State Conference Information : Director's Message Last Updated: Mar 18, 2011 - 6:52:03 PM

2011 READ-READ-READ
By Lauren Lapinski
Feb 27, 2011 - 6:20:09 PM

Important Information concerning the 2011 PA-TSA State Conference
READ-READ-READ
33rd Annual PA-TSA State Conference
April 13-16, 2011

REMINDERS
  • READ THE RULES!
  • Be sure to follow the NEW 2011-2012 High School Competitive Events Guide.
  • Be sure to download the updated PA Event Guidelines at http://www.patsa.org/conf/events_index.php?pageid=38&level=1
  • Information regarding Regional and State Conferences, Competitive Events and TSA in general can be found in the online PA-TSA handbook, available at http://www.patsa.org/advisors/handbook.php?pageid=23&level=1
  • $50.00 late fee will be enforced. NO on-site registration will be accepted.
  • All students and advisors must be present at the conference in order to register and compete in events.
  • The final conference schedule will be distributed at registration, all others are tentative.
  • Please try to select competitive events that do not conflict time-wise. If a time conflict exists, the following guidelines will be enforced:
    • The student and/or advisor must meet with the event coordinator a minimum of one half hour prior to the event.
    • The event coordinator has the right to deny any change.
    • Students arriving late for an event, without prior permission, will not be allowed to compete.  
  • Completed Special Needs forms must be submitted by the registration deadline. Forms can be found on the PA-TSA website or can be obtained by contacting a member of the State Conference Planning team.  
  • Events themes are available online at http://www.tsaweb.org/Themes-and-Problems
  • IMPORTANT: Effective 2009, Seven Springs will no longer accept the registration fee and hotel registration as one payment. This means that advisors will need to have two checks – one payable to Seven Springs for the hotel and one payable to PA-TSA for the conference registration. Checks for hotel registration can be mailed to Seven Springs prior to the conference. Checks for PA-TSA conference registration should be brought to the conference and given to a member of the conference planning team at registration Wednesday night.  
  • All projects must be registered/dropped off during the predetermined times. If this is not possible, you need to contact the Conference Director ahead of time to see if special arrangements can be made.  
  • Test sessions are not flexible. If a chapter/member is not present Wednesday night, they forfeit those testing sessions and will have to use the sessions on Thursday. No make-up tests will be permitted.
  • If a chapter does not attend the Awards Ceremony and requests their trophies be sent to them after, the Chapter will be billed for the shipping costs. When possible, chapters should make arrangements to have neighboring chapters pick up their trophies for them.
Competitive Event Information
Please carefully review the information below regarding competitive events for the State Conference. PA-TSA will enforce all rules and supply all materials and equipment as specified in the Middle School and High School Competitive Event Guides; any exceptions or special instructions have been noted below:
  • Competitive Event Entry Guidelines – see the PA-TSA Handbook, Section 6 (available online at http://www.patsa.org/pub/BOD/BOD_Handbook_20090929.pdf for complete entry guidelines.
    • Individuals may not enter team or group events.
    • Check each eligibility section in the Competitive Events Guide for a complete description of a team or a group.
    • Maximum for any team or group is six.
  • Dress Code – see the PA-TSA Handbook, section 4 for complete dress code guidelines. A 20 point deduction will occur for any dress code violations.
  • Please visit the National TSA website at http://www.tsaweb.org/Updates-and-Clarification prior to the conference for updates and clarifications on select event rules. We will follow these rule adjustments at the State Conference. 
  • ID Numbers / Student Names – As students and advisors now know identification numbers prior to arrival at the conference (via iServices), students should pre-label all parts of their projects with their individual and, if applicable, team numbers. Student names should not appear in a project. If there is a need to describe what was done by each member (such as Medical Technology), the project should identify team members at Team Member #1, Team Member #2, etc. A 20 point deduction will occur for any violations.
  • Any copyright infringement/plagiarism will result in a disqualification. Pay close attention to the songs, images, and words you use in your projects. 
  • Students are responsible for providing and wearing safety glasses/goggles for any event that requires them. Read the event rules carefully to determine which events require safety glasses/goggles. If the event is a team event, each member of the team must have his/her own pair of safety glasses/goggles. 
  • All entries must be school appropriate in terms of content. 
  • Events with computer demonstration – Students will be asked to show up to run their entry for the judges. PA-TSA will provide a MAC laptop and PC laptop, both equipped with basic software. Students have the option to bring their own computer system and are encouraged to do so if there is a chance their entry will not open on a standard computer system (i.e. SciViz, Biotechnology Design, Electronic Game Design, Video Game Design).
  • Events with a testing component – Participants must be in Dress Code C or better for the test portion of the event. Follow dress code guidelines in the Competitive Events Guide for all other portions of the event. This includes: MIDDLE SCHOOL – Tech Bowl, Career Prep (job application), Chapter Team, Zap It! Electrical Applications, Technical Drawing; HIGH SCHOOL – Technology Bowl, Career Comparisons (job application), Chapter Team, Technical Sketching and Application, PA Computer Systems and Troubleshooting
  • Events requiring computers:
    • Students/chapters are responsible for all equipment. This includes computer, printer, cables, software, extension cords, and power strips. Check the event rules for a specific list of what each event requires. No equipment will be provided.
    • There will be NO computer drop-off Wednesday night. Computers will be setup at the beginning of each event.
    • Students/chapters will be responsible for providing laptops for the finalist portion of all events that require them. 
  • No electricity will be provided for displays. Any special set-up and/or equipment for the display are the responsibility of the participants. Check event rules for specific regulations regarding electricity usage for each competitive event. 
  • CAD Events – All CAD events, MS & HS, will be judged on the screen. No plotting.
  • Construction Renovation, Construction Challenge and Environmental Focus – Bring all documentation to date; project does not need to be completed at the time of competition. 
  • Desktop Publishing – Students will be provided a disk with clipart for the onsite project. No other clipart or graphics will be permitted. 
  • Dragster Design (HS) – Wheels may be recessed while still maintaining Rule DB5 (body width at the axles must be 35 - 42mm). This will limit how far wheels could be recessed. Rules for 2011-12 also require the narrow wheels up front and the slicks in the back.
  • Fashion Design – Finalists for Fashion Design must provide their own models for the runway show. Models must be TSA members registered for the conference. For 2011, the challenge is to design 2 costumes. Each of those 2 costumes could have 3 garments. Therefore, there is a possibility of turning in 6 items, 3 garments/costume. 
  • Photographic Technology –
    • Per Regs E & G, a 1” border must be left at the bottom of each page. This 1” border must include a caption or description for the above print. 
    • Per Reg K4, smaller prints can be combined on a page, still must allow for 1” border for caption/description below EACH picture 
    • Per Reg H, a description of post processing must appear on the back of each print
    • Per Reg K, the cover page must include a graphic representation of the student’s prints that have been submitted for judging. Participants can either create an actual display and photograph it or create the display electronically using a computer program of the participant’s choice.  
    • Per Reg K6, all original prints must be placed in a separate sheet protector directly behind the finished print. Original prints for multiple imaging must be placed directly behind the finished print in separate sheet protectors with a description of the special processing placed on the back side of the prints
  • Prepared Presentation (HS) – ONLY an easel, podium, and table (approximately 6’ in length will be provided. 
  • Prepared Speech (MS) – ONLY an overhead projector, easel and a white background for a projection device will be provided. 
  • Structural Engineering (HS) – We will supply a load plate, 3” square x •••” thick, with •••” hole bored in the center. The load plate goes on the bottom and the structure needs to be glued to it. The structure must be attached to the load plate. Height will be measured from top of load plate to the top of the structure (in other words, height of load plate is not factored into overall height). When it comes time to test, a test block (3” square x •••” thick) will be placed on top of the structure (not glued). Weight of load plate will be subtracted from tower weight.
  • PA - Delta Dart (MS) and Flight (MS) – Bring an 11” x 17” piece of cardboard or foamboard to serve as a pin board during construction.
  • Webmaster HS & Website Design MS – Entries must be posted/URLs submitted by April 1, 2011 @ 11:59PM. Entries should be submitted at http://www.patsa.org/conf/events_csp.php?pageid=43&level=2 .


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