Plains
The RA of this region, Jordan Powell, is planning and organizing at least three conferences this year, possibly a fourth, dependent on excitement and demand. The tentative timelines for the conferences are as followed:
1. First being in late Q1 or early Q2
2. Second being in late Q2 or early Q3
3. Third being in late Q3 or early Q4
4. Fourth dependent on engagement, attendance, and interest
If you are interested in helping Jordan plan the conferences, have some presentation ideas, or want to test individuals for level advancement, feel free to reach out to him. Thank you, Jordan, for keeping us updated and intending on providing educational opportunities to your region.
Southwest
The RA of this region, Kyle Evans, is currently knee deep in conference planning, as well. He is currently in the “Venue and Date” Phase, but will be moving into the “Theme and Presenters” Phase soon.
If you are interested in helping Kyle plan the conference, have some presentation ideas, or want to test individuals for level advancement, feel free to reach out to him. Thank you, Kyle, for keeping us updated and taking the time to keep the judges in your region informed and educated.
Northeast
The RA of this region, Dennis Bradford, is ALSO planning a couple of conferences. Dennis has been hosting some amazing educational opportunities with his Jersey Shore Judge Classes, and I am excited to have him extend and hone these skills in a conference setting.
If you are interested in helping Dennis plan the conferences, have some presentation ideas, or want to test individuals for level advancement, feel free to reach out to him. Thank you, Dennis, for keeping us updated and dedicating weekly time to help better your community through education.
Great Lakes
The leadership in this region, specifically the RA, Ryan Sears, have a few updates to share with you all.
1. We were so inspired by the Canadian blog series, Maple Mana: A Canadian Judge Spotlight, we applied for our own blog site to develop a very similar idea. As we are still awaiting approval for such a project, I do not have a lot to share, yet. However, I would love to share the name of the blog that I proposed – Lake Effect Leaders: A Great Lakes Judge Spotlight. Keep your eyes peeled for some amazing judges from this region being highlighted soon!
2. The last time we spoke, the details and JudgeApps event for the Judge Conference attached to SCG CON Milwaukee were not quite ready. However, now they are! This Judge Conference is scheduled for Friday, February 20th from 4 PM – 8 PM at the Baird Center in Milwaukee, WI. This conference was specifically designed to meet the learning needs and demands of Judge Candidates to Level 2 Judges. You can read about some of the finer details about the conference or apply to attend the conference on the JudgeApps event. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to Khailyn Schafer.
Final Thoughts
There is a ton of conference and educational talk happening in this article, and frankly, it is heartwarming and empowering to witness.
If you are interested in helping your fellow judges learn and develop new skills, apply to host a conference. A judge conference does not need to be extravagant; instead, it could be a small, weekly gathering, a regional get-together that happens once a quarter, or an educational series that is attached to an event weekend. If you do not know where to start the planning process, but you want to educate others, I would encourage you to still apply; the Judge Foundry Conferences Committee can help you plan from there.
