“Learning to Live in a Technical World”

First of all, a BIG congratulations to all the students throughout the state who have qualified for the state conference in April at Seven Springs. This is the second step on the path to the national conference. I hope everyone realizes the work that needs to be done to compete at this next level.

Make sure you take the time to review your event criteria and judging sheet. Secondly, go over your event if it is a static event to make sure it is ready for a higher level of competition.

If you will be participating in the many number of on site events, whether they are individual or team make sure you prepare. Many little things seem to happen at the conference. For instance, you look in your supplies and realize that you left something very important at your school. A suggestion would be to make a checklist to ensure this does not happen.

To the advisers, there will be some changes this year. The major change will be in the billing process. You will need to bring two checks with you to the conference. One check will be for your lodgings at Seven Springs and the second check will be your registration fee for the conference. Seven Springs wishes PaTSA to handle its registration fee from now on. It used to be part of the over all price and the hotel would separate it and send the BOD a check. There have been some problems recently with an increased number of people backing out of the conference at the last minute and that has prompted the hotel to take these steps. It does create a burden on their book keeping and ties up rooms they could use for other guests.

Please understand the policy changes and read them on the registration forms. This is very important and can not be stressed enough. The first year of any change always creates some problems, but we are hopeful we can keep them at a minimum with good communications.

Thanks and good luck to everyone who will attend the conference this year.

Bud Gotwald

PA-TSA BOD president.