ACTE Offers Video Contest to promote CTE Month
The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) is searching for student filmmakers to create a 29-second Public Service Announcement (PSA) to publicize CTE Month during February 2009. Secondary and postsecondary students in film, video and production classes are invited to submit video PSAs based on 2009 CTE Month's theme, CTE: Building Blocks for a Successful Career and emphasizing the importance of CTE. The deadline to enter is October 31, 2008. ACTE is partnering with SchoolTube, a safe, moderated Web site for students, to host this year's contest (www.Schooltube.com). Students will upload videos to SchoolTube's Web site, in addition to sending broadcast-quality versions to ACTE, and a panel of marketing and media professionals will judge the entries. ACTE will announce the winners during its Annual Convention, December 4-6 in Charlotte, N.C. The first place students will receive a $750 prize and the school will receive one complimentary copy of Apple's Final Cut Studio 2, a professional video-editing suite, which Apple is donating for the contest. The second place students will receive $250 and one complimentary copy of Apple's Final Cut Studio 2 for the school. First-and second-place videos will be publicized on the Internet and may air on television. The complete rules and copies of copyright assignment and release forms are available at: www.acteonline.org/contest For more information or questions about submissions, please contact onlinemedia@acteonline.org.

NLSC Survey
Did you attend the 2008 National Leadership and Skills Conference? If so, we would love to hear from you. Please take a moment to fill out our brief survey.

How Does Your Chapter Raise Funds?
SkillsUSA is collecting best practices from SkillsUSA chapters on effective ways to raise funds to support your local activities. By sharing your most effective fundraisers, you can help other chapters! We want to know what you do, when you do it, who is involved, how it works, how much money you raise, and your best tips for other chapters that might save them time or help them to raise more money.

Submit your ideas here.

Peer Recruitment Video Contest Winners
Through the Peer Recruitment Video Competition, local SkillsUSA members were invited to make a recruiting video that would get other students excited about the SkillsUSA program. We know that our own SkillsUSA members understand best what other students will find entertaining and informative. Watch the videos here.

Technical Career Information Available
If you want to learn about potential technical careers, what skills are needed, the occupational outlook, potential earnings and more, visit Career Voyages online. This web site is the result of a collaboration between the US Department of Labor and the US Department of Education. It is designed to provide detailed information and videos for students, parents or educators on a variety of careers in automotive, construction, energy, information technology, health care, hospitality, manufacturing, transportation and more.  More information is available at www.CareerVoyages.gov.

Stanley Tool Offer
SkillsUSA's valued industry partner, Stanley Tools, is providing a unique new discounted tool set program for SkillsUSA members and instructors, and their families. You can enjoy up to a 25 percent discount on selected tool sets through this offer. Get the details.