Approved by the Board September 5, 1997 Updated August 26, 2006 Florida SkillsUSA POLICY MANUAL
	Eligibility for Participation in Florida SkillsUSA Workshops, Conferences, and Florida SkillsUSA Officer A SkillsUSA member is a student who is enrolled in an appropriate vocational program of instruction as job-prep at the time of enrollment. Member's dues will be paid during the fall enrollment period or no later than February 1 of the present school year. Florida SkillsUSA Officer: 1. SkillsUSA Member 2. 2.0 grade point average a. 3.0 GPA for Regional and State Officers 3. Permission and Support of Officers, Teacher/Advisors 4. Officer Application submitted to the proper person by the deadline a. Regional Officers - Regional Coordinator 10 days before the Regional Officers Training Workshop (OTW) b. State Officers - To the Regional Coordinator 10 days before the Regional Contest c. Club Officers - Established by local chapter State Leadership Conference: 1. SkillsUSA Member by Workshop 2. 2.0 grade point average 3. Signed Code of Conduct and Medical Release Form to State Director by the established deadline. Regional Leadership/Skills Competitions: 1. SkillsUSA Member by February 15 2. 2.0 grade point average 3. Signed Code of Conduct and Medical Release Form to Regional Coordinator by the established deadline. 4. Registration fee paid State Skills/Leadership Conference: 1. SkillsUSA Member by February 15 2. 2.0 grade point average 3. First or Second Place Medalist at Regional 4. Other places by Special Invitation of State Director due to space accommodations 5. Signed Code of Conduct and Medical Release Form to State Director by the established deadline. 6. Registration fee paid Official SkillsUSA Dress: 1. Is described in the official Skills/Leadership Regulations Book and the Leadership Handbook. Official SkillsUSA attire is required 1.At the Regional Skill Contests. 2.Some contests may require specific clothing, i.e. Commercial Foods/Baking must wear head cover and chefs jackets. 3.Official SkillsUSA Dress or Business attire is required for all Regional Leadership Contests. 4.At State Contests 5.At official House of Delegates Meetings 6.Awards Ceremony at the State Conference Business attire may be worn with the permission of the State Director 7.All National SkillsUSA Events 8.At Conferences and workshops as noted in the program or agendas Penalties for not wearing the required dress are a deduction of up to 5% of the total score. Grievances: A Grievances will be accepted for a Rule Violation only Procedure for filing a Grievance: 1.Only contestants may file grievances. No Advisors or Spectators. 2.Ask the Head Judge for a grievance form. Complete the entire form and return the form to the Head Judge. The Contestant and the Head Judge must decide if the Grievance is valid. If the Contestant is not satisfied with the judge's decision concerning the Grievance, he or she may ask that the grievance be sent to the Regional Coordinator at the Regional Contests or the State Director at the State Conference. The Regional Coordinator or State Director will investigate the grievance and will make the final determination on the grievance. The Coordinator/State Director decision is final. The Grievance must be filed before leaving the contest area. No Grievances will be accepted after the contestant leaves the contest area. Registration for Conferences: 1.The registration fees for Regional Contests are determined by each Regional Steering Committee. 2.Registration fees for all Florida SkillsUSA Events are determined by the Executive Board of Directors of Florida SkillsUSA, Inc. 3.There will be a late fee of an additional $10.00 per person assessed for Registrations received after the advertised Registration deadline. 4.All Registration must be received in the State SkillsUSA office no later than 15 days before the start of the State Conference. Registrations will not be accepted after this date. 5.Payment of Registration fees must be paid in full to Florida SkillsUSA by the advertised deadline. Registration fees for No Shows to any Event will not be refunded. 6.A participant in the CMI and State Leadership Conference must notify the State Director in writing 10 days before the scheduled event to receive a refund. Housing at Events: Florida SkillsUSA does a lot of Research to provide safe and pleasant housing for all of its participants. All Florida SkillsUSA Participants to all Florida SkillsUSA Conferences and Workshops must register and stay in only Florida SkillsUSA approved Housing. Name Badges: Name Badges are used to Identify Registered participants and guests attend Florida SkillsUSA Events. Name Badges must be worn to all Florida SkillsUSA Events. Replacements of Lost or Stolen Badges: Lost or Stolen Name Badges will be replaced one time only at a cost of $5.00 per Badge. Badge changes for Misspelled Names, Name Changes, etc. will be changed as time is allowed at no charge. Awards: All Florida SkillsUSA Contestants and Cosmetology models will receive medals for 1st (Gold), 2nd (Silver), and 3rd (Bronze) in all contests. Some contests are limited by official rules as to the number of Contestants in a contest, i.e. Display three contestants. Look for the contest in the official U.S. Skills Regulation Manual. Trophies will be awarded to the School for the following contests: ! Display ! Promotional Bulletin Board ! Superior Chapter Required Attendance: No contestants will be allowed to compete unless they attend the Opening General Session and take the Professional Development test at the State Conference. Contestants competing at Nationals are required to attend National Registration, which is immediately after the Awards Ceremony at the State Conference. Substitutions of Contestants: Chapters may replace only Two Contestants from the original members of an OCC and Chapter Business Procedure Teams between Regionals and Nationals. Curfews: Curfews are established by the state director and will be announced at the beginning of each Florida SkillsUSA event. Established CURFEWS APPLIES TO EVERY STUDENT postsecondary and high school contestants. Regional contest fees are established by each regional steering committee. Alumni are allowed to set up a booth during regional and state conference to sell alumni pins and SkillsUSA, The Game. The two new drafting contests in Florida are to be implemented according to USSO regulations and the two-board drafting contests will be retained. The head judge will sign off all three places in secondary and post-secondary before any contest becomes official. Contest results are final when announced at the Awards Ceremony National guidelines will be followed for housing in order for schools to compete at state. All state chapters must conduct their state and national housing arrangements through the state SkillsUSA office. Trophies will be presented to schools for general contest winners and medals to students who participated as a team. Cosmetology and Job Skills models will receive medals. There is to be no deviation from the printed design contests guidelines. A plaque with reproduction of the winning design is to be awarded to the first place winner. The second and third place winners of the design contest will receive certificates of recognition. The executive board determines registration fees for the state leadership conference. The services of a CPA are to be secured to audit the Florida SkillsUSA, Inc. funds annually. Florida SkillsUSA will pay for all medals and membership pins. Florida SkillsUSA will pay travel expenses to include transportation, housing, registration, and meals to the National Skills and Leadership Conference for the state officers who fulfilled their assigned duties as outlined by Florida SkillsUSA. Travel for the board is to be approved at the daily allotment of $35 for meals, $.35 per mile for mileage, covering the time of departure until the time of return to include one day before and one day after the scheduled time with documentation based on reimbursement of state travel guidelines. The Chairman of Florida SkillsUSA, Inc. is authorized to expend funds and take whatever steps are deemed necessary to stabilize and resolve any ongoing Florida SkillsUSA management problems. Those who wish to run for "national delegate" must complete a qualification application. It is the responsibility of regional coordinators to provide transportation for state officers to all official Florida SkillsUSA activities. When traveling, the least expensive method of travel will be used. The state director in advance of travel must approve alternate methods of transport. Other expenses, such as meals and lodging shall be reimbursed at state rate. Reimbursement for the executive council for official state SkillsUSA functions shall be paid at state rate. Regional coordinators shall invoice state SkillsUSA for expenses. There will be two signers on each check written for the organization. All SkillsUSA developmental materials are to remain the property of Florida SkillsUSA. SkillsUSA must approve TQC and PDP workshops put on by Florida SkillsUSA with funds going to Florida SkillsUSA. Any expenditure of Florida SkillsUSA funds equaling more than $500 requires approval of the Florida SkillsUSA, Inc. Board of Directors. Campaign expenses for national officer candidates, are not to exceed $250 per candidate, and shall be paid by Florida SkillsUSA, Inc. Refunds of registration fees may be made if cancellation of registration is postmarked at least ten (10) calendar days prior to state conference. Refund of hotel charges will depend upon hotel contract. It shall be the policy of Florida SkillsUSA that no students or advisors will be transported in a 15 passenger van for any reason. Approved by Board action August 26, 2006 Florida SkillsUSA is a resource and support organization that does not select, control or supervise local chapter or individual member activities except as expressly provided in the Florida SkillsUSA Constitution and Bylaws. It is the policy of Florida SkillsUSA and Florida SkillsUSA, Inc not to discriminate against anyone regardless of race, creed, color, sex or national origin.