Welcome back to another school and SkillsUSA year.  I hope the start to your year has been a good and productive one.

SkillsUSA Oregon has experience many changes this summer.  The Student Leadership Development Center, and my office, has moved back across the street at the WESD Marion Center main building.  (Our address and [...]]]> Dear SkillsUSA Advisors

Welcome back to another school and SkillsUSA year.  I hope the start to your year has been a good and productive one.

SkillsUSA Oregon has experience many changes this summer.  The Student Leadership Development Center, and my office, has moved back across the street at the WESD Marion Center main building.  (Our address and phone number are the same.)  The Coordinator Position has been cut to .5FTE due to Budget Cuts.  On the positive side, the new State Officer Team, Board of Advisors and new Board of Directors are excited about this year and Connecting the SkillsUSA Opportunities.

Attached you will find the Fall Mailer, including the POW Calendar, and Fall Conference Information and Registration Forms. This year’s Oregon Theme is Champion’s at Work: Time for Service.  The State Officers have decided to include a Community Service Canned Food Drive with the Fall Conference Experience.  Please collect canned food and bring it to Fall Conference.  The Chapter with the most food turned in at registration will get a prize!

I look forward to working with you through the coming year.  Please let me know how I can help you with Chapter Activities, Advisor Trainings or any other SkillsUSA Happenings.  My time is limited due to the cut, but I will do my best to insure that the SkillsUSA Oregon Tradition continues strong and major events still occur.

Don’t forget to look at the SkillsUSA Oregon Website (www.oregonskillsusa.com) and the National Website (www.skillsusa.org) for Information – they are great resources.

Please contact me with question and I look forward to seeing you at events throughout the year.

Niki Clausen, State Director 2009

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STUDENT LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT CENTER FUNDING

IMPACT TO OREGON CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION

Please consider using the following informatin when Advocating for the SLDC and SkillsUSA.

STUDENT LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT CENTER FUNDING

IMPACT TO OREGON CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION

The Co-Chairs of the Joint Committee on Ways and Means recently released their 2009-11 Recommended Budget.  The budget calls for the elimination of the Student Leadership Development Center (SLDC) from the Oregon Department of Education budget, impacts the following Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs), and delivers a devastating blow to Career and Technical Education in Oregon.

• AOFC (Associated Oregon Forestry Clubs),
• DECA (An Association of Marketing Students),
• FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America),
• FFA (An Organization of Agriculture Science and Technology Students),
• FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America),
• HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America), and
• SkillsUSA (An Association of Students in Technical, Skilled and Service Studies).

FUNDING IMPACT

The elimination of the SLDC and CTSOs would result in the loss of:

·         The more than half a million dollars in matching funds represented by in-kind and real dollars contributed during the last two years.

• Annual volunteer efforts exceeding the equivalent of 22 full time employees working 12 months per year.
• A total of almost two million dollars in cash, non-cash and volunteer contributions.
• Over $200,000 in college and university scholarships from national organizations and business partners during the next two years, for Oregon high schools students.

The total amount lost to Oregon’s Career and Technical Education during the coming biennium exceeds 2.2 million dollars, or the equivalent of almost three times the state investment!

PROGRAM IMPACT

• The Student Leadership Development Center would cease to exist July 1, 2009.
• Oregon would lose an integral part of Career and Technical Education.
• Services to all of Oregon’s Career and Technical Student Organizations would cease immediately.  Without the leadership and work of the SLDC staff, two or three of the organizations may be able to continue to exist, but without staffing would face paralyzing limitations on services and resources.
• Annually, over 10,000 student CTSO members would be impacted, in addition to the uncounted others who participate in organization activities without official membership, usually due to finances.
• Over 400 teachers from virtually every high school in Oregon would be impacted.
• Student opportunities to meet Oregon Diploma Requirements would be lost.  The programs and activities of Oregon’s CTSOs directly correlate with Oregon’s Career Related Learning Standards and Essential Skills as adopted by the State Board of Education.
• Students would lose the opportunities for student leadership as a major component of their program of study including leadership preparation, citizenship, character development and technical skills. The quality of Oregon’s programs is exemplified in the 13 National Officers produced through the SLDC in the last 8 years.
• Student participation in national leadership activities and conferences would be lost.
• Oregon would lose a valuable method of engaging students in their learning, improving retention in school and reducing drop out rates.
• A major loss in the linkages between schools and business and industry would result.  Leadership organizations act as intermediary brokers of work-based learning in many schools. Business and industry linkages create opportunities for students to participate in work-based learning opportunities and to meet career related learning standards and diploma requirements.
• Loss of the CTSOs would eliminate leadership and skill development conferences, leadership training, career development events, etc., making it impossible for students to participate in state fair, state conferences, regional competitions and national conferences.
• Major reduction in the linkages between schools and communities would occur. CTSOs connect students to communities, service learning, and community services projects.
• A reduction of opportunities for schools to integrate academic and work-based learning skills as a part of Oregon’s efforts to increase student achievement and better prepare students for their next steps in life.

Please contact the State Office with questions or for Advocacy Ideas.

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We need your help! 

Due to the current economic situation the Student Leadership Development Center (SLDC) that houses SkillsUSA Oregon, as well as the other Student Leadership Organizations (such as FBLA, DECA, FFA, HOSA, and FCCLA), is not currently in the budget to be refunded for the next biennium.  It is possible to be put back [...]]]> chris-rankins-letter

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We need your help! 

Due to the current economic situation the Student Leadership Development Center (SLDC) that houses SkillsUSA Oregon, as well as the other Student Leadership Organizations (such as FBLA, DECA, FFA, HOSA, and FCCLA), is not currently in the budget to be refunded for the next biennium.  It is possible to be put back into the budget by raising awareness about what we do, how we support education, and by sharing what an essential asset we are to Career and Technical Educations teachers, students and programs.
 
Attached is a letter from Chris Rankin, the Director of the SLDC, a Talking Points Document, How You Can Be An Advocate Document.  I ask that you read these and help support this cause.  SkillsUSA and the SLDC helps to support Career and Technical Education, we assist teachers in obtaining CTE Certification, we are an aspect of the Program Approval Process which is part of meeting the Perkins requirements, we help prepare students for their next stage of life (continuing education, military, work force, etc), and so much more. 

Please contact your Senators and Representatives and share your testimony of support for us.
 
Please remember that the message needs to emphasize SLDC as an integral part of Oregon’s Career and Technical Education, preparing students for careers and their next steps in education, in addition to helping students meet Oregon diploma requirements.  From a workforce development standpoint, it would help if business partners, judges, etc. would address SLDC and Oregon CTSOs as important in preparing students for the workforce.

On Behalf of SkillsUSA Oregon I would like to thank you all for your support of the SkillsUSA Oregon and our Spring Leadership Conference and SkillsUSA Championship.  This conference was a huge success with 685 participants from 41 different schools competing in 64 different competitions, both Skills and Leadership.  Those [...]]]> Dear Tech Chairs, Judges and Supporters,

On Behalf of SkillsUSA Oregon I would like to thank you all for your support of the SkillsUSA Oregon and our Spring Leadership Conference and SkillsUSA Championship.  This conference was a huge success with 685 participants from 41 different schools competing in 64 different competitions, both Skills and Leadership.  Those competitions would not have been possible with out your involvement and dedication.  We truly appreciate all that you do for SkillsUSA Oregon and these student members.  I hope that you all enjoyed this conference and getting to interact with these talented students from across the state.  Because of your efforts the Gold Medalist in each competition is now preparing to compete at Nationals, representing Oregon in the top 2% of Career and Technical Education Students across the country.

Please contact me with any feedback about the conference as we are continually working to improve our work.

Thank you again for your involvement and I look forward to working with you again next year as we continue to work to insure that America has a skilled workforce in the future.

Sincerely, 

Niki Clausen, State Director
SkillsUSA Oregon

To evaluate each team’s preparation for employment and recognize outstanding students for excellence and professionalism in the field of Web Design.  Teams consist of at two contestants.

Requirements Professional business attire is required.  Equipment must be in the room and competitors must be prepared to begin by 8:00am or may [...]]]> Technical Standards for the State Web Design Contest
Purpose

To evaluate each team’s preparation for employment and recognize outstanding students for excellence and professionalism in the field of Web Design.  Teams consist of at two contestants.

Requirements
Professional business attire is required.  Equipment must be in the room and competitors must be prepared to begin by 8:00am or may not be eligible to compete at the National competition.
Equipment and Materials
Equipment will be provided by students. Please bring any extension cords (include one long one), power strips, USB Drives or Blank CDs to turn in the completed assignment.  All software is to be licensed by the school district or appropriate open source agreement.  Use of demonstration downloads is forbidden.  Graphic images are limited to those supplied by said packages.  One point of the contest is to design appropriate images for use on the web site. Use of external networking (wi-fi, wimax, cell phones) is prohibited at all times.  Local area networking is allowed.  No technical support to setup equipment will be provided.

Supplied by the Site Committee:
A room, tables, chairs

Scope of the Contest
The contest will consist of two parts: a team-based web site design and development practicum, and an assessment of professionalism.

Web Design and Development Practicum:
The purpose of practicum is to test each team’s ability work cooperatively to design and develop a web site based upon a set of requirements for a hypothetical or existing company or organization.  All attributes of a web site, including XHTML, CSS, usability, overall aesthetics, typography, layout etc.. are considered in the judging.  A rubric may be provided at the start of the contest.

Professionalism:
The purpose of the Professional Assessment portion of the Web Design Contest is to assess each contestant’s “soft skills” and skill sets desired by potential employers: the ability to communicate with others, working cooperatively in a team environment, resolving conflicts, confronting ethical dilemmas, and managing time in an effective manner.

Competition Example:
An example of a previous competition has been attached.  The actual competition may include files as well as instructions and will be provided to students on a USB drive.  Please make sure you have a machine capable of ready commonly utilized USB drives.

orweb_part

Attached is the SkillsUSA Knowledge.  Students need to bring a copy of the test completed and a copy of their resume for each competition they are competing in.  (If they are in two competitions they need to bring two copies of both the test and the resume to give to the judges.)

Also – If you [...]]]> Advisors

Attached is the SkillsUSA Knowledge.  Students need to bring a copy of the test completed and a copy of their resume for each competition they are competing in.  (If they are in two competitions they need to bring two copies of both the test and the resume to give to the judges.)

Also – If you have students competing in Job Skill Demonstration, please send me their topics by Thursday at 12:00noon.

Please contact me with questions.
Niki Clausen
SkillsUSA Oregon State Director
503.385.4637
niki.clausen@wesd.org

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Preschool Teaching Assisting – attached is your supply list to bring with you on Saturday.

If you have students competing in Job Skill Demo [...]]]> SkillsUSA Advisors
Carpentry Contest Up-dates – Attached are two documents to help students prepare and know what tools to bring.  The Building Futures attachment is an example and will not be the exact project.

Preschool Teaching Assisting – attached is your supply list to bring with you on Saturday.

If you have students competing in Job Skill Demo A or Open – Please send me their topic by Thursday noon.  I need to know topics to do competition scheduling and plan judges.

If you have questions please contact me — I am getting you contest up-dates as soon as I get them.  All up-dates are also on the website – www.oregonskillsusa.com

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