- I’m delighted to report that Niki Clausen will be our new full-time alumni coordinator. Niki will start in her new position on November 2. She brings a wealth of background and experience as a former SkillsUSA national officer, a culinary teacher, a SkillsUSA chapter advisor, Oregon state association director and as a member of the national alumni coordinating council. Thanks go to both Lowe’s and Air Products for their support in making this happen.
- The October 6 ACTE (Association for Career and Technical Education) “Cooking Up a Future” Congressional Reception on Capitol Hill was quite successful this year. According to ACTE, at least four members of Congress and staff from over 100 congressional offices attended during the two-hour event. SkillsUSA was one of four student organizations participating and the only one doing a demonstration. Thanks to Chef Christine Gloninger and Chef Frans Hagen, three students from Annandale High School were preparing and serving crepes to the guests. They ran the exhibit to visit and everyone did.
- We had a great conference call with Brian Spiro and Tim Humes of Carhartt to discuss their future support for SkillsUSA including Carhartt becoming a clothing supplier through E-Group.
- During our meeting on October 13, the Architectural Woodwork Institute committed to increasing its support for SkillsUSA and helping form new chapters in states where AWI has member companies.
- The Senate confirmed Brenda Dann-Messier on October 5 to be the new assistant secretary for vocational adult education in the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Vocational and Adult Education (OVAE). The assistant secretary has a strong commitment to adult learning and helping students to transition into postsecondary education. We look forward to working with her.
Highlights
November 1st, 2009Alumni Coordinating Committee Nominations
November 1st, 2009SkillsUSA is seeking alumni leaders to serve on the national Alumni Coordinating Committee for the SkillsUSA Alumni and Friends Association.
Applications are now being accepted for the following positions: Regions 2, Region 4 and Executive Chair. These are two-year terms beginning July 1, 2010. We encourage you to nominate yourself or any former SkillsUSA member who is registered as an alumni member.
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.
Highlights
September 1st, 2009We held nearly two full-day meetings with intelitek here at the national center to discuss progress on Skill Connect Assessments, including the status of each assessment and the roll out of the next series of tests. There’s no doubt that SkillsUSA is receiving enthusiastic responses from across the country; but, we’re still at work on details for several of the tests to be sure pilot testing is complete in time for projected test launch. We spent most of Thursday working on the business and marketing plans, including staffing. On Wednesday, we had a conference call at the request of a state department of education to answer questions on the delivery of the assessments on a statewide basis.
On August 27, I had a meeting at State Farm, thanks to board member Russ Hoffbauer. New national officers Zia Green and Stephen Lupton accompanied me. I met with Cameron Ferguson and one of Caterpillar’s worldwide talent recruiters for breakfast that morning. And, while I’m mentioning great partnership supporters, staff recently returned from a one-day trip to Allentown, Pa., where they met with executives from Air Products. They said it was a very productive meeting with lots of discussion about alumni membership among many other things.
The letters to Congress and the governors about their SkillsUSA Championships champions and Skill Point Certificate recipients have all been sent, and we’re getting responses asking for student home addresses. We have some state association directors who have caught on that this is a great excuse to pay a visit to the governors’ offices. We love it. SkillsUSA is building networks to support our students all the time.
SkillsUSA Alumni Membership
August 15th, 2009SkillsUSA is closing out the FY09 fiscal year and one of our important goals this year has been to grow our Alumni membership. SkillsUSA Alumni membership is free and it is open to anyone. Registered members get electronic newsletters, the online version of the magazine and other communications on a regular basis. Alumni membership is also open to your business partners, to your contest committees, judges or anyone else within your state organization. We do not sell our list or use it for any other purpose.
Please help us by forwarding this message, by asking your graduating students to become SkillsUSA Alumni members, or by posting a link to the alumni join page on your state Web site.
To join Alumni, go to: www.skillsusa.org/supporters/alumnireg.shtml.
2009-10 Alumni Coordinating Committee Correction
August 1st, 20092009-10 ALUMNI COORDINATING COMMITTEE CORRECTION
The following was announced in the July 15 issue of Executive Update with an error. The state association director liaison is Dara Dubois. The corrected 2009-10 alumni coordinating committee team is:
Executive Chair: George Laubmeier, Wisconsin
Executive Secretary: Brittani Cockayne, Maine
Region 1 Representative: Kristen Smith, Rhode Island
Region 2 Representative: Albert Rice, Arkansas
Region 3 Representative: Peggy Plowman, Michigan
Region 4 Representative: Brice Harader-Pate, Oklahoma
Region 5 Representative: Jessica Lueck, Washington
State Association Director Liaison: Dara Dubois, California
To contact your regional representative, go to: http://www.skillsusa.org/supporters/alumnicoord.shtml.
The following was announced in the July 15 issue of Executive Update with an error. The state association director liaison is Dara Dubois. The corrected 2009-10 alumni coordinating committee team is:
Executive Chair: George Laubmeier, Wis.
Executive Secretary: Brittani Cockayne, Maine
Region 1 Representative: Kristen Smith, R.I.
Region 2 Representative: Albert Rice, Ark.
Region 3 Representative: Peggy Plowman, Mich.
Region 4 Representative: Brice Harader-Pate, Okla.
Region 5 Representative: Jessica Lueck, Wash.
State Association Director Liaison: Dara Dubois, Calif.
To contact your regional representative, go to: www.skillsusa.org/supporters/alumnicoord.shtml.
Share Your Creative Ideas for Alumni
July 15th, 2009SkillsUSA has nearly 10 million former SkillsUSA members, and we are currently seeking new ways for those with a passion for the program to stay involved in future activities at the local, state and national levels. Many states have effective alumni programs tied to their fall leadership or spring state conference activities. Some local chapters have found useful ways to involve alumni in their programs.
If you have success stories, suggestions, or know of effective alumni engagement activities at local schools within your state, please share this information with our Alumni Coordinating Committee members or our national headquarters staff. We are conducting informal research and gathering ideas as we plan for FY10. Contact any committee member by e-mail using the links on the following Web page: http://www.skillsusa.org/supporters/alumnicoord.shtml
SkillsUSA has nearly 10 million former SkillsUSA members, and we are currently seeking new ways for those with a passion for the program to stay involved in future activities at the local, state and national levels. Many states have effective alumni programs tied to their fall leadership or spring state conference activities. Some local chapters have found useful ways to involve alumni in their programs.
If you have success stories, suggestions, or know of effective alumni engagement activities at local schools within your state, please share this information with our Alumni Coordinating Committee members or our national headquarters staff. We are conducting informal research and gathering ideas as we plan for FY10. Contact any committee member by e-mail using the links on the following Web page: www.skillsusa.org/supporters/alumnicoord.shtml
You may also send ideas to Karen Perrino at kperrino@skillsusa.org or Kelly Horton at khorton@skillsusa.org.
2009-10 Alumni Coordinating Committee Members Announced
July 15th, 2009Following the recent election, the 2009-10 Alumni Coordinating Committee has been announced:
Executive Chair: George Laubmeier, Wisconsin
Executive Secretary: Brittani Cockayne, Maine
Region 1 Representative: Kristen Smith, Rhode Island
Region 2 Representative: Albert Rice, Arkansas
Region 3 Representative: Peggy Plowman, Michigan
Region 4 Representative: Brice Harader-Pate, Oklahoma
Region 5 Representative: Jessica Lueck, Washington
State Association Director Liaison: Niki Clausen, Oregon
The committee members look forward to working with their respective state association directors during the coming year. The group is working to coordinate their first conference call. To contact your regional representative, go to: http://www.skillsusa.org/supporters/alumnicoord.shtml.
Following the recent election, the 2009-10 Alumni Coordinating Committee has been announced:
Executive Chair: George Laubmeier, Wis.
Executive Secretary: Brittani Cockayne, Maine
Region 1 Representative: Kristen Smith, R.I.
Region 2 Representative: Albert Rice, Ark.
Region 3 Representative: Peggy Plowman, Mich.
Region 4 Representative: Brice Harader-Pate, Okla.
Region 5 Representative: Jessica Lueck, Wash.
State Association Director Liaison: Niki Clausen, Ore.
The committee members look forward to working with their respective state association directors during the coming year. The group is working to coordinate their first conference call. To contact your regional representative, go to: www.skillsusa.org/supporters/alumnicoord.shtml.
Dunk Tank Returns to Nationals
June 1st, 2009Bosch Power Tools will, once again, help raise money for the Alumni Fund by hosting a dunk tank during the 2009 SkillsUSA National Conference. We seek state directors, state officers, state trainers, national officers or others who are well known in the SkillsUSA family who can bring out a crowd to dunk them!
The dunk tank will operate Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in the Bosch outdoor exhibit area. All proceeds raised by the dunk tank will benefit the Alumni Fund. Chances cost $1 a ball or 4 balls for $5. Last year, the effort raised $1,500 for the SkillsUSA Alumni and Friends Association.
Bosch seeks willing dunkees to spend an hour in the tank, and all proceeds will be tracked by state. The state raising the most funds for the alumni will be recognized by SkillsUSA and Bosch at the August State Association Director meeting.
Tank shifts are first-come, first-served from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday. Dunkees should take a swimsuit or wear clothes they do not mind getting wet. Towels will be available.
To schedule your state representative in the dunk tank, call Rebecca Langguth at Bosch at 224-232-2736 or e-mail her at Rebecca.Langguth@us.bosch.com. If you have questions for SkillsUSA on this effort, please contact Karen Perrino at 703-737-0610 or kperrino@skillsusa.org.
Twilight 5K Champions Run on June 24
June 1st, 2009SkillsUSA will be holding the second annual twilight 5K Champions Run on June 24 in Kansas City during national conference. Managed by the Kansas City Track Club, the run takes place on Wednesday, June 24, 2009 at 7 p.m. at Liberty Memorial Park, across from Union Station and the Westin Hotel. (Runners can then proceed right across the street to the Champions Festival, but they should be sure to take a change of clothes. The conference t-shirt is required for admission to the Festival.)
Registration is $15 per person and includes a t-shirt and a medallion for the first 300 finishers. Runners, joggers, walkers or groups are all welcome. No headphones, strollers, animals, stakes or skateboards will be allowed on the racecourse. We encourage school groups or instructors to run with their students. State officer teams or other state groups are encouraged,and we can invoice for state groups. Send registration forms to: Karen Perrino, SkillsUSA 5K Race, 14001 SkillsUSA Way, Leesburg, VA 20176. For questions, contact Karen at kperrino@skillsusa.org or 703-737-0610. Space is limited, so register early! To download a race form, go to www.skillsusa.org/supporters/alumni5k.shtml.
Alumni Committee Elections Reminder
June 1st, 2009All registered alumni members are eligible to participate in the 2009 Alumni Coordinating Committee elections. Representatives for Regions 1, 3, and 5 will be elected on this ballot. Members residing in those regions will elect the Regional Representatives.
Ballots will be counted at the 2009 SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference, and results will be announced on Friday, June 26, at the Annual Alumni Luncheon.
Alumni members may vote by any of the following methods (one vote per registered member) using the ballot at www.skillsusa.org/downloads/PDF/alumniballot.pdf.
- Download a ballot, complete it and fax it to 703-777-1306
- Download a ballot, complete it and mail it to: SkillsUSA Alumni, 14001 SkillsUSA Way, Leesburg, VA 20176-5494
- Download a ballot, complete it and e-mail it back to kbeatty@skillsusa.org.
Members who did not receive an alumni mailing and wish to have a ballot mailed to them, please contact Karen Beatty at 703-737-0624 or kbeatty@skillsusa.org.
