attending. Eight of the directors are new and attended the new director training sessions on August 10 and 11. The August 12 and 13 meetings featured 19 best practice sessions including conducting state legislative days, strategies to grow state conferences, and social media/online monitoring for non-profits taught by an outside expert from Vocus. The state directors’ business meeting and regional meetings took up most of Saturday, August 14.
Tags: State Directors
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September 1st, 2010
The state directors meeting blended right into the board meeting on the evening of August 14 with a dinner cruise on the Potomac. We got down to business at 8 a.m. the following morning. With eight new members on the board of 15 – and three officers new to their positions – it was a great idea to start the meeting with a one-hour refresher course on parliamentary procedure taught by long-time SkillsUSA state director and registered parliamentarian, Dr. Chip Harris. We clearly have perceptive and knowledgeable board members, all of whom take a wealth of experience and ideas to our governance. A report on the board meeting itself will be made when the minutes are complete.
Tags: Board of Directors
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September 1st, 2010
- On Friday, August 13, during the state association directors’ conference, Laurie Gostley-Hackett, manager of philanthropy and community relations at Air Products, presented a check for $100,000 on behalf of Air Products to SkillsUSA. I updated the group on our plans to honor John McGlade, chairman, president, and CEO of Air Products during the inaugural CEO Champion of the Year Award dinner. Air Products will be the dinner host at the Waldorf-Astoria on October 18. I also told them we have plans to stream the event live on the Internet so every state association can be involved. Laurie’s passion for SkillsUSA was obvious. I’m pleased to say that both Toyota and Snap-on have also pledged support for the dinner. A list of high-level dinner attendees will be compiled to help generate excitement and we hope we will encourage CEOs and executives of other current SkillsUSA partners to attend. Formal invitations will be sent via e-mail by September. Questions and requests for more information can be directed to Chris Powell at cpowell@skillsusa.org or 703-737-0621.
- We’ve finished faxing the lists of Championships medalists to Congress and to the governors. We’ve received a lot of requests for home addresses already and expect more will be coming. And, we’re well underway for the Washington Leadership Training Institute this month.
- Staff had a great chapter management workshop in Annapolis with a group of advisors new to SkillsUSA in Maryland. State Association Director Chuck Wallace set everything up.
- I recently returned from Bristol, Tenn., where I attended the IRWIN Bristol Night Race with Board Member Nick Morrisroe and I had a great time.
- And, last week I attended the Youth Development Foundation meeting hosted by Delmar, Cengage Learning in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
Tags: Government Relations, Highlights, Partner News, SkillsUSA Championships, WLTI, Youth Development Foundation
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September 1st, 2010
Register at least 20 student members plus one or more professionals by November 15, 2010, and you will receive a free SkillsUSA DVD. (total value: $10.00).
Instructors who submit a roster with 100 percent membership plus one or more professionals will also receive a SkillsUSA Program of Work calendar (value: $5.95). Deadline: Your roster must be submitted online or postmarked by November 15, 2010, to receive these free items.
Tags: Advisors, Membership
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September 1st, 2010
State Farm Insurance is, once again, generously sponsoring regional Professional Development Program (PDP), Chapter Management Institute (CMI) seminars and Career Skills Education Program (CSEP) seminars. There will be one training session (CMI, PDP or CSEP) per region. All materials and training will be free to participants. The only cost is $30 for lunch and breaks. PDP participants will receive a complete set of PDP materials and free licenses for each level. CMI participants will receive an ASK CD, a SkillsUSA Leadership Handbook and the SkillsUSA Championships Technical Standards CD package. CSEP participants will receive one free CSEP license.
Region 1 Chapter Management Institute (CMI) (Tentative)
Date: TBD
Rhode Island
Region 2 Chapter Management Institute (CMI)
October 16, 2010
8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Lexington Technology Center, 2421 Augusta Highway, Lexington, SC 29072
Deadline Date: October 2, 2010
Region 3 Chapter Management Institute (CMI) (Tentative)
January 2011
Ohio
Region 4 Chapter Management Institute (CMI) (Tentative)
June 2011
Nebraska
Region 5 Chapter Management Institute (CMI) (Tentative)
January 2011
Utah
Chapter Management Institute (CMI) (Tentative)
October 2, 2010
California
Chapter Management Institute (CMI) (Tentative)
January 28, 2011
Georgia
If you would like to sign-up for or host a regional PDP training seminar, CMI training seminar or CSEP training seminar, please contact Stephanie Bland at 703-737-0622 or sbland@skillsusa.org. A minimum of 25 participants is needed to conduct the training.
Tags: CMI, CSEP, PDP, Training
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September 1st, 2010
With an exciting new school year now underway, we’re pleased to invite you to visit the SkillsUSA Web store www.skillsusastore.org – your one-stop resource for all things SkillsUSA. From uniform products and core items, stylish apparel to cool accessories, our online store is available 24/7 to serve you.
Also, coming to your inbox this fall is our new 2010 – 2011 catalog, which previews more than twenty new apparel and product offerings. Redesigned to honor our collective commitment to sustainability, this catalog will become a handy companion to our online store. We encourage you to share the catalog with your SkillsUSA students as well, as our full product line truly has something for everyone.
In addition to new offerings spotlighted in the catalog, our product line is updated throughout the year. Be sure to visit www.skillsusastore.org often to see what’s new.
Remember, SkillsUSA Store is your one-stop outfitter for all Official SkillsUSA products including:
- SkillsUSA Blazers, Wind Jackets and Ties
- Competition Work Uniforms for all events
- Chapter Supplies, Banners and Table Drapes
- SkillsUSA Pins, Patches and Medallions
- Fun and Stylish Fashion Apparel
- SkillsUSA branded Gifts and Accessories
- Customizable Awards
- And much more!
We are also pleased to be your resource for all your custom branded SkillsUSA product and apparel needs. Our merchandising team can provide you with the latest products at competitive prices. From funky T-shirts to cool pins, from decals to flash drives, we have access to more than a million products at every price point. Just call (703-674-5454) or send an e-mail to Steve Korker at skorker@egroup-inc.com, and his team will be happy to help you with concepts and ideas.
Thank you for shopping the SkillsUSA Store and your continued support of our organization.
Tags: E-Group, SkillsUSA Store
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September 1st, 2010
Trade and industrial educators and administrators are invited to submit nominations for the ACTE National Trade and Industrial Education Division Awards. Individuals or groups may nominate qualified people. You may also nominate yourself. Please inform the person you are nominating.
Nominees will be contacted by the Trade and Industrial Education Division Awards Committee chairperson regarding the additional information required and the format to be followed. Materials to be submitted will include letters of recommendation, a statement of personal philosophy, photos and supporting evidence such as newspaper clippings, certificates, etc.
Awards will be presented at the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) Convention.
The deadline for nominations is September 30, 2010.
For more information and to submit your nomination, visit www.skillsusa.org/educators/acte.shtml
Tags: ACTE, ACTE Awards
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September 1st, 2010
Do you have a talented singer in your state who would enjoy a special performance opportunity? SkillsUSA seeks talented singers for the opening ceremony or awards ceremony during the 2011 SkillsUSA National Conference. We are looking for a SkillsUSA student member to sing the national anthem or another patriotic song appropriate for opening a general session. Singers may sing a capella or to a pre-recorded instrumental track. Send in all audition videotapes on DVD, postmarked by February 1, 2011 to: Heidi Ambrose, SkillsUSA, 14001 SkillsUSA Way, Leesburg, VA 20176. Questions may be directed to Heidi at 703-737-0610 or hambrose@skillsusa.org.
Tags: NLSC, SkillsUSA Talent
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August 15th, 2010
We had a great time with the 15 national officers on July 22-29. Some of them said they didn’t want to go home because they were having such a good time here. There was lots of bonding and growth among the students. And, they’ve already left their mark on the National Leadership Center—they planted a dogwood tree in commemoration of their time here and the upcoming work of their team. Before the end of training, the officers elected Ariel Padilla (Texas) as the chair of the Joint Executive Council (JEC) and he will be the national officers’ representative to the board of directors. Loree Hayden (Ill.) was elected vice chair of the JEC representing college/postsecondary and Janie Martinez (Texas) was elected secretary of the JEC and is representing the high school division.
We’ll be testing their training soon. Two officers will be accompanying me on their first Goodwill Tour at the end of August when we go to Winston Salem, N.C. for a Lowe’s vendor luncheon. Also, Katie Grimnes (Wash.) and Ricky Jordan (Mass.) will be the officers speaking at Arlington National Cemetery and the Pentagon during the Washington Leadership Training Institute.
Tags: Goodwill Tour, National Officers, WLTI
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August 15th, 2010
The week of August 6, I participated in the American Culinary Federation (ACF) National Convention in Anaheim. I was a VIP guest of ACF President Chef Michael Ty who has attended the SkillsUSA NLSC for the past two years. He is very interested in engaging with SkillsUSA as a part of ACF’s youth initiatives.
The ACF Convention offered an excellent networking opportunity. I spent time with several SkillsUSA culinary instructors who are also professional members of ACF. I met several ACF partnering companies that could be SkillsUSA supporters and spent quality time with international culinary representatives from Canada, Iceland and Germany, and I had an excellent exchange with the leader of the World Association of Chefs.
A highlight was the time I spent with Dr. Janey Thornton, deputy under secretary, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Services discussing USDA’s interest in our culinary programs and a national campaign on childhood nutrition. At the President’s Ball on Thursday night, I also met with ACF’s executive director to compare notes on nonprofit association management. We will be working together and sharing best practices. Finally, as a bonus, Greg Rintala, YDF Chair and board member from Snap-on, Inc. took me to lunch on Thursday, and we had a good conversation about our partnership and the upcoming board and YDF meetings.
Tags: Government Relations
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