Best Buddies Indiana participants having a blast during Karaoke at the 2009 BBI conference
NM participants coming together for a group shot at the 2009 conference
by AMANDA GONZALES
Best Buddies New Mexico
Best Buddies participants around the world are preparing for the 21th Annual Leadership Conference. Each year, the Best Buddies International Leadership Conference gathers student leaders from Best Buddies chapters together for the most inclusive, fun, and educational experience of a lifetime.
This year the them is Building our Future and Best Buddies New Mexico will be sending seven Chapter Presidents, one Activities Coordinator, and one Buddy director to be submerged into Best Buddies culture.
Each participant had to raise $400 to cover the cost of airfare. Participants sought donations through their Best Buddies Friends asking Friends accounts, chapter donations, and parental/family support.
Student Leaders from Eldorado and UNM worked together with the Program Manager to set up a percentage night at Golden Corral on Central and Eubank where they raised $260.50 from tips and 10% of sales of their Best Buddies Section. All the New Mexico student leaders were hard at work and raised the money in less than two months!
During the conference these individuals will participate in workshops, hear powerful messages from Keynote speakers, participate in discussions about social inclusion, meet people from around the world united for a common cause, and experience the power of friendship.
The participants will leave with a plethora of knowledge that can be applied back into their chapters and communities. They will also assist in teaching the other chapter officers during the 2010 Local Leadership Training Day to be held on August 28th, 2010.
Congratulations to the following New Mexico participants for being selected to ‘Build Our Future’ and attend the 2010 Best Buddies Leadership Conference: Magaret McGovney (Albuquerque HS: President), Rainy Stewart (Atrisco Heritage Academy HS: President), Shawna Vizcaino (Cibola HS: President), James Keefner (Cibola HS: Buddy Director Rosalinda Kozlowski (Eldorado HS: President), Kyla Joas (Eldorado HS: President), Marguerite Gallagher (La Cueva: Presidnet), Cory Skipper (Sandia: President) and Amber Stephens (UNM: Activities Coordinator).
Stay tuned in August to hear testimonials from the New Mexico participants!
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