For school delegates, the NACA® National Convention is an opportunity to network with other students from across the country, check out some great performances, and save your campus significant money through the use of the Block Booking™ process. The tabs below will provide you with all of the information necessary to make your delegation's trip to Charlotte a rousing success!

• Sample Delegate Contract
• Sample Letter to Faculty

• 2011-2012 National Convention Program Committee

Considering a career in student affairs? You may want to take advantage of the Career Preparation Center, which will be open at various times throughout the convention.
• Career Preparation Center Information

Volunteer at the 2012 National Convention!

The NACA® National Convention has many opportunities for delegates to volunteer and be a part of the Convention in a direct way.

On-Site Volunteering
NACA offers several on-site volunteering opportunities. To sign up, visit the Volunteer Center at the Convention to schedule a time when you can lend a hand. Not only will you help ensure the success of the Convention, you will meet many new and fun people!

Calling All Seasoned Professionals!
Are you a Student Affairs with at least 4 years of experience in the field? Are you attending the NACA National Convention? If you answered yes to both of these questions, then we need YOU! We need many seasoned Student Affairs professionals to volunteer as on-site educational session reviewers at the National Convention in Charlotte. If you are interested, please contact Melissa Turco at melissa.turco@newberry.edu.

The NACA® Foundation was established in 1982 to develop and provide educational programs and services for college and university students, professional staff and others who work in the field of student activities. The Foundation currently offers a variety of scholarships to assist undergraduate students, graduate students, professional staff and associate members in pursuing educational interests and career development.

At the Convention, the NACA® Foundation is hosting several events and programs to raise money for our scholarship programs. Please consider how you can help in giving to the Foundation.

Bowling Tournament
In support of the NACA® Foundation, we are hosting our second annual bowling tournament on Friday, Feb. 24, at Strike City Bowling in downtown Charlotte. 24 teams will compete to become the “Strike Kings” of the 2012 NACA® National Convention!

• Team Registration and Sponsorship Opportunities (pdf)
• Registration form (pdf)

Silent Auction
Every year, the NACA® Foundation holds a Silent Auction at the NACA booth in CAMP at the National Convention. If your school or company would like to donate an item, please fill out this form and ship your item to Paige Jeffcoat at paigej@naca.org. You can also drop your item off onsite at Convention registration or at the NACA Booth in CAMP.

• Silent Auction Form (pdf)

Online Auction
NACA has teamed up with BiddingforGood.com®, and online auction service aimed at helping raise money for charitable causes. Luxury items will be available – vacations, concert tickets, gift certificates, the works! We’ll also be auctioning off entertainment services from our Associate Members for Schools to bid on. The amount of the winning bid will support the NACA Foundation, but Schools will still be responsible for paying the Associate Member’s travel and lodging fees. Associate Members: If you are interested in donating an act or service, please contact Paige Jeffcoat at paigej@naca.org. These donations are tax deductible! Auction will be open on February 1-March 9, 2012. Please check this page as more information becomes available.

• Online Auction Form (pdf)

30 for 30 Campaign
The 30th Anniversary of the NACA® Foundation is right around the corner, so we’re asking all of our members to pledge to donate $30 during the 2011-2012 year. Potential donors will have the option to donate the whole amount up front, or pledge to donate over the course of the year – NACA will send you reminders! You can even make a pledge in the name of someone who you’d like to honor – great way for program board members to thank their advisor! Pledging cards will be put on display at the NACA Booth in CAMP, so stop by to see who is in the "30 for 30" club & pledge as well!

Buy a Button, Support the Foundation
NACA buttons and lapel pins will be sold at 2012 National Convention. Buttons cost $1.00 and the lapel pins cost $10. Each year a new design will be unveiled, so start your collection today!

NACA Button:

NACA Lapel Pins:

Each year, NACA presents six awards to deserving recipients at the NACA® National Convention for their contributions to the field of campus activities. Please help maintain the prestige of this recognition program by nominating your peers and colleagues. Click the links below to find out more details and the submission requirements for each award. The deadline for nominations is Nov. 11.

The link below will take you to the main awards page on the NACA website. You can read the descriptions and submit nominations from that page.

List of Awards
• Founders Award
• Lifetime Membership Award
• C. Shaw Smith New Professional Award
• Frank Harris Outstanding Student Government Advisor Award
• Patsy Morley Outstanding Programmer Award
• Diversity Achievement Award - Campus Program
• Diversity Achievement Award - Individual
• Hall of Fame Award

National Award Nominations

As you prepare for the 2012® NACA National Convention, it is important to keep in mind that your delegation represents your entire campus. With this responsibility, it is necessary to plan ahead in order to cover as many Convention events as possible. Before leaving campus, your delegation should accomplish important preparations that will help ensure your success to reach the following goals:

• To become more informed and educated about the various aspects of programming.
• To gather information about artists, performers, speakers and product vendors.
• To learn about various aspects of leadership and effective organizational functioning.

Involve students who participated in a previous NACA® National Convention or regional conference and ask them to present helpful pointers at one of your delegation meetings.

One to Three Months Before the Convention- back to top
1. Have potential delegates complete applications and participate in an interview process. This helps convey to them the importance of the position and the responsibilities it entails.
2. Select those who will be returning to campus for at least another year. A graduating senior will be gone in a few months. Instead, use the Convention as a training opportunity for future leaders.
3. Choose a Block Booker and determine the level of Block Booking in which you will be able to participate. Also decide the process youíll use to discuss potential acts with other programming board members once you return to campus.

Three Weeks Before the Convention - back to top
Hold a meeting of the entire programming board or organization board. Board members who will be staying behind can give important direction and feedback that will help delegation members participate more productively in the Convention.

1. Discuss NACA, its history and purpose.
2. Discuss who attends the Convention: student programmers, student activities professionals/staff, student union professionals/staff, performing artists, entertainment booking agents and professional support companies.
3. Review and discuss goals, objectives and expectations of Convention participation.
4. Review the Convention schedule and make assignments to delegates for specific areas of coverage.
a) Review the listing of educational sessions. Assign each member of your delegation to attend as many different sessions in each block as possible. Complete descriptions will appear in the National Convention Program, which you will receive at Convention registration. Map out with others in your delegation who will be participating in specific educational sessions.
b) Review showcasing acts.
c) Review the list of exhibitors in the Campus Activities Marketplace.
d) Discuss the basics of Block Booking and the acts/performers that interest you.
e) Review the World of Ideas information. Assign World of Ideas responsibilities.
f) Set times for daily on-site delegation meetings while at the Convention to ensure that everyone stays on track and completes the tasks assigned to them.
5. Complete any required travel paperwork.
6. Discuss departure time and make arrangements to let faculty know when you will be missing classes and coordinate making up missed assignments. View a sample letter here.
7. Assign tasks for next meeting.

Two Weeks Before the Convention - back to top
Hold a meeting with the delegation to finalize details of your trip.
1. Make room assignments.
2. Review departure time and travel arrangements.
3. Pick up travel advances.
4. Discuss appropriate behavior and attire while at the Convention.
5. Discuss what to bring: Comfortable clothes and shoes, money for meals, personal entertainment and miscellaneous expenses; programming calendar and available room/hall reservations; programming budget; notebook/legal pad; pens/ pencils.
6. Bring an extra campus event or programming board T-shirt/sweatshirt to trade with another delegate.
7. Bring items that reflect school spirit (T-shirts, sweatshirts, glasses, pennants, etc.) for the NACA® Foundation Auction.
8. Check on status of World of Ideas materials.
9. Distribute copies of programming calendar and budget to delegates attending the Convention.
10. Identify open dates and facilities on your programming calendar.
11. Make a list of major programs and events that are of interest to your campus and be prepared to take advantage of Block Booking and Contract-on-Site pricing discounts. Discuss all this information with your Block Booker, who will be attending Block Booking meetings.
12. Contact other schools in your area beforehand to see if you have any common programming interests. You may be able to do legwork that will result in a cost-saving block on a particular artist.
13. Remind group of on-site delegation meetings.
14. Review expectations regarding Convention follow-up and evaluation. Discuss how you plan to evaluate and take notes on showcases and educational sessions.

When You Arrive at the 2012 National Convention- back to top
1. Find the NACA Registration area to get your delegate bags.
2. Take time to make sure you have all essential materials. The head of your delegation should register for the entire delegation and then share materials with you. Your delegation head should verify that you have your nametags, meal tickets, schedule, promotional flyers and the National Convention Program.
3. VOLUNTEER! Visit the Volunteer Center to schedule a time when you can lend a hand. Not only will you help ensure the success of the Convention, you will meet many new and fun people.

While You Are in Charlotte - back to top
1. Remember to eat well, drink water and get plenty of sleep.
2. Be an active participant throughout your time at the Convention.
3. Introduce yourself to other school delegates.
4. Take good notes during educational sessions and get all handouts that are available.
5. Go to all showcases.
6. Visit each booth in the Campus Activities Marketplace and get to know the associate members who are there. Remember, however, to take only one sample of promotional materials for your delegation.
7. Always have your programming calendar and budget information handy when you are in CAMP.
8. Attend Block Booking sessions to save money!
8. Touch base regularly with other delegates in your group and with your advisor.
10. Attend all scheduled delegation meetings so you can share information and discuss the information youíve gathered.

When You Return to Campus - back to top
1. Immediately share educational information and promotional materials from the National Convention with board members who were not able to attend.
2. Move quickly to make programming decisions on attractions for which your delegation completed Block Booking forms. Prices are valid for only 45 days after the Convention.
3. Contact other schools in your area who may also want to take advantage of the Block Booking price breaks (if you didnít do this before the Convention). This will help increase your Block Booking cost savings even more.