Anonymous Comments

I have had a few anonymous comments about the post encouraging you to contact your congressman to honor Destination ImagiNation for 25 years of creative problem solving.

Here is how DI can celebrate its 25th anniversary. OM association was the not-for-profit entity of Oddysey of the Mind. Odyssey started in 1979 but it was not a NON PROFIT at that time - the parent company was CCL –it is what made the merchandize, the challenges etc. and kept the profits. OM Inc became a United States Non Profit in 1982 or 83 ( not sure how they are counting) . But CCL continued to make everything and then sell it to the Non profit (and kept the profits as any business does)

When the split occurred in 1999 - Odyssey kept the for Profit company CCL DI kept OM Inc - the non profit – our EIN number has never changed. The only thing that changed is the name from OM Inc. to DI Inc. but it is the same nonprofit incorporation.

I know that most of you that read this blog aren't interested in the history, but if the individuals that were sending anonymous comments care to know.....here is the truth.

House Resolution 1058 US House of Representatives

TIME FOR ACTION IS NOW!
GET DESTINATION IMAGINATION RECOGNIZED
SUPPORT HOUSE RESOLUTION 1058


This past week, U.S. Rep. Mike Ross of Arkansas introduced a resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives that recognizes the positive effects Destination ImagiNation has had on everyone who has taken part in DI programs over the past 25 years.

It is a HUGE accomplishment for DI just to get the resolution introduced. It will be quite something else to get it passed in Congress!

There is only one way we will make that happen – if every DI participant contacts their Congressman to ask him or her to be a cosponsor of House Resolution (H.Res) 1058.

Please take a few minutes to call, email or write to your Congressman. The message is simple, Please COSPONSOR and pass H.Res. 1058.

If you don’t know who your Congressman is or how to contact them, you can start by entering your zip+4 in the upper corner of www.house.gov. If you need to look up your zip+4, use the website http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/welcome.jsp.

You will find through the www.house.gov website a link to your Congressman’s website. That site will often include a form to send an email, an email address or a phone number to the Congressman’s local and Washington, DC offices. Contacting the office using any of those methods is fine.


[Below is a draft of the letter you can use to contact your Congressman:]

I am a participant/parent/team manger of the Destination ImagiNation program in ____________
(city/town, state) and I am writing to ask you to cosponsor and pass H.Res. 1058 which recognizes the designation of the week of May 19 as Designation ImagiNation Week.

Destination ImagiNation Inc. (DI), a 501(c)(3), is the world's largest creativity, teamwork and problem solving program with approximately 250,000 participants and 35,000 volunteers from 50 States and over 40 countries.

DI will hold its annual Global Finals Competition May 21-24, 2008 bringing some 18,000 participants and volunteers together from around the world at the University of Tennessee.

Destination ImagiNation is a community-based, school-friendly program dedicated to promoting critical life skills of critical thinking, teamwork, time management and problem solving. It gives children ranging in age from 4 through college a place to learn how to apply their individual knowledge and skills to solve challenges as they work cooperatively within a team, pushing the limits of their imaginations.

DI provides a positive and friendly environment for participants to explore their own unlimited creativity and to take creative risks in competition with themselves, rather than with others. The organization was developed by parents, teachers, team managers (people who coach teams),appraisers (people who evaluate team solutions), regional directors, affiliate directors, and others who have the desire to help create the best possible, creative, problem-solving program for teams of up to 7 students.

The Resolution acknowledges that this year marks the 25th anniversary of Destination ImagiNation's problem solving programs, and that Destination ImagiNation has operated as a nonprofit volunteer driven organization providing some 5,000,000 students with the skills needed to be successful.

For more information, please visit www.destinationimagination.org.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Suggestions for the Tournament

Thanks to the anonymous person who commented on the pin auction. We do not want adults to get aggressive in these type of events by any means. I don't know if this type of auction will be repeated because that was the end of my pin collection! If we do decide to do such an auction in the future, I would gladly accept suggestions of a better way to handle it. Especially helpful would be a volunteer that would be willing to host and manage the event.

Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! (Tournament Results)

Thank you to all of the people that made yesterday possible. I saw so many people that went beyond the call of duty to make the day special for the teams, parents, managers and appraisers. Thank you to Joe and Nancy Sinnott for helping us with the set up on Friday night,for working so hard at the souvenir table, and just being there for me when I had questions. Thank you to the Discovery PTO for providing food for ALL THOSE PEOPLE (they ran out of food and had to run for more!) Thank you to the volunteer that spent several extra hours working at the souvenir table. Thank you to all of the volunteers that came up to me and said "What I can do to help?" Thank you to the parents who looked so proud as they watched the teams perform in the challenge sites. Thanks to the appraisers who worked a long day and traveled such a long distance with smiles on their faces. Thank you to the appraisers who had to make tough unpopular decisions.

I will try to get the actual scores posted as soon a possible. I have to get some technical help, but I have figured out how to post the results so you can see the placing.



Destination ImagiNation Tournament Results

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Destination ImagiNation congratulates all the students who participated in the Northern Indiana tournament. We think you are all winners!

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A: Obstacles, Of Course!
A: Obstacles, Of Course!, Elementary Level
Rank Name Town Team Num
1 St. Joseph Central 115-67266
2 St. John the Baptist 115-05052
3 Weisser Park 115-32628
4 Central Noble 115-12350

A: Obstacles, Of Course!, Middle Level
Rank Name Town Team Num
1 Sharp Creek 115-36016

A: Obstacles, Of Course!, Secondary Level
Rank Name Town Team Num
1 Churubusco 115-10059

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B: Hit or Myth
B: Hit or Myth, Elementary Level
Rank Name Town Team Num
1 Eastern Elementary 115-58604
2 Churubusco 115-52856
3 St Jude School 115-01038
4 Central Noble 115-14594
5 St. Joseph Central 115-62464
Fairfield Elementary 115-82845
Frontier Falcons 115-45731
Sharp Creek 115-65409

B: Hit or Myth, Middle Level
Rank Name Town Team Num
1 St Jude School 115-85065
2 Churubusco 115-43909
3 Frontier Falcons 115-34922

B: Hit or Myth, Secondary Level
Rank Name Town Team Num
1 Triton Jr. Sr. High 115-82328
2 Central Noble 115-33656

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C: DI've Got a Secret!
C: DI've Got a Secret!, Elementary Level
Rank Name Town Team Num
1 Central Noble 115-44122
2 Eastern Elementary 115-84393
3 St. Joseph Central 115-13613
4 Sharp Creek 115-94620
5 Fairfield Elementary 115-72610
Frontier Falcons 115-49895
Sharp Creek 115-99998
St. Joseph Central 115-98145

C: DI've Got a Secret!, Middle Level
Rank Name Town Team Num
1 Discovery Middle 115-54063
2 Central Noble 115-72529
3 Frontier Falcons 115-61341
4 St. Vincent de Paul 115-41037

C: DI've Got a Secret!, Secondary Level
Rank Name Town Team Num
1 Eastern Jr/Sr H S 115-30150
2 Triton Jr. Sr. High 115-32245
3 Ben Franklin Middle 115-07858

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D: Chorific!
D: Chorific!, Elementary Level
Rank Name Town Team Num
1 Fairfield Elementary 115-57848
2 Churubusco 115-29134
3 Eastern Elementary 115-65859

D: Chorific!, Middle Level
Rank Name Town Team Num
1 Churubusco 115-26227
2 Ben Franklin Middle 115-28043

D: Chorific!, Secondary Level
Rank Name Town Team Num
1 Ben Franklin Middle 115-47015


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Page generated by the Destination ImagiNation scoring program version DI-2008 (Release)-1598R on Sat Mar 15 19:21:33 EDT 2008.

New location for DI've Got a Secret

A team manager alerted me to the fact that I mentioned in the entry yesterday that there would be a different location for the performance of DI've Got a Secret but I didn't specify which room. I don't have a room number to tell you, but there will be maps posted with the location. It will be very close to the other room. I guess that the teacher who uses the FACS was concerned about some equipment in the room.

Don't worry. It will not be difficult to find the new performance site.

Menu for the Northern DI Tournament

AIR HEADS (ASSORTED) .25 SLIM JIMS .25
RING POPS .50 BLOW POPS .50

SKITTLES 1.00
Original Wildberry Tropical
NERDS ROPE 1.00 TOO TARTS(Assorted) 1.00
XTREMES SOUR 1.00 SOUR PATCH STRAWS 1.00

STARBURST 1.00
Original Tropical
M & M’s 1.00 MILKYWAY 1.00

3 MUSKETEERS 1.00 SNICKERS 1.00


TWIX 1.00 REESE’s PIECES 1.00


REESE’s PB CUP 1.00

SUPER KING PRETZEL 1.00 DRINKS
WITH CHEESE 1.50

COKE 1.25
DIET COKE
CAFFIENE FREE DIET COKE
CHERRY COKE
SPRITE
BARQ’S ROOTBEER
FANTA ORANGE
MINUTE MAID LEMONADE

DASANI WATER 1.25

POWERADE 1.50
FRUIT PUNCH
MOUNTAIN BLAST

COFFEE 1.50
POPCORN 1.00
WITH CHEESE 1.50
HOT DOG 1.00
WITH CHEESE 1.50



Sloppy Joes Sandwich 2.00

Italian Sub Sandwich 3.00

Chips .25

Breakfast Food

Egg Burrito 1.00

Donuts/Bear Claws/Muffins 1.00

Bananas .50














PRICE LIST

HOT DOG 1.00 POPCORN 1.00
WITH CHEESE 1.50 WITH CHEESE 1.50

SUPER KING PRETZEL 1.00
WITH CHEESE 1.50

ALL SOFT DRINKS 1.25 WATER 1.25
COKE, DIET COKE, CAFFIENE FREE DIET COKE,
CHERRY COKE, SPRITE, ROOT BEER, ORANGE, LEMONADE


POWERADE 1.50

CANDY:

.25 SLIM JIMS & AIR HEADS .50 RING POPS & BLOW POPS

1.00
NERD ROPES M & M’s
SKITTLES MILKYWAY
STARBURST 3 MUSKETEER
TOO TARTS REESE’S PEANUT BUTTER CUPS
XTREMES SOUR REESE’S PIECES
SOUR PATCH STRAWS SNICKERS
TWIX

The spacing in this document is off, but you should be able to figure it out. Think of it as a puzzle!

Important Information for Teams

Important Tournament Information for Teams


Registration Begins at 7:30 A.M.

At the registration table you will find the envelope that has your team’s name and number on it. In this envelope you will find Certificates for 7 team members and 2 team managers. If you do not need all the Certificates, please return the extras. While the certificates are signed by the tournament director, you will need to fill in the name and date of the tournament.

You will also find a Tournament Program. VERIFY YOUR TEAM’S PERFORMANCE TIMES. Occasionally, performance times will change. The Tournament Program will also list prop room locations and performance sites.

DI’VE GOT A SECRET PERFORMANCE SITE CHANGE! CHECK THE MAP!

Your Volunteer should check-in at the Volunteer table when arriving at the tournament site.

Make sure your team has all of the paperwork that their Team Challenge requires. HINT: You may want to keep an extra set of paperwork in your vehicle because forms are not returned to teams after the tournament and you will need them if you go on. Also, there will NOT be a COPY MACHINE available at the school.

TEAM CHALLENGE PERFORMANCE INFO
There are prop rooms available for teams to store their props. DO NOT BRING FOOD OR DRINKS INTO THESE ROOMS. There is not room for teams to congregate in the prop rooms. All of your props should be moved out of the prop rooms after your performance. Remember it is not interference for team supporters to help team members move props. No glitter or paint is to be brought into the building.

Supporters may help move props, but all other phases of the tournament must be completed independently by team members. Refer to the “Rules of the Road” for more information on Interference.

Teams should report to the prep area for their Team Challenge at least 20 minutes prior to their competition time. NOTE: Switching TraDItions teams must report to their prep area no later than 15 minutes before their scheduled StuDIo Time.

Team managers may stay with their teams until the prep area appraiser asks them to leave. At that time they will take their seats in the designated Team Manager seats in the performance venue.

Team Managers are responsible for picking up a copy of their team’s TEAM CHALLENGE RAW SCORE. One team member may accompany the manager. The Head Appraiser will give the raw score sheet to the Team Manager and will mark the scores with the time. The Team Manager will initial the score sheet noting the time. The Team Manager will have 30 minutes from that time to declare if he/she feels there is an error or misunderstanding in the team’s score. Remember, only objective scores can be reviewed.

Instant challenge info
All Team Members, accompanied by one adult should report to the Instant Challenge area no earlier than 15 minutes prior to their performance time. NO ONE ELSE is permitted in this area. Scores for Instant Challenge performances are not released to the teams.

Awards ceremony and final scores
The FIRST AND SECOND PLACE teams from each level of each Team Challenge, will be eligible for the Affiliate Finals on Saturday, April 12, at Noblesville High School, Noblesville.

The Final scores will be posted on the INDIana Destination ImagiNation website www.wesc.k12.in.us/di within the week after the tournament. Team Managers of AFFILIATE TOURNAMENT BOUND TEAMS need to pick up the INFORMATION PACKET immediately following the Awards Ceremony. This packet will contain critical Affiliate Finals information.

MISCELLANEOUS INFO
All proceeds from souvenir sales will benefit the Indiana Creative Problem Solving Program.

There will be breakfast and lunch available for purchase at the school.

Please use any extra time you have after you team’s performances to dispose of your trash, pack your belongings and clean up as needed around the building. All props should be taken with you when you leave the school. We can show our appreciation to Triton Elementary by leaving the building the way we found it. Thank you for your help!

TEAM MANAGERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BEHAVIOR OF THEIR STUDENTS.

Saturday Souvenirs and Food

There will be consession type food available during lunch hours on Saturday. You are allowed to bring in coolers, but we want them to remain in the cafeteria area.

NO FOOD or drink in the prop rooms or in the performance areas. The only exception is for appraisers. We will do anything to make their day better!

We will also be selling challenge pins, t-shirts, and doo dads galore! Yes, there are a few light up items. Get 'em while they last!

I don't think that there are any noise makers this year. Team Managers (and bus drivers) will appreciate that.

Pin Auction at the Regional

I am liquidating my pin collection at this year's regional! We will have baskets that will include some nice gift items and some of my pins for a silent auction. There will also be a variety of pins for sale. Challenge Pins from previous years, international pins, groups of state pins will be included. The money raised will be donated to the 25th Anniversary fundraising campaign for the National Destination ImagiNation Organization. Look for the silent auction table at the tournament.

Check It Out! The Construction Challenge!

Destination ImagiNation has partnered with the Association of Equipment Manufacturers in the first ever construction challenge.

If you want to see what is happenning at the Fianls, go to www.constructionchallenge.org

There are big scholarships available and the teams which qualified received a trip to Las Vegas to the finals.

The Tournament is Coming

Saturday is the day you have been anticipating. You might think that your team can't possibly be ready for it. Everyone feels that way. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE.....have your team practice in different settings, come in from different directions, on different floor surfaces. Steal a prop from them before they start as if they forgot it in the prop room. All of these things will help them meet unexpected circumstances at the tournament without a hitch.

Practice ICs.

Look back at the documents on this blog. Look at the descriptions of the performance sites. Look at the map of the school and the map of how to get to the school.

Please email me or send a comment to the blog if you have a question.

This is the time to check with your appraisers and volunteers. Make sure they know how important they are. We can't do the tournament without them. Give them a gift or a hug or whatever you can to make them feel appreciated.

I'll be around all week. I'm happy to do whatever I can to help you and your teams feel successful. Remember if a team comes to the tournament and presents a solution they have won!

Jennita

Time To Celebrate

Crunch time is upon us and most of you think that there is NO WAY your team will be ready for the tournament. If your team gets to the tournament and presents a solution they have WON!
The winning is in completing the process of problem solving and building a team. The skills they have learned over the course of the season will remain with them and will surface in surprising ways in the years to come. The Newsletter for Affiliate and Regional Directors came out today and it had a nice article containing suggestions about celebrating with your team. I hope that you have already done some of these things or are planning a celebration after the tournament season is over.

TIME TO CELEBRATE!

Your team solved their Challenge. You wrote your own song, made a prop and changed something that happened in History. HURRAY! You were successful. It is time to CELEBRATE!

Parent, aunts, uncles, and grandparents smiled ear-to-ear when they saw your team working together, learning, struggling, and then … performing. What an achievement. Just think of where you began and all you have experienced.

How might you celebrate you achievements?

• Have a party
• Show the video of your performance to others
• Make cookies together
• Make a book…each page showing a step in your learning process
• Write a letter to other teams congratulating them and telling them what you liked best about their solution
• Write a letter to each of your teammates saying why you enjoyed working with him/her and elaborating upon the particular strengths/talents you admire in them
• Make a banner for your Team Manager showing the best memories
• Write a thank you note to the school/building for letting you use their facility for meetings
• Construct a thank you card to your parents for driving, listening to, feeding, caring and supporting you throughout this process
• Make a list of things YOU learned while solving your Challenge
• Discuss the thinking tools you have learned and talk about other ways you can use them
• Continue meeting as a team and work together on a community project
• Continuously CELEBRATE the learning that you have achieved!
• Prepare to come back NEXT year for a new DI Challenge!
LEADING THE WAY – VOLUME 4, EDITION 6 PAGE 2
©2007 Destination ImagiNation, Inc. Phone: 856-881-1603

Electronic Forms and Travel Guide

Please make sure to go to the home page of http://www.idodi.org/ and download the electronic forms and the Travel Guide for Teams. These documents will be invaluable to your team members as they prepare for the tournament.

Remember that ONLY the team can fill out the forms. They must compose, type and edit the discriptions of their solution for the appraisers. If your team is an elementary level team you may type THEIR words for them. You may only type the words they dictate to you.

Time is drawing near! Remember to have fun amidst the stress! It's the Journey and the Process that counts!

Fundraising

If you are interested in using the DI Stars Chocolate Bars for fundraising use this website to get more information.

http://www.genevieves.com/aop/distarbars.html