Teachers,
As you are aware, the 82nd State
FFA Convention is taking place next week (April 22-24). The convention
continues to grow from year to year, and we anticipate another successful
event in 2010. Your preparation, participation, and assistance are more
critical now than ever before.
We have made significant changes to the
Convention schedule, so please pay close attention to when and where events
are located.
Attached you will find very important assignments
regarding courtesy corps, the state convention committee, and advisor responsibilities
during the convention. The State Convention is a life changing experience
for many of the young people involved. Your active involvement will
play a vital role in making this positive difference. I realize this
is a very busy time of year, but please take the time to read the following
information carefully.
If for any reason you will be unable to
fulfill any of the responsibilities to which you are assigned at the convention,
please notify Ben Lastly, FFA Executive Secretary at 706-542-8990 immediately.
2010 State FFA Convention Reminders
Registration
was due to the State FFA Convention Registration office in Athens on March
30, 2010. If you have not submitted your registration at this time, please
plan to register onsite in Macon. Remember that the fee to register onsite
is $35 per person. Everyone planning to attend the convention
must be registered. Due to security reasons, it is very important that
everyone is wearing an official State FFA Convention button or name tag
during the convention.
Registration for the convention will
be held from 12:00--6:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 22 in the Arena Pre-Function.
Please have copies of the Medical Authorization form completed prior
to leaving school.
Available at the registration desk will be
concert tickets for $20 each, and copies of the 2010 FFA Theme
DVD (Lead Out Loud) for $10 each.
- Medical Authorization Form
Please
find attached a medical authorization form. Each student who registers
for the convention will be required to have a form on file with the convention
registration team. The teacher should also maintain a copy for school files.
Please complete and duplicate the form prior to leaving school. It is not
necessary to turn the medical forms in at the registration desk; We simply
ask that you have them with you in Macon so that should an accident occur,
we have the necessary medical information for every student.
Prior
to leaving your school please make sure that all members have complete
official dress for the entire convention. It is especially important
for those members who will be receiving awards and/or degrees to be in
complete and proper official FFA dress. Please address this issue
with your students as it relates to wearing blue jeans, khakis, white socks,
hats, and tennis shoes. It is our desire to maintain convention dress at
a high level of professionalism.
- Appropriate Dress of Adults
The
appropriate dress for teachers and others who attend the convention is
professional dress. This includes coats and ties for gentlemen and a dress,
nice pants suit, or skirt and blouse for ladies. Please help us maintain
this standard of professionalism during the convention.
The
Courtesy Corps has been organized to provide additional assistance and
direction for the convention. The Courtesy Corps will meet with assigned
students and teachers at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 22 in the Arena.
All teachers assigned duties and responsibilities should be in attendance
to review the requirements and duties of the Courtesy Corps. All
other teachers are highly encouraged to be in attendance. As a verification
measure, please check the attached Courtesy Corps assignment sheet to determine
if one of your members is assigned.
State
officer candidate interviews will begin at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, April
17 at the Georgia FFA-FCCLA Center in Covington. The interview should be
finished around 5:00 p.m. Note: This is the weekend before the convention.
- Advisor Roles and Responsibilities - Assignment
Sheet
Advisor responsibilities
for convention are included with the courtesy corps attachment. Please
read them carefully and familiarize yourself with your responsibilities
during the convention. If you will not be able to fulfill your responsibility
for any reason, please let your Mr. Lastly know immediately. As well as
assigned responsibilities, please be aware of what is happening around
you, adopt a neighborhood watch manner of thinking, and maintain a security
watch at all times. With your cooperation and help, the convention will
be a great experience for everyone involved. Every teacher on this list
should attend the Courtesy Corps meeting.
Please
remember to bring food for the FFA Convention Food Drive. All food
can be dropped off on Thursday at the Alumni area outside of the Career
Show on Thursday afternoon from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. All food collected
will go to the Middle Georgia Community Food Bank. Again this year we ask
that you make an effort to bring jars of peanut butter!
We
will be collecting letters written to U.S. service men and women at the
Convention Registration desk. If you have already done so, please encourage
your students to write a letter to a soldier. Last year we mailed more
than 100 letters from FFA members to U.S. soldiers who are serving overseas.
Please help us continue this cause by encouraging your students to thank
a soldier with a letter.
- State FFA Convention Committee
Please
review the attached State Convention Committee assignments. Insure that
students participate in their committee meeting Friday at 12:30 p.m. in
Arena Suite A.
If
you need information about a specific activity at the Convention, or need
to know who to contact about a particular situation, please be aware of
the following staff assignments and superintendent roles.
Proficiency Interviews – Dr. D.J.
Sheppard
Star Interviews – Harry Thompson
CDEs – Von Peavy
Sr. Prepared Public Speaking – Justin
Sealy
Jr. Prepared Public Speaking – Dr.
Teri Hamlin
Creed Speaking – Dr. Dennis Duncan
(UGA)
Extemporaneous Speaking – Christa
Steinkamp
FFA Quiz – Eddie McKie
Ag Sales – John Allen Bailey
Discussion Meet – Tommy Waldrop
Marketing Plan – Ricky Wheeler
Agriscience Fair – Anne Smith
Woodworking – Harold Milligan
Alumni Convention – Blane Marable
Please keep in mind that we all have a responsibility for the success of
the convention and not just a responsibility to carry out the duties we
are assigned. This is especially true in managing and supervising our own
students as well as providing a safe and secure environment for all students.
Everyone should join together to see that students are where they should
be when they should be. Simply checking to see that your students are in
the convention hall and are seated and acting appropriately will go a long
way in improving the overall success of the convention. Also, teachers
should be in attendance in the convention hall to assist with crowd control,
to greet guests, and to maintain a safe environment for all students. All
teachers should help identify special guests and assist them in getting
to the correct location.
Thanks again for everything that you do to provide opportunities for your
students. Lets have a GREAT Convention!!!
John (Chip) Bridges
Program Manager, Agricultural Education
Georgia Department of Education
1752 Twin Towers East
Atlanta, GA 30334
Phone: 404.657.8311
Fax: 770.344.4411
email: [log in to unmask]