“Learning to Live in a Technical World”

Minutes: October 6-8, Cabin Trip

Pennsylvania Technology Student Association

All officers were present with the exception of Parliamentarian Mike Rittenhouse and Treasurer Andrew Babetski. The present officers were as follows:

President – Emily Snyder

Vice President – Geoff Quinque

Secretary – Travis Smith

Reporter – Chloe Alpert

Sergeant-at-Arms – Wen Tan

Historian – Jonathan Escobar

Immediate Past President – Brad Shulenberger

6 October 2006:

President Emily Snyder called the first meeting of the trip to order at 1:12 p.m. with the secretary present. The first topic of discussion was the Technology Education Association of Pennsylvania (TEAP) Conference. The conference was to be held November 2-3. First, we discussed the arrangement of tables. It was decided to keep them as the previous year, which was a “U” shape. Emily would bring the PA-TSA banner, Chloe would bring examples of the Papers of Student Technology (POST), Geoff would bring 6 trophies – three different places from the State and National Conference – and three regional ribbons, Jon would make up a brain teaser for the advisors to do, Chloe would also bring some things from the Digital Photography event, Travis would bring a basket of candy, Emily would bring a manufacturing model and she would contact National TSA for some brochures, and Chloe would talk to Mr. Seamans about getting some shirts from the Bucknell Conference. In addition, Jon would contact Mike to get pictures from the State Conference; Chloe would show a slideshow on a laptop from her Imaging Technology event. Jon would also bring a R/C and a Lego Systems. Wen would bring a Safety Illustration, and we would see if Mike could bring some video challenge stuff. Geoff would also get Dennis Gold’s information to hand out. Emily was also going to make the shifts and make sure Mr. Jarrett had the officer nametags. All were reminded that we needed the state officer uniform for the conference. Thursday would be the blue shirt and khakis, and Friday would be the official dress.

Next, Geoff talked about his membership plans. He explained that Mr. Gold and he were doing something new, and Geoff was going to make a sign-up sheet for the TEAP conference.

The set-up for the table was then planned out. On the front table would be the laptop and trophies. The one side table would contain events and the other would have a sign-up sheet and packets about TSA. Emily also said she would get an extension chord.

The meeting recessed at 1:43 p.m. until the following day.

7 October 2006

            Emily called the second meeting to order at 9:51 a.m. The topic at hand was the opening ceremony at the State Conference. Since the theme was “Breaking Down Boundaries,” we were going to break down a brick wall. Emily said that a wall would cost $418 dollars so we should probably use brick paper instead.

            Next, we brainstormed ideas for the opening ceremony’s introduction of officers. Geoff said we could have each person find someone in history that broke down a boundary. Also, he reminded everyone that there should be music and a slideshow that Jon would make. Chloe suggested having a line about our individual superhero breaking down a boundary. She also put forth the idea of brining the guy who won “Who Wants to be a Superhero.” Travis recommended that we only incorporate the superhero theme into the mixer and focus on the “Breaking Down Boundaries” theme during the opening ceremony. It was decided that we would not do a superhero theme for the opening ceremony. The opening ceremony was laid on the table.

            Then, posters were assigned that were to advertise the State Conference. They were to be due at the TEAP Conference. Each officer should e-mail them out, in additon. The assignments were as follows:

  Cheer Contest:              Chloe

        Got-Game:              Geoff

         Iron Man:              Emily

              Mixer:               Wen

       Everything Overall:  Travis

            Moving on, the officers discussed the mixer, which would have a superhero theme. Everyone agreed that if a member dressed up, they should receive a free raffle ticket. The chapters should bring stuff to trade, and there would be music that Mike would bring. The room set-up would be sent to Mr. Roth. At the mixer, Mike would be the mascot, which would be a superman costume, but it would say “TSA.” The deadline for the costume was set to be at the State Conference.

            The opening ceremony was then taken from the table. It was decided we would build a 12-foot by 12-foot frame with 9 square sections. The frame would be covered with brick paper. Each officer would be assigned a section to break. Travis would buy the brick paper. The frame would be built at one of the Quakertown chapter meetings, and Emily would get croquet mallets for everyone to use when breaking their section. Each of us would say a sentence and introduce ourselves. For example, one would say “Through (something that broke a boundary), the (type of boundary) is broken. * HIT * Then, the voice from beyond would introduce you and say your office, name, grade and school, and future plan. Each officer needed to have his or her line by the TEAP conference. The different boundaries were assigned as follow:

            Cultural:               Chloe                     

   Technological:                   Jon                                             

          Personal:                 Wen                                             

            Political:              Geoff

           Medical:             Travis

              Social:               Mike

         Economic:          Andrew

Communication:              Emily

(The center frame would say “TSA.”)

Next, the Friday night event was to be discussed, but since there is going to be a carnival, the Board of Directors (BoD) was handling it.

            The assignments for the Regional Conferences were then examined. Everyone decided that Chloe would no longer go to Region 3 and Geoff would go to Region 2 as well. Otherwise, the assignments from the Bucknell Conference were the same.

            Chloe then assigned POST articles. It was decided that they would be due November 10, 2006. They were as follows:

        Cabin Trip:              Chloe

TEAP and New Events: Andrew

         Trends in Technology: Jon

  Interview with Brad:      Geoff

Why Regionals is Important:             Travis

   Why States is Fun:         Wen

A short recess was taken.

1:17 p.m.

            Next, everyone discussed Iron Man. It was scheduled on Friday from 1-3 p.m. The first event would be a race up and down stairs outside by the ski lodge. Next, competitors would compete in a push-up/sit-up context, which would consist of as many one could do in 30 seconds. Finally, there would be a swimming race in the pool area. New t-shirts would be designed by Wen. The grand prize would be a $50 American Express gift card. Emily would have sign-up sheets.

Geoff talked about membership again. He said that he was making a database and Mr. Gold was sending e-mails. If he received a response, he would send out more information. We would send information to anyone who signed up at TEAP.

            We then discussed Relay for Life. All the money from Got-Game, the raffle, etc., would be donated to National TSA’s cancer fundraiser.

            Then, we planned Got-Game. There would be Madden ’07, Dance Dance Revolution (DDR), and a racing game of some kind. PS2 and X-Box systems would be used. We decided we would be getting more games. The two tournaments would be Madden ’07 and DDR. The DDR tournament would consists of selected songs at different levels. The tournament would run on Thursday. The Madden tournament would be on Friday. Registration would be on-site, at the mixer, and the pricing would be the same as decided at the Bucknell Conference. The same room would be used as the previous year.

            The snack stand and raffle were then discussed. We decided to have it in Stag Pass, which was done in other years. There would be a Pie-in-the-Face fundraiser, which would consist of the BoD. Emily would ask them if they would be interested.

Next, the keynote speaker was discussed. Chloe said she would try and get Joe Paterno.

            Finally, we decided to invite all visitors at TEAP to the regional conferences.

The meeting adjourned at 1:46 p.m