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CPR Certification at National Conference

April 30th, 2013

The SkillsUSA Alumni & Friends Association is proud to offer CPR certification during the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference on Tuesday, June 25 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Kansas City Downtown Marriott, Truman Room B. Online preregistration is required of all participants at: www.surveymonkey.com/s/VZNYZKL.

Certification cost is $20.

CPR Certification Offered during NLSC

April 15th, 2013

The Alumni & Friends Association is proud to offer CPR certification during the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference on Tuesday, June 25 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Kansas City Downtown Marriott, Truman Room B. Online preregistration is required of all participants at: www.surveymonkey.com/s/VZNYZKL.

Inaugural Alumni Roundtable Training and Volunteering at NLSC 2013

April 15th, 2013
Alumni Coordinating Committee

Alumni Coordinating Committee

“Speed date” your National Alumni Coordinating Committee representatives on Monday, June 24 from 9 a.m. to noon. In this fun, fast-paced and exciting roundtable training session, you will gain knowledge in a variety of alumni topics from starting a state association to planning activities for alumni. Reserve your place at the table by June 1: www.skillsusa.org/supporters/alumni.shtml#RT

We are also seeking dedicated individuals to assist with the NLSC. Alumni who volunteer daily at the conference can have their conference registration fee waived. Alumni help is needed on the booth team, leadership team, Championships team and special services team. While at conference, alumni volunteers will also have the opportunity to network with partners, members, staff and other alumni, and will get to participate in conference events. This is a great way for alumni members to stay involved and continue the SkillsUSA journey. The registration deadline to be an alumni volunteer is also June 1.

An NLSC 2013 alumni registration form and the list of alumni activities are enclosed with the hard copy of this Executive Update for state association directors. Please pass it on to alumni from your states. For more information about the alumni training or being an alumni volunteer, please contact Heidi Walsh at hwalsh@skillsusa.org, or go to: www.skillsusa.org/supporters/alumninlsc.shtml.

SkillsUSA Board of Directors Meets in North Carolina

April 1st, 2013

The SkillsUSA board of directors met on March 12-13 in Huntersville, N.C. The meeting was hosted by IRWIN at their corporate offices and Learning and Development Center. IRWIN kicked off the board meeting with dinner at the Peninsula Club on Lake Norman and Rich Wuerthele, president of IRWIN, spoke to the group and brought the official welcome. Six IRWIN staff members participated in the evening event, including our host and board member, Nick Mastrone and YDF member Cheryl Mehrmann.

The morning of March 13 began with an overview of the Newell Rubbermaid family of brands by Rich and an overview of the IRWIN operations and workforce awareness programs by Nick. The board then toured the Learning and Development Center and learned how product research, development and testing are performed on a variety of products. Our main tour guide, Doug Nelson, IRWIN’s senior prototype manager, told us at the beginning of the tour that he was a SkillsUSA member back when it was VICA and he is still involved assisting with SkillsUSA competitions. It’s always great to see success in former members.

The board’s business meeting was March 14 and we were pleased that Peyton Holland, N.C., college/postsecondary state association director joined us for the day. A big thank-you goes to Nick Mastrone and the entire IRWIN team for their incredible hospitality and for a high quality experience for the board and staff at their corporate offices.

Highlights

April 1st, 2013
  • Staff made development visits in Texas on Monday, March 11. First stop was at Burlington Northern and Santa Fe (BNSF) Railway in Ft. Worth. BNSF Railway operates more than 1,000 trains a day on one of the largest freight rail transportation networks in North America. BNSF will have an outdoor display at SkillsUSA TECHSPO. The second visit was with The Dwyer Group in Waco where they discussed women in the trades scholarships for our students. The Dwyer Group offers franchise business opportunities including Air Serv, Mr. Appliance, Mr. Rooter, Mr. Electric, Rainbow International, The Grounds Guys and Glass Doctor.
  • Staff traveled to Reno, Nev. with associates from the Ringenburg Group to conduct the last of four high school and college/postsecondary focus group sessions. The research was conducted with teachers and students of both membership levels. Staff facilitated educational resource and skill development training for the participants when they were not in the focus group meetings. A report compiling the focus group findings will be provided to the SkillsUSA marketing team in May and will be used to direct the membership and marketing plan for the organization.
  • Speaking of alumni success stories. Staff reports that the summer issue of SkillsUSA Champions magazine will feature a former SkillsUSA member who is now a successful food stylist for a major home shopping network.
  • On March 14-15  I travelled to Louisville, Ky., where we met with executives from Ford Motor Company and General Electric. We also met with the new president of the Kentucky State Fair Board and toured some potential storage facilities. We also met with staff at the Kentucky Department of Education, including Fran Dundon and new state association director, Larry Johnson.

Alumni Membership Incentive

February 27th, 2013

Join the SkillsUSA Alumni and FriendsThe Alumni Coordinating Committee is offering an incentive for SkillsUSA advisors who sign up alumni from their chapters. For every five members an advisor registers with the SkillsUSA Alumni & Friends Association, he or she will be entered into a drawing for a $100 Lowe’s gift card.

To be officially entered into the drawing, the advisor must have students register online at: www.skillsusa.org/supporters/alumnijoin.shtml. (Paper forms will not be accepted.) The advisor must then send an email to Byekwaso Gilbert at bgilbert@skillsusa.org. The email must contain all of the following: the advisor’s name, school, address, phone and email (make sure what you provide will be accessible to you after June 1); and, a list (for verification) of the students (first and last names) who registered as alumni.

Remember that graduating seniors qualify to register during their senior year. Former SkillsUSA students are also eligible, provided they are not members already. These students must register through their former advisor to be counted as part of that advisor’s entry. Students may only register once. Deadline for entry into the drawing is June 1.

Alumni Membership Incentive

February 12th, 2013

Alumni membershipThe Alumni Coordinating Committee is offering an incentive for SkillsUSA advisors who sign up alumni from their chapters. For every five members an advisor registers with the SkillsUSA Alumni & Friends Association, he or she will be entered into a drawing for a $100 Lowe’s gift card.

To be officially entered into the drawing, the advisor must have students register online at: www.skillsusa.org/supporters/alumnijoin.shtml. (Paper forms will not be accepted.) The advisor must then send an email to Byekwaso Gilbert at bgilbert@skillsusa.org. The email must contain all of the following:

  • the advisor’s name, school, address, phone and email (make sure what you provide will be accessible to you after June 1)
  • a list (for verification) of the students (first and last names) who registered as alumni

Remember that graduating seniors qualify to register during their senior year. Former SkillsUSA students are also eligible, provided they are not members already. These students must register through their former advisor to be counted as part of that advisor’s entry. Students may only register once. Deadline for entry into the drawing is June 1. 

Alumni Coordinating Committee Nominations

January 31st, 2013

The SkillsUSA Alumni Coordinating Committee (ACC) is seeking nominations for Regions I, III and V. If you, or someone you know, would like to run for a position on the committee, please complete the nomination form. The form is posted online at: www.skillsusa.org/supporters/alumniballot.shtml. This dynamic group provides leadership and guidance in furthering the goals and purposes of SkillsUSA and its alumni. This group of elected volunteers works directly with the national staff and meets regularly to carry out alumni projects. Please contact Heidi Walsh at hwalsh@skillsusa.org if you have questions or would like more information. You can also visit our website. Nominations must be received by April 1, 2013.

Alumni Coordinating Committee Nominations

December 20th, 2012

Alumni Coordinating Committee

The SkillsUSA Alumni Coordinating Committee (ACC) is seeking nominations for Regions I, III and V. If you, or someone you know, would like to run for a position on the committee, please complete the nomination form. The form is posted online at: www.skillsusa.org/supporters/alumniballot.shtml. This dynamic group provides leadership and guidance in furthering the goals and purposes of SkillsUSA and its alumni. This group of elected volunteers works directly with the national staff and meets regularly to carry out alumni projects.

Please contact Heidi Walsh at hwalsh@skillsusa.org if you have questions or would like more information.

Alumni Pin Design Contest

December 13th, 2012

The SkillsUSA Alumni and Friends Association is sponsoring an alumni pin design contest. The winning design will become the official alumni pin for the 2013 National Leadership and Skills Conference. The deadline for pin designs to be received by the national office is February 28. Designs must be received, not postmarked by February 28, and those submitting designs must be registered alumni members. If you have any questions, please contact Heidi Walsh at hwalsh@skillsusa.org or call 703-737-0615. For more information and contest guidelines, go to: www.skillsusa.org/supporters/alumni.shtml.