PASC News Volume 38Issue 5

January 2014

The Horatio Alger Associa-tion for Distinguished Ameri-cans named three Pennsylvania seniors as National Scholars and an additional 50 Pennsyl-vania State Scholars. A total of $310,000 in scholarships will be given to these 53 Pennsylva-nia seniors in 2013.

The National Scholars are: Paul Draper, Coatesville HS; Gloria Farrisi, Tulpehocken HS; and Brandy Nunez, Wyo-missing HS. These students will be recognized at the As-sociation’s National Scholars

Conference in Washington, DC, in early April. The names and schools of the 50 Penn-sylvania State Scholars can be found at www.horatioalger.com. Enter the site, click on scholar-ships, and then click on “State Scholars of Pennsylvania.”

The Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans will be accepting applications from students in the graduating class of 2015 beginning on Au-gust 1, 2014 with a deadline of October 25, 2014 for comple-tion of the online application.

Please share the following in-formation with your Guidance Department and with present juniors whom you know might fit the following criteria:

The Horatio Alger Associa-tion seeks to assist students who have demonstrated integrity, perseverance in over-coming adversity, strength of character, financial need (under $50,000 adjusted gross fam-ily income), a good academic record, commitment to pursue a college education, and a desire to contribute to society.

PA Seniors Named As Horatio Alger Scholars

PASC Executive Director Jim Finnemeyer will assist his replacement RoseAnn Fulena as she prepares to assume her new role on March 1.

PASC Leadership Transition Begins

To no one’s surprise, Rose-Ann Fulena did an outstand-ing job in her interview with the PASC Constitution and Policy Committee and the PASC Executive Board enthusiastically approved her to be the new PASC executive director effective as of March 1. She and PASC Executive Director Jim Finnemeyer will be working to make the tran-sition over the next six weeks. Kathy Coll will remain as the assistant executive director until December 31, 2016.

RoseAnn Fulena is a veteran member of the PASC organi-zation. She has served as the District 2 director in western

Pennsylvania since 2003. In 2005, she was named as the co-director of the Blue Workshop at Grove City College for middle level students, and she served as the middle level advisor on the NASC Advisory Council in 2006–2007.

Fulena has attended numer-ous NASC National Confer-ences, LEAD Conferences, National Conferences on Stu-dent Activities sponsored by NAWD, and NASC Region 2 meetings and conferences. In 2011 she was co-host

advisor for the PASC state conference in New Castle.

“Roe’s outgoing personality, take charge view, and breadth of experience as a middle school and high school advi-sor at Union MS/HS will immediately place her in a position to lead PASC into the future,” said Finnemeyer.

continued on page 2

InsIde ThIs Issue

News & Notes ..................... 2

•Halifax High School to Host 2015 PASC Conference

•New District 13 Director Named

•New Director for Grove City College Workshop

New Co-Directors Named for Advanced Gold Work-shop ........................................ 2

New PASC Board Members Assume Their Positions ..... 3

PASC to Host Activity Advi-sor Workshop ...................... 3

Mark Your Calendar for These 2014 Summer Leader-ship Workshop Dates ......... 4

Staff Applications Now Avail-able for Workshops ............ 4

Junior Member to be Se-lected for PA State Board of Education .............................. 5

Deadline Approaches to Apply for NASC Advisory Council .................................. 6

National Council of Excel-lence Applications Due ...... 6

Present at NASC National Conference ........................... 7

PASC Heads to Orlando for 2013 Conference ................ 8

Shake Up Your Meetings .... 8

Altoona to Host 78th PASC Conference ........................... 9

PASC News • January 2014 • www.pasc.net2

News & NotesHalifax High School to Host 2015 PASC State ConferenceStudents from Halifax HS (District 8) and Quaker Valley MS/ Quaker Valley HS (District 3) presented bids to the PASC Executive Board to host the 2015 State Conference. Halifax HS, a northern suburb of Harrisburg, was selected and will now proceed to name the PASC President-Elect and 2015 state conference chairs and begin their detailed planning process for the 2015 State Conference (November 5–7).

We congratulate Halifax HS and look forward to working with their students, staff, and administration. We thank the students and advisors from Quaker Valley MS and Quaker Valley HS for expressing their desire to host the 2015 confer-ence in Pittsburgh and we look forward to another bid from these schools in the future.

New District 13 Director NamedJeff Kusniez, Boyertown HS student council advisor was selected during caucus meetings at the 2013 State Conference to serve as the new PASC District 13 Director for Berks and Schuylkill counties. Jeff began his three-year term at the Ex-ecutive Board meeting in January. He serves on the Alvernia University Blue Workshop staff, has hosted several PASC district and regional conferences, has attended several NASC conferences, and most recently was the host advisor for both the NASC Region 2 Conference and PASC State Conference in 2013. Jeff succeeds Nancy Brady, Governor Mifflin High School advisor, who retired from the PASC Executive Board after 23 years as District 13 Director. Jeff can be contacted at jkusniez@boyertownasd.org.

New Director Chosen for Grove City College Gold Summer WorkshopStudent Council advisor and art teacher Dave Stango of

Penncrest HS (District 11), was chosen as the new director of the PASC Gold Workshop at Grove City College. Dave has been a staff member at Grove City for the past two sum-mers, focusing on instruction in goal setting/organizational skills and project planning. For the past six years he also has played a major role in organizing and developing the Leader-ship and Character Development program at Penncrest HS, which takes more than 120 students annually on weekend leadership retreats to a camp in the Pocono Mountains.

In addition to his teaching position at Penncrest, Dave has served as an acting assistant principal. Seeing the impact that the PASC Summer Leadership Workshop program has had on his students motivated Dave to become a workshop staff member. Dave brings his enthusiasm for the workshop pro-gram, humor, organizational skills, and both creative teaching and administrative experience to his new PASC role.

As the transition of leadership continues, Roe can be reached through email at PASCexdir@gmail.com or by phone at 724-651-0973.

Jim Finnemeyer will be work-ing during this time period to turn over files, complete reports, and communicate with member schools. At the same time, he has begun to assume new responsi-bilities as the Executive Director for the National Association of Workshop Directors (NAWD). He already is helping with plan-ning the next National Confer-ence on Student Activities, scheduled for December 5–7, 2014 in Scottsdale, AZ. Jim also will focus on working with state student council executive directors, activity advisors across a broad spec-trum of activities, the Alliance for Student Activities, and motiva-tional speakers in an effort to provide programming and resources for leadership educators across the nation. The PASC Executive Board named Jim as the Executive Director Emeritus, and as such Jim stands ready to be a consultant for the new PASC executive director and the board when called upon in the future.

PASC Leadership Transition (cont’d from pg 1)

New Co-Directors Named for Advanced Gold Workshop at Pitt-JohnstownFollowing the retirement of Kathy Coll and Bill Sebastian from

the Advanced Gold Workshop in July 2013, PASC began a search for a team of new directors. The organization did not have to look far. Stepping forward to apply were Allyssa Rommel and Dan Schneider. Both Allyssa, a graduate of South Western HS (Dis-trict 8) and Dan, a graduate of Pocono Mountain West HS (Dis-trict 9), are products of the PASC leadership workshop programs. Both were delegates who went on to serve as group leaders, and as discussion leaders at Blue, Gold, and Advanced Gold Workshops during one or both of their careers.

Allyssa has a master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from James Madison University and has served most recently as PASC Alumni Partners Coordinator. Dan has a degree in Organiza-tional Communications/Public Relations from the University of Central Florida and works for Walt Disney World. Dan has most recently staffed at Advanced Gold as the Council Coordina-tor and facilitator/processor for Making a Presentation sessions. Allyssa and Dan bring outstanding organizational skills, social media skills, real world experiences, and a long history of service to PASC to their new roles in the organization. Team building is an important element of the Advanced Gold workshop and these new co-directors will be outstanding role models for our delegates.

Newly appointed Executive Director RoseAnn Fulena poses with 2013 PASC President Danielle Croner, 2014 PASC President Courtney Detwiler, and retiring Executive Director Jim Finnemeyer.

PASC News • January 2014 • www.pasc.net 3

New PASC Board Regional Representatives and Middle Level Representatives attended their first Board meeting in January. Top right: Luke Myers (Region G), Megan Paonessa (Region C), and Taylor Schwartz (Region F).

The full middle level student complement on the Board includes (bottom right): Joey Moyer (8th), Josh Yourish (7th), Noah Pollio (8th), and Billy Wermuth (7th) shown with the middle level “mascot” Cameron Castaldo, whose mother, Erica Castaldo, is the middle level coordinator.

The PASC Executive Board began its work for 2014 at the first of four meetings for this year.

The meeting saw the conclusion of the two-year terms for three student board members:

• Mitch Kovel (Region C Rep—Everett HS)

• Maura Gouak (Region F Rep—Bishop McDevitt HS-Wyncote)

• Elizabeth Bina (Region G Rep—Bangor HS).

In addition to these student members, Nancy Brady, District 13 Director ended her 23-year tenure on the Board. PASC thanks each of these board members for their dedication and service to the students and advisors of the schools of Pennsylvania.

Six new members assumed their Board positions at this meeting:

• Courtney Detwiler—President, Altoona HS

• Megan Paonessa—Region C Representative, Conemaugh Valley HS

• Taylor Schwartz—Region F Representative, Marple Newtown HS

• Luke Myers— Region G Representative, Governor Mifflin HS

• Billy Wermuth— Middle Level Representative, Pennbrook MS

• Josh Yourish— Middle Level Representative, Deer Lakes MS

New PASC Board Members Assume Their Positions

Why should students be the only ones to attend a summer workshop? Under the leader-ship of PASC Workshop Directors Andy Costanzo and Kathy Coll, PASC will sponsor a workshop that will reach out to student council advisors, class advisors, NHS advisors, and club advisors.

At this past State Confer-ence in Boyertown, all advisors experienced a “taste” of some of the topics to be covered at the seminar, including stress management, how to run a

meeting, publicity techniques, and motivating others.

Details will be developed during the next six weeks and will be presented to the PASC Board in early March. But, here is what advisors can expect this summer.

n Dates: Beginning Tuesday, July 8 at approximately 11:00 AM

Ending Wednesday, July 9 at approximately 3:00 PM

n Site: Susquehanna Univer-sity, located 50 miles north of Harrisburg.

Air-conditioned classroom and accommodations

n Registration Cost: $75

n Meals: $35

n Lodging Package Op-tions: $20 per person double occupancy and $28 single occupancy

Act 48 Credit will be Granted

Workshop program details, including titles and descrip-tions of large sessions and small group breakouts and all registration information, will be posted on the PASC website

in March. Please mark your calendars now and start talking with other activity advisors in your school or area school districts about car-pooling to attend. Check with your school district for funding. ( July 1 begins a new school year with new funds available.)

Don’t miss this hands-on seminar that will provide you with a notebook of resources and contacts to help you have a great 2014–2015 school year as an advisor.

PASC to Host Workshop for Activity Advisors In July

PASC News • January 2014 • www.pasc.net4

Mark Your 2014 Calendar with These PASC Summer Leadership Workshop Dates Share these dates with underclass members of your student council, class governments, NHS, and other student organizations so that they may plan now for a week of learning, fun, and personal growth this summer.

Blue workshops are for middle level students in grades 7–9 in September 2014, while Gold work-shops are for high school students going into grades 9–12 for the 2014–2015 school year. Costs listed below include registration, program materials, room, meals, and a t-shirt.

The 2014 PASC Workshop Brochures and applications will be emailed to PASC member advisors and students who receive PASC NEWS during the first week in February. The hard copy of the brochure and application will be mailed to advisors as of March 15.

Please note the following dates and locations and begin planning now for students to attend in July.

Costs & Deadlines: Early Bird Regular (May 14) ( June 11)

Blue (Grades 7–9)

Grove City College July 13–17 $350 $375

Alvernia University July 27–31 $350 $375

Gold (Grades 9–12)

Grove City College July 20–25 $385 $410

Susquehanna University July 27–Aug 1 $385 $410

Advanced Gold (Grades 11–12)

University of Pittsburgh/Johnstown July 13–19 $510 $535

PASC is seeking students who will graduate from high school in 2014 (or have graduated in 2012 or 2013) to serve as group leaders/advisors at one of the five PASC Summer Leadership Workshops.

Additionally, student council advisors, other teachers, or

individuals with experience in leadership development are encouraged to apply for teach-ing positions at the PASC Blue Workshops (grades 7–9) or the PASC Gold Workshops (grades 9–12) for the summer of 2014. Applications are now available at www.pasc.net, by

contacting the PASC Registrar at PASCWorkshops@aol.com, or calling 215-280-9299. Selec-tion of staff members will be made by the Workshop Direc-tors beginning the first week in March and thus the deadline for submitting applications is February 28, 2014.

Staff Applications Now Available for Workshops

PASC NEWS is published monthly during

the school year. To submit

announcements, articles, or corrections for newsletters, please email the Executive Director or Assistant Ex-ecutive Director. Articles or information from PASC NEWS may be reproduced for use, with appropriate credit.

Executive DirectorJim FinnemeyerNorth Penn HS1340 Valley Forge RoadLansdale, PA 19446215-280-9299215-855-0632 (Fax)Finnemeyer@aol.comPASCInfo@aol.com

Assistant Executive DirectorKathy Ann Coll174 Link AvenuePittsburgh, PA 15237412-366-5744Kcoll1@comcast.net

PASC PresidentCourtney DetwilerAltoona High School1415 6th AvenueAltoona, PA 16602

PASC President-ElectHalifax High School3940 Peters Mountain Rd.Halifax, PA 17032

PASC News EditorLyn FiscusLeadership Logistics

PASC Email:PASCInfo@aol.com

PASC Website:www.pasc.net

PASC News • January 2014 • www.pasc.net 5

Since September 2008, a se-nior and a junior student have served on the Pennsylvania State Board of Education. The term of Senior SBE member Emily Clark, of Seneca Valley HS, will end at the SBE meet-ing on May 14–15, 2014. We are happy to announce that Justin Reynolds, Junior SBE member of Pennridge HS, will be appointed to serve as the next Senior SBE Member. Thus, PASC has been charged with the responsibility to select the next Junior SBE Member. This student will be named this spring and will begin his or her term as of July 1. How-ever, Justin and the new Junior Member will attend their first meeting together in mid-May.

What Is the State Board of Education?The State Board of Educa-

tion sets all policies regarding public school education in the Commonwealth. It consists of Councils of Basic and Higher Education. The Board of Edu-cation has 17 adult members selected by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. The chair and minority leader of the House and Senate Education Committees serve as well. The board meets in Harrisburg on Wednesdays and Thursdays in July, September, November, January, March, and May. A detailed job description is avail-able at www.pasc.net or by contacting PASC at PASCex-dir@gmail.com.

What Are the Duties of SBE Members?The new Junior SBE Member

of the Board of Education will

join Justin Reynolds in repre-senting the 1.8 million K–12 public school students in the Commonwealth. Although they can not be an expert on every issue or idea coming before the Board of Education and its committees, they will be expected to do their “home-work” to become knowledge-able about topics of interest to Pennsylvania students includ-ing special needs students and vocational and technical school students. Working with PASC, the student members will use the PASC NEWS commu-nications system, the PASC website, and PASC survey tools to communicate with their con-stituents. Students can contact the student SBE members at pastudentrep@gmail.com. The students will report periodically to the PASC Executive Board and attend the state conference and January Executive Board meeting for face-to face report-ing and feedback. Being the “student voice” on the Pennsyl-vania Board of Education is an incredible opportunity for the students involved as well as for all Pennsylvania students. Only 13 states in the nation have student representatives on their State Boards of Education.

Who May Apply?PASC is seeking to name a

present sophomore to the Junior SBE Member as of July 1. The process will be imple-mented in the spring of 2014 to select the next Junior SBE Member whose term will begin on July 1, 2014. Any sopho-more in a public high school in Pennsylvania may apply for the

position for the 2014–2015 school year. Students do not have to attend a PASC member school to apply. The State Board of Education’s student leadership program is sup-ported entirely through private grant funds made available by the Highmark Corporation. PASC and the Board appreci-ate Highmark’s generosity in making this leadership oppor-tunity available to high school juniors and seniors across the Commonwealth.

Through its grant funds, the SBE will pay for travel to SBE meetings and will provide hotel accommodations for meet-ings held in Harrisburg or, at other designed locations within the state consistent with state travel policies. Minor students are required to have a parent or guardian accompany them during travel to and from Board meetings. Limited grant fund-ing is available to support travel and subsistent costs for a stu-dent’s parents or guardian based on demonstrated financial need. Travel, meals, and lodging for the required meetings of PASC will be paid by PASC.

Application Includes• Student resume• 2 essays• 3 letters of recommendation• Signatures of approval and

support from the student, parent/guardian, school administration

Download the information cover letter, application, requirements and expecta-tions, and overview of the State Board of Education at www.pasc.net.

Selection Timeline February 28: Postmark or FAX deadline for all applica-tion information and letters of recommendation.

March 10–15: Review of all applications by an adult and student screening committee of the PASC Executive Board toselectfinalists.

March 17: Finalists for the Junior Member posi-tion contacted regarding the interview process.

April 5: Interviews in Harrisburgwithfinalistsforthe Junior Member position; PASC makes recommenda-tions to the State Board of Education

April 15: Notificationofstudent selected as State Board of Education Junior Member

May 14–15: First meet-ing of the State Board of Education for new student member.

Please direct any questions regarding these positionsand the application process to 724-651-0973 or PASC.exdir@gmail.com. Fax 724-658-8617 Attn: RoseAnn Fulena.

Advisors: Please share this important informa-tion with your student

leaders right away! Application deadline

by mail or fax is Friday, February 28, 2014.

Junior Member to be Selected for Pennsylvania State Board of Education

PASC News • January 2014 • www.pasc.net6

The National Association of Student Councils decided it will once again have eight student po-sitions on the NASC Advisory Council. NASC Region 2 (Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania) will be select-ing a student representative for the Advisory Council when present representative Christian Hodges’ two-year term comes to an end.

Duties of Student Rep-resentative The student, who must be a

present freshman or sophomore, will:1. Serve from July 1, 2014 to June

30, 2016.2. Foster communication among the state presi-

dents and executive directors of the Middle Atlantic states.

3. Communicate student ideas and concerns from the states of Region 2 with student representatives serving on the NASC Advisory Council.

4. Assist with planning the annual April meeting of Region 2 state officers and executive direc-tors.

5. Foster the sharing of ideas and projects among the state organizations of Region 2.

6. The student will be required to attend NASC Advisory Council meetings in Reston, Vir-ginia, in January 2015 and January 2016, as well as the NASC Conference in June 2014, June 2015, and June 2016. The student may also be required to attend an NASC LEAD Conference in 2015 and 2016. In this role the student Advisory Council members will be asked to do the following:

a. Identify and bring forth student council-related issues, topics and concerns to NASC.

b. Provide critical review, feedback, and recom-mendations on issues, topics, or concerns as requested by the NASSP Board and staff.

c. Provide periodic review and recommend re-visions or enhancements to NASC Awards programs as requested.

d. Assist NASC staff as called upon during the NASC National Conference

e. Members may be asked to attend other meet-ings or conferences in which student input is needed. NASC covers expenses for all

required meetings.7. If the Pennsylvania nominee

is selected for this position, he or she also will be invited to attend three PASC Executive Board meetings and the PASC State Conference each year of the term to make reports to PASC. Trans-portation, meals, and accommo-dations for meetings will be paid for by PASC.

Selection Guidelines

The student representative on the NASC Advi-sory Council must:1. Be enrolled in a secondary school that is a

member of NASC and PASC.2. Be a sophomore or freshman at the time of

selection. (March 2014)3. Be able to attend the Executive Board meeting

for an interview at Altoona HS on March 7, 2014

4. Be able to attend NASC Region 2 Selection interviews in April in New Jersey.

PASC ProcessPASC is beginning the process of naming a

Pennsylvania nominee for this position. Present freshman and sophomores may apply. The fol-lowing is the PASC application process.1. Download information and an application at

www.pasc.net.2. Submit the application online at www.pasc.

net or email it to kcoll1@comcast.net by the deadline of February 10, 2014.

3. The applications will be reviewed and three finalists selected. Students will be notified by February 24, 2014.

4. The three finalists will be interviewed by the NASC Relations Committee on Friday, March 7, 2014, at Altoona Area HS.

5. The PASC nominee will be interviewed at the NASC Region 2 State Officers meeting in New Jersey on Saturday, April 26, 2014, with other nominees from NASC Region 2 states.

Deadline Approaches to Apply for NASC Student Advisory Council

National Council of Excellence Applications Due in Feb.Middle level and high school student coun-cils that consistently provide quality lead-ership activities and service to their schools and communities can earn national recogni-tion through NASC’s National Councils of Excellence program.

The awards process guides student councils through standards-based criteria and demonstration-based outcomes. With less than one month till the deadline to submit Councils of Excel-lence applications, it is time for your student council members to or-ganize project reports, minutes and agendas of meetings, and other information to supportyour council’s applica-tion for 2014.

PASC would like to encourage all councils to apply for this presti-gious award. Details on the application process and the appropriate forms can be found at www.nasc.us. The ap-plication, based on the council’s accomplish-ments for calendar year 2013, is due to NASC on February 18, 2014.

PASC News • January 2014 • www.pasc.net 7

Expand your leadership experience and share your great ideas and the skills that you have learned by being an NASC Conference workshop presenter this June in Orlando, Florida. Workshop applications are available at www.nascco-nference.org. If you have any questions, email PASC Asst. Executive Director Kathy Coll at kcoll1@comcast.net.

Application ProcessThe 2014 application is a PDF form that features data entry fields and online submission. It also allows presenters to save copies of their completed applica-tions. With few exceptions, the majority of presenters will be able to complete the application process electronically.

To complete an application, please use the following steps:

u Download the application to your computer from the Call for Presenters tab at www.nascconference.org.

v Open the form using Adobe Acrobat or Acrobat Reader (it is best to use the most current version).

w Use your mouse or tab to navigate through the application. Simply click on check boxes to indicate your choices. Other than sample program materials, all information requested on the application must be entered in the corresponding fields. Responses of “see attached” are not acceptable.

x Signatures are not required on the 2014 application. Persons submitting the applications attest that all information is correct when they enter their name on the statement of confirmation. (Page 5)

y Upon completing the application, press the SUBMIT FORM button and follow the directions to email it to info@nasccon-ference.org. Some mail programs are not recognized by Adobe.

In those cases, the completed form may be saved to the desktop and then attached in an email to Tammy Wightman at info@nascconference.org. It is also advisable to print a hard copy for archival backup.

(NOTE: The 2014 application is in a PDF Distributable form that will allow users to save applications with entered data on the users’ computers. The Adobe program will prompt users to save their completed forms)

z Any support materials such as a tenta-tive presentation outline, handout and/or Power Point is required to complete the application process and can be emailed to Tammy Wightman at info@nascconference.org. Please do not fax materials. Following the NASC Conference session handouts will be made available to conference at-

tendees; for this reason NASC requests electronic copies of Power Point presentations or handouts used during workshop sessions.

{ Be sure to make a copy before you send the original. Send a copy of your application and supporting materials to PASC Assistant Executive Director, Kathy Coll electronically at kcoll1@comcast.net or by mail to 174 Link Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15237. When accepted be sure to contact Kathy Coll so you are included on the PASC trip to Orlando.

*IMPORTANT REMINDER:

Incomplete applications and those received with missing infor-mation will not be considered. Should any missing information be identified, the primary presenter and conference adviser will be notified by NASC staff. Missing information or documenta-tion must be received at info@nascconference.org prior to March 1, 2014. Questions may be emailed to Tammy Wightman at info@nascconference.org.

Share Your Great Ideas: Present a Workshop at NASC National Conference in Orlando

In addition to all the fun of a trip to Orlando, the NASC Conference also features pro-fessional development seminars with training in subject areas that focus on the manage-rial, operational, and instruc-tional needs of advisers. While student leaders are attending sessions designed to help them

become better student leaders, advisers can network with their peers in sessions designed to help them become better advisers.

Seminar facilitators include experts in peer-to-peer instruc-tion, national NASC staff, and others. The professional development seminars are held

during each of the four training rotations.

Interested in being one of the facilitators? Apply online at http://www.nascconference.org/training.php

Continuing education units (CEUs) will be available for advisers who participate in the

conference and may be applied toward their education require-ments. Advisers should check with their district officials to confirm that CEU credits can be applied toward their partici-pation at the NASC confer-ence. A CEU certificate will be mailed to qualified advisers after the conference.

Professional Development for Advisors at NASC

PASC News • January 2014 • www.pasc.net8

“Aye, mate!” chart your course for Orlando, Florida, and come along on the voyage to “Discover the Treasures of Leadership” at the 2014 NASC National Con-ference. On June 24, students and advisors from all over PA will head south to Orlando for a special PASC pre-trip. From June 27–29, we drop anchor at Ocoee High School, host of the 2014 conference. The PASC delegation will return home on June 30.

Travelers will depart from either the Pittsburgh or Phila-delphia Airports and head to the amazing Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista, located in the Walt Disney World® Resort. The Hilton Orlando is an Official Walt Disney World® Hotel and is ideally situated next to the Downtown Disney® Marketplace, Downtown Disney® West Side, and Cirque du Soleil®.

PASC squads, comprised of advisors and students, will begin their adventure as soon as the planes touch down in Orlando, as we head with a two day “hopper” pass to visit Walt Disney World, which covers an area twice the size of New York’s Manhattan. There will be plenty of rides mixed with a dose of Disney charac-ters, storytelling, and thrilling roller coasters in the Magic King-dom. At Epcot, there will be lots of different countries to immerse in food, shopping, and culture. We will fit in some time in a water park for sun and adventure.

On Friday, the real adventure starts as we join fellow conference delegates from across America to head to Ocoee High School and the excitement of the NASC Conference. Continue to check out www.NASC.us for more details about the actual conference

schedule and programs. Sunday evening will be spent with all the students and advisors of Region 2 (NY, NJ, MD, and DE) for a fun-filled final night at Dave and Busters. Our delegation will leave the “magic,” the friends and the excitement of the Orlando conference as we journey home to PA on Monday, June 30.

The total fee for the trip and conference is $1,400. This will include all transportation (plane and bussing), registration fee for the conference, hotel stay at a Disney resort, all entertainment

including entrance fees to the Disney properties and to the Ken-nedy Space Center, meals (except lunches on pre-trip), chaperones, a special Region 2 activity on Sunday night at Dave and Busters, buttons, and state and region shirts.

All the current information and registration process is online at www.PASC.net. This PASC reservation form and $500 non-refundable deposit are due by February 15, 2014. Delegates will be notified when to register on the NASC site and the details on how to do it.

If you are interested in presenting your student council workshop at the NASC conference to students from all over the country, check out the article on page 7. It’s an honor to be selected as a presenter. All details and forms are available at www.nascconference.org. All applications for presenters need to be sent to www.nasccon-ference.org with a copy to Kathy Coll, PASC Trip Coordinator, by February 14, so watch that deadline!

Make PASC and the NASC experience a part of your summer! For questions, contact Kathy Coll at kcoll1@comcast.net

PASC Heads to Florida for NASC Conference

Overcome the “ho-hum, here’s another meeting” at-titude that sometimes hits during mid-year by changing things up at each student council meeting. Consider these ideas:

n Have people sit in order by height or alphabetically by the first letter of their middle name or some other random way that will mix them up.

n Give everyone a nametag of someone else in the group and ask everyone to find the person whose nametag they have. Once they do so, have them share something about themselves such as a favorite movie, favorite teacher, etc.

n Plan the agenda so that the types of activities are varied. If participants have been sitting for a long time, get them up

and moving or break them into smaller discussion groups.

n Inject a funny energizer into the middle of the meeting.

n Give people a voice in what’s going on. Make sure there is a vote on something—whether big or small—and not just a bunch of reports at each meeting.

n Take votes by having mem-

bers physically move them-selves to a corner of the room to represent their vote, or just have them stand up if they are in favor.

n Quickly go around the group and have each member present a quick comment on the topic being discussed or pass if they wish.

n Provide snacks—if you feed them they will come!

Beat the Mid-Year Blahs—Shake Up Your Meetings

PASC News • January 2014 • www.pasc.net 9

The 2014 PASC State Conference theme “Oh the Places You’ll Go” captures the desire for student leaders to look forward to new opportunities for themselves, their schools, and their communi-ties as they learn new skills, network with others, and organize for success.

The conference will be held Thursday, November 6 through Saturday, November 8, 2014, at Altoona Area HS, which was the site of the founding of PASC in 1932, and has hosted state conferences in 1934, 1948, 1986, 1992, and 2011. The registration fee has not yet officially been set but is anticipated to be $100 per delegate.

Registration and welcome activities will be held Thursday after-noon in both the Altoona Area Junior HS and Altoona Area HS. A free dinner for advisors and students will be held in the high school cafeteria, followed by an evening open-ing General Session in the AAHS auditorium.

On Friday, students and advisors will have breakfast at their hotels. The morning program for students will include icebreakers, a speaker, and student roundtables followed by student-led workshops. Advisors will have a special session with speaker Ed Gerety followed by advi-sor roundtables and networking in the advisor lounge. Lunch will be interspersed with regional caucus meet-ings and will be followed by a second general session featuring speaker Alvin Law. On Friday night, dinner will be held at the high school and a Camfel Multime-dia Production will be shown. Advisors will have an evening workshop called “Success Magic.” The evening will conclude with a hypnotist and an opportunity for delegates to make their own sundaes.

The conference will end on Saturday morning with a third general session, featuring Jason Hewitt as the keynote speaker. The conference will end by 11:00 a.m. with delegates having a maximum travel time of four hours from this truly central Pennsylvania location.

In 2014, the PASC State Conference will be a hotel-based conference, similar to the 2010 conference in Scranton. Please note however that the number of hotel rooms for the housing of both advisor and student delegates will be limited and that hotels need to be booked early with 1,000 delegates anticipated. (Note reservation closing date for each hotel). Rooms have been reserved at a conference rate at the following hotels:n Comfort Inn, Duncansville: 814-693-1800 – $89+

tax, 50 rooms reserved; must book by October 16.n Comfort Suites, Altoona: 814-942-2600 – $89+ tax,

60 rooms reserved; must book by October 16.n Holiday Inn Express: 814-944-9661 – $114.95 +

tax, 70 rooms reserved; must book by October 20.n Super 8: 814-942-5350 – $67.50, 36 rooms reserved; must

book by October 10. n Hampton Inn: 814-941-3500 – $119 + tax, 40 rooms reserved;

must book by October 10.n Courtyard by Marriott, Altoona: 814312-1800 – no cost given

yet, 60 rooms reserved; must book by October 6.

When you call to reserve your room, mention that you are with the PASC Conference. Conference information will also be avail-able at www.pasc.net and at the conference website www.pasc2014.org as of February 1.

Circle Your Calendars Now and Join Us in Altoona November 6–8, 2014

Altoona to Host 78th PASC State Conference

November 6-8, 2014

78th PASC State Conference

COME ONE, COME ALL!To Altoona,

next fall!