Y&G CapCo Combined Bulletin #21: The End (for now)

This will be the final bulletin for the 2016-2017 program year and my final bulletin as the Lead Advisor for both delegations. It has been a privilege to serve all of our delegates and their families this year. You may hear from me again on other Coalition news and opportunities, but as far as bulletins go, you're free!

Here are just a few things to wrap up the year:

1.) Due to popular demand, Banquet ticket sales are extended through 12 noon tomorrow, Feb 28. Over 150 people will be there on Thursday. Will you?

2.) Parent Program Evaluations: We depend on feedback to improve our program each year. Please take a moment to provide your thoughts on this year.

3.) Delegate Program Evaluations: An opportunity for delegates to weigh-in on what they liked and what they didn't like this year. Use your voice! Please complete this program evaluation.

4.) Annual Support Campaign Matching Gift Challenge! Today we learned that an anonymous donor has offered to match all coalition donations from now through the close of Thursday's banquet, dollar-for-dollar up to $500. That means each dollar you spend magically becomes $2! El Dorado currently has about 41% participation and Sacramento Central about 35% participation in the Annual Support Campaign. There's still time to hit 100%! You can donate to El Dorado here and Sac Central here. All money raised goes directly to providing program access to Y&G and all youth programs our YMCA offers. Every dollar matters and makes a difference.

5.) 70th Model Legislature & Court Mailing List: Want to get a jump on the next program year? Be the first to hear about the 2017 delegation registration process? Need a link to pass along to your friends who want to join next year? Your wish is granted: http://bit.ly/capcointerest

And with that, I bid you adieu. I am pleased to hand over the Lead Advisor reins to Derek Dolfie, current advisor and El Dorado Delegation alumnus. He will be supported by Whitney and Marcus Worthington in advising leadership roles, Dylan O'Tarrow, our YMCA Y&G Coordinator, and by our entire Capitol Coalition advisor team (who are all amazing).

I wish you all well - especially our graduating seniors. Don't forget to let us know where you're off to next year. We can't wait to see how you all change the world. Looking forward to seeing many of you on Thursday! 

Missed a bulletin?
Need to make a payment?March 2 Celebration Banquet

Y&G CapCo Combined Bulletin #20: And away we go!

(Check your email inbox for referenced attachments)

Well, we made it! Two conferences, about 20 meetings, several community service events, a couple of parties, and a million emails later, here we are: only 3 sleeps till Sac Conference! You finally get to put to work your training and preparation. You'll dress the part. You'll walk the walk. You'll talk the talk. These 5 really long, super short days will be what you make of them - so go big or go home and regret what could've been.

Raise your hand, share that viewpoints, speak with confidence, own the room! Your advising team is so proud of you and we know you're going to do GREAT THINGS this week.

Parents/Guardians: if you missed the pre-conference meeting last week, you must review the attached letter (make sure you read the one for your delegate's delegation!). You must either send me a picture of the signed form or send the signature slip with your delegate to conference check-in on Thursday.  Also, please review the code of conduct carefully with your delegates.  Here is the presentation from last week's meeting (El Dorado here; SacCentral here - they are different). Please email any questions you have ASAP.

Here's what you need to know. Read it carefully!

1.) YMCA Annual Support Campaign - down to the wire! Can delegations reach their goals this week? Here are the current stats:

Sacramento Central:

62.5% of monetary goal

20% of 100% participation goal

El Dorado:

25.5% of monetary goal

28% of participation goal

As a reminder: delegates who participate at any giving level will be entered into a drawing for a $25 Pizza Rock gift card. $5 or more and get a free CapCo pin. $20.17 or more and you'll be entered into a drawing for a $50 Starbucks gift card. (those are all cumulative incentives, too!) The first family group to hit 100% participation AND the family that raises the most money each earn a Sac Conference pizza party. Your last chance to enter for these prizes is at conference check-in on Thursday. Make sure you bring your pledge form with your donation (whether it's $1 or $1000).

And as if those prizes weren't enough: giving is a concrete way to live our delegations' and the YMCA's values. Your gift keeps the doors to Y&G open to all who want to participate. Every. single. dollar. helps. Please give today via the pages for Sacramento Central or El Dorado.

2.) End-of-The-Year Celebration - March 2: Get your tickets for the Old Spaghetti Factory Banquet today! I need to give our reservation numbers to the restaurant next week. It would be very helpful to have our numbers relatively set by then! You can order online or bring CASH to conference check-in on Thursday (on-line is preferred) http://bit.ly/CapCoBanquet

CONFERENCE INFORMATION

3.) Attendance: Attendance is required at all sessions from check-in on Thursday to check-out on Monday. Sports and school do not constitute reasons for missing any part of our final conference. Dates have been advertised since the start of the year and setting priorities - like time management and public speaking - is another skill our program helps delegates develop.

A sample excused absence letter is attached. If you are an Oak Ridge HS student, your information has already been provided to the attendance office and you do not need to submit anything further. The sample letter is for your use - do not submit a copy to me.

4.) Arrival info: Luggage will be stored in Convention Center Hall E which is closest to the intersection of K and 13th Street. Please drop off there. Boundary note: 16th Street is not in-bounds this year (so there is no access to Mikuni's, PF Changes, etc) Reminder: Under no circumstances are delegates permitted to drive themselves to conference.

5.) Sac Attire Arrive in style on Thursday. You should know what to pack already, but if you don't check out the dress code again. Don't overpack (you still have to carry all your own stuff). Watch weather reports carefully!

6.) Food and Drink: unlike Fresno, meals are NOT provided in Sacramento (aside from dinner on Friday and dinner on Sunday). We also HIGHLY recommend packing non-perishable breakfast food (instant oatmeal cups, oranges, bananas, granola bars, etc) for at least Friday morning, if not the whole weekend. It will save you tons of time and money. A refillable water bottle is also recommended. There are drinking fountains in all conference facilities.

Make sure you take time to eat and hydrate! ALL delegates have time in their schedules for meals. Use that time . . . for meals.

7.) Schedule: it's as long and confusing as ever, so give it a read NOW. If you're a delegation president, delegation chaplain, primary bill sponsor, or in ConCon, Forum, NIC, or Houses, you have some special stuff to look out for.

8.) CONA, Governing Board, Awards Apps: all due VERY soon. CONA and Governing Board apps need to be submitted in Reggo by 11:59pm tomorrow, Feb 14. Awards nomination form is found here.

9.) Top 5 things to bring:

Besides Sac attire make sure you bring:

- Food money

- Band-aids for blisters

- Pen and Highlighter

- Delegation sweatshirt

- Your "A" Game!

Special info for El Dorado Delegates:

- Your check-in window is 10:15-10:45am on Thursday. Don't come earlier and don't be late!

- Your go-home time on Monday, Feb 20 is 10am.

- Make sure to check out your delegation leadership candidate statements!

Special info for Sacramento Central Delegates:

- Your check-in-window is 9:45-10:15 on Thursday. Don't come earlier and DO NOT be late!

- Your go-home time on Monday, Feb 20 is 8am

Missed a bulletin?
Need to make a payment?
Mark your calendars for these key events!February 16-20, 2017 (Sacramento) Model Legislature & Court

March 2, Celebration Banquet

Y&G CapCo Combined Bulletin #19: Countdown to Sac Conference

Check your email inbox for referenced attachments

Dates to know:

Feb 8/9: MANDATORY Delegate and Parent/Family Meeting, pre-conference prep

Feb 15: Sac Central Delegation: No meeting

Feb 16-20: 69th Model Legislature & Court

Here's what you need to know this week:

1.) End of the Year Celebration Banquet: Join us for our first-ever (we hope first annual!) Celebration Banquet. Delegates and their families are invited to join us for an evening at the Old Spaghetti Factory in Rancho Cordova on Thursday, March 2. Tickets and more information available here.  Get yours today!

2.) Delegate & Parent/Family Meeting, Feb 8 (Sac) and Feb 9 (Eldo): Delegates and a family member are required to attend next week's delegation meeting for pre-conference information. If you or a parent/family member has a known conflict that evening, you must contact me in advance to let me know. Each year brings slightly new information and slightly different rules. Don't assume you know all you need to know for the year even if you are a returning delegate.

3.) Annual Campaign Corner: Thank you to those who have donated so far. To date, our coalition has raised $657.51. It's a start but it is by no means what I think we're really capable of.

If each delegate works to collect or donates a minimum of $34, we'd hit both of our fundraising targets for the coalition. Without the nearly $14,000 in Y-Assist we receive each our, our coalition would be missing 25 delegates right now. And each of those 25 delegates brings a unique, irreplaceable spirit to our family. We wouldn't be the same without them. We each need to do our part to ensure program access for all students, regardless of financial means. Democracy must be learned by all of  each generation!

A pledge form is attached or you can donate online. There are pages for each delegation: El Dorado at http://bit.ly/EldoDonate and Sacramento Central at http://bit.ly/SacCDonate

To be considered for the various raffles and competitions, pledge forms must be received or online donations made by 12 noon on Thursday, February 16. 

4.) Y&G Awards, Conference on National Affairs (CONA), Governing Board Youth Member apps are all available via google form or reggo with QUICKLY APPROACHING deadlines. See last week's bulletins for more on each.Some require lead advisor letters of recommendation. You must request a letter of recommendation no later than 11:59pm on Feb 9.

5.) Sac Attire: We reviewed the dress code at our delegation meetings this week. You can review the presentation here and a copy of the dress code is attached. Please review it carefully.

6.) El Dorado Delegation Elections - Successful primary candidates received an email with next steps. Candidates MUST complete this form by 11:59pm onThurs, Feb 9 or they will be disqualified from their race.  They should fill out forms for EACH office in which they are a finalist.

Delegates/Voters should review candidate statements here. Delegates should also review the officer duties and ask candidates questions specific to their desired job as they campaign. The descriptions can be found here.

Run-off elections will be held Monday, February 20th at 9am at Sac Conference.

7.) Program Area Specific News:

- Bill Primary and Secondary Sponsors should make sure they meet up between now and Sac conference to make sure each has everything needed for a successful bill presentation. Primary Sponsors need to have their 2 min sponsor speech ready for committee and the floor (if your bill passes committee. Secondary Sponsors need a floor speech ready if the bill makes it over to their house.

- NIC Delegates need to have a 2 minute sponsor speech ready to go on their proposals. Keep in mind the criteria used for evaluating your proposals. Make sure you're ready!

- Court delegates should be preparing their cases

- DOF delegates should be preparing to present their proposals

- This list is not exclusive! If you have stuff to do before Sac conference, get workin'!

Missed a bulletin?
Need to make a payment?
Mark your calendars for these key events!February 8/9, 2017: Mandatory pre-conference meetingsFebruary 16-20, 2017 (Sacramento) Model Legislature & Court

March 2, Celebration Banquet