MESPA Institute 2020

Each year, MESPA's Educational Advisory Committee coordinates the Service Project at Institute. This year, we are collecting funds to contribute to Second Harvest Heartland and the five Feeding America food banks serving MN. We will split all funds raised between these regional food banks. We feel this will make a positive impact around the state!

The Dash for Cash will begin at 8am on Thursday morning. Please have a check written out to MESPA or cash donation ready for the Ed Ad Committee to pick up from your table. Thank you for your contributions!

Missed the Dash for Cash? You can also donate at the registration table any time Wednesday or Thursday until 2:30pm!

Help us brainstorm ideas in advance! What do you want to learn? What could you lead? Click here to add to our padlet!

The Unconference returns to Institute creating opportunities for peer-to-peer learning, collaboration and creativity. At the start, the whole group will gather together and be guided through creating an agenda using a shared document through open space technology. The exact process is not important to understand in advance – the process will become clear as it happens. The important part is that all those gathered will have the opportunity to put conference sessions on the agenda.

The sessions convened will range from the formal to the informal. From the well thought out pre-prepared talk reflecting years of research and practice to the spur of the moment 'new idea' that would be fun to talk about. From the demonstration of a working tool to the whiteboarding of something completely new. In the end, YOU guide your own learning!

Never attended an Unconference? Click here for a good overview.
Unconference Board: Click here to view the board. We will build the board at 9:15am on Thursday morning!

Take a break & browse our exhibits ahead of today's first set of breakout sessions!

Celebrate your incredible MESPA colleagues! Our celebration will begin at 5:00pm with a reception and heavy hors d'oeuvres, followed by a brief awards ceremony, and will end at 6:30pm, in time for you to enjoy dinner on your own after the event. This exclusive event is included FREE with your Active-level Institute registration (at $375/425)! 

Schedule:
5-5:45pm - Reception with music, cash bar, and heavy hors d'oeuvres
5:45pm - Brief awards ceremony
6:15pm - Presentation of the National Distinguished Principal Award
6:30pm - Event concludes

Location: DoubleTree by Hilton Bloomington Minneapolis South, 7800 Normandale Blvd, Bloomington, MN 55439 - 2nd Floor Grand Ballroom.

Attire: "Come as you are" is our motto for this event. Some awardees and special guests may choose to dress up for this event, but it is not required.

Breakfast will begin at 7:00am in the Grand Ballroom and served until 8am.

On the menu:
Local and Seasonally inspired sliced Fruit. Freshly Made Bakeries with Butter and Fruit Preserves. Scrambled Eggs, Breakfast Potatoes. Your choice of Bacon or Sausage Links.

Who's got spirit?! WE DO! Wear your favorite school gear to the conference on Friday!

All members are invited and encouraged to attend MESPA's Annual Meeting. You will find all Annual Meeting materials on the Annual Meeting page of the MESPA website when they are available. This is a members-only page of our website; you must be signed in to access the Annual Meeting page (mespa.net/annualmtg).

P.S. Join us for breakfast ahead of the meeting, starting at 7am! Breakfast will be served until 8am.

Breakfast buffet:
Local and Seasonally inspired sliced Fruit. Freshly Made Bakeries with Butter and Fruit Preserves. Scrambled Eggs, Breakfast Potatoes, and Sausage Links.