November 1st, 2009
The students attending the Washington Leadership Training Institute wrote comments such as: “WLTI is one of the best things that has happened in my life” and “The experience was life changing and amazing.” I guess that’s why students ranked their conference satisfaction surveys at 4.55 on a scale of one to five with five being the highest. In the 23 areas receiving a ranking, none received a score below a four. Advisors had similar reactions. Their overall ranking was 4.53, and they wrote comments such as “I felt this was worth the work I put in” and “Transportation, sessions, outings – all were outstanding for me and my students.”
Deb Tripp ran our WLTI conference debriefing session with staff recently. She said one of the secrets to the ratings was that there was something new or different in each day’s schedule to keep the program fresh and relevant. She also reported that the community service activity during WLTI produced 406 letters to service personnel and were sent to Military Mission for delivery.
The week following WLTI, students at one school in South Carolina sent an additional 100 letters to Military Mission. We certainly struck a chord there. Two more comments from students: “Arlington and the Pentagon were WOW beyond explaining” and “I believe SkillsUSA should look into donating a tree to Arlington Cemetery. It’s something we can do that will be there a very long time.”
Tags: WLTI
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October 15th, 2009
We’re still reviewing delegation reports from the students’ visits to Capitol Hill. We’ve received more detailed reports than in the past, and we know that 16 states held meetings with at least 70 different Senate and House offices on September 22. The students are always told to find common ground when visiting their senators and representatives, and at least two visits by Texas delegations yielded some surprises:
“As we toured the Capitol, we met a gentleman who is a legislative aide for Congresswoman Sheila Jackson from the 18th District in Texas. He asked us if SkillsUSA was the organization formerly known as VICA. We said yes, and he told us he had been a member when he was in high school and that VICA had laid the foundation for his success as an adult.”
Another student wrote: “Congressman Solomon Ortiz (27th District) was attentive to what we had to say. He related to what we were talking about because he had been involved in VICA. He explained how VICA had helped him get a job when he needed it most.”
The students also made strong and positive impressions on Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor Ortiz and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Education Glenn Cummings. Following his visit, Mr. Cummings wrote: “I cannot tell you how happy I was to speak to your excellent group of students. It was a thrill for me to have such an attentive and passionate crowd when it comes to CTE … I would very much like to learn more about your skills assessments and performance measurements – they sound terrific.”
We’re proud of the students and advisors who participated in WLTI for carrying forward the message of career and technical education and SkillsUSA.
Tags: Government Relations, WLTI
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October 15th, 2009
On the last day of the WLTI, we met with representatives from the U.S. Army’s agency. They told us that because the economy has been bad Army recruitment has been good. As a consequence, they’ve met their recruiting goal, and their budget has been cut 42 percent. We were waiting for the other shoe to drop. Instead, they told us there are only three approved sponsorships this year and SkillsUSA is one of them. Their funding for SkillsUSA will remain level. They said the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference is one of their best events all year, and they’re looking into scholarships for students to attend WLTI.
* The final transactions between Midwest Trophy and our new SkillsUSA Store were completed. The folks at E Group reported they have received the last of the inventory and everything looks good.
* In the “out and about section:” Tom Holdsworth and I had a great visit with board member Jim McKenney to discuss areas of greater cooperation between the American Association of Community Colleges and SkillsUSA, particularly on the legislative front; Marsha Daves and Bruce Potter recently returned from Alaska where they worked with chapters under the W.K. Kellogg Foundation grant; Tom Holdsworth and a representative from TSA (Technology Student Association) traveled to Baltimore on September 29 to present on the Engineering Alliance to supervisors of technology education in Maryland; I recently traveled to New Hampshire for a meeting with intelitek, and I spoke at a STEM conference there; and, (drum roll, please) last weekend I took my young grandson, Will, to Disney World. We had an awesome time!
- On the last day of the WLTI, we met with representatives from the U.S. Army’s agency. They told us that because the economy has been bad Army recruitment has been good. As a consequence, they’ve met their recruiting goal, and their budget has been cut 42 percent. We were waiting for the other shoe to drop. Instead, they told us there are only three approved sponsorships this year and SkillsUSA is one of them. Their funding for SkillsUSA will remain level. They said the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference is one of their best events all year, and they’re looking into scholarships for students to attend WLTI.
- The final transactions between Midwest Trophy and our new SkillsUSA Store were completed. The folks at E Group reported they have received the last of the inventory and everything looks good.
- In the “out and about section:” Staff and I had a great visit with board member Jim McKenney to discuss areas of greater cooperation between the American Association of Community Colleges and SkillsUSA, particularly on the legislative front; Staff recently returned from Alaska where they worked with chapters under the W.K. Kellogg Foundation grant; Staff and a representative from TSA (Technology Student Association) traveled to Baltimore on September 29 to present on the Engineering Alliance to supervisors of technology education in Maryland; I recently traveled to New Hampshire for a meeting with intelitek, and I spoke at a STEM conference there; and, (drum roll, please) last weekend I took my young grandson, Will, to Disney World. We had an awesome time!
Tags: E-Group, Engineering Alliance, Highlights, NLSC, SkillsUSA Store, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, WLTI
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October 1st, 2009
The Washington Leadership Training Institute is complete. It was our 42nd WLTI and in my opinion, it was one of our best. While the National Leadership and Skills Conference is our best-known event, the WLTI is as close to the original mission of SkillsUSA as the Championships. Right from the beginning, the Washington Leadership Training Institute was to be our way of giving students and teachers a voice on Capitol Hill. It was their way of talking to elected officials about the importance of career and technical education and the students who have chosen this course. These delegates have now joined a long line of red blazers who have made their feelings known on the Hill since 1966. State Farm Insurance Companies sponsored the 2009 Washington Leadership Training Institute.
Delegations from 24 states – including Puerto Rico – with 70 instructors and 16 state association directors attended WLTI. The keynote speaker was Deputy Assistant Secretary Ismael (Junior) Ortiz from the Veterans’ Employment and Training Services (VETS), U.S. Department of Labor. Our feature speaker on Monday was Deputy Assistant Secretary Glenn A. Cummings, Office of Vocational and Adult Education (OVAE), U.S. Department of Education. We also had presentations from the National Governors Association, the Council of Chief State School Officers, the Association for Career and Technical Education, Capitol Advantage, the American Association of Community Colleges and the National Association of State Directors of Career and Technical Education consortium. This is always an excellent opportunity to show the administration and other essential partners of SkillsUSA what CTE and we can do for America.
Delegations from 24 states – including Puerto Rico – with 70 instructors and 16 state association directors attended WLTI. The keynote speaker was Deputy Assistant Secretary Ismael (Junior) Ortiz from the Veterans’ Employment and Training Services (VETS), U.S. Department of Labor. Our feature speaker on Monday was Deputy Assistant Secretary Glenn A. Cummings, Office of Vocational and Adult Education (OVAE), U.S. Department of Education. We also had presentations from the National Governors Association, the Council of Chief State School Officers, the Association for Career and Technical Education, Capitol Advantage, the American Association of Community Colleges and the National Association of State Directors of Career and Technical Education consortium. This is always an excellent opportunity to show the administration and other essential partners of SkillsUSA what CTE and we can do for America.
The highlight of their trip was to meet with their members of congress to discuss CTE’s role in economic development and rigorous education. We have an initial count of 89 congressional visits. The delegations also participated in a wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington Cemetery and a remembrance at the 9-11 Memorial at the Pentagon.
Tags: WLTI
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August 15th, 2009
Highlights
The 2009-10 new national officers excelled in training and have selected their officers. The presidents are Andrew Zigler from Texas (high school) and Annalee Santos from Florida (college/postsecondary). Brandon Mullings from Florida is the college/postsecondary vice president and JEC (junior executive council) chair. The entire 2009-10 national officer listing was published in the August 1 Executive Update.
Plans are underway for this year’s Washington Leadership Training Institute, and we are delighted to announce that Deputy Assistant Secretary Glen Cummings from the U.S. Department of Education has accepted our invitation to be the luncheon speaker on Monday, September 21. We’ve also invited Jane Oates, the new Assistant Secretary for Labor, to be our opening speaker and Dane Linn, Director of Education for the National Governors Association, to be with us as part of a panel presentation for advisors.
SkillsUSA’s WorldTeam will be coming to town on August 27 for a final team gathering before leaving for Calgary. We have requested and are hopeful that Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden will host a recognition event for them.
Levels 1 and 2 of the new PDP online will be beta tested by about 30 teachers in August with plans to have these levels finished and ready for purchase by September 2.
The Engineering Alliance initiative is moving forward. The Web site will be up this fall, and online leadership modules and contests are scheduled to be completed and ready for teachers in January.
- The 2009-10 new national officers excelled in training and have selected their officers. The presidents are Andrew Zigler from Texas (high school) and Annalee Santos from Florida (college/postsecondary). Brandon Mullings from Florida is the college/postsecondary vice president and JEC (junior executive council) chair. The entire 2009-10 national officer listing can be found here.
- Plans are underway for this year’s Washington Leadership Training Institute, and we are delighted to announce that Deputy Assistant Secretary Glen Cummings from the U.S. Department of Education has accepted our invitation to be the luncheon speaker on Monday, September 21. We’ve also invited Jane Oates, the new Assistant Secretary for Labor, to be our opening speaker and Dane Linn, Director of Education for the National Governors Association, to be with us as part of a panel presentation for advisors.
- SkillsUSA’s WorldTeam will be coming to town on August 27 for a final team gathering before leaving for Calgary. We have requested and are hopeful that Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden will host a recognition event for them.
- Levels 1 and 2 of the new PDP online will be beta tested by about 30 teachers in August with plans to have these levels finished and ready for purchase by September 2.
- The Engineering Alliance initiative is moving forward. The Web site will be up this fall, and online leadership modules and contests are scheduled to be completed and ready for teachers in January.
Tags: Highlights, National Officers, PDP, Professional Development Program, WLTI, WorldTeam
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July 15th, 2009
The Washington Leadership Training Institute (WLTI), a five-day advanced leadership program for students and advisors, will be held September 19-23, 2009 at the Hilton Washington Dulles Airport near the SkillsUSA National Center and Washington, D.C. Students who are interested must apply and be accepted through their respective state director’s office and have state approval prior to registering. Student sessions focus on how an individual can affect change: The impact of the individual as a leader, citizen and employee; learning advocacy skills and strategies, and participation in Congressional visits “on the Hill” are the culminating activities of the Institute.
Advisors will have a separate training track centered on becoming an advocate for career and technical education. WLTI forms are available online at http://www.skillsusa.org/training.html. Please contact the national office (1-800-321-8422) if you wish to have WLTI forms mailed/faxed to you. Questions about the application process can be directed to Deborah Kenn Tripp at 1-800-321-8422, Ext. 637.
The Washington Leadership Training Institute (WLTI), a five-day advanced leadership program for students and advisors, will be held September 19-23, 2009 at the Hilton Washington Dulles Airport near the SkillsUSA National Center and Washington, D.C. Students who are interested must apply and be accepted through their respective state director’s office and have state approval prior to registering. Student sessions focus on how an individual can affect change: The impact of the individual as a leader, citizen and employee; learning advocacy skills and strategies, and participation in Congressional visits “on the Hill” are the culminating activities of the Institute.
Advisors will have a separate training track centered on becoming an advocate for career and technical education. WLTI forms are available online at www.skillsusa.org/events/wlti.shtml. Please contact the national office (1-800-321-8422) if you wish to have WLTI forms mailed/faxed to you. Questions about the application process can be directed to Deborah Kenn Tripp at 1-800-321-8422, Ext. 637.
Tags: WLTI
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July 15th, 2009
On Tuesday, September 22, the students and advisors attending WLTI will have time to go to Capitol Hill and visit with their Senators and Representatives between 10:15 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. (The bus leaves at 3:00 p.m.) Appointments need to be set up ahead of time. A sample letter is enclosed with the hard copy of this Update for state association directors and has also been posted on the state director’s Web site.
You are also welcome to use the SkillsUSA Champions Advocacy Site. You could cut and paste the letter from the state directors’ site to your computer desktop – make your edits – and then you or your WLTI delegate can upload your letter to request appointments. You can access the site from the main page at www.skillsusa.org and click on “About Us” and then “Advocacy and Legislative” and then “Advocacy Site.” From there, you plug in the zip codes and the rest is self-explanatory.
Note: letters sent by mail may take a month to reach Congressional offices because of security systems. We suggest those requesting appointments do so by e-mail or fax and then follow up with a phone call.
If you have questions, or need information about how to contact your representative, contact Jane Short at 703-737-0612 or by e-mail at jshort@skillsusa.org.
On Tuesday, September 22, the students and advisors attending WLTI will have time to go to Capitol Hill and visit with their Senators and Representatives between 10:15 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. (The bus leaves at 3 p.m.) Appointments need to be set up ahead of time.
A sample letter is available here.
You are also welcome to use the SkillsUSA Champions Advocacy Site. You can download the sample letter – make your edits – and then you or your WLTI delegate can upload your letter to request appointments. You can access the site from the link above. From there, you plug in the zip codes and the rest is self-explanatory.
Note: letters sent by mail may take a month to reach Congressional offices because of security systems. We suggest those requesting appointments do so by e-mail or fax and then follow up with a phone call.
If you have questions, or need information about how to contact your representative, contact Jane Short at 703-737-0612 or by e-mail at jshort@skillsusa.org.
Tags: Government Relations, WLTI
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July 15th, 2009
- The SkillsUSA WorldTeam trained on Saturday, June 27 in areas such as time management and interpersonal communications skills that take on heightened importance in the WorldSkills Competition. Laurent Thibault of the WorldSkills International Board attended the NLSC and said publicly. “We have always heard about the SkillsUSA Championships. Now that I’ve seen it I can say this is the largest and greatest display of skills anywhere in the world.” The Championships is featured on the home page of WorldSkills International at www.worldskills.org.
- The Skill Connect Assessments booth was a hopping place during conference. Frequently all 20 demonstration computers were in use with teachers test-driving the 34 assessments on display. Reactions were extremely positive. Over 500 teachers stopped by for the demonstrations.
- The Sustainability Solutions contest is off to a good start. Nine student teams displayed their talents and sustainability projects. The projects ranged from green building projects, alternative fuel systems and green blogs and Web sites. We were happy that four companies joined the national technical committee and that the committee chair was former national officer Grayson DeGraff, now a manager with Lowe’s.
- The new Professional Development Program (PDP) curriculum online – Levels 1 and 2 – will be ready for release at the beginning of school. Thanks to Air Products for providing the resources to revise and reprint PDP and to Lowe’s for the resources to move it to an interactive online learning environment.
- Oh, and we do share the news about our students. News releases on our medalists were e-mailed to 1,507 daily newspapers and 2,034 non-daily papers across the country. News releases for the Skill Point recipients were e-mailed to 1,563 daily papers and 3,011 non-daily papers. Word is that reporters are calling and the news stories are coming in at a rapid clip.
- People say: “Now that conference is over it must be nice to get a rest.” There’s no rest. We have a lot coming up very quickly including: national officer training; the state association directors’ meeting and board meeting in Charleston; the WorldSkills Competition and YDF meeting in Calgary; the launch of the Engineering Alliance; and, the Washington Leadership Training Institute. All of that is in the next two months.
Tags: Highlights, PDP, Skill Connect Assessments, WLTI, Work Force Ready System, WorldSkills Competition, WorldTeam
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June 1st, 2009
The 2009 WLTI will be held at the September 19-23, 2009 at the Hilton Washington/Dulles Airport. State association directors-please read the following to help you with registration.
Application and Registration Process
The national office has outlined steps for this year’s WLTI registration process. Students who are interested in attending MUST apply to their state office, be accepted by their state office and meet state approval prior to being registered. Advisors and other participants do not need to apply through their state office and can follow the registration steps below. WLTI application, registration, and liability/medical forms are available online. Please contact the national office at 1-800-321-8422 if you wish to have WLTI forms mailed/faxed to you; ask for Susan Trent. Questions about the application process can be directed to Deborah Kenn Tripp at 1-800-321-8422, ext. 637 or dtipp@skillsusa.org.
Tags: WLTI
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