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Dear FBLA Advisers
Here's are some guiding principles to successfully register and lodge your students for the State Leadership Conference:
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Review the critical documents first. At the end of this email, you will see a screenshot of some of the documents to help guide you through the registration/lodging process. Remember, you can find most answers in the SLC area of the PA FBLA website.
- Everyone should be familiar with the Blue Panda registration process. For new advisers who have not lodged students before, follow the step-by-step instructions posted on the website. Look for the graphic shown above on the main page.
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There is absolutely no rush to try and get registration done NOW, especially during this holiday week. Registration remains open through February 3, 2024.
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Advisers are not permitted to begin the registration process UNTIL your region is complete and the in-person awards program is conducted. Janet Skiles and I will be carefully monitoring registrations and comparing it with the RLC awards date identified by the region adviser.
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A chapter adviser may enter, revise, make corrections, etc., as many times as he/she wishes through the February 3, 2024, deadline.
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A chapter adviser establishes its place in line for lodging when at least 50% of its registration and lodging is complete. Simply placing an adviser in a room WILL NOT establish the school's priority for hotel lodging. Your SLC registration/lodging is time/date-stamped when you click the "submit" button. You may submit and then revise as many times as you wish up to and including February 03, 2024. That is what establishes your place in line for lodging preferences.
- Remember, nearly all online objective tests (events with potential role play finalists) will be administered "live and in person" in Hershey, and students must bring their own WiFi accessible devices to take the test. Phones are not compatible with the testing system.
- All performance events are administered "live and in person" in Hershey.
- Students are not permitted to travel alone to the state conference. They must be accompanied by an adult.
- Middle school members are eligible to attend the entire state conference, or they may attend the Opening Session on April 08 at which the middle school awards will be presented.
- Coming later: parents will have the opportunity to purchase a $5 admission ticket to attend the Opening Session on Monday or the Awards Program on Tuesday.
During the registration process, remember the following:
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Regarding lodging: whether your chapter has chosen Plan A, B, or Plan C, each chapter adviser MUST prioritize all 14 hotels. Refer to the SLC Hotels Selection Document.
- Voting Delegates: each chapter must identify two students attending the SLC as voting delegates. Don't do this until you have students registered.
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Until you complete these two items, you will see a whole host of "critical" errors. Where do you find these two items to complete? When signed on to Blue Panda, look for "Final Questions" at the left.
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Every student attending must have a purpose/role for attending. For most students, they must be placed in competitive events. For those attending but are not competing, they must be assigned one of the other registration categories in the competitive events area. Make sure you review the SLC Categories of Registration document.
Other Items That Advisers Will Encounter During the SLC Registration Process
- Hersheypark tickets will be available for sale for Sunday, April 07.
- All attendees may order optional short-sleeve t-shirts, long-sleeve t-shirts, and hoodies with proceeds to benefit the Special Olympics Pennsylvania. Even if your chapter is not attending the SLC in person, members and adviser can still order shirts/hoodies, and they will be shipped to chapters after the SLC (contact Bruce Boncal).
- Advisers must identify two voting delegates.
- For those commuting, advisers need to identify whether they will be attending the Opening Session and/or Awards Program to help us plan for assigned seating.
- Shirt orders/Hersheypark tickets/a la carte meals may be made at the time of registration. After registration closes, contact Bruce Boncal to place orders. March 15 is the final date to order shirts; March 20 is the final deadline to order Hersheypark or a la carte meals, including Breakfast to Go.
Questions: Contact Information
Bruce Boncal, PA FBLA Executive Director
bboncal@pafbla.us | 570.279.6998 cell/texts
regarding all things Blue Panda, billing/payments, registration, membership
Janet Skiles, PA FBLA Conference Coordinator
jskiles@pafbla.us | 412.576.2826 cell/texts
regarding general conference questions, schedule, questions regarding lodging and hotels; Hersheypark tickets; SLC meals; special application such interns
Derek Selleck, PA FBLA Competitive Events Coordinator
dselleck@pafbla.us
regarding competitive events implementation and schedules; judges; event administrators and proctors
Kristi Ryland, PA FBLA State Officer Adviser
kryland@pafbla.net
regarding the Member at Large application and shirts/hoodies; state officer candidates
Michele Sites, PA FBLA Middle School Coordinator
msites@pafbla.us
regarding middle school programs and competitive events
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