Bata Films premiere

Many of our advisors at the Fall State Leadership Conference attended the Bata Films workshop on the marketing promotion of “The Strip” movie premiere in Boston.  Many advisors were very interested in doing a separate workshop for their area particularly as it relates to how to open the movie in their city/neighborhood. In order to show Bata Film’s  thanks, they have decided to go one better in Massachusetts! They would like to offer you up to 50 free Invitations to the Premier for up to 4 or 5 separate schools (that’s 50 invitations per school) at the Kendall Square theater in Boston on December 4 at 1:30 pm which will include a special educational workshop right after the movie.

Topics to be covered in the workshop include:

1.    Discuss career opportunities in the film production, marketing and distribution industry

2.    How students can participate in the wider release of the movie in Phase II of our release which begins in January.

3.    Understand how students can become interns with bataFILMS

All questions about how to sell tickets, what movie venues locally, etc will be answered in this workshop. Students and friends can be invited.

Advisors may go to this link to view the movie times for your location and pick the a time slot that works best for you, although the Dec. 4 date is when the workshop is planning to run.  http://fujkg.qknwm.servertrust.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=TCKT-001.

Please RSVP to Glyn Bryson below with your chapter name, how many will attend and what date/time you select for your participation asap.  We may need to group some of the schools together in some of these events as tickets are limited.

Glyn Bryson

bataFILMS

Ph: 513 942 4598 EXT 4007

Mobile: 914 522 9493

www.bataFilms.com

Giving Thanks

I received this email from one of our MDA offices in Florida and just had to share — a great example of what this season is truly all about. Thank YOU for all you’re doing for MDA and our mission. Please know that your help is providing life-saving hope for our families all around the country. Happy Thanksgiving! ~ Brian

“A Thanksgiving Story”

Last week one of our local elementary schools held a “Turkey Trot” to raise funds for MDA to find treatments and cures for muscular dystrophy.  One of the teachers called our office yesterday to share a truly heartwarming story that we wanted to share with you as part of our MDA family.

“Matthew, a 5-year-old boy, asked his mom if they could give $10 to help
find a cure for his classmate, Joey, who has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
The mother told him that this year they were not able to give because his
father’s hours had been cut at work and money was tight.  Matthew said he
understood but came back a few minutes later with the Christmas list his older
sister   had helped him make.  Three of the five toys on the list were crossed
off.  He asked his mom if he only asked for 2 things, if they would be able to
help Joey.  He said that he could always get presents next year, but that Joey
was sick right now.  Joey isn’t able to walk and to play with the other kids and
he thought that if they gave $10 this year, that maybe next year Joey would be
better.”

We‘re so thankful that you continue to give of your time and resources, despite the current economic climate.  In an uncertain time, one thing is certain – it is because of YOU that research is able to continue.  Below is an MDA News Release about a clinical trial scheduled to begin in March 2010.

October 27, 2009:  First Human Exon Skipping Trial in U.S. Planned for March 2010
A technique called exon skipping shows great potential to increase muscle strength and prolong life in people with a severe form of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) <http://www.mda.org/disease/dmd.html> . Currently, children with DMD usually have a life expectancy in their early 20s.   Full story:http://www.mda.org/publications/Quest/extra/Oct09/avi-biopharma-trial.html<http://www.mda.org/publications/Quest/extra/Oct09/avi-biopharma-trial.html>

As we sit around our Thanksgiving tables this holiday, we will be giving thanks for so many of you, like our young friend Matthew, who have made sacrifices to keep hope alive.

From our MDA Family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving!

DECA Movie Premiere in Boston – You are invited!

wanted to let you know that National DECA is sponsoring the movie
premiere of “The Strip” presented by BATAfilms in Boston at Kendall
Square during the first weekend in December. Two RI DEX college members
have taken up the competitive challenge to fill opening weekend seats
with 1500 students. Could you please invite the MA DECA high school
chapters across the state to the movie premiere?

I believe the MA DECA chapter that sells the most tickets could win
$1000 towards their trip costs to ICDC or towards their educational
conference of choice split between the advisor & chapter team. For
competition details, contact RI DEX members Fei Chen at fchen@ccri.edu
<mailto:fchen@ccri.edu> , 508-840-1848 or Kevin Fraser at
kfraser2@bryant.edu <mailto:kfraser2@bryant.edu> .

These RI DEX members are looking for some assistance in spreading the
word to the MA DECA chapters and to their friends. For tickets sales and
movie trailer can be found at http://www.batafilms.com/?Click=46
<http://www.batafilms.com/?Click=46> . MA DECA chapters should register
on the Fan Club link to track their tickets sales and to receive chapter
incentives.

I plan to attend the 1:30pm matinee showing on Saturday, December 5 with
some friends. It might be fun to get together afterwards for coffee. I
hope you will join us.

Happy Holidays!

Dr. Erin Wilkinson, DBA
Professor of Marketing
NSO Competitive Events Director
Johnson & Wales University
8 Abbott Park Place
Providence, RI 02903
ewilkinson@jwu.edu

DECA Day With The Celtics Review

We had a wonderful time at DECA Day with the Celtics on November 1! For those of you who attended…be sure to check out the photo gallery since there were quite a few pics of our DECA members taken that day (love the ones of Middleboro with their DECA banner!). In case you no longer have the card, it is Click on 2009-10 season and then the Nov 1 game and it’s gallery #97

For those of you who did not attend, I have attached a DECA info. packet that was given to all of our participants that evening.

Attachment: DECA INFO Packet

Second Session of the Gear Up for Service-Learning Success is this Thursday!

National Service-Learning Partnership and the National Youth Leadership Council
present
Gear Up for Service-Learning Success: The National Learn & Serve Challenge

The National Service-Learning Partnership and National Youth Leadership Council invite you to participate in a series of webinars;
1) An Introduction to Service-Learning: The National Standards for High Quality Service-Learning (happened 10/28 and will be archived at www.learnandservechallenge.org <http://www.learnandservechallenge.org/> )
2)  Understanding the Service-Learning Cycle
3)  The Value of Self- Assessment for Quality and Sustainable Service-Learning

This series is intended to provide an in depth look at how organizations might begin or possibly improve upon existing service-learning programming.  Throughout all three of these webinars we will explore how a new and exciting online professional development network known as the Generator School Network (GSN) a for educators working in service-learning can help educators on their journey to improve the quality of their learning practices.  While each webinar is intended to build upon the previous, feel free to join any one or all sessions.

1)  To join these webinars visit www.readytalk.com <http://www.readytalk.com/> on the following dates and times:

(Oct. 28th at 11:00 am CST                               Intro to Service-Learning)

Nov. 12th at 11:00 am CST                              The Service-Learning Cycle

Dec. 3rd at 11:00 am CST                                Self-Assessment and the GSN Resources

Join us by logging onto www.readytalk.com <http://www.readytalk.com/> and typing “8991249” as the access code under “Join a Meeting.”  You will be asked to provide your name and e-mail address to register.  The audio portion is done through a conference call line; join the audio by dialing 866-740-1260 and using the same participant passcode: 8991249.

We look forward to talking with you further on Wednesday! For any questions or concerns, contact Michael VanKeulen,  Director at the National Youth Leadership Council at mvankeulen@nylc.org<mailto:mvankeulen@nylc.org> or 651-999-7378.

Hope you will be able to join us!

Christina Kwon
Director of Member Engagement
National Service-Learning Partnership
Academy for Educational Development
1875 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20009
202.884.8982 (phone)
202.884.8422 (fax)
ckwon@aed.org <mailto:ckwon@aed.org>
www.service-learningpartnership.org <http://www.service-learningpartnership.org/>

Massachusetts DECA Creed Video

We are pleased to offer the opportunity for your local chapters to be involved in the production of your state conference again this year by submitting clips for the DECA Creed video to be included in the conference session.  Please let us know if you would like to take advantage of this opportunity.  If so, forward the information below to your local chapters and post it on your state Web site.

If you have any questions, please contact me.  Thanks!

**************************************************************************************************

We are excited about the opportunity for local chapter members to be involved in the production of our state conference.  Members and advisors may submit video clips of the Creed that may be included at the conference session.  Clips from several submissions may be used to create a complete Creed video.

Chapters are encouraged to get creative with their presentation of the Creed.  One person or an entire chapter can present the Creed.  Show us your originality!

We ask that you record the entire creed, and that the words “I believe” must visually be a part of your video.  Write them on a poster board, on your school’s marquee, on a chalkboard … the possibilities are endless!

Below is the text for the DECA Creed:

I believe in the future which I am planning for myself in the fields of marketing and management, and in the opportunities which my vocation offers.

I believe in fulfilling the highest measure of service, to my vocation, my fellow beings, my country and my God, that by so doing, I will be rewarded with personal satisfaction and success.

I believe in the democratic philosophies of private enterprise and competition, and in the freedoms of this nation-that these philosophies allow for the fullest development of my individual abilities.

I believe that by doing my best to live according to these high principles, I will be of greater service both to myself and to mankind.

Please send us the raw footage from your recording on tape or disc.  Do not edit your footage.  If you have more than one take of your video, please send all of them.  Each video will be processed for screen suitability, content, and quality.  Please note that not all videos submitted will be used.  All videos must be approved by the local chapter advisor.  If you would like your video returned to you, please include a self–addressed envelope with your submission.

Please send the original tapes/DVDs that come straight out of the camera. If your camera films on a hard drive, please burn the raw, unedited footage, onto a DVD. (Do not compress the footage)   Video that is sent to us can be Standard Definition (SD) or High Definition (HD).

Things to keep in mind:

· Use a tri–pod or someone who can hold the camera very steady.  If you wish to have movement in your film, make sure to use someone with a very steady hand or use a tri–pod to pan the camera fluidly.

· Make sure you are in a well–lit room or outside in a nicely lit area (Not too dark… Not too bright).

· Do not place your subjects in front of a brightly lit window, or in front of the sun (Do not aim your camera at the window or sun).  Doing so will cause a silhouetting effect and we will not be able to use your footage.

· Please do not place any filters on your video.

· Please do not edit your video.  Programs like iMovie have made it easier for anyone to edit, compress and burn their own home movies. However, once this has been done, it is harder for us to extract the original information to use. Even if you have 15 takes of the same thing… we can pick the best one from the original tape.

· Do not compress your footage so that it will fit on a DVD or other media.  Send us the original non–compressed video please.

· Set the camera to its normal default size… anything above 640 x 480. Anything smaller will be unusable.

· Make sure to speak loudly in the direction of the microphone. Audio that is hard to hear on your tape will be hard to hear on the sound system and may cause hissing.  Do not use music in your videos.

Formats

We can accept a varied range of formats, tape or optical, which are as follows:

MiniDV (Highly Recommended)

BETACAM (BETA)

HDV

DVCAM (DV)

DVC Pro

DVD

Reminders:

· Do not edit your video.  If you have more than one take, send them all.

· Do not use filters on your video

· Be creative!!

· Do not use music in your video

· Include “I believe” as a visual part of your video

· Do not use web cameras or camera phones to record your video

Please send all video submissions to:

PDC Productions

Attn: Katelynn Dimski

3217 N Flood Ave

Norman, OK 73069

Videos must arrive at PDC by Friday, December 18.  If you have any questions, please contact Katelynn Dimski at 405.360.5130.

Katelynn Dimski

Event Coordinator                                                                              Vice President of Education

PDC Productions – www.pdcproductions.com MPI Oklahoma Chapter

405.360.5130 Fax 405.360.0524 www.mpiok.web

Global Entrepreneurship Week: Invention to Venture, November 18, 2009

Dear Entrepreneurship Center Directors,

As part of this year’s Global Entrepreneurship Week events, Northeastern University is hosting an Entrepreneurship boot camp called Invention to Venture.  This year’s topic will be “Basics of Technology Entrepreneurship.”  We hope you will join us for this boot camp.  Please forward this invitation to anyone within your organization who may also be interested in this event.

Join us for Invention to Venture:  Northeastern University

Visit http://northeastern.edu/eweek orhttp://www.invention2venture.org/northeastern09/ to register and for more information.

BASICS OF TECHNOLOGY ENTREPRENEURSHIP

One Day Workshop

November 18, 2009

Presentations will focus on venture capital, marketing, intellectual property, business plans, and related topics.

Hosted by  Northeastern University’s School of Technology Entrepreneurship as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week (Nov. 16-20) activities on campus.

This event consists of 7 individual workshops held throughout the day, geared to anyone who wants to know more about this very important topic:   BASICS OF TECHNOLOGY ENTREPRENEURSHIP.   The guest speakers are experts drawn from the region including Bob Davis, Highland Partners as the Keynote speaker!

Invention to Venture workshops are held in cooperation with the National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance (NCIIA).

Date: November 18, 2009

Time: 8 am to 4:30 pm

Location:     Northeastern University

360 Huntington Ave.

Boston, MA

Parking:      Gainsborough Garage

Columbus Avenue

Cost: $10 Students, $25 Faculty Members

and NEU Staff and

$50 Community and Others.

Participation guide, lunch & continental

breakfast are all included in the fee.

This workshop is open to the public but it is intended primarily for college and university students.

–

Alexander Lowery

School of Technological Entrepreneurship

Northeastern University

360 Huntington Ave

304 Hayden Hall

Boston, MA 02115

617-373-2788

a.lowery@neu.edu

Global Entrepreneurship Week, November 16-19, 2009

Dear Entrepreneurship Center Directors,

Northeastern University’s School of Technological Entrepreneurship is sponsoring a week of events for this year’s Global Entrepreneurship Week.  You can find more information athttp://www.northeastern.edu/eweek.  We invite you to join us for this week of events.  Please forward this invitation to anyone within your organization who may also be interested in this event.

We invite you to

Global Entrepreneurship Week

November 16-19, 2009

Northeastern University

http://northeastern.edu/eweek

Global Entrepreneurship Week connects people through local, national, and global activities to help them explore their potential as self-starters and innovators by participating in a wide range of activities.

Events at Northeastern this year include:

· Entrepreneurship Networking Lunch

· Social Entrepreneurship in Emerging Market Economies and the Power of Student Collaboration in the Field

· Strategy Development for the Owner-Managed Business

· Entry Level Entrepreneurs: Making the Leap

· New Product Development Workshop: Innovation, Product Development, and New Ventures

· EntreTech Forum: Making Your Name in a Changing Gaming Industry

· Invention to Venture: Basics of Technology Entrepreneurship

· Contrasting Entrepreneurship in Japan with the United States

· Roads to Entrepreneurship

· Have a Great Idea?  Find Out What’s Next

Please join us for a week of entrepreneurship activities.  All sessions are open to the public.

Visit us on the web for more information at: http://northeastern.edu/eweek

H&R Block Dollars and Sense Program

The national rollout of the H&R Block Dollars and Sense program began this week with national media coverage in publications such as USA Today. As you know from the presentation by Diane Barkley at the SAM Conference, DECA is the in school partner with this program.

I want to bring you up to date on the project and ask your assistance in several key areas.

1. Through the H&R Block Dollars & Sense program, more than $1 million in curriculum grants were awarded to DECA Chapters. Over 750 chapters have received the Virtual Business-Personal Finance software.

2. H&R Block Dollars & Sense is partnering with DECA to execute the H&R Block Dollars & Sense Challenge. In this challenge students compete online for $50,000 in college scholarships and the chance to shadow an H&R Block executive. In addition, advisors of the top three teams will receive a $2,500 classroom grant. H&R Block will also help subsidize travel cost to the ICDC for finalist teams and advisors.

3. As part of H&R Blocks overall strategy, they are very interested in connecting their associates with you to discuss ways H&R Block associates can become involved with the state associations and chapters. This is a great opportunity to engage H&R Block as financial literacy speakers in the classroom, state conference judges and potentially as employers for internships and co-op.

What I need you to do.

A. Please send the attached Dear Advisor memo from me to your high school advisors. We have sent it out, but we don’t want any advisors to miss this opportunity for their students. Note: Chapters do not need the Virtual Business-Personal Finance software to compete. It works just like the VBC Challenges we have run for several years.

B. Create a link from your state website to the challenge website http://www.KnowledgeMatters.com/HRB(Logo attached). The students can register for the challenge from this site.

C. Create a link to the H&R Block website http://www.HRBlockDollarsAndSense.com (Logo attached). There you and your teachers can see the entire program including some very cool features for students, parents and teachers.

D. Email: dollarsandsense@hrblock.com and let them know you would like to meet with the H&R Block leaders in your area.

The bottom line is that this is a great partnership that has already provided great support to our chapters, lets make them feel appreciated and welcome.

Let me know if you have questions

Thanks for all that you do.

Attachment: Dear DECA Advisor

DECA VBC Challenge

The national rollout of the Virtual Business Challenge H&R Block Dollars and Sense program began in October with national media coverage in publications such as USA Today.  DECA is the in school partner with this program.

1. Through the H&R Block Dollars & Sense program, more than $1 million in curriculum grants were awarded to DECA Chapters. Over 750H & R Block letter from Ed chapters have received the Virtual Business-Personal Finance software.

2. H&R Block Dollars & Sense is partnering with DECA to execute the H&R Block Dollars & Sense Challenge. In this challenge students compete online for $50,000 in college scholarships and the chance to shadow an H&R Block executive. In addition, advisors of the top three teams will receive a $2,500 classroom grant. H&R Block will also help subsidize travel cost to the ICDC for finalist teams and advisors.

3. As part of H&R Block’s overall strategy, they are very interested in connecting their associates with you to discuss ways H&R Block associates can become involved with the state associations and chapters. This is a great opportunity to engage H&R Block as financial literacy speakers in the classroom, state conference judges and potentially as employers for internships and co-op.   Several have already contacted me and I will be getting them in touch with you as well!

I have attached a memo fromDr. Ed Davis; Executive Director of National DECA,  to our Chapter Advisors. You may have already received this letter, but I want to be sure that nobody misses this opportunity for their students. Note: Chapters do not need the Virtual Business-Personal Finance software to compete. It works just like the VBC Challenges we have run for several years.

Look for a link from our state website, www.massdeca.com within the next few days to the challenge website http://www.KnowledgeMatters.com/HRB The students can register for the challenge from this site.

Look for a link to the H&R Block website http://www.HRBlockDollarsAndSense.com on the Massachusetts DECA website in the next few days.  There you can see the entire program including some very cool features for students, parents and teachers.

Email: dollarsandsense@hrblock.com and let them know you would like to meet with the H&R Block leaders in your area.

The bottom line is that this is a great partnership that has already provided great support to our chapters, let’s make them feel appreciated and welcome!

Let me know if you have questions

Thanks for all that you do.

Attachment: H & R Block letter from Ed