May 12, 2009
Board/Advisor Summer Conference - Northern Lights Conference Center, Walker, MN, August 4-5, 2010
May 5, 2009
Thank you for your patience as we established some details for Competitive Events at NLC in June.
As you know, Conference and Competitive Events registration are now open.
Move-ups and substitutions are left to the discretion of State Advisors. However, we are unable to accept new Competitive Events registrations for new individuals or new teams in Pre-Submit Events (events with technical projects that have been submitted by mail or e-mail). Although we cannot add new individuals or new teams for these events, we are able to accept substitutions within existing teams that were registered prior to the change of date to NLC.
Also, due to the extenuating circumstances caused by the need to reschedule NLC, we will allow single contestants to represent their teams at NLC. There will be no penalty for “missing members” unless other team members who are registered for NLC fail to present.
The minimum number of students for a Parliamentary Procedure team will be three.
Please encourage communication with local advisors to facilitate move-ups and substitutions prior to the closure of registration on May 22. Although we will offer Competitive Events registration on-site, as we plan for the necessary numbers of APGs, event sections, etc., real numbers will allow us to plan more effectively and provide a better conference experience. Thank you for your help to minimize on-site Competitive Events registration.
I hope that this information is helpful. I appreciate your patience and welcome any questions or requests for clarification.
BPA ADVISORS -
Thanks for hanging in with me on the announcement of the 2009 NLC. You should
have received an email such as this below with instructions to go back online
to submit/confirmation registration and housing.
IF YOU ARE ATTENDING
WITH FEWER OR DIFFERENT STUDENTS - Please resubmit your state excel spreadsheet
with new information.
IF YOU HAVE THE SAME ATTENDEES - let me know and I will use the same information.
IF YOU ARE NOT ATTENDING -
You will need to submit the cancellation form to nationals. Please confirm
this with me as well as I will be working thru to process refunds for your
housing.
We are back to square one with housing so please let me know who is looking
for room mates if you were planning on sharing with another chapter that is
now not attending. I will do my best to match you up!
April 30, 2009
On behalf of the Sheraton Dallas our process for cancelling your rooms will be as follows:
The hotel will automatically cancel ALL reservations under the group block for Business Professionals of America during the week of May 5th, 2009.
Teachers who submitted a credit card authorization for the one night deposit that have been billed will be refunded by the hotel in the next 15 business days.
Any checks mailed into the hotel by districts or schools as deposits or pre-payment will be held pending the decision of potential new dates for the BPA conference in 2009.
If you have any questions we ask that you contact us thru email due to the volume of transactions we are currently processing for this change in business. We have established a designated email address just for our BPA attendees which is listed below for any questions regarding deposits or cancellations of existing reservations.
BPASheratonDallas@Sheraton.com
Thank you in advance for your cooperation and we look forward to partnering with BPA again in the near future.
Information regarding Hilton Anatole reservations will be forthcoming and will have a similar process.
April 30, 2009
It has been determined that it will not be feasible to offer MS Networking and Cisco Systems Administration as hands-on applications on-site at Regional, State and National levels. We will work toward this goal in coming years. For 2009, however, it will be necessary to offer these events as objective-only tests at all three levels.
Revised Guidelines for MS Networking and Cisco Systems Administration are attached, as are the full WSAP Guidelines bearing these revisions. Also attached is the revised Events-at-a-Glance. Please note that revisions to the Events-at-a-Glance include revisions that reference materials are permitted for C++ Programming, Java Programming, VB.Net Programming, MS Networking and Cisco Systems Administration.
All of the attached revised documents have been posted on-line. I also encourage you to share this information with your advisors.
Thank you,
Jennifer Dunkle, Director of Educational Programs
April 26, 2009
Also, if the student wants feedback on a "judged" event, they must bring a self-addressed stamped envelope to their event proctor.
Have a great week!
Jackie Schiller, Executive Director
MN Secondary BPA
April 17, 2009
VOTING DELEGATES
The following members will be serving as voting delegates during NLC. Thank
you for their participation!
Sean Hayes, State Executive VP (Head Voting Delegate)
Cindy Yang, State Treasurer
Ashley Escher, State Historian
Tim Wagner, Region 5 President
Olivia Hendrickx, Region 6 President
Andrea VanDenBroeke, Region 8 President
Nick Miller, Region 9 President
Alex Davis, Cannon Falls HS
Rebecca Schmidt, Chisago Lakes HS
Rebecca Lawrence, Chisago Lakes HS
ALTERNATES
Melissa Hebrank, Marshall HS
Cannon Falls (1) please advise name
Park Rapids (1) please advise name
March 2, 2009
SLC FLASH
Laptops & lcd's will be provided for the following events at state so that
you don't have to try to shift equipment for the following team events:
In parenthesis are the source for equipment. All will be 2007 unless noted.
Entrepreneurship (Anoka HS Laura Bement)
Financial Analyst Team for presentation (Anoka HS Laura Bement)
Presentation Management Team (Watertown Mayer HS Nancy McAfee)
Global Marketing Team (Woodbury HS Lynn O'Driscoll)
Web Application (Shelly Meckley) *2003
Web Site (Shelly Meckley) *2003
Presentation Individual (Chokio Alberta Dave Hofland & Cindy Kalahar Little
Falls HS)
Small Business Mgt Team (Wayzata HS Tyler Shepard)
Video Production (Wayzata HS Tyler Shepard)
YOU MUST SUPPLY FOR:
Computer Animation
Digital Media
Graphic Design
Network Design
Software Engineering Team
Keep in mind that the computer will "schedule" the events so teams
do not have to sign up for times.
SLC DETAILS
Proctor assignments will be hopefully on Tuesday - thanks for your patience
- it's just taking longer than I anticipated! Remember to continue to email
me edits and changes to SLC students and their events!
BPA NLC FLASH
Here's the NLC Minnesota
Information - keep in mind that you need to submit
info to me as well as online with the National Center - we will discuss more
details at state. The process used last year will remain the same for this
year. NLC Advisor Documents
ONLINE SYSTEM FOR ROOMS
All advisors will need to register for rooms through the NLC online registration
system - - - this year they are holding blocks for each state association.
I am not allowed to submit or combine rooms for you! Secure your rooms following
state - if you need room mates I will try to assist prior to you submitting
online!
PLEASE KEEP IN MIND - payment procedure
All registration $ payments will be going to National BPA. The amount due will
be generated off the invoice tyhat you will receive emailed from the national
center once you hit submit. This incluldes registration fee, tours etc. NO
Lodging.
Hotel and Minnesota fees will be submitted to the State Office.
ROOM MATES
Regarding room mates - - keep in mind that I will attempt to match you up with
a room mates - however if I am unable to do so, you will be responsible for
the package price e.g. if there isn't anyone to match you or your or your students
up with.
February 25, 2009
February 16, 2009
ADDITIONAL CLARIFICATIONS on Torch Awards
There is a column on the excel file that you submitted for Torch Awards (last
column on the right). This is how we generate certificates etc.
IF YOU DID NOT INCLUDE/USE THIS COLUMN
Please let Jackie know which of your students are applying for the award.
IF YOU HAVE A STUDENT WHO IS NOT ATTENDING SLC
If you have someone that is applying for award but not attending SLC, please
email Jackie those names so that certificates can be prepared.
Remember, on the STATE level, you are not going to be sending them on to anyone
e.g. VP etc. to review. YOU are responsible for seeing to it that the students
you have are eligible.
STATE SUBMISSION PROCEDURES
Interview Skills and Advanced Interview Skills events
This is the manner in which MN BPA will implement the event. Please be sure
to review the WSAP for NLC details.
Students will need to bring copies of their documents to their interview
and interview callback as outlined in the WSAP.
• 3 copies of each: Resume, Application Blank (on www.mnbpa.org/forms) and Cover
Letter
Submit all in one 10x13 labeled envelope on Thursday morning of SLC at the Registration desk between the hours of 8:00 am and 11:00 am.
The label should state:
Interview Skills
Contestant Name
OR
Advanced Interview Skills
Contestant Name
Participants will NOT have a 2 pm Thursday event time as in past years - they will compete on Friday.
ROOM MATES NEEDED
Worthington has room for one more female student
Contact:
Penny Troe penny.troe@isd518.net
SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS
Please let me know if you have any students that need accommodations for wheel
chair accessibility to the stage. This is very important that you let me know
- if I don't hear from anyone, there will not be a ramp in the session.
February 6, 2009
SLC DEADLINE APPROACHING! REMEMBER - REGISTRATION AND HOUSING RESERVATIONS
ARE DUE ON TUESDAY!
DESKS AVAILABLE FOR SALE
Here is a note from the chapter advisor that purchased desks last year following
the state conference.
My school purchased the desks from last year's conference. The desk are great!
Brian was excellent to work with. Brian came out to our school ahead of time
and met with our business dept and administration. He drew up a lab design
plan. Also, Brian helped to arrange picking up the desks, and was at the Hyatt
to help load them up. My school was able to hire a semi to pick up and deliver
the desks. This was much cheaper than what the shipping would have been if
we had ordered direct from the company. I highly recommend working with Brian,
and the desks are great!
Kyle Bergem, Business Teacher
Pequot Lakes High School
LOOKING FOR ROOM MATE
Luverne HS has one female that they would like to place with a chapter who
has a partial room. Please contact:
Diana Erickson, Advisor - Luverne HS BPA - d.erickson@isd2184.net
507-283-4491 ext. 2640
CHAPTER OF THE MONTH
Congrats to January's chapter of the month - Blaine HS!
WEBSITE DESIGN TEAM
Notice regarding the judging of Web Design Team at the State Leadership
Conference. According to the WSAP:
Students do not have to "live" post their sites.
See page 103 of the WSAP in the Team must supply box:
No "live" Internet grading.
Also under Specifications at the bottom of page 103 - bullet three:
Technical judging will be at the NLC during the presentation.
However, our state judging will be the same as prior years. This means
we do require a "live" viewing by the technical judges who fell they
can
not possibly judge the technical portion at the presentation.
Be aware that at the national level, they will judge during the
presentation and a live site is not required.
February 3, 2009
REMEMBER - DEADLINE TO REGISTER FOR SLC IS TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10TH - ONE WEEK
FROM TODAY!
SPECIAL OLYMPICS DRIVE
As you know, the state officers have been promoting the annual drive for Special
Olympics. They would like to track our progress. If you have already held a
drive e.g. at your Region Contest, could you please let me know the $ figure
so they can update their tally? Thanks! $ collected can be brought to the state
conference. The funds can be made payable to MN BPA or Special Olympics - whichever
is more convenient for you!
TIMBERWOLVES TICKETS
MN BPA will need to release tickets as soon as the registration deadline has
hit so please keep that in mind - we will not have "extras" for you
to purchase at a latter date. The wolves office MAY have more but we can not
guarantee it. Chapter advisors, please consider attending with your students
for supervision or make other arrangements with another chapter.
TIMBERWOLVES MEAL DEAL - includes pop, hot dog and chips
FUNDAMENTAL SPREADSHEET
This event did not have a time listed - it will be held at 6 PM Thursday, March
12th.
SOFTWARE ENGINEERING TEAM
Please be aware that for State Level Software Engineering Team, we will not
offer a modification. Prelims (and finals, if necessary) should be conducted
by allowing students to perform their presentations as prepared prior to arrival.
At NLC, a modification will be offered.
STATE CONFERENCE JUDGES
Yes, we still need judges in almost all events - please take a moment to consider
who you may recruit. You can either have them submit this form to me as an
email attachment, or you can just have them email me with their event preferences
and I will then slot them in. After they sign up, they receive an additional
confirmation with details including the guidelines for the event that they
will be judging
STATE MEMBERSHIP PINS
All Minnesota members receive a "MN" BPA membership pin. Sometimes
it gets to be a challenge keeping up with who has received them. If you are
in need, please let me know.
CONFLICTS AT SLC
There is a Conflict Form available for download on our state website. You will
need to complete this form for students with conflicts such as two events at
the same time. Please bring two copies of the completed form to the state conference
and submit them to the conflict desk on Thursday morning. This will reduce
the time on site for you to deal with conflicts. We are also asking that makeup
tests be taken the same day that the contest is scheduled to keep the grading
process on time. Remember, this can not be done for judged events. THIS OPTION
IS NOT FOR CONVENIENCE! State is a two day conference, not a one day event
- we can not begin to reschedule everyone so that people have the option of
one day only - we have just too many events.
QUESTION POSED ON TORCH AWARDS RESUMES
I have a question about national student id numbers. Do they stay the same from one year to the next? If I have students who fill out their Torch award app this year and can't finish, but want to accumulate points through next year, will their information be there again next year under the same number?
The resumes from each year will remain in the system. The advisor will, however, have to "attach" the existing resume ID to next year's membership record. There will be a new field on the membership form next year labeled "Previous Torch Awards Resume ID". They'll type the ID in, and I believe It'll do a little name comparison, and match it up, and we'll be all set.
TIMBERWOLVES TICKETS
Feel free to order for chaperones or family members!
January 28, 2009
Good morning! Please be aware that for State Level Software Engineering Team, we will not offer a modification. Prelims (and finals, if necessary) should be conducted by allowing students to perform their presentations as prepared prior to arrival. At NLC, a modification will be offered.
Also, we have had a number of questions regarding the submission of applications for Interview and Advanced Interview Skills. I appreciate your patience as we transition to the electronic submission of events. For National competition, the three documents for Interview Skills/Advanced Interview (application, cover letter and resume) are to be submitted together via e-mail. The applications for use in National competition will be soon be posted on-line.
I hope that this information is helpful. Please let me know if you should have any questions.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Dunkle
January 20, 2009 - Congratulations President Obama
Hope your week is off to a great start! I will be out of my office tomorrow,
Wednesday, Jan. 21 through next Wednesday. I will have email however it will
be on a limited basis so please be patient - I will try to get back to you
within 24 hours.
STATE CONFERENCE T-SHIRT
Please review the art - is your school accurate?
ENTERTAINMENT AT STATE
Yes! There will be a dance following the Timberwolves game on Friday evening.
The state officers met this weekend and decided to have a masquerade theme
with some items available such as masks. Proceeds will go to the annual Special
Olympics Drive.
PROJECTION SYSTEMS AT STATE
The Board is working on the logistics of having many of the events using laptops/lcd's
at state to have a system available that would mean you as a chapter advisor
would not have to worry about sharing equipment among your teams from your
chapters. We need chapters assistance to do this however. You may be receiving
an email from me for your help. If you school is in a situation that they would
be able to provide a laptop and lcd projector for use during the conference,
please let me know. Watch for more details.
NOTE FROM STATE OFFICERS REGARDING CHAPTER OF THE MONTH
Hello Advisors,
Well first off I would like to apologize for getting this out so late
in the month, but on behalf of the State Officer Team I would like to
congratulate Marshall on winning Chapter of the Month for December!
Again I would like to encourage ALL chapters to apply and just as a
quick reminder to chapters who have applied, but haven?t won, I need
those chapters to re-submit their applications in order for them to be
eligible to win in another month.
I ask that advisors please keep reminding their students about
Chapter of the Month. If your chapter wins you will receive
recognition at the state competition and on the website. Also the
state team has decided to award each winning chapter with a small gift
that they will receive in the mail after they have won. So Nov, Dec,
and Jan winners you will be receiving your gift sometime within the
next month, I haven't had a chance to get them sent out but I will as
soon as I can.
So again congratulations to Marshall and please keep reminding your
students!!!
Thank-you!
Sean Hayes
Executive Vice President"
January 16, 2009
SUBMISSION DEADLINES FOR STATE
The official listing of competitive event deadlines for the MN
State Leadership Conference is found on the forms/download page. If you
have any questions, please ask!
TORCH AWARDS
Some of you have been having challenges with the online Torch Awards system.
Here is a note from the National Center:
I am also getting a number of questions about Torch Awards, including how to submit them for appropriate review. Unfortunately, I’m told that our programmer is still working to add the ability of State Advisors to view and filter Torch Award resumes by the various levels (Diplomat, Statesman, etc.). This accounts for the change in the drop-down list that you mention.
As soon as the proper functions are added, instructions will be made available. Until then, it’s helpful for students to continue to add activities to their existing resumes and for local advisors to review and approve those as necessary.
Thank you for your patience as the new system is brought up-to-date. ,
Jennifer Dunkle
Director of Educational Programs
STATE LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE - MARCH 12-14, 2009
HOTEL RESERVATIONS - form on forms/download page.
This will once again be submitted directly to the hotel (please cc me) in
an excel form. Please review this info as there have been some changes
that the
hotel has requested. Instructions are on a separate tab.
Keep in mind that each line (left to right) represents one room with roommates
listed.
STATE CONFERENCE FLASH
REGISTRATION FILE FOUND ON FORMS PAGE
DEADLINE TO REGISTER - FEB. 10
This year, we will once again collect all registration data, e.g. attendees,
contest info, shirt sizes, etc. on an excel file similar to last year. Please
take a look at the updated file now so that if you have questions, we can address
PRIOR to when it becomes crunch time for you to submit the materials. This
file will be able to be dumped directly into our registration program. The
main change from last year deals with the team data. Here are IMPERATIVE things
to keep in mind. (These instructions are also on the Instruction Tab - please
review in its entirety!)
TEAM IDENTIFIER - for ALL team events, e.g. 2-4 members, there will be a pull
down box for you to identify teams (similar to what you do for me when you
submit your NLC registration). Each team within an event must have a unique
letter. For example, if you have 2 Software Engineering Teams, you will utilize
A & B to indicate teams. Even if you have only one team, you must give
them the code letter A from the drop down box. This is IMPERATIVE! If your
student is competing in a team event as one of their two events, please be
sure to use the first column for their team event as the team codes are not
listed/available in the 2nd event column.
MN BPA SCHOLARSHIP
The application for students to apply for the MN BPA scholarship is included
in the Honors & Awards Packet of the state conference information. Applications
are due on Feb. 15, 2008.
Let me know how I can help! Thanks for your patience in waiting for this file
January 7, 2009
Happy New Year to each of you! The State Leadership Conference is just around
the corner! A little over 2 months to go! Here are some key things to call
your attention to:
STATE LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE - MARCH 12-14, 2009
FRIDAY EVENING ENTERTAINMENT OPTION
Minnesota BPA will have a night at the Timberwolves on Friday evening, March
13, 2009. See attached flyer for details. You will order your tickets ($20
tickets discounted to $18) on your state conference registration file. Transportation
is not included.
DEADLINE DATE FOR STATE CONFERENCE
Deadline to register at the lower fee of $60 before higher registration of
$65 kicks in, is February 10, 2009. Also, if payment from your chapter is not
received prior to the start of SLC, you will be charged the higher rate.
FORMAT FOR REGISTRATION
You will once again use an excel spreadsheet very similar to last year. I am
in the process of finalizing this file. It will be sent out under separate
cover in the next week or two. But in the meanwhile there will still be some
misc. word forms e.g. cancellation/substitution form, permission slip, etc.
that are attached. The overall information packet will be distributed next
week.
HOTEL RESERVATIONS - EXCEL file to follow next week.
This will once again be submitted directly to the hotel (please cc me). This
year, the file will be an excel document. After you receive it, please review
this info as there have been some changes that the hotel has requested.
GENERAL SESSION TIMES
Please note that we will be keeping the general sessions time as last year
- the Opening General Session will take place at 9:00 pm on Thursday, March
12, 2009. The awards session will begin at 9:30 am on Saturday, March 14, 2009.
MAKE UP TIMES
There will be 3 makeup sessions for ALL conflicts -
Thursday morning: 10:00 am - 12:00 noon
Thursday evening: 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Friday morning: 6:00 am - 8:00 am
All Conflicts will be scheduled to be made up at this time, ideally, the same
day the contest is offered. Keep in mind that judged events are not able to
be rescheduled as we only have judges in on the one day, Friday.
CONFLICT FORMS
There is once again a form that will be available on line for you to complete
ahead of time if you are aware of a student conflict. This will help alleviate
the time on site. It is up to you to bring completed copies of this form to
be taken care of at the conflict desk on site Thursday morning of SLC.
SCHOLARSHIP APPS
Remember that scholarship apps are due on February 15th. See SLC
Honors & Awards
packet for additional details. Encourage your students to apply!
OUTSTANDING SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR
MN BPA will be adding the "Outstanding School Administrator" to the
professional awards that the organization awards. See the SLC
Honors & Awards
packet for details.
APPLICATION INTERVIEW FORM
For your convenience, this has been posted on our state website under Forms page, Misc. forms.
MEMBERSHIP
Remember to double check your rosters before region competitions!
PHOTOS OF CHAPTER ACTIVITIES
Please send us photos of chapter activities so we can highlight the many great
things our chapters are doing around the state!
I will be in New Orleans beginning tomorrow, Thursday, for a National DECA
Board meeting - will be back in my office on Wednesday! I will have email access
while I am gone.
Jackie Schiller
MN BPA
January 3, 2009 - Happy New Year!
BPA WEEK
Attached are two ad slicks/files that you can use with your local newspaper
to help promote BPA during February's BPA Week!
MINNESOTA BPA DIRECTORY
Attached is the 2009 Directory. There were a few a slight edits from when
it was sent out earlier in December for your review.
This will be useful info after the state conference as you notify chapters
if you have someone that is passing on a slot for NLC.
SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARDS STATE CRITERIA
Remember, Minnesota has actual scoresheets used for the various special recognition
awards. These scoresheets will also posted to our website.
Once again this year, the Torch Awards will be awarded during the Opening
General Session on Thursday evening. The Outstanding Recipients of the various
special
recognition awards will be awarded at the Grand Awards Ceremony. This year
a separate Special Recognition Session will not be held on Friday afternoon.
December 24, 2008
Here are some helpful hints for you and your students regarding the
Torch Awards Program.
http://www.bpanet.org/Awards/torchawards.aspx
Visit the link above to enter the Torch Award resume site.
In a nutshell:
1. Register students on the national website assigning them a password so they can access the resume.
2. If you have already registered, students can give themselves a password or you can edit and give them all the same password.
3. When registering the student ensure that you list their appropriate title (e.g. Vice President, Treasurer, etc.) This gives access to the online resume so that the VP can audit.
4. Students use their ID number from the national roster (I post this in my BPA area so kids always have access to it.) to enter their resumes.
December 5, 2008
DRAFT - 2009 BPA DIRECTORY
Please take a moment and review your info within the 2009
BPA Chapter Directory.
Please respond with any changes/corrections ASAP. In a week a new finalized
version will be sent out.
STATE AND NATIONAL DUES
Remember to go online and submit your state and national dues please! Keep
in mind to pay close attention to name spelling as well as full names vs. nick
names. The name and spelling follows all the way through to NLC and consistency
is important! State dues will be increasing to $6 by the end of the day.
REQUEST FOR CHAPTER ACTIVITIES PHOTOS
Please send a paragraph or two along with a photo of any activities that your
chapter has been involved with - we really like to have new things to place/feature
on our state website but we need your help! You can email to either myself
or webmaster Nancy McAfee at: NMcAfee@wm.k12.mn.us
CHAPTER OF THE MONTH OPPORTUNITY
This year's State Officers will once again be recognizing chapters monthly
for their accomplishments. See the attached
information and consider applying! Chapter of the Month Application
STATE OFFICER VISITS
The State Officers are also very willing to assist in any activities your chapter
or region may be sponsoring. Please complete the attached and submit to the
state officer. We will do our best to accommodate requests!
UPCOMING EVENTS & MEETINGS:
OFFICER TRAINING
State Officers will be participating in the joint CTSO Training Conference
this weekend.
STATE BOARD
State BPA Board will meet next Friday, December 12, 2008.
November 25, 2008
DOCUMENTATION FORMS
WSAP documentation forms in Word are now on our Forms & Downloads Page
on our state website for your convenience.
CONGRATULATIONS
Minnesota BPA is proud to have elected 6 new individuals to serve as our state
officers!
President - Tou Yang from Tartan HS
tou.yang@mnbpa.org
Vice President
Sean Hayes from Park Rapids HS
sean.hayes@mnbpa.org
Secretary
Brett Johnston from Benson HS
brett.johnston@mnbpa.org
Treasurer
Cindy Yang from Marshall HS
cindy.yang@mnbpa.org
Parliamentarian
Logan Kramlich from Tartan HS
logan.kramlich@mnbpa.org
Historian
Ashley Escher - Watertown Mayer HS
ashley.escher@mnbpa.org
The State Officers along with several region presidents will participate in
a group officer training session with Skills USA, FCCLA HERO and DECA next
weekend, December 6 & 7, 2009 in Minneapolis.
TORCH AWARDS INFO: The following are instructions for the review/approval of Torch activities by Local Advisor, President, VP or State Advisor:
Rather than having students print the resume for submission, it is recommended
that the viewer (Local Advisor, President, VP or State Advisor) log on to see
the resume and edit or approve at that time.
October 30, 2008
From the national office: Preferred seating in 2009 has been cancelled due to logistical issues. The use of blazers in 2010 is still being determined. We aren’t using FTP sites for event submission to the National Center. Trent has assured me that our file acceptance sizes are appropriate for all of the pre-submit events, and other events (such as Digital Media and Video Presentation Team) will now be judged on-site rather than in advance.
This message is an update on the Interview Skills and Advanced Interview Skills events.
For students participating in these events at National level, the applications will be completed on-line. I am currently working with Joe Ellis, our Interactive Communications Specialist, to establish a web site for the completion of applications. I will provide details about that process (including the site address) as they become available.
For Regional and State levels, the applications are available for completion as Word documents on the testing materials web site. You may administer the submission of the applications in whatever way is most convenient: completion on-site at RLS and SLC or advance completion and submission by e-mail, etc.
I hope that this information is helpful. Please let me know if you should have any questions.
Jennifer Dunkle
Director of Educational Programs
Business Professionals of America
5454 Cleveland Avenue
Columbus, OH 43231
614-895-7277 x107
October 22, 2008
Here are a few things to update you with this week before I depart for the
fall conferences.
FLC AGENDA
Attached is the program book for your review and planning with the students.
Each student's name badge will be color coded to the track that you have registered
for. If you have any changes to FLC, e.g. substitutions, changes to tracks,
cancels etc., please continue to email me those as you know them up through
next Monday afternoon. Thereafter, the changes will need to be done onsite.
We can still accept additions if you have them as well!
FLC CURFEW
The curfew at FLC is 11:30 pm as it was last year.
FLC APPROPRIATE DRESS
The Board of Directors deems appropriate attire for the sessions to be held
Wednesday evening of FLC as business or business casual. These sessions include
the BPA related breakout sessions as well as the Officer Candidate Speeches.
It was decided that the attire should required should remain business professional
or business casual. Please inform your students. Thanks for doing your part
to ensuring our students are dressed appropriately.
FLC PAYMENTS
Remember, FLC registration must be paid prior to FLC. PLEASE DO NOT HAND ME
CHECKS ON SITE. It is extremely hard to keep track of them in the chaos and
they frequently get lost. Payment needs to arrive no later than Monday. If
your chapter is unpaid at the time of the conference, you will be invoiced
for the onsite rate.
THIS WEEK'S SCHEDULE
I will be in my office on thru tomorrow and relocate to the Sheraton on Friday
as the DECA Conference is Sun/Monday. Remember patience when you are waiting
for rooms on your Tuesday arrival for FLC - best bet is to remind the students
to come prepared.
October 3, 2008
LAST CALL FOR FLC REGISTRATION
I am working to finalize orders this weekend. If you have not yet registered,
but plan on doing so, please drop me an email TODAY with the numbers that
you anticipate bringing.
LAST CALL FOR T-SHIRTS
If you have not submitted your conference registration OR still want to order
conference t-shirts, this is your last chance. The order will be submitted
to the vendor on Monday. T-shirts are $12.
September 26, 2008
WHEN YOU SUBMIT YOUR HOUSING FILES
Some chapters have had their housing files for FLC to the Sheraton bounce back.
Please use this address as an alternative when you submit your word and excel
file to the Sheraton: lisa.lehar@sheraton.com
FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE
On the excel advisor registration file to submit your conference registration
to me. Keep in mind that you:
1st - select chapter on the summary tab. This will then auto fill the chapter
name on the registration tab.
2nd - the number of attendees will automatically fill in the summary tab AFTER
you have input the names of the attendees on the registration tab.
September 19, 2008
WHEN YOU SUBMIT YOUR HOUSING FILES
Some chapters have had their housing files for FLC to the Sheraton bounce back.
Please use this address as an alternative when you submit your word and excel
file to the Sheraton: lisa.lehar@sheraton.com
ADVISOR NAME BADGES
Deadline to submit order for an advisor name badge is September 25, 2008.
September 12. 2008
For additional information on the Presentation Mgmt Individual event go to our forms page and check under miscellaneous. There are two information sheets to assist your students.
September 6, 2008
IT'S TIME FOR THE WEEKEND!
I know it is an extremely busy time for all of you - but wanted to make certain
to touch base with you today!
FLC
The Fall Leadership Conference will be held October 28 & 29, 2008 at the
Sheraton South Bloomington. Registration fee is $35 per attendee. The conference
overview information is attached. Actual files to submit registration will
be distributed next week.
The actual registration process you will use to register your chapter is an
Excel file. When you send your file to me, please make sure to save it as your
chapter's name. You will also have an electronic file to submit your housing
to the hotel on. These forms will be sent to you next week.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Minnesota BPA is proud to welcome John Beede as the opening keynote speaker.
In his wickedly entertaining style, 26 year old professional speaker, author
and adventurer John Beede has been struck by lighting, attacked by a 5-foot
iguana, swam with a whale shark, nearly fell 300 feet to his death, and once
did the hokey-pokey in the eye of a hurricane. John’s adventure stories
have earned him the nickname, “The Climber Guy.” And he’s
going to help you “Climb On!” to your highest personal leadership
potential.
FORMAT FOR FLC
This year's FLC will be the returning format that was implemented 3 years ago.
The content and schedule has been refined. ALL student participants will
participate in an academy style of offerings with each students going through
the same activities but assigned to color groups. This 2-part session (3
hours each day) is being designed and offered by FOCUS Training. Chapter
Officers will be in a different track. There are also tracks specifically
for those members participated in FLC last year. More information on this
format is included in the information packet. If you have 1st year attendees
that are also chapter officers, the chapter officer track is recommended
rather than the 1st year track.
Deadline to register for FLC is October 1, 2008.
STATE OFFICER CANDIDATE INFO
You should have received an email a week or so ago with the state officer candidate
information. Deadline to apply is October 1. Encourage your BEST to seek office!
Immediately following the adjournment of FLC, newly elected officers will participate
in the initial training session from 1-4 pm on Wednesday, October 29, 2008.
Officer Training will take place December 6 & 7, 2008 at the Minneapolis
Airport Hilton and is a mandatory training.
REGION PRESIDENTS
As your regions elect presidents, please be sure to send name and contact information
to the state office. Thanks!
CHAPTER LINKS
If your chapter has a website, please forward the link so that we can post
it on our Minnesota home page.
CHANGES TO BPA ADVISORS
If you are aware of a change in BPA Advisors at any schools, please let Jackie
know. Sometimes it takes a couple of weeks for the changes to catch up with
me and it is helpful to get the new advisors in the loop as quickly as possible.
Have a nice weekend!
HOW TO SUBMIT STATE BPA MEMBERSHIP - PLEASE TAKE NOTE!
We are excited to have you join us for the 2008-2009 membership year.
To access the online membership registration system, please go to http://www.registermychapter.com/bpamem/ and enter your username and password. Attached is a user guide for your reference.
Please remember that it will be essential that you include a copy of your invoice with your payment when submitting it to National BPA.
Minnesota BPA Board of Directors has approved the continued process for submitting
state dues that was implemented last year. Minnesota state dues will be submitted
online through the national website. We are a unified dues state, that meaning
that all state members must be national members as well. This means that you
will submit ONE check to NATIONAL BPA for both state and national dues.
State dues will continue to be $5 per member up until December 1st. Thereafter
ALL additions will be at a rate of $6 for state membership.
National dues will be $12.00 this year.
It is imperative that all members understand the benefits of being unified state. Our grant that we receive from the Minnesota Foundation for Student Organizations (MFSO) is directly related to our national membership. Each CTSO receive allocations that are determined by number of chapters as well as number of student national members. This year our grant dollars will be increased because we now have more chapters paying dues on all memberhsip not just those that would be strong contenders for national competition.
Additionally, we need to support our national organization – all of our competitive events and entire WSAP is dependent upon our national affiliation and support.
Mark your calendars and get ready to "Blaze New Trails" with BPA! We look forward to a terrific year with Minnesota BPA! Thank you for your continued support.