Hello everyone, I hope all of you are enjoying your summer and getting your batteries charged in preparation for the upcoming school year.  I just came back for the WA-ACTE Summer conference and it was a great success. I enjoyed networking with old friends and making new ones, attending sessions and adding tools to my educational tool bag.  For me the Summer Conference marks the end of summer and time to start preparing for the new school year. So time to get started!

Ken Toney, your President Elect, will be taking over as your new WASTS President and this will be my last message as your President. This has been a wonderful and a tremendous learning experience for me. I urge everyone to step out of their comfort zone and take on a leadership position in your association. I promise you that you will be better for it. I would also like to thank the Executive and board members for all of their wonderful support.  Without their support I would have been lost.  I would also like to thank Mr. Moe Broom for his outstanding support and for his work in the association. I wish him continued success at his new Job as CTE Director for the Yakima School District.  Now on to the Fall Conference.

WASTS FALL CONFERENCE

Please remember the dates for the WASTS Fall conference. This year the conference will be held in Lynnwood Oct 28-30, more information to follow. Check the WASTS website often for updates at http://wasts.us  you  can also check us out on facebook, search for Washington Association for Skilled and Technical Sciences and become a fan.

If you haven’t heard Mr. Moe Broom is no longer our OSPI Program Supervisor and is now the CTE Director for the Yakima School District. His vision and leadership with our organization was outstanding. Don't worry though, Moe will still be part of the WASTS organization just not as the OSPI program supervisor.

Mr. Dennis (Denny) Wallace is our new OPSI Program Supervisor and he has hit the ground running. We look forward to working with Denny and he is full of ideas to help move our organization forward.

Your organization is diligently working on industry tours and sessions but we need your help! In an effort to improve the conference and meet your technical upgrade needs we have set up 5 survey monkey links that require your immediate attention. The links are located on our website. Specifically, there are links for Professional leadership Opportunities (nominate someone you know to help lead this organization OR nominate yourself), WASTS Award Nominations, Session Speaker forms, Fall Session Ideas, and Tour Suggestions. Please take the time to look over the surveys and tell us what you want!

Here is what we currently have planned:

20 industry tours are tentatively scheduled along with numerous professional technical upgrades. Please provide us with as many conference session topics that you would like to have at the conference and we will make every effort to make them available. Please use the survey monkey links on the WASTS website (http://wasts.us) .

We read over your comments and have made every effort to accommodate your suggestions.

For example:

- Meals will be provided through out the conference

- Streamlining the tour and conference registration process.

- Plans are in the works to have the registration fee be included as part of the membership dues.

WASTS LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Two Executive Board positions are open and ready to be filled: President Elect and Treasurer.

Please consider running for these leadership positions. It would be great if we had numerous applications so we could have an election. Nomination procedures will be forthcoming.

The following Cluster Sections need leaders: Architecture & Construction, Arts AVTech & Communications is the largest cluster and needs assistance,  Education and Training, and Manufacturing. If you are in one of those sections please consider stepping up to the plate and become a cluster president. 

You are all aware that our association is only as strong as its membership. Please make every effort to get your colleagues to join. Please emphasize that the association’s mission is to provide the professional and technical development of educators in the Washington Association for Skilled and Technical Sciences (WASTS). Specific services include:

Conference (professional/technical upgrades), networking opportunities with colleagues, legislative advocacy, and leadership opportunities within the association.