BPA State Leadership Conference

BPA State Leadership Conference will take place in Columbus on March 18 and 19. Students from all over the state will come together to compete in their events, to meet people from other regions, and to have a good time. A tentative itinerary can be found below, as well as some planning tips. Please also make sure that the permission forms (the file can be downloaded below) are turned in to your business teacher by the deadline. 
     

TENTATIVE ITINERARY

Thursday, March 18, 2010

• 6:30am-6:45am: Students arrive at Northwest Career Center 
• 6:45am: Bus departs for Columbus, OH (stop for breakfast on the way)
• 9:30am: Arrival at the hotel in Columbus
• 9:30am-10:00am: Registration / Check-In / Pick up badges & check event times
• 10:00am: Opening General Session
• 11:15am-10:00 pm: Competitive Events (see below for times)
• 5:00pm-7:00pm: Butler Tech Reception (Fusion Room in Crowne Plaza)
• 7:30pm: Statesman Torch Award Reception
• 9:30pm-11:30pm: Dance and Entertainment
• Midnight: Curfew

Friday, March 19, 2010

• 9:00am: Check out of hotel; load bus
• 9:30am: Bus departs hotel
• 11:00am-1:00pm: Awards Ceremony - Veterans Memorial Auditorium, 300 West Broad St., Columbus (PARENTS WELCOME!)
• 1:30pm (approx): Bus departs Columbus *
• 4:30pm (approx): Return to Northwest Career Center *

* Note: If we have qualifiers for Nationals, then our departure will be later than this so that students can review their tests and/or read the judge's comments - Contestant review starts at 2pm.     

TESTED EVENT TIMES

11:30am Advanced Spreadsheets

Important Information and Planning Tips

All registration and lodging expenses will be paid for by Butler Tech and Business Professionals of America Northwest Chapter. The students and teacher chaperones will stay in a hotel in downtown Columbus (the Hyatt Regency). Bus transportation will be provided to Columbus by Butler Tech. Students must ride the bus to Columbus. The trip will be chaperoned by Mr. Clark, Mrs. Tonne, and Mrs. Kariofiles.

In order for the trip to be a success, there are some guidelines that students must follow. Of course, students should be on their best behavior at all times - school rules/conduct code apply to the entire time we are gone. Attendance at all conference activities and appropriate attire is required. You have the responsibility of letting either Mr. Clark, Mrs. Tonne, or Mrs. Kariofiles know your whereabouts at all times. It must be remembered that we are a group and we act like a group - not individuals. If there are any problems, we will contact your parents immediately to discuss arrangements for your pick up. We will be returning to Northwest High School around 5:00pm on Friday.

• BE ON TIME: Students should report to the Northwest Career Center Lobby at 6:45am Thursday, March 18. Be sure to have your luggage with you. Remember that all bags are subject to search before boarding the bus. Our bus will leave promptly at 7:00 a.m. with or without you. DON'T BE LATE!
• LUGGAGE: Students are allowed one overnight suitcase - medium size only! Any hanging clothes must be in a garment bag or covered with a garbage bag. Students must bring business attire for their competitions and the awards ceremony. Jeans/casual clothes may be worn only to the dance, in the hotel rooms, shopping, etc. Business attire must be worn for ALL Competitions and the Awards Ceremony. You will be sharing a seat on the bus with your bags. Save room for yourself!
• MATERIALS: REMEMBER TO BRING ALL MATERIALS NEEDED FOR YOUR COMPETITION! If this includes textbooks, laptops, etc., remember that YOU are responsible for these items at all times on the trip. Make sure any files you need to use are saved ON THE LAPTOP and not on the H: or Y: drives!
• MEALS: Butler Tech will pay for lunch and dinner on Thursday; breakfast on Friday. You might want to bring spending money and some snacks for yourself, too. Also, keep in mind you may have to walk a couple blocks to a restaurant. You must use the buddy system when outside the hotel complex.
• ROOM RULES: Room assignments will be enforced. You must be in your assigned room at curfew (midnight) and stay there without guests. Teachers will be doing periodic room checks throughout the night - we will keep one key to the room. There are to be no members of the opposite sex in your rooms for any reason at any time!
• SCHOOL RULES: This is a school conference and school rules apply. Smoking is not allowed in your rooms or at the conference - whether you are 18 or not. Alcohol and drug possession/use will not be tolerated by the school or by BPA - and it may result in the disqualification of our entire school in competitions. All required prescription and over-the-counter medications should be arranged for in advance through the school nurse.
• PHOTOS: Look for the photographer during the day on Thursday and ask him to take your picture. There is a really nice slide show at the Awards Assembly on Friday and we want you to be seen!
• PHONES: DO NOT use the telephone in your room for anything except calls to other rooms in the hotel. All local and long distance calls should be made from pay phones or cell phones. And if you want to use your cell phone, make sure that your carrier will not charge you roaming charges for calls from Columbus!
• BE SAFE: Most importantly, remember that Columbus is a big city ... BE SAFE. Do not go outside of the complex alone. Travel in small groups! When you are not at the official functions, remove your name tag!
• GETTING HOME: We plan on returning to Northwest around 5:00pm on Friday. Please be sure you have a way home from the Career Center! If you will be picked up at school, plan on calling your ride from the bus to let them know when we will arrive. If you are planning to ride home with your parents, you must submit a signed note from your parents by Wednesday, March 17. Students may only ride home with a parent or guardian - not friends or a classmate's parents. A follow-up phone call will be made to verify this travel request.