CORE
Chapter Officers Retreat for Excellence
September 9, 10 & 11, 2011
Tumbling Waters Retreat & Conference Center
At Ramah Darom
70 Darom Lane
Clayton, Georgia
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Georgia TSA Chapter Officers Retreat for Excellence
Table of Contents
• Page 3: CORE Purpose, Goals, and Overview
• Page 4: Opportunities, Supply List, Drop Off and Pick Up Procedures
• Page 5: 50th Anniversary T-Shirt Contest
• Page 6: Tentative Agenda
• Page 7: Tumbling Waters Waiver
• Page 8: Georgia TSA Personal/Medical/Photo Release
• Page 9: Directions to Camp
For more information on the camp at Ramah Darom/Tumbling Waters Retreat
& Conference Center visit their website at http://www.tumblingwaters.org/
Online Registration Due Friday, August 19, 2011
$45 Chapter Fee
$110 per participant
Make check payable to and mail to:
GA TSA
P.O. Box 2304
Acworth, GA 30102
Each student must have the Waiver for Use of Camp Facility and GA TSA Personal
Liability forms completed. These forms are also available for download on the Georgia
TSA website at www.gatsa.org . Each advisor should have a copy to turn it at
registration as well as a copy for their records.
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Purpose
The CORE program is designed to provide Georgia TSA local chapter officers with an opportunity to
develop interpersonal and leadership skills, gain necessary knowledge and abilities to carry out the duties
of their individual offices, and prepare a Chapter Program of Work for the upcoming school year.
Specific CORE Goals
Participants will develop an understanding of their personal characteristics and leadership traits.
Participants will build teamwork and team spirit with their local chapter officers.
Participants will gain knowledge, understanding and the ability to implement their officer duties.
Participants, working together with their Chapter Officer Team, will develop a local Program of
Work that is designed to ensure a successful year in Georgia TSA.
Participants will have the opportunity to earn their Statesman Award.
Participants will increase their understanding of the responsibilities of being a Georgia TSA State
Officer.
CORE Overview
Registration – Fee is $110 per participant. Deadline is Friday, August 19, 2011! Limit is 8
students. Please register online at www.registermychapter.com/tsacore . It is important that you
register no more than one student for each office.
Meals - All meals are included in the registration fee beginning with Friday evening dinner,
Saturday breakfast, lunch and dinner, and concluding with Sunday breakfast. There are generous
portions served at each buffet-style meal. Everyone should be on time for each meal as serving
time is limited. There are no vending machines to purchase drinks or snacks.
Lodging - Lodging is included in the registration fee. Participants will be housed in Cabin-Style
Lodges that will accommodate between 16 and 20 campers in bunk beds. Cabins have a large bath
area. Each cabin has a separate room for advisors. Participants will need to bring linens with a
blanket or sleeping bag and a pillow for their bunk bed, towels for their bathroom, and a
beach towel for swimming.
Dress Code - As part of their registration fee, all participants will receive a CORE T-shirt to be
worn on Saturday. Comfortable clothes for camping are encouraged, such as blue jeans, shorts,
T-shirts, tennis shoes and/or sandals for hiking. You will need a light jacket – preferably one that is
rain-proof. You will need pants of some type for the evening as it gets much cooler in the mountains
when the sun goes down! Dress clothing and high-heels of any type are discouraged. Bathing suits
should be in good taste and be covered while going to and from the lake. Shorts and tank tops should
be school appropriate clothing. No bedroom attire allowed outside of cabins, including slippers. No
exposed undergarments. Advisors should ensure that students in their chapter are dressed
appropriately at all times! GA TSA has the right to ask any student to change attire that is
deemed inappropriate!
Packing – Students may bring ONE suitcase or duffel bag for clothing and personal items and
1 XL Zip-lock bag for bedding. (XL Zip-lock bags usually sold at Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Big
Lots, etc.) There should be no loose items and all bags need to be easy for you to carry to and from
your cabin. Be prepared to pack wet clothing back in your bags for the trip home!
Attitude - Having a positive attitude is of utmost importance in the learning process! Advisors are
encouraged to bring students that display a positive attitude towards working and learning with
others. Our agenda is focused on bringing chapter members together so that they can develop team
spirit and have a successful school year.
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Opportunities
Statesman Test – Participants will have an opportunity to take the Statesman Award test on
Saturday evening after dinner. A study guide can be found on the Georgia TSA website.
Leukemia and Lymphoma Light the Night Walk – We will hold a Light the Night walk after the
Talent Showcase on Saturday evening. Fabulous prizes awarded to the “Brightest Chapter”. Be
creative! Use flashlights, glowsticks, anything but an open flame to illuminate your chapter for the
night walk!
TSA Talent Showcase - Open to anyone or any group who would like to showcase their talents!
Singing, dancing, playing a musical instrument, drama and poetry are just a few things that you can
do. Whatever you choose to present, please make sure it is in good taste. Your talent showcase
should be no more than 4 minutes in length.
STEM Wars - We will carry the theme of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math throughout
the weekend with competitions between teams. Relay games, tug-of-war, Speed Creed and more!
50th Anniversary T-Shirt Design - Georgia TSA is 50! Bring your T-Shirt design idea with you to
CORE – printed on 8x10 paper. Students will vote for their favorite. The winning design will be
printed on T-Shirts that will be given out at Tech Day.
Suggested Personal Supply List
The following is a suggested list of items to bring for your stay:
Comfortable clothes for daily events
Clothes for recreational activities (ropes course/swimsuit)
Outerwear for cool/rainy weather
Extra shoes in case one pair gets wet
Umbrella / rain poncho / hat
Flashlight
Alarm Clock
Bug Spray
Sunscreen
Large Trash Bags for dirty/muddy clothes
Personal Grooming Items
Linens / Sleeping Bag / Blanket / Pillow
Towels / Washcloth
Camera / Batteries
Money for the TSA store
Drop off and Pick Up Procedures
1. Charter Buses – Will drop off and pick up at the shop – you will pass this area before you get to the
lake as you come in on Persimmon Road. Your cabin registration information will be there for you.
Bags will be tagged and participants will walk from here to your cabin.
2. School Buses and all other vehicles - you will stop by the Welcome Center to check in and receive
your cabin assignment. All bags will be tagged at this point and participants will walk from here.
3. Parking is limited – Cars and buses that stay for the weekend must stay parked!
There is virtually NO cell reception at the camp! Do not bring devices like portable DVD players, CD
players, Ipods, MP3 players, game boys, and other electrical devices of this nature. The cabins are
not secured and GA TSA will not be responsible for missing items!
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50 Anniversary
T-Shirt Design
A 50th Anniversary T-shirt design contest will be conducted at the CORE conference. All chapters interested in
participating must submit an appropriate graphic design suitable for reproduction on a commemorative t-shirt.
The shirt will be sport gray and the graphic is limited to no more than 3 colors.
The design must be submitted on an 8 1/2” x 11” white or gray card stock paper in a clear protective sleeve and
be accompanied by the CD containing the graphic file in jpeg format as well as an ai or eps format. Designs must
include a front pocket logo approximately 4” x 4” and a back design approximately 8” x 10”. The Design must
include the words “Georgia TSA” and “50th Anniversary “and the TSA letters from the logo, and/or the GA TSA logo
or the National logo with Georgia on the top stripe.
Designs will be voted on at CORE by using jars to place money in front of each design. The money will be donated
to the Leukemia / Lymphoma Society. The design that has the most amount of money will be the winning design.
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Tentative Schedule
Friday
2:00 – 6:00 Cabin Check-In Welcome Center
2:00 – 6:00 Registration Multipurpose Room
Turn in 50th Anniversary T Shirt Design, Multipurpose Room
2:00 – 5:30 Chapter Recreation Time
6:00 Advisory Council Meeting Multipurpose Room
5:00 – 6:30 GA TSA Logo Store Dining Hall - Lakeside
5:30 – 6:30 Dinner Dining Hall
7:00 – 8:30 First General Session Covered Basketball Court
Opening Ceremony, Opening Remarks, Goals for the conference
8:30 – 10:00 True Colors Beginnings Covered Basketball Court
Alternate Activity (For returning CORE participants) Recreation Room
10:15 – 10:30 Vespers Covered Basketball Court
Closing thoughts, Chapter Spirit Awards, Chapter Assignments
11:00 Curfew
Saturday
7:00 – 8:00 Breakfast Dining Hall
8:30 – 9:00 Second General Session Covered Basketball Court
9:00 – 9:30 Program of Work Training Covered Basketball Court
9:00 – 5:00 Program of Work Development, Chapter Team-Building, Recreational Time
9:30 – 10:30 Groups S & T Chapter Officer Training Sessions
2:00 – 3:00 Groups E & M Chapter Officer Training Sessions
11:00 – 12:00 Lunch for Groups S & T Dining Hall
12:00 – 1:00 Lunch for Groups E & M Dining Hall
1:00 – 2:00 Statesman Award Study Session Dining Hall
3:00 – 4:00 Swimming at the Lake/Alpine Tower
4:00 – 5:00 STEM Wars Relays Activity Field
5:30 – 6:30 Dinner Dining Hall
Chapter Presidents are responsible for turning in the Program of Work Projects. Box set up in Dining Hall.
Make sure that chapter name is on projects!
7:00 – 8:00 Statesman Award Testing Dining Hall
8:30 Talent Showcase Covered Basketball Court
9:30 Light the Night Assembly Beginning and ending at the Covered Basketball Court
10:30 Vespers Covered Basketball Court
11:00 Curfew
Sunday
Drop-off luggage in designated area by 8:00
7:15 Non-Denominational Devotion (optional) Worship Center
7:30 – 8:30 Breakfast Dining Hall
9:00 – 10:00 Developing a Successful Chapter
10:00 – 11:00 Final STEM Wars Challenge/Speed Creed
11:00 Closing Session Covered Basketball Court
Presentation of Statesman Award Recipients, Closing Remarks, Closing Ceremony
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WAIVER FOR USE OF CAMP FACILITIES
To be completed by all adults attending or parents of children under 18 attending
a retreat at Tumbling Waters/Ramah Darom
I, _____________________________, individually and/or on behalf of my child(ren)
______________________________________, do hereby release and discharge Ramah
Darom and/or Tumbling Waters, its employees, agents, officers, directors and
representatives, for loss, injury, damage, costs or expenses of any nature whatsoever arising
out of my or my child(ren)’s use of Ramah Darom’s property, facilities, activities, buildings,
equipment or any other property.
I understand that part of the retreat experience involves activities and group interactions that
may be new to our children, and that they come with uncertainties beyond what they may be
used to dealing with at home. I am aware of these risks, and assume them ourselves and on
behalf of our children. I realize that no environment is risk-free, and so we have instructed
our children on the importance of abiding by the retreat’s rules, and we and our children
agree that they are familiar with these rules and will obey them.
I further acknowledge that I/we are being granted use of the facilities, and that I am signing
this release and waiver as an inducement to Tumbling Waters and/or Ramah Darom for its
permission to use the facilities, and that I have reviewed this document in its entirety and
that I agree to and understand its terms.
It is agreed that any dispute or cause of action arising between the parties, whether out of this
agreement or otherwise, can be brought in the court (Rabun County Clerk of Superior Court)
located in of competent jurisdiction located in Rabun County, in the State of Georgia, and
shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Georgia.
Signed:______________________________ Date: ________________________
(Low ropes are included in your registration fees.)
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Georgia Technology Student Association
Personal Liability / Medical Release / Photograph Release
All children, students, and adults who attend any Georgia TSA Conference are required to complete this form. No conference
attendee is allowed to participate unless Georgia TSA receives this completed form. Parents and chapter advisors: Please make
a copy of this completed form for your records.
Name___________________________________ Home Phone ________________________________________
Student Cell ______________________________Parent Cell _________________________________________
Home Address____________________________ Student Date of Birth__________________________________
Advisor _________________________________Advisor Cell _________________________________________
School__________________________________ School phone ________________________________________
School address _______________________________________________________________________________
MEDICAL INFORMATION (children and students only)
1. Allergies (drug or otherwise) __________________________________________________________________
2. Current medication__________________________________________________________________________
3. Describe any history of heart condition, diabetes, asthma, epilepsy, or rheumatic fever, etc.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
4. Physician’s name __________________________ Physician’s telephone _______________________________
“I hereby agree to release the Georgia Technology Student Association, its representatives, agents, servants
and employees from liability for any injury to above named person at any time while attending the Georgia TSA
Activity, including travel to and from the conference, excepting only such injury or damage resulting from willful
acts of such representatives, agents, servants, and employees.”
“I do voluntarily authorize the Georgia Technology Student Association’s local chapter advisors, state
advisor, assistants and/or designees to administer and/or obtain routine or emergency medical treatment for the
above-named person as deemed necessary in medical judgment.”
“I agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Georgia Technology Student Association and/or assistants and
designees for any and all claims, demands, actions, rights of action, or judgments by or on behalf of the above
named person arising from or on account of said procedures or treatment rendered in good faith and according to
accepted medical standards.”
“I hereby authorize any physician member of the Department of Emergency Medicine of an accredited
hospital or any member of the medical staff of an accredited hospital to render medical treatment, which in his/her
judgment is deemed necessary in the care of the above named person (child or student) while attending the Georgia
TSA Activity, including time traveling to and from the conference.”
“I permit Georgia TSA to use video footage and photographs of my child for publicity that might include
but is not limited to: website, PowerPoint presentations, promotional videos, flyers or news publications.”
__________________________________________ _______________________________________
Signature of parent or guardian (if child or student) Date
__________________________________________ _______________________________________
Participant's or advisor’s signature Date
A COPY OF THIS FORM MUST BE KEPT BY THE STATE AND CHAPTER ADVISORS AT THE CONFERENCE
AND GIVEN TO APPROPRIATE MEDICAL AUTHORITIES IN THE EVENT OF A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.
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Directions to Clayton, GA From Atlanta, GA
I-85 North TO I-985 North then Highway 365N to Hwy 441N into Clayton
Directions from Clayton, GA to Tumbling Waters
US 441 NORTH TO US-76 WEST. Once in Clayton, Pass the McDonalds on the left, US
76 West is at the next light.
TURN ONTO 76 WEST (Savannah Street), Landmarks -Dairy Queen, Citgo Gas AND
TRAVEL ABOUT 7.5 MILES.
Once you pass Marks Marine and Lake Burton Grocery (on left hand side of the road)
travel about a quarter of a mile and TURN RIGHT ONTO PERSIMMON ROAD
(paved road).
If you reach the “Y” Camp or Lake Burton, you have passed the Persimmon Road turn off.
CONTINUE FOR 7.5 MILES ON PERSIMMON ROAD, If at any point there is a fork
in the road, remain to the left. You will see the camp on the left hand side. CONTINUE
ON THE PAVED ROAD, DRIVING ALONGSIDE THE CAMP. DRIVE OVER
THE ONE-VEHICLE BRIDGE. THE ROAD SURFACE THEN CHANGES FROM
PAVED TO GRAVEL. MAKE AN IMMEDIATE LEFT TURN INTO THE
ENTRANCE OF RAMAH DAROM and you will see the Welcome Center.
HAVE A SAFE TRIP!
IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS:
RAMAH DAROM RETREAT CENTER - CLAYTON:
(706) 782-9307 or (706) 782-9400 Dining Hall
Emergency Pager (706) 782-9073
RAMAH DAROM ATLANTA OFFICE:
(404) 531-0801
Questions – Please direct any questions you may have to Ashley
Hopkins, Executive Director, hopkins.gatsa@mail.com or
706-244-2136.
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The Climbing Wall
The Alpine Tower
The Odyssey Course
For more information on the camp at Ramah Darom/Tumbling Waters Retreat &
Conference Center visit their website at http://www.tumblingwaters.org/
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