<strong>January</strong>/<strong>February</strong>, <strong>2012</strong> [<strong>MMTA</strong> NEWSLETTER] 8
<strong>2012</strong> <strong>MMTA</strong> Convention: The Art of Teaching Ann Mishler, NCTM, Vice President - Convention [<strong>MMTA</strong> NEWSLETTER] <strong>January</strong>/<strong>February</strong>, <strong>2012</strong> The Committee has been busy planning for our next Convention and has chosen “The Art of Teaching” as our <strong>2012</strong> Convention Theme. Dr. Peter Mack will give the keynote address entitled “The Art of the Phrase”. He will also give talks on “Well-known Intermediate Pieces, and How I Teach Them” and “Motivating your Students”—Tricks to Make Practice Painless. He is being very generous with his time and is excited about coming to Minnesota! Please think about having your students apply for a spot in the Masterclass. The audition form can be found in this issue of the newsletter as well as on the website. I can tell from my initial contact with Peter Mack that he will be a lot of fun! I think he will give the students and teachers a wonderful experience. Here is an Update on the Crowne Plaza West: The Crowne Plaza has dedicated $5 million for a fresh, new look, with several renovation enhancements already complete and several yet to be completed by May 2013. The garden courtyard has been re-designed with new concrete pavement and brick garden walls filled with trees and evergreen bushes highlighted with 18 4-foot copper pots filled with the season’s freshest floral arrangements. The Regency Auditorium has lavishly designed new dark stained wood doors, comfortable seating, carpet, floor to ceiling window treatments, lighting, chandeliers, wall sconces and audio visual system. In addition, the Europa Dining Room and Creekside Café have new design and guest rooms have new carpet and contemporary lightening. The Health and Fitness Center has had a complete renovation on all levels including the massage spa, pool area, cardio workout area, racquetball courts, weight and training room, locker and shower room and all new rooftop patio furniture. So as you can see, they’ll be ready to welcome us once again for our annual Convention. Please mark your calendars, make your arrangements and plan to join us for another great educational experience! On a personal note, I’d like to thank everyone for welcoming me as a new member of <strong>MMTA</strong>. I’ve been busy learning about the many wonderful programs that <strong>MMTA</strong> has to offer and I am excited to be a part of this vital organization. Ann Mishler annmishler@gmail.com <strong>MMTA</strong> Convention Survey Summary Liz Jennings, <strong>MMTA</strong> Convention Co-Chair This fall, the <strong>MMTA</strong> convention committee asked its members to give their feedback on the idea of changing future dates of its annual convention by one week later to accommodate the schedules of its members who teach during the day in Minnesota school districts which have not ended by the time we usually convene in early June. The results of the survey suggest that overall attendance at the convention would not increase by a change in dates. Using RatePoint.com, a survey was sent to 748 member emails on October 12, 2011. 194 members responded for a return rate of 26%. 73 % of those responding attend the convention either each year or every other year. Of those people, respondents were almost evenly split between those who said the “dates make no difference to me. I should still be able to attend” [with a date change], and those who answered, “The change in dates might or might not work.” However, among those people who have not been able to attend the <strong>MMTA</strong> convention during the past years, the majority either would still definitely not be able to attend or they answered “possibly” that they would be able to attend with a date change. When combined with an increase in hotel and site costs for dates other than a Monday-Tuesday configuration, we did not receive enough of a mandate to change the existing dates outside of the second week in June. We thank everyone who participated! The Convention Committee appreciates your opinion in this issue. 9
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