Fall Leadership Conference 2022

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Thursday Leadership Conference $40

Friday YPN Staff Rally $30

Registration for this event has closed.

Contact Julia Wohlt for questions, jwohlt@uppermidwestymcas.org

Click here for event registration - REGISTRATION HAS CLOSED

Event Flyer

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THURSDAY LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

General Details

Time: 8:30 am-3:30 pm

Fee: $40/person

Who: Association leadership, board volunteers, and sponsors

Where: La Crosse Center, 300 Harborview Plaza

Agenda

Welcome
Keynote Speaker
Breakout Sessions
Lunch
Leadership Awards

Things to Bring

Laptop
Light jacket or cardigan in case rooms are cold
Business cards or contact information

Thursday Breakout Speakers

Speaker	Description
Alonzo Kelly	Creating a Culture Where Everyone Feels They Belong: This holistic presentation is inclusive of the skill of Critical Thought and Crucial Conversation; Tools For Talking When The Stakes Are High. All participants will feel compelled to learn, invited to be courageous, and challenged to be humble as we explore the impact of our experiences on our ability to form truly authentic partnerships and relationships. Through intentional dialogue focused on our sense of belonging, we are able to examine and challenge the plethora of personal and professional environments where we feel most and least likely that we belong. Participants will be able to apply their unique personality, lived experience, and acquired knowledge to Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity in ways consistent with the unique Mission of organizations across all Departments, roles, and responsibilities.
Amanda Goodenough	The Future is Bold: Don't Get Left Behind: The world is evolving. Are you? this imperative question will serve as the backdrop for conversation that amplifies experiences from the margins, and highlights the need for a more courageous workforce, especially amidst an increasingly polarized society. Through unpacking Midwest Nice culture, leaning on her personal truth, and reflecting on the joys, challenges, and successes felt across 15 years of story-holding during her tenure within a department focused on transforming institutional climate, Amanda will invite critical self/organizational reflection to push Y leadership and other decision makers to choose visionary, bold leadership, in pursuit of workplace wellness and an inclusive culture member service that is rooted in equity and justice.
Diana DiazGranados	Mental Health: Employee mental health is a critical component of organizational functioning and success. In this session, Diana will a discussion on strategies that create a positive and supportive workplace.
CVO & Board Members	CVO/Board Members: Chief Volunteer Officers and Board Members are welcome to join Alliance CVO Joe Swanson and Alliance CEO Jon Agnew to share resources and ask questions about anything relating to board governance.
Foley & Lardner team	Public Policy and How it Relates to your Work at the Y: Join former State Senator Joe Leibham and Jason Childress from the YMCA Lobbyist team to learn more about how the state government impacts your YMCA every day, and how you can hep advocate for the Y mission. Topics will include an election update, discussion of the many areas state regulation impacts YMCA operations and case studies on advocacy from Y staff and volunteers.
La Crosse Area Family YMCA Tour	Transportation will be provided to one of the La Crosse YMCA locations, the downtown Dahl facility. Check out their Community Food Forest, Youth Food Program, Community Youth Center, Healthy Living Center, and newly renovated locker rooms.

FRIDAY YPN RALLY

General Details

Time: 8:45 am-3:30 pm

Fee: $30/person

Who: Association leadership, supervisory program/membership staff, sponsors

Where: La Crosse Center, 300 Harborview Plaza

Agenda

Welcome
Awards/Recognition
Breakout Sessions
Lunch
Peer Community Breakouts

Things to Bring

Laptop
Layers in case rooms are cold
Business cards or contact information

Friday Breakout Speakers

Speaker	Description
Alonzo Kelly	The Art of Leading Change: This full participatory presentation proposal is designed to assist in creating an inter-culturally inclusive work environment for all. This learning journey will focus on the Professional Development of participants aimed at increasing knowledge and ability to utilize critical thinking skills to make authentic inquiry, apply appropriate meaning to terms and phrases , problem solve, communicate confidently, and foster more collaborative work environments rooted in authentic relationships. The key concepts of this session include 1) Creating a sense of urgency, 2) Creating a ‘culture of accountability’ and 3) Crucial Conversations; High Stakes/Strong Emotions/Opposing Opinions.
Neil Idhe	Essential Leadership Tolls for Challenging Times: Our world has experienced some once-in-a-generation challenges and industries and agencies faced a lot of unknowns and complex issues. In the midst of challenges, leaders and organizations need effective tools to strategize, energize, and focus the culture on solutions. Providing a culture that provides equal parts of psychological safety and accountability is essential. Other tools include emphasizing one’s identity, vision, values, and history. Change management, transparency, and authentic communication are critical. Throw in some timely decision-making skills and a healthy dose of moxie and resilience, and these challenges soon become another successful chapter in your company’s narrative.
Amanda Goodenough	The Language of Inclusion: Addressing the Macro Effect of Microaggressions within your YMCA, Social Circles, and Larger Community: If language communicates values, what do your words and non-verbals say about you and your organization? What happens when your equity efforts conflict with member actions and ideology? Let's come together to practice noticing and disrupting bigotry and hate as a means to foster belonging and mattering across the organizational culture.
Diana DiazGardanos	Mental Health: Employee mental health is a critical component of organizational functioning and success. In this session, Diana will a discussion on strategies that create a positive and supportive workplace.
Tom Thibodeau	The Positive Power of Servant Leadership: Servant Leadership is the ability to engage and inspire others to work for a greater good everyday. Through the experiences of positive energy, encouragement and engagement, this presentation will use stories and evidence-based research to explore and restore the positive power of serving and leading. Tom Thibodeau is the Distinguished Professor of Servant Leadership at Viterbo University in La Crosse where he has been teaching for 39 years. He is the founder of the master's degree in servant leadership at Viterbo, the only master's of its kind in the nation.
Erikke Nystrom-Grothaus	Behavior Management: What do you do when a youth refuses to comply with directions? How do you prioritize which behaviors to address and which to ignore? This session will explore the motivation behind many behaviors and provide you with a toolbox of strategies and resources to use throughout the year. Erikke is the Director of Special Education for CESA 5.
Foley & Lardner team	Public Policy and How it Relates to your Work at the Y: Join Alicia Sweitzer from the Foley & Lardner lobbyist team to learn more about how state government impacts your YMCA every day, and how you can help advocate for the Y mission every day as you interact with others. Topics will include a discussion on how the many state regulations impacts YMCA operations, and how you can help...also some basic citizen advocacy.
La Crosse Area Family YMCA Tour	Transportation will be provided to one of the La Crosse YMCA locations, the downtown Dahl facility. Check out their Community Food Forest, Youth Food Program, Community Youth Center, Healthy Living Center, and newly renovated locker rooms.

RELAX & CONNECT THURSDAY EVENING

La Crosse Queen Boat Tour

Thursday, October 6

Board the La Crosse Queen to cruise the Mississippi. Pizza and beer/soda buffet included.

Time: board at 5:15 pm, cruise runs 5:30-7:30 pm

Cost: $15/person (registration has closed)

ARRIVAL: Check-in runs from 4:30-5:15 pm at the pavilion. Look for Chris Stenberg who will be handing out tickets to all pre-registered participants.

The lower level of the boat is enclosed, and temperature controlled. The upper deck is open air with a 3/4 canopy cover. Dress according to the weather.

WINONA EXPLORING

Thursday, October 6

Visit beautiful downtown Winona to shop, eat and explore before getting a tour of the new Winona Family YMCA facility.

TRANSPORTATION: Riteway bus will leave the La Crosse Center at 4:45 pm sharp.

ITINERARY:

4:45-5:15 pm | Travel to downtown Winona
5:15-6:45 pm | Shop, explore, eat on your own
6:45-6:55 pm | Travel to Winona Family YMCA (everyone must board)
6:55-7:45 pm | Tour of the Winona Family YMCA
7:45-8:15 pm | Travel back to the La Crosse Center

DINNER: Dinner will be on your own while in downtown Winona.

Cost: $5/person includes transportation (registration has closed).

LA CROSSE SELF-GUIDED OPTIONS

Check out Granddad Bluff overlooking the river.

Downtown La Crosse is home to many shops, bars and restaurants!

Y-USA's Project Management Course
Limit 18 people!

This training fulfills requirements for Y-USA Leadership Certification:

Fulfills Competency Pool requirement for the Team Leader level
Is required toward the Multi-Team Leader Certification

Date: Thursday, October 6
Time: 8:30 am-5:00 pm
Location: La Crosse Center
Cost $30 (to be paid during conference event registration)

*You must first register for the conference event and pay the $30 course fee, THEN go into LCDC and register yourself to receive Y-USA credit on your transcript.