WI Area Council & Director's Conference
"Inspiring the Next Generation"
Monday, November 7th - Tuesday, November 8th, 2022
Holiday Inn & Convention Center - Stevens Point
1001 Amber Avenue
Stevens Point, WI 54482
"Inspiring the Next Generation"
The Wisconsin Area Council & Director's Conference is an opportunity for Boys & Girls Club Board Members, CEOs and Staff to come together in a four-track gathering to learn, grow and build capacity in their areas of responsibilities. While meeting together, each group will be immersed in learning opportunities from presenters tailored to meet the needs. Participants will be treated to new information and fun activities during the two day conference. Monday evening, come prepared to be inspired by the stories of the newly inducted members of the Hall of Fame.
I would like to thank the WI Area Council Executive members and the staff of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Portage County for putting this event together. You will be able to find all the conference information from this page or contact the BGCPC at 715-341-4386 if you have conference questions. I look forward to seeing everyone at the conference.
Sincerely,
Sam S. Dinga
Chair, WAC 2022-23
We would love to hear your feedback about the conference, so we can continue to improve it year after year!
Wisconsin Area Council & Directors Conference Photos
Sunday Evening
John & Patty Noel's Car Barn
Let's come together and kick off the conference with a great night of mingling, inspiration, and laughter. John & Patty Noel will be hosting a social at their exquisite Car Barn from 6-9 PM. Hors d'oeuvres and drinks will be provided. The address to their Car Barn will be provided via email when you register.
Monday, Nov. 7th
Holiday Inn & Convention Center
- 8:00-8:40 AM - Registration
- 8:40-9:20 AM - Breakfast & Welcome Reception with Sam Dinga
- 9:30-10:40 AM - Session I
- 10:40-10:50 AM - Break
- 10:50-12:00 PM - Session II
- 12:00-1:30 PM - Seated Lunch with Speaker
- 1:30-2:40 PM - Session III
- 2:40-2:50 PM - Break
- 2:50-4:00 PM - Session IV
- 4:30-5:30 PM - Cocktail Hour
- 5:30-8:00 PM - Hall of Fame Dinner
Tuesday, Nov. 8th
Holiday Inn & Convention Center
- 7:30-8:30 AM - Buffet Breakfast
- 8:00-8:30 AM - Kids First TPA Chapter Update
- 8:30-9:30 AM - Session V
- 9:30-9:40 AM - Break
- 9:40-10:50 AM - Session VI
- 10:50-11:00 AM - Break
- 11:00-12:00 PM - Session VII
- Boxed Lunch To Go
Each session will include four tracks for WI Area Council & Board Members, CEOs, Resource Development & Marketing professionals, and Operations & Program Development professionals.
On Tuesday, another track will be added for a Q&A about Be Great Graduate, Wisconsin After 3, and Math Hoops Training and Financial Training. Jill Pierret & Jordan Derber from the Boys & Girls Club of Fox Valley will lead that roundtable discussion.
View Session Speakers
Speakers will be announced Friday, September 16th, 2022.
Monday Welcome Reception Speaker
Sam Dinga
Dr. Sam Dinga is originally from Cameroon, West Africa. Sam studied Law and Political Science at the University of Dschang (chang) before migrating to the United States 2002. At the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point, he earned a degree in Sociology and a Masters degree in Human & Community Resources and later obtained a doctorate in Higher Education Leadership from Edgewood College in Madison. Sam was a two time winner of the Chancellor's Leadership Award and was also selected for the prestigious Albertson Medallion Award.
Right out of college, Sam was employed by the Boys & Girls Club of Portage County as Program Director and later on became the Director of Operations. He later joined the Noel Group/AIG and was later recruited by UWSP as Scholarship & Internship Coordinator and eventually as Director of Diversity and College Access. Today, Sam works for the Stevens Point Area Public School District as the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Director.
Sam is married to a fellow Pointer Amy, and they have four kids 14, 12, 9, and 7. Sam likes to read or listen to audio books, follows national and international politics, watch action movies and loves to grill out with family and friends. Sam spends a good portion of his spare time raising funds and managing a non profit organization Makah Foundation, which he started in 2010 in honor of his late sister Ma kah Rosemary Dinga. Sam serves on the boards of the Boys & Girls Club of Portage County, Noel Compass Scholar Program, Community Foundation, president of Makah Foundation Board, Portage County Cultural Festival Board, Current President of the Wisconsin Area Council and a member of Rotary Club.
Monday Lunch Keynote Speaker
Chancellor Thomas Gibson
Thomas Gibson became the 15th chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point on Jan. 11, 2021.
A mission-driven leader, Dr. Gibson is focused on three key goals to achieve student success:
- Ensuring academic excellence
- Expanding Inclusive Excellence
- Increasing enrollment and growth
At the chancellor's direction, these three imperatives were incorporated into the university's strategic plan, Purpose Made Possible. This plan guides intentional, strategic work on all three UWSP campuses. Among highlights of the first-year goals are the launch of an online and graduate program enrollment growth initiative; the opening of the Center for Inclusive Excellence at UWSP at Marshfield; and a process to provide first-year students with applied learning experiences.
Dr. Gibson is focused on enhancing student success and inclusive excellence through purpose-driven education. Within his first month at UW-Stevens Point, he created the Chancellor's Commission on the Ancestors Buried Below Us to expand the educational opportunities for Native students, families and communities. He is building an environment that opens more doors and fosters a sense of belonging, pride and support for students, faculty and staff.
He successfully led efforts to return to in-person classes, athletic events, performances and student activities, safely maintaining them as the pandemic persisted. During his tenure, UW-Stevens Point received state approval and $96 million to replace Albertson Hall, which housed student support services and the library collection. The university also received several major gifts that give students greater hands-on opportunities, including a land donation to support College of Natural Resources programs; a cello and music advocacy faculty fellowship; and the Skyward Internship Center located on campus. Partnerships have been strengthened with businesses, educational institutions and community and industry leaders. New programs include a community sustainability major, doctorate in physical therapy and certificates in Inclusive Excellence and Native American and Indigenous Studies.
Prior to joining UW-Stevens Point, Dr. Gibson served as vice president for Student Affairs and vice provost at Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio, from 2016 to 2020. In that role, he advocated for the academic and social development of students, devised institutional policies, engaged in strategic planning, led student success efforts and oversaw diversity, equity and inclusion. He also helped increase record student retention and helped raise $8 million with University Advancement.
He has held numerous positions to enhance student success and diversity in higher education. He was associate vice president of Student Affairs at Ball State University in Muncie, Ind. He held several roles at York College, City University of New York in New York City, including associate dean for student development. He led academic support services at Queens College/CUNY and the University of Connecticut at Stamford.
Dr. Gibson has taught graduate courses in higher education and English and undergraduate interdisciplinary programs.
He completed his bachelor's degree in communication from Eastern Connecticut State University; his master's in education from University of New Haven, Conn.; and his doctorate in educational leadership in higher education at Johnson & Wales University, Providence, R.I.
Dr. Gibson grew up in New Haven, Conn., and enjoys reading, theatre, live music and traveling. He and his wife, Brigette Gibson, have a daughter, Kennedy, age 5.
Boys & Girls Club of Wisconsin Hall of Fame Members
2021 Inductees
Sue Ackerman
Boys & Girls Club of Oshkosh
Joel Barrett
Boys & Girls Club of State Line
Paul Bartelt
Boys & Girls Club of Sheboygan
Rich Crevier
D.A.R. Boys & Girls Club
Terry Erickson
Boys & Girls Club of Greater La Crosse
Greg Lemke-Rashon
Boys & Girls Club of Fox Valley
Mary Maday
Mashkisibi Boys & Girls Club
Dr. Mary Ocwieja
Boys & Girls Club of Barron County
Mark Olinyk
Boys & Girls Club of Portage County
Kevin Quevillon
Boys & Girls Club of Portage County
Steve Sondalle
Boys & Girls Club of Tri-County
Johanna Wickland
Boys & Girls Club of Greenbay
2020 Inductees
Joan Kenny
Boys & Girls Club of West-Central Wisconsin
Jill Kurszewski
Boys & Girls Club the Wisconsin Rapids Area
Jack McKeithan
Boys & Girls Club of Milwaukee
John Noel
Boys & Girls Club of Portage County
Fran Shefcik
Boys & Girls Club of Door County
Jamie Wilcox
Boys & Girls Club of Oshkosh
2019 Inductees
Arlene Began
Boys & Girls Club of West-Central Wisconsin
Jim Clark
Boys & Girls Club of Milwaukee & Boys & Girls Club of America
Wally Graffen
Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha & Boys & Girls Club of America
Mic Isham
Boys & Girls Club of Lac Courte Oeilles Ojibwe Band
Guy Smith
Boys & Girls Club of Milwaukee
Wally Watson
Boys & Girls Club of Milwaukee
Hotel Accommodations
Holiday Inn & Convention Center
1001 Amber Avenue
Stevens Point, WI 54481
$104.99 per Standard Room
If you would like to make your hotel reservation over the phone, please call 715-344-0200 and press #3. When making reservations, we ask that you please reference the group name Boys & Girls Club and the Group Block Code: BGC. The group rate will be available until 10/7/22.
Questions or Concerns?
Contact Mikayla Kleifgen, Director of Resource Dev. & Marketing at the Boys & Girls Club of Portage County
715-204-1199
