state conference
dateApril 11-14, 2018
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locationChattanooga Convention Center
1150 Carter Street Chattanooga, TN 37402 |
registration
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Registration will be open from February 5-March 5, 2018. All payments are due by March 17, 2018. Checks should be made payable to Tennessee TSA with TSA-5000 in the memo line.
COST Regular Registration: $60 per attendee Children 0-4 years: $40 per attendee Aquarium Tickets (pre-registration): $12 per attendee Aquarium Tickets (on-site): $15 per attendee MAILING ADDRESS Tennessee TSA Attn: Tracy Whitehead Andrew Johnson Tower, 11th Floor 710 James Robertson Parkway Nashville, TN 37243 RELEASE FORM Chapter advisors are required to have a completed release form for all conference attendee. Advisors do not need to mail the release forms to Tennessee TSA. TENTATIVE AGENDA Onsite Registration will be 4:30-9:30 p.m. EST on April 11, 2018 Written exams will be proctored from 4:30-9:30 p.m. on April 11, 2018 (Note: exams for team events will require all team members from a chapter to be checked-in at the same time for their exam) Contests 8-5 p.m. EST on April 12, 2018 Opening Ceremony 7 p.m. on April 12, 2018 State Officer Voting Session 7 a.m. EST on April 13, 2018 Business Session 8 a.m. on April 13, 2018 Contests 10-6 p.m. EST on April 13, 2018 Awards Ceremony 8:30 a.m. on April 14, 2018 |
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Please visit this page as it will continually be updated with information regarding schedules, activities, and other information
- Competitive Event Guide lists the number of allowed entries for each chapter by conference.
- Tennessee TSA State Conference Program
- Schedule VEX-VRC Event
- Chattanooga Hotel Rooming Information - Opens February 5, 2018 and Closes March 9, 2018
- TSA Night at the Tennessee Aquarium: Mixer, Dance, and Self-Guided Tours - April 13, 2018 from 6:30-10 p.m. - Tickets will be available as an add-on item to registration. Concession stand will be available at the aquarium.
- $12 Per Person Fee for all Pre-registered Guests
- $15 Per Person Fee Onsite the Evening of the Event (Cash or Credit Card)
- Join our Remind TN TSA State class for text updates and reminders
- Bus parking in Downtown Chattanooga
- 2018 Award’s Ceremony Live Stream Link (Friday April 14th at 8:00 a.m. EST)
Tennessee TSA American Cancer Society Fundraiser
This year, Tennessee TSA is hosting a statewide challenge to raise money for the National TSA service partner the American Cancer Society (ACS). Starting now, each chapter will race to raise the most money for the ACS before state conference. The chapters who raise the most will win the competition, be recognized on social media, and receive a special award at the state conference. For fundraising ideas, check the resources on our website. Good luck to everyone!
Proposed Bylaw Amendment
Tennessee TSA has received one Bylaw amendment. According to our Bylaws, amendments must be proposed by one or more local Tennessee TSA chapters and sent to the state office at least 90 days prior to the annual business meeting. The proposal must be signed by two members and the chapter advisor. Once the amendments have been received, the Executive Council is charged to review and approve the proposals and the state advisor then sends the approved proposals to the local chapters at least 30 days prior to the annual business meeting. Each of these requirements has been met.
At the state business meeting, the delegates will consider the amendment. For the proposal to be adopted, it must receive a 2/3 affirmative vote of the chapter delegates present and voting at this meeting. If the amendment is adopted, it will take effect 60 days following this meeting.
The amendment will remove the motto and creed from our bylaws. As bylaws are a set of rules that govern Tennessee TSA's operations, roles, and responsibilities, the motto and creed should not be included in this document.
You may view the proposed changes by clicking here.
At the state business meeting, the delegates will consider the amendment. For the proposal to be adopted, it must receive a 2/3 affirmative vote of the chapter delegates present and voting at this meeting. If the amendment is adopted, it will take effect 60 days following this meeting.
The amendment will remove the motto and creed from our bylaws. As bylaws are a set of rules that govern Tennessee TSA's operations, roles, and responsibilities, the motto and creed should not be included in this document.
You may view the proposed changes by clicking here.
New Middle and High School LEAP Competition EngagemenT
To embrace the LEAP (Leadership. Education. Achievement. Personal Growth.) Be. Know. Do. criteria and realize the impact that the below five practices can have on the development of student leadership, LEAP has been integrated into each TSA competition as part of the official rules and rubric in the 2017 & 2018 High School Technology Activities, National TSA Conference Competitive Events Guide. LEAP has been integrated into each TSA competition as part of the official rules and rubric in the 2018 & 2019 Middle School Technology Activities, National TSA Conference Competitive Events Guide.
Competition Updates
Prepared Presentation - topic will be available to contestants at registration desk at 8 a.m. April 12, 2018.
Please note that contest supplies will NOT be provided for both the middle and high school's structural or problem solving contests.
Structural Engineering / Structural Design and Engineering
Teams must bring their own:
Suggested and required materials are listed in Total TSA (High School or Middle School) within the competitive event guidelines.
2018 Early Submission Contests
Contests that will require early submission of event projects for the state conference this year are:
Middle School Events:
VEX Robotics Competitions
Tennessee TSA will hold the VEX Robotics Competition on both the middle and high school level at the 2018 Tennessee TSA State Conference. All teams must be officially registered with through robotevents.com by March 1st, and with the TSA state conference registration by March 5th, in order to compete at the 2018 Tennessee TSA State Conference and 2018 TSA National Conference. The Tennessee TSA Robotevents.com registration will also be open on Feb. 5, 2018 and will close March 1, 2018. Click the link for the VEX VRC inspection checklist.
Update: We are now allowing advisors to enter up to three teams per chapter at state event. If the VEX state contest team count exceeds the maximum capacity for our facility space, the TSA state advisor will notify the chapter advisors as soon as this occurs, and entries will be reduced to two teams per chapter. Please note advisors with three teams, you should clearly communicate with the members of your "third" team that they will be considered an alternate team until registration has closed. If we must reduce numbers to two teams per chapter, advisors will have an option for the third team to be entered in another state event.
Advisors with VEX teams entered will receive a team verification form to ensure accurate registration has been completed and accepted by Tennessee TSA on March 6, 2018. Please note that TSA allows 2 to 6 members per VEX team. When registering your students for state in VEX please be sure your teams are separated appropriately when assigning a team number for your chapter.
See the example below from our state conference registration site:
Example Team in VEX Robotics - VRC
Smith, John - Team # 1 (2099008)
Robin, Christopher - Team # 1 (2099009)
Thomas, Jane - Team # 2 (2099013)
Moore, Doug - Team # 2 (2099014)
Tanner, Sally - Team # 2 (2099017)
The team from the example above has entered a total of two teams. Team #1 has 2 members, and team #2 has 3 members registered. This chapter is eligible to bring two robots in the VRC competition. The team numbers above indicate the members of each team. To edit your student's team number you must select the event entries link to right of their name, and you will then be able to select edit team # option featured in screenshot below.
Please note that contest supplies will NOT be provided for both the middle and high school's structural or problem solving contests.
Structural Engineering / Structural Design and Engineering
Teams must bring their own:
- Adhesive
- Piece of fiber or foam board 1' x 2'
- Grid paper, 1/4" x 1/4" grid on 11" x 17" paper for structure sketch (to remain with the completed structure when turned in)
- Paper for structure sketch (to remain with the completed structure when turned in)
- Wax paper to cover the pin board (to remain with the completed structure when turned in)
- Balsa strips and sheets, as specified in the problem statement
- Card stock
- Structure label
Suggested and required materials are listed in Total TSA (High School or Middle School) within the competitive event guidelines.
2018 Early Submission Contests
Contests that will require early submission of event projects for the state conference this year are:
Middle School Events:
- Video Game Design (published url address) - by April 13, 2018
- Website Design (published url address) - by March 28, 2018
- Webmaster (published url address) - by March 28, 2018
VEX Robotics Competitions
Tennessee TSA will hold the VEX Robotics Competition on both the middle and high school level at the 2018 Tennessee TSA State Conference. All teams must be officially registered with through robotevents.com by March 1st, and with the TSA state conference registration by March 5th, in order to compete at the 2018 Tennessee TSA State Conference and 2018 TSA National Conference. The Tennessee TSA Robotevents.com registration will also be open on Feb. 5, 2018 and will close March 1, 2018. Click the link for the VEX VRC inspection checklist.
Update: We are now allowing advisors to enter up to three teams per chapter at state event. If the VEX state contest team count exceeds the maximum capacity for our facility space, the TSA state advisor will notify the chapter advisors as soon as this occurs, and entries will be reduced to two teams per chapter. Please note advisors with three teams, you should clearly communicate with the members of your "third" team that they will be considered an alternate team until registration has closed. If we must reduce numbers to two teams per chapter, advisors will have an option for the third team to be entered in another state event.
Advisors with VEX teams entered will receive a team verification form to ensure accurate registration has been completed and accepted by Tennessee TSA on March 6, 2018. Please note that TSA allows 2 to 6 members per VEX team. When registering your students for state in VEX please be sure your teams are separated appropriately when assigning a team number for your chapter.
See the example below from our state conference registration site:
Example Team in VEX Robotics - VRC
Smith, John - Team # 1 (2099008)
Robin, Christopher - Team # 1 (2099009)
Thomas, Jane - Team # 2 (2099013)
Moore, Doug - Team # 2 (2099014)
Tanner, Sally - Team # 2 (2099017)
The team from the example above has entered a total of two teams. Team #1 has 2 members, and team #2 has 3 members registered. This chapter is eligible to bring two robots in the VRC competition. The team numbers above indicate the members of each team. To edit your student's team number you must select the event entries link to right of their name, and you will then be able to select edit team # option featured in screenshot below.
