acuiregion12

As we all continue to unwind and reflect on this year’s conference, we’d like to request a few minutes of your time to complete the evaluation for the 2011 ACUI Region 12 Conference. The evaluation is now live! Your response and comments will be used to evaluate the 2011 Conference overall and enhance the experience of future Region 12 Conferences.

At the end of the evaluation there is an option to enter into a drawing to win either an iPod shuffle or an ACUI Region 12 Conference Travel Package (Includes a Free Registration and Hotel Room for the 2012 ACUI Region 12 Conference at Texas A&M University – Commerce on November 2- 4, 2012)

Additionally, there will be an option to sign up to receive information about being involved with the 2012 Region 12 Conference Planning (CPT). If you have any questions or issues with the evaluation link, please do not hesitate to contact Lawrence at lrdaniel@uh.edu.

See you next year in Commerce, Texas!

Look at all the great students that completed the Student Leadership Track!

Congratulations to Amber Acosta of Texas A&M University on the  Best of the Best session award for her Student Leadership Track session on StrengthsQuest

Have photographs from the Regional Conference? Upload them to facebook or email acuiregion12@gmail.com

Casual apparel is fine throughout the conference. You are welcome to wear your conference T-shirt (received a check-in) or apparel from your school or student union building. If you are participating in a pre-conference activity that requires it, you may want to bring comfortable walking shoes.

For our closing banquet at Cattleman’s Steakhouse, we encourage you to dress appropriately for the wild west theme. Prizes will be awarded for the best outfit!

Temperatures in El Paso for early November range between highs it the 70s and low 80s to lows in the 40s at night. You may want to bring a sweater, sweatshirt or jacket for the evenings.

ACUI Region 12 is accepting nominations for the following annual awards:

• Shirley Plakidas New Professional Award
• Shirley Bird Perry Outstanding Professional Award
• Mosaic Multicultural Education Award

Information about each award is below.  All nomination/application forms are available by emailing Delma and, as specified in each of the award category, must be received by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, October 17.  Nominations can be mailed or sent electronically to:

Delma D. Olivarez
ACUI Region 12 Awards and Recognition Project Team

Associate Director, Student Union
The University of Texas-Pan American
Office (956) 665-7990
Fax (956) 665-7992

olivarezdd@utpa.edu

Award winners will be announced at the regional conference held at the University of Texas at El Paso on November 4-6, 2011.  Feel free to contact Delma if you have any questions.

Shirley Bird Perry Outstanding Professional Award

The Shirley Bird Perry Outstanding Professional Award, established by the Region 12 Board in 1999, honors one of the most influential leaders in Region 12 for more than four decades.

After being named the “Most Outstanding Woman Student” as a senior at the University of Texas in Austin, Perry began her professional career as a Program Director and then as a Director of the Texas Union. During her Union career she was the first woman to be elected to the ACUI Executive Committee, serving as Vice President for Conference Programs from 1968 to 1970. She was also the first woman to serve as President of the organization in 1972-1973. “Perry returned to an administration position at the University of Texas in Austin in 1979 and was the Vice Chancellor for Development and External Relations for the University of Texas system from 1992 until 2004. Since that time, she has been serving as a Vice President overseeing presidential level fundraising efforts. She is also a member of the Vice President’s Council and the University Leadership Council at The University of Texas at Austin.”

Shirley Bird Perry Outstanding Professional Award is the highest honor presented by Region 12. The award is designed to recognize a member of the region was has made a significant contribution to the advancement of ACUI. The recipient will be recognized at the annual fall conference. Persons nominated should be singled out for their quality work and sustained contribution to ACUI rather than for a single action.

Shirley Plakidas Outstanding New Professional Award

The Shirley Plakidas New Professional Award, established by the Region 12 Board in 1999, honors one of the Regions 12’s most influential leaders for more than three decades. Her career began as an Assistant Program Manager at the Nebraska Union in 1967, followed by a long career at Louisiana State University where she is now Director of the LSU Union. Plakidas has been active in Region 12 ACUI with conference planning, keynote addresses and seminars, and numerous leadership roles. She was also active on the international level of ACUI as a speaker, author, and coordinator of professional seminars, conferences, publications, and videos. Plakidas served as ACUI President in 1995-96, and received the prestigious Butts-Whiting Award in 1999.

The Shirley Plakidas New Professional Award is designed to recognize a member of the region who has made a significant contribution to the advancement of ACUI during the first five years of service in the region. The recipient will be recognized at the annual fall conference. Persons nominated should be singled out for their quality work and contribution to ACUI.

Mosaic Award

The Mosaic Award recognizes a Region 12 institution for excellence in multicultural education under the umbrella of student development.  Institutions nominated for this award will have planned, implemented, and evaluated a program to develop and promote multiculturalism within student development.  Programs that make a positive impact on the campus, the community, and/or a targeted group are considered for this award.

Due to circumstances out of our control, the pre-conference activity scheduled at the Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino is cancelled. We have scheduled a replacement activity consisting of a buffet lunch at Azulejos Mexican restaurant followed by a tour of the historic Plaza Theater both located in downtown El Paso. Please read the blurb below for more information. The cost for this activity is the same as was the casino, so if you were scheduled for that and are interested in attending this in lieu of, simply email Erika Anchondo at emanchondo@utep.edu and we will make that change for you. Feel free to also email her regarding any questions or concerns you have. If you would like a refund for this pre-conference activity, please contact ACUI Central Office. We apologize for the inconvenience but hope you will select one of the four options. Thanks!

The Plaza Theater

11:45am – 2pm

Enjoy a lunch buffet at Azulejos Mexican restaurant housed inside the beautiful Camino Real Hotel in downtown El Paso followed by a tour the historic Plaza Theater, the “Showplace of the Southwest”! It is designed in Spanish Colonial Revival style architecture and features intricately painted ceilings, mosaic-tiled floors, decorative metal railings and antique furnishings. One of the few remaining atmospheric theaters in the United States, The Plaza Theater dates from the 1930s. The Plaza conveys the illusion that viewers are seated outdoors in a Spanish courtyard and the stars on the ceiling reflect the southwestern sky in June. The Plaza Theater is home to the Mighty Wurlitzer Balaban III Organ; one of six ever made and consists of 1,071 pipes that can simulate 15 different instruments.

Hilton Garden Inn El Paso, TX
111 W. University Ave. El Paso, TX 79902
915-351-2121

Call 1-877-STAY-HGI and mention your reservation is for the ACUI regional conference to get the rate of $89 per night. The ACUI conference room block ends on Thursday, October 16, 2011. Please make your reservations before that time.

Hotel Amenities:

• Swimming Pool
• Fitness Center
• Business Center and High Speed Internet Access
• Wireless
• Check out Time of 12 noon
• Hotel is located on UTEP Campus

This Hilton Garden Inn hotel in El Paso, Texas is in the heart of El Paso’s Entertainment District boasting over 50 restaurants and clubs within a five block area. We feature deluxe accommodations in our 153 guest rooms, complimentary high-speed Internet access, in-room microwaves, refrigerator and dual phone lines.

Guest Accommodations

Standard guestrooms include one king or two queen beds, chair with ottoman, large work desk with ergonomic chair. Complimentary wireless high speed Internet access in all guest rooms. Two phones with speakerphone capability and voice mail, refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker, iron/ironing board.

Check out all the pre-conference fun you can have simply by arriving a little early for the conference. These activities are designed to help you learn about the El Paso area. These activities can be added to your conference registration. Or, if you would rather pay for them on your own, please contact Erika Anchondo at emanchondo@utep.edu or (915) 747-8670 to RSVP.

El Paso Museum of Art and History Museum

Contact: Erika Anchondo, emanchondo@utep.edu
Time: 12:00pm to 3:00pm
Cost: $10
Interested in learning about the History of El Paso or seeing beautiful pieces of Art? Sign up for the museum trip as part of the pre-conference activities. Guests will board the shuttle and be transported to Downtown El Paso visiting both the El Paso Museum of Art and the El Paso Museum of History; which are located about a three (3) minute walk from one another. You will be provided a list of favorite downtown eateries were you can enjoy a delicious lunch-so remember to bring some cash and comfortable walking shoes.

Transportation will be provided to and from the Museums and will return in time for the Newcomer Reception or Session 1 of the conference.

 

Wyler Peak Aerial Tramway
Contact: Jaime Mendez, jlmendez@utep.edu
Time – 11:30am to 3:00pm
Cost – $15

Come to the top of the Southwest with us!  Explore the aerial view of 2 countries and 3 states within 195.742 acres of rugged mountain and rock formations on the east side of the Franklin Mountains.

You will take a 2 mile (round trip) ride on one of two Swiss-made Gondolas.  A cabin attendant will describe the different rock formations and vegetation along the way.  Abundant wildlife, including reptiles, birds and insects, offer exciting viewing opportunities.  The 4 minute ride soars above a vast canyon that is 240 feet deep in some places.

From Ranger Peak, 5,632 feet above sea level, the visitor can enjoy the view of 7,000 square miles encompassing three states and two nations. The tramway ride is a memorable experience offering a vista of the vastness and stark beauty of the southwest.

Transportation will be provided to the Tramway and back to the hotel in time for the first session on Friday.

 La Viña Winery
Contact: Cindy Juarez, cmjuarez@utep.edu
Time: 11:30am to 3:00pm
Cost – $25

Come visit New Mexico’s oldest winery, located along the Don Juan de Oñate trail.  La Viña Winery and tasting room lies on 2 acres of land with a beautiful and spacious patio.  This patio is open for people to picnic while enjoying a great glass or bottle of wine.  The winery boasts a 24 acre vineyard, which has been family operated since 1977.  Visitors are always welcome and may sample a variety of wines from the heart of the Mesilla Valley.

Transportation will be provided to the winery and back to the hotel in time for the first session on Friday.

The Plaza Theater

11:45am – 2pm

Enjoy a lunch buffet at Azulejos Mexican restaurant housed inside the beautiful Camino Real Hotel in downtown El Paso followed by a tour the historic Plaza Theater, the “Showplace of the Southwest”! It is designed in Spanish Colonial Revival style architecture and features intricately painted ceilings, mosaic-tiled floors, decorative metal railings and antique furnishings. One of the few remaining atmospheric theaters in the United States, The Plaza Theater dates from the 1930s. The Plaza conveys the illusion that viewers are seated outdoors in a Spanish courtyard and the stars on the ceiling reflect the southwestern sky in June. The Plaza Theater is home to the Mighty Wurlitzer Balaban III Organ; one of six ever made and consists of 1,071 pipes that can simulate 15 different instruments.

All Pre-conference activities are scheduled for Friday, November 4, 2011.

For more information please contact the listed representatives under each description.

For those tours that do not offer a lunch option, all food service venues in the Union Building will be open on Friday before departure to include Pizza Hut, Chopsticks, a salad bar, Chick-fil-A, sushi, various burrito options, World of Wings, cold sandwiches and much more.

Please note! All tours are dependent on a minimum of 15 people signing up for each.
UPDATE: Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino has been canceled. We apologize for the inconvenience

Just a quick reminder–the early bird registration ends tomorrow, September 28.

Our conference block at the Hilton Garden Inn El Paso ends October 1! Call 1-877-STAY-HGI and mention your reservation is for the ACUI regional conference to get the rate of $89 per night.

Be sure to register and reserve your room now so you get the best price AND the closest location. See you in El Paso.