NLSC Advisor Update June 2019
SkillsUSA Michigan
This Advisor Update is specifically about the National Leadership and Skills Conference!
Download the Conference App and PDF of the NLSC Program
In keeping with these digital times, there will no longer be a separate printed conference program for the national conference in Louisville. All attendees should download the official conference mobile app. The app includes the full program, contestant schedules, trade show information and exhibitor lists, information about the opening and awards ceremonies, special events, entertainment, participant tracks, navigation features, attendee bus shuttle schedules, messaging/alert features and search features.
The app can be downloaded by searching for “2019 SkillsUSA NLSC,” and we will also provide the QR code in the official Awards and Recognition book and on signs throughout Kentucky Exposition Center.
A condensed version of the NLSC program will be included in the printed Awards and Recognition book, available on site. In addition, there is a PDF program available for download from our SkillsUSA website at https://www.skillsusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/NLSC-Program-2019.pdf.
Awards Ceremony Passes Only Available in Advance and Online
Extra tickets for the awards ceremony on Friday, June 28, may only be purchased in advance and online this year at http://bit.ly/NLSC19Awards. No passes will be sold on-site at the conference.
You must have a conference name badge or a ticket to enter the awards ceremony, and no on-site ticket sales will be available. Online sales began June 3. Tickets are $10 each, plus a service fee, and a credit card is required. Buyers can download their admission ticket onto smartphones or print out a paper ticket to show at the entrance to Freedom Hall. The number of awards ceremony tickets available is limited due to seating availability at Freedom Hall. Additionally, there are parking fees at the entrance of the Kentucky Exposition Center (KEC). Alert your parents and other supporters of this new policy so they buy Awards Ceremony tickets in advance.
For information about KEC parking, go to: www.skillsusa.org/events-training/national-leadership-and-skills-conference/registration-and-logistics/parking/.
Galt House Pool
Due to renovations in the RIVUE tower, the Galt House has decided that they will not be opening the swimming pool this summer. They are renovating on the 3rd floor of the RIVUE tower and unfortunately this will cause them to block off the access hallway to the pool.
Seating for Tuesday Opening and Friday Awards Ceremonies
Michigan has been assigned 235 M-S & 335 A-X at Freedom Hall. A seating chart is available on the program app. EVERYONE is expected to attend both sessions, to follow the dress code below AND stay to the end of each session.
Opening and Awards Ceremonies Dress Code
As an organization, we must portray a professional image to the business, industry, education and government representatives attending the opening and awards sessions. Official SkillsUSA Attire should be worn to the Opening and Awards Ceremonies . The National Board of Directors has ruled that students who come on stage during the awards ceremony be dressed in official SkillsUSA attire or SkillsUSA Championships work clothing. Students not wearing official SkillsUSA attire or Championships work clothing will not be allowed on stage. Other attire is not allowed, including jeans, shorts, T-shirts, tank tops, sneakers, boots and sandals. This rule will be enforced, and any awards earned will be presented backstage if the student is not dressed properly.
Official SkillsUSA Attire
- Women: Red SkillsUSA blazer or black jacket, white blouse (collarless or small-collared), knee length black dress skirt or black dress slacks, black sheer (not opaque) or skin-tone seamless hose and black shoes
- Men: Red SkillsUSA blazer or black jacket, white dress shirt, solid black tie, black dress slacks, plain black socks and black dress shoes.
NLSC Prep for Your Students: Get Ready for a Great Trip
Ensure a great experience for your students by helping them prepare for SkillsUSA’s National Leadership and Skills Conference in Louisville, Ky. Share the tips and best practices below so they can be well on their way:
- Be sure you know your travel schedule and trip details. If in doubt, check with your advisor well before departure day
- If a SkillsUSA contestant or delegate, check to be sure you have the proper work uniform, SkillsUSA official attire for the opening and awards ceremonies, and all tools or equipment specified for your competition. If you need clothing or tools, acquire these items well ahead of time
- Rules and requirements are different for national events than for state events and can change year to year. Be sure you have the latest rules for your competition. Visit the website at www.skillsusa.org for the latest SkillsUSA contest updates and conference information. If you would like a copy of the rules for any contest, please see your advisor.
Planning and Packing — Tips for Students:
- Take the time to think through what you will need on your trip, then pack accordingly
- Leave your itinerary with family
- Tag your luggage inside and out
- Bring your cellphone
- Bring your cellphone charger
- Have your advisor’s cell phone number
- Carry your medical insurance card
- Bring a list of family phone numbers
- Leave expensive jewelry at home
- Bring an alarm clock — just in case!
- If you take prescription medicine, bring a supply with you
- Bring some extra cash for emergencies
- Bring two pairs of comfortable shoes
- Write down your schedule for the week, including any meetings, contest times and state meetings
- Remember, no backpacks or large tote bags are allowed in the opening and awards ceremonies at Freedom Hall
Dress Code for Award Winners to Be Strictly Enforced:
- Photos of medalists and industry supporters are used in trade and SkillsUSA publications. It’s important that all members demonstrate their professionalism by looking the part. Therefore, the national board of directors has ruled that all contestants receiving medals at the ceremony must be dressed in official SkillsUSA attire or SkillsUSA Championships work clothing
- Winners who are dressed inappropriately will not be allowed on stage. Other attire, jeans, T-shirts, sneakers, boots and sandals are not allowed. Please leave behind any cameras, purses, hats and blinking lights.
Motor Coach Nut Free Zone
IMPORTANT – All motor coaches are a nut free zone. No nuts of any kind or in any form are allowed. If in doubt, leave it home!
Summer Email
We need to know how to reach you this summer, so please send your summer email address to tbrown51@emich.edu.
SkillsUSA Michigan State Events
There are several SkillsUSA Michigan state events planned at Nationals. All events are mandatory and will be held at the hotel.
- Monday evening at 7:00 pm - State Orientation Meeting and Contestant Leadership Testing. All contestants need to bring a #2 pencil. This is a mandatory meeting for ALL participants!
- Thursday morning from 5:30 am to 7:30 am – State Breakfast (before SkillsUSA Championships)
- Friday evening immediately following Awards Ceremony – State Social and Awards
Personal Medical Information
IMPORTANT – In order for SkillsUSA to be HIPAA compliant, we are no longer allowed to collect personal medical information for each person attending the conference, including medical cards. It will be the responsibility of the local school to maintain/keep medical information and have permission to dispense it as needed.
National Conference Text Messages
Please sign up using the codes below to receive important text messages at the National Conference. We are using Remind for these text messages.
- If you have a smartphone, get push notifications. On your iPhone or Android phone, open your web browser and go to the following link: rmd.at/2019minlsc. Follow the instructions to sign up for Remind. You’ll be prompted to download the mobile app.
- If you don’t have a smartphone, get text notifications. Text the message @2019minlsc to the number 81010. If you’re having trouble with 81010, try texting @2019minlsc to (734) 680-8322. * Standard text message rates apply.
Cell Phone Numbers
All advisors are asked to email their cell phone number to tbrown51@emich.edu ASAP. Thanks to those who have already done this. This cell phone number list will be provided to all advisors in attendance at Nationals.
Championships Contest Updates
Please be sure to read the contest updates posted on the National web page at http://www.skillsusa.org/competitions/skillsusa-championships/contest-updates/. VERY IMPORTANT: Please be sure to check the contest updates regularly. Your student will not be prepared for the contest without this information. We want all competitors to be aware of this information and any changes!
Contestant Résumés
All competitors must create a one-page résumé and submit a hard copy to the technical committee chair at orientation. Failure to do so will result in a 10-point penalty. They can bring a résumé to the contest on the day of competition, however, the penalty will remain in effect.
NLSC Shipping Information
The official shipping company for the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference is YRC Freight. All shipments must be made by using YRC Freight, if you use another carrier you will need to pay a drayage charge of $50 per hundred weight, no exceptions. Please use the shipping label at this link. Contest freight must use a blue label.
To schedule p/u, track shipments, and shipping documents Go to, www.yrcfreight.com
YRC will start receiving freight on May 1 and all freight needs to be received no later than June 16.
If, for any reason, you are unable to meet these required dates, or if you have other questions, please contact YRC Exhibit Services at 800-531-3976. They will make every effort to comply with your needs. A representative will be onsite to assist you with your shipping needs at the end of the competition on Thursday, at the championships office trailer, East Wing.
Note: For lightweight package shipments (70 lbs. or less), please use United Parcel Service (UPS) and ship them directly to your hotel. Mark the package(s), “Hold for Arrival” and your name. Please do not ship to YRC Freight.
Freight that is 12 feet or longer in length cannot be shipped to the YRC terminal. Contact SkillsUSA for instructions on direct shipments to the event site.
Help Others by Donating Blood During NLSC
SkillsUSA will host a blood drive Thursday, June 27, from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. The drive is sponsored by the Kentucky Blood Center, and the bloodmobile will be parked just outside the entrance to the North Wing Hall entrance to the Kentucky Exposition Center.
To schedule an appointment in advance, call 800-775-2522. All blood donors receive a free T-shirt. Donors 18 and older will be entered into a summer drawing to win a new car. Note: Donors must weigh at least 110 pounds and must be at least 16 years of age with a signed parental permission (form is located on the state directors’ site) or 17 years of age without parental permission. A state-licensed photo ID is required at the time of donation.
Your blood donation may be the only match for a patient’s unique need. Please donate so that when your specific type is needed, it will be ready to save a life. When you donate with Kentucky Blood Center, your blood serves patients in local hospitals.
Discount Car Rentals
Discount car rentals are available. More information is available at http://www.skillsusa.org/events-training/national-leadership-and-skills-conference/registration-and-logistics/car-rental/.
Contest Clothing Requirement
The clothing requirement for your contest is found in the Technical Standards. A copy was given to each winner. Please be sure to follow this exactly as you will receive a penalty for not having the proper clothing. Be sure to get the proper clothing beforehand as there is no guarantee that you will be able to purchase what you need at Nationals. Competition apparel and accessories may be purchased at http://www.skillsusastore.org.
There are also detailed specs on the shoes, please be sure you have the correct ones!
- Shoes: No canvas, vinyl, plastic or leather athletic-type shoes, open-toe or open-heel shoes are permitted in any SkillsUSA Championships event without penalty. Contestants may be disqualified where improper footwear constitutes a health or safety hazard. When leather work shoes are required: “work shoes” are technically defined as low or high-top leather, lace-up shoes with rubber, skid-resistant soles. They can be steel- or non steel-toed. Work shoes can be purchased very inexpensively at any local department store and in most mail-order catalogs. Western-style (cowboy) boots are not allowed, except Roper-style boots that are all-leather, round-toed, flat soled, and with a low heel.
Please Note - All participants (students, observers, advisors and guests) need to wear Official Attire to the Opening Session and Awards Ceremonies. Official Attire is listed under Leadership Events on the official competition uniform chart.
SkillsUSA Championships Clothing and Tools App
SkillsUSA has updated the “SkillsUSA: Clothing and Tools” app for the 2019 SkillsUSA Championships. For each contest, the app includes an overview, eligibility and clothing requirements, and safety guidelines. It also lists the tools, equipment or materials that contestants must provide. The app is free for students, instructors and SkillsUSA business partners and is available in both the Apple Store: http://apple.co/2dtlb8d and the Google Play Store: http://bit.ly/2e5fRec. The app was created and sponsored by Pearson (www.pearsoned.com).
Note: This student resource that does not replace the SkillsUSA Championships Technical Standards. The app connects users to SkillsUSA’s membership site, where educators must join as professional members to receive the full book at no charge.
Dress Code for All Participants
Registrants traveling as a group should remember that they are representing SkillsUSA and forming a public impression of the organization. When traveling, registrants are not required to wear official SkillsUSA attire, but they are encouraged to wear clothing with the SkillsUSA logo — for example, an embroidered polo shirt with khaki slacks. At all times, whether traveling or during the conference, registrants’ overall appearance should be clean and neat. Their attire should be appropriate for the occasion. Contestants must follow the clothing requirements in the official technical standards for their contests. During formal events such as the opening and awards ceremonies, official SkillsUSA attire is required.
New This Year!
- Awards Ceremony Passes Sold Online - SkillsUSA Awards Ceremony pass sales for people that are not conference registrants are changing. Awards ceremony passes will be sold online only! The new procedure will be through the SkillsUSA website, and sales began June 3. Visit: https://www.skillsusa.org/events-training/national-leadership-and-skillsconference/ Select the link for Awards Ceremony ticket sales. The advance purchase will be $10 each, plus a service fee. A credit card is required for online purchase. Buyers will be required to either download the admission ticket, which contains a barcode, onto their smartphones, or print out a paper copy of the ticket(s) to be admitted to Friday evening’s awards at Freedom Hall. No on-site ticket sales will be available. The number of tickets for sale is limited due to seating availability at Freedom Hall. Buy early; once all seats are sold, ticket sales will cease. There will be parking fees at the entrance of the Kentucky Exposition Center (KEC). For more information on parking: https://www.skillsusa.org/events-training/national-leadership-and-skills-conference/registration-andlogistics/parking/
- Full Program Available on Conference App - A condensed version of the NLSC program will be included in the annual Awards and Recognition book. In addition, there will be a PDF of the entire NLSC program available for attendees to print from the national conference website. The SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference official program and all the details will be available through the conference app.
- Business Center - There will be a SkillsUSA business center located in KEC South Wing Lobby B100 and open Tuesday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. There will be fees associated to give access to photocopy service and for those who wish to have access to print from jump drives or the internet. There will be a 20-minute time limit per person.
- Champions Night with PVSA Recipients Wednesday, June 26, 2019 at Louisville Bats, Slugger Stadium - This year’s Champions Night will be a baseball game between the Louisville Bats and the Toledo Mud Hens. First pitch is at 7 p.m., but there will be several pregame activities that are devoted to SkillsUSA beginning at 6:30 p.m. The ticket is included with every paid registrant and will provide the following: admission to game, free baseball hat and $5 loaded value on the ticket good for any of the concession stands inside the stadium. The game ticket is good only for Wednesday, June 26. For stadium information, including weather policies, visit: https://www.milb.com/louisville/ Continuing a new tradition for Champions Night, recognition of our President’s Volunteer Service Award honorees will be included. Details will be shared with state SkillsUSA directors who have PVSA honorees registered to attend the conference.
- Meet the Employer Event Returns! - Friday, June 28, 2019 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., SkillsUSA hosts Meet the Employer in East Hall of KEC. Over 50 employers from every sector will be on site to promote career opportunities with their companies. All NLSC attendees are invited to stop by to interact with eager potential employers. Students are required to bring copies of their resumes. Admission is free for NLSC attendees. More information can be found here: https://www.skillsusa.org/events-training/national-leadership-and-skills-conference/meet-employer/
National Leadership and Skills Conference
Monday, Jun 24, 2019, 12:00 AM
Louisville, KY, United States
About Us
Email: info@miskillsusa.org
Website: www.miskillsusa.org
Location: Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI, United States
Phone: 734-487-3888
Facebook: www.facebook.com/miskillsusa
Twitter: @miskillsusa