Sac Central Delegation Bulletin #21: Here We Go!

It’s time! This conference will be what you make it because  you are in control of your experience. The choices you make will impact your time and that of everyone around you. Whether this is your first conference or your last: make it count by making friends, making memories, and making a difference. You represent your family, your school, your YMCA, your delegation, and, most importantly, yourselves, always. How do you want to be known?

You are not anonymous. You matter. The choices you make matter - for worse or for better. You have more power than you think. You can change the world if you want to. And you can start today. Your advising team is so proud of you and we know you're going to do GREAT THINGS this week.

1.) Meeting Schedule: NO MEETING on Feb 13 because we got a conference to do, y'all!

2.) Pre-Conference Letter: This letter was distributed at the pre-con meeting. Please review it carefully. If you have questions, ASK! If a parent/guardian did not attend last week's meeting, make sure you bring back (just!) the tear-off slip, signed, to conference check-in on Thursday.

3.) Conference Prep Info: here's the presentation from the pre-con meeting.

Top 6 things to bring:

Besides Sac Attire (and some casual clothes and shoes) make sure you bring:

- Food money

- Delegation of Distinction Lanyard

- Band-aids for blisters

- Pen and Highlighter

- Delegation sweatshirt

- Your "A" Game!

4.) And here's the MLC Schedule. You will be provided a hard copy of the schedule when you check-in on Thursday. Take a look at it now to familiarize yourself with your schedule. As ever, things may change, so watch for updates. The days in Sac are LONG! Get some extra sleep between now and Thursday if you can!

5.) Arrival Info: The conference begins this Thursday, February 14. Your check-in window is 9:45-10:15. Head for the Sacramento Convention Center entrance on J past 13th Street. Take your luggage to Exhibit Hall C and then find Christiana for your registration materials and badge. LABEL YOUR LUGGAGE (Name, Delegation, Hyatt Hotel) Don't forget to arrive wearing Sac Attire!

Once delegates are checked-in, they are expected to remain within conference boundaries for the duration of the conference. Guests and Visitors are not permitted. Delegates must attend all assigned sessions. No sessions are optional except for evening social events.

Delegates must be picked up from the Hyatt Hotel between 7:30 and 8:00am on Monday, February 18.

5.) 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. These fine folks still need to sign up:

Cameron Wyatt

Jennifer Tsao
Leo Newman
Liam Elliott-Beckett
Mitchell Youker
Priya Sharma

Please place your order here by Monday, February 11: http://bit.ly/SacCDelDinnerOrder

Reminders:

- Application Deadlines: Lots of programs have final deadlines on Feb 11. Check out last week’s bulletin to see what’s available. Tell your Lead when you have submitted an application so it can be approved!

- Annual Campaign: Sac Central has reached 100% participation! Thank you so very much for your support and generosity. I am truly grateful for each gift we have received for this year's Annual Campaign! If you would like to continue to help the cause, you can still make your own Fundraising Page and help us reach our new $5000 target for this year! Just visit the Team CapCo page and click "Join Team"

- Celebration Banquet Returns! Online ticket sales will end February 20  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, three 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

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

- 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. :)

Deadlines:

-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 here bit.ly/buddyphotos71 Good luck! Returners - it's your job to check in with your buddy to see how their year is going!

-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.

Parent Corner:

Code of Conduct: Please take a few minutes to read the Code of Conduct and to have your delegate do the same. It is important to review these expectations prior to Thursday. We need your help ensuring that delegates understand our expectations and meet them. We also need your help ensuring that delegates don't bring contraband (alcohol, vapes, tobacco products, drugs, etc) to the conference. Violations of the Code may result in your delegate being sent home and, in certain instances, bar their future participation in this program. If you have any questions about the Code, let me know ASAP.

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 no later than Tuesday, February 12, 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 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). 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:

Missed a bulletin?

Need to make a payment?

Looking for forms or handouts?

Mark your calendars:

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

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.