Sac Central Delegation Bulletin #20: T-minus 10 . . . .

This week marks our final regular weekly meeting. After months of meetings, bill hearing night, two weekends in Fresno, a lot of reading, a lot of research, a lot of preparation, and it all comes down to this next week or so. The 71st ML/C is yours. It will be what you make of it . . . .

1.) Annual Campaign Nearing the Finish Line! We are 1 delegate away from 100% delegation participation. Thank you SO MUCH to all who have made a gift so far. We have blown last year right out of the water and I am grateful and deeply touched by your generosity. https://www.classy.org/team/205907

2.) Meeting Schedule: This week's meeting, February 6, is a MANDATORY pre-conference meeting. All delegates must attend. Delegates must bring a family member along (new and returning).

• Primary and Secondary Bill Sponsors should come to this week's meeting prepared to give their sponsor speeches as a practice run! 

3.) Delegation Dinner (at Conference): One of our favorite traditions returns - Delegation Dinner at Sac Conference! (For information about our year-end banquet, scroll down!) We'll return to Oishii Sushi this year for food and karaoke fun on Friday, during the conference. This is one of two meals covered during Sac Conference. We need your dinner order in advance. Please place your order here by Monday, February 11: http://bit.ly/SacCDelDinnerOrder 

4.) Program Area Specific News:

- Bill Sponsors (primary, secondary, and author) 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.

- Court delegates should be preparing their cases.

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

5.) School Attendance: Hopefully, you've alerted your school as to your absence next week.Participation in Y&G constitutes and excused absence under the education code. Here's a sample excused absence letter you can take to your school. Don't return it to me! I don't need it. :)

6.) Celebration Banquet Returns! Join us on Wednesday, February 27 for our Third Annual Capitol Coalition Celebration Banquet. It's a fun evening featuring presentations from various program areas, awards, and maybe a guest speaker or two. We will again meet at Old Spaghetti Factory in Rancho Cordova. Tickets start at $15 each and cover salad, your entree, and dessert. Thank you to the Old Spaghetti Factory for providing complimentary beverages again this year - we appreciate their support! Tickets can be purchased here: capcobanquet2019.brownpapertickets.com/

Ticket sales will end February 20. ***If the ticket cost presents a financial hardship, let me know ASAP. We don't want anyone staying home due to financial concerns***

7.) Buddy Photo Challenge - Due Feb 19 : Here is a link to the list of buddy pairs/groups and our photo scavenger hunt challenge. Start now! Photos must be uploaded (bit.ly/buddyphotos71) before the close of the Governor's Banquet at Sac Conference! Good luck! Returners - it's your job to check in with your buddy to see how their year is going!

Reminders:

Deadlines Extended - Last Chance for A Lot of Stuff!

• New: I&A Party Chair Application - Deadline Extended. Applications are available in Reggo and are due February 8th in Reggo. You don't need to be in I&A currently to apply.

The below are all due FEBRUARY 11 (except award nominations):

• New: Awards Season! Via google form, available here: nominations can be made here, Due by 11:59 PM on Thursday, February 14th. For a list of all awards and a description of each, click here.
• MUN Secretariat Application Extension. Applications are available in Reggo and are due February 11 in Reggo. More info in previous bulletins
• Conference on National Affairs. Application in Reggo. Due Feb 11. Must request Lead Advisor Recommendation by the end of tomorrow night's meeting. More info in previous bulletins.
• Youth & Government Governing Board Position. Applications are available in Reggo and are due February 11. More info in previous bulletins.
• YMCA175: we are waiting on some additional information before we know whether a Sacramento Central Delegation to this London conference is possible. In the meantime, if you are interested in this program, please apply for the Y&G Delegation via Reggo. Due: February 11
• New: National Judicial Competition Apps Extended. Due in Reggo by Feb 11: The National Judicial Competition (NJC) is a nationwide YMCA Appellate Court and Mock Trial competition program, taking place in Chicago, IL each summer and is hosted by the YMCA of the USA in partnership with the American Bar Association. Interested delegates should complete the application available in Reggo now and tell Christiana no later Feb 11 for approval. The conference takes place between approximately July 25 and August 2, 2019.

You must notify me if you apply for any of these programs so that I can approve your application. Failure to let me know means your application won't be considered by CalYMCA.

If you apply for special programs, make sure that you read your email regularly between now and the conference and review the conference schedule when it is released next week to check for interview times and locations or other requirements.

Parent Corner: 

Communication is Key! There will be additional information emailed between now and the conference. Please remind your delegate to check their email, Groupme, and Remind texts frequently (read: daily) between now and the conference. If your delegate will not have a cell phone at conference or if you need to update their number, please email me ASAP so I know. 

Conference Transportation: Because we're the home team, delegates are responsible for their own transportation to and from downtown Sacramento for the conference. Delegates may not, under any circumstances, drive themselves to or from the conference. It is a violation of the CalYMCA Code of Conduct and delegates found to have driven themselves to conference will be sent home. 

Sac Conference Meal Budget: Unlike previous conferences, only two meals are provided during our final conference of the year. Delegates are responsible for feeding themselves. A budget of approximately $80-$100 is recommended, depending on your delegate's tastes and appetite. Delegates will need to eat breakfast before they come to the conference next Thursday. They can bring a sack lunch that day as well. They will be responsible for their own dinner Thursday; Breakfast and lunch on Friday; Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner on Saturday; and Breakfast and Lunch on Sunday. Dinners are provided on Friday and Sunday night. You will pick them up on Monday morning from the conference between 7 and 8am, so they can eat breakfast at home. 

We STRONGLY encourage delegates to bring some quick, non-perishable breakfast foods with them as breakfast is generally the most overpriced meal that is the hardest to obtain in the shortest amount of time before session - especially on Friday morning. Instant oatmeal, granola bars, bananas, etc, are a very, very good idea. Refrigeration is not guaranteed available in hotel rooms. Food is available locally at every price point and many K Street restaurants have specials during our conference. 

If this presents a financial hardship, please contact me ASAP. No delegate should go hungry. 

Sac Conference Attendance: Sac Conference is Feb 14-18 and constitutes an excused absence from school under the Education Code. Please remember that regular season sports or other regular, predictable, or recurring events (like homework or tests) do not constitute valid excuses for missing any part of Sac Conference. Exceptions will only be granted on a case-by-case basis for special circumstances (like state championships, meetings with the pope or president, that sort of thing).

• It may seem like no big deal to pop out for a couple of hours, but your advisors are responsible for knowing the whereabouts of 140 people at all times and tracking delegate location when every one is at conference is tricky enough. Y&G is also preparing delegates for real life in that, in life, sometimes you have to make tough choices about what activities to prioritize. 

We thank you for respecting this policy and helping us ensure a safe and positive experience for all delegates.

Sac Central Delegation Stands For Respect, Responsibility, and Purpose

Helpful Links:

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Mark your calendars:

January 19-February 14: Capitol Coalition Annual Campaign (Give online or return this form)

February 6, 2019: Mandatory pre-conference meeting

February 13, 2019: No meeting

February 14-18, 2019: 71st Model Legislature & Court, Sacramento

February 27, 2019: Third Annual CapCo Celebration Banquet, Old Spaghetti Factory, Rancho Cordova

We are committed to equal program access for all and are dedicated to ensuring the benefits of Y&G are available to every student in our community without regard to financial need. No delegate should ever drop out or refrain from joining because of financial concerns. If you want to do this program, we want you to do this program.