Chapter Officer Retreat for Excellence (CORE)

For every conference, chapters are required to submit specific inforation. Please fill out the forms below for each student and submit them to myGATSA prior to arriving at the confernece.

It is the advisor's responsibilty to ensure these forms are accurate and accessible. In an emergency situation, these forms potentially need to be shared with law and medical personal.

• The Advisor Contract and Advisor Emergency Contact Form only needs to be sumitted at the beginning of the season. Please submit prior to your first conference.
• Student Behavior Contract must be filled out for every student in attendance
• Personal Liability & Medial Release must be filled out by every person attending with your chapter including adults.

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 and represent your school in a positive way. Our agenda is focused on bonding chapter members together and providing them with the tools to take home and use for a successful school year.

• 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.

• TSA Chapter Officer Position Training – Our state officers provide local officers with training related to their position
• “Take it Home” Team Building Activities – Learn some group activities to use back at your chapter meetings
• Local Chapter Program of Work Development – Learn for some of our top chapters in GA and Plan your TSA year with the elements that make a great chapter
• Advanced Program of Work Training – For those chapters that have already experienced the basic POW training before – Dig deeper into subjects like fundraising, recruitment, chapter promotion and more.
• Statesman Test – Participants will have an opportunity to take the Statesman Award test on-line in the week leading up to CORE. Pins will be awarded at the Monday Final Session. A study guide can be found in the links column to the right. You can access an online study guide on the GA TSA Website – CORE Conference Page – under Resources
• CORE Olympics – Have some fun during the Team relay games stretching across the camp! This year it will be your Cohort vs the others.
• High Ropes Course is no longer available for CORE due to high cost
• Outdoor Activities – Included in the registration fee are a variety of outdoor activities: Low Ropes, Climbing Wall, Lake Activities, including swimming and canoeing.
• Service Project/FundRaising Demo Activity at the Pool-side Courts Tailgate Party Carnival Games, Inflatables, cotton candy, - $2 for five tickets proceeds to Pitchford Scholarship Fund. Chapters are asked to make and bring their own carnival games to be part of the carnival. Contact Mr. Price - sprice@gatsa.org

All meals are included in the registration fee beginning with Saturday evening dinner, Sunday breakfast, lunch and dinner, and concluding with Monday breakfast. Chapters are on their own for breakfast and lunch enroute to the camp. There are generous portions served at each buffet-style meal. Each advisor is responsible for placing special meal accommodations/food allergies on the Special Accommodations section of the “myGATSA” on-line Registration. Everyone should be on time for each meal as serving time is limited. There are no vending machines to purchase drinks or snacks. However, our GATSA Store will have some being sold that meets the camp’s Kosher requirements for sale.

Lodging is included in the registration fee. Participants will be housed in Cabin-Style Lodges that will be used to create Cohort Groups. TSA Staff will place chapters in cabins. There are separate cabins for girls and boys. Cohorts will be set to include boys and girls cabins housing officers from the same chapter. Cabins have a large bath area. Each cabin has a separate room for advisors. YOU MUST list any members with special food or medical needs in the “myGATSA” registration, prior to close of registration. 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.

The Statesmen Award recognizes individual knowledge of Georgia TSA. Participants take a multiple-choice test—50 questions for high school, 35 for middle school. A score of 85% or higher earns the award, with recipients recognized at CORE's closing session.

The Statesman Award Test will be completed before CORE during the posted testing window. Each registered student should create a MyGATSA account and will have one attempt to complete the test. No on-site test or study session will be offered.

As part of their registration fee, all participants will receive a Cohort Group Wristband that must be worn both days, and a CORE T-shirt that will identify their Cohort Color, 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!

Suggested Personal Supply List and Limited Cell Service

Students may bring ONE suitcase or duffel bag for clothing and personal items and 1 XL Zip-lockbag 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!

The following is a suggested list of items to bring for your stay, but we do not recommend that you bring portable entertainment devices. Money or other valuables are your responsibility to secure. The cabins are not secured. Neither GATSA nor Kaplan-Mitchell Center will be responsible for missing items!

• 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

There is virtually NO cell reception at the camp! Emergency contact should be made through the Kaplan-Mitchell Camp Office:

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

The Final Awards Session will end by 10:00am Monday Morning.

Breakfast will be served prior to the Final Session.

Chapter may leave for home immediately after Awards Session.

The Kaplan Mitchell Retreat and Conference Center

70 Darom Lane

Clayton, Georgia