We’ve boxed up our holiday decorations and stuffed them in the attic. Now, the Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA) is getting back to work as we roll into 2012. January is a busy time for the association as it brings our member institutions together for our Annual Convention, which is scheduled this year for Wednesday, January 25 through Friday, Jan. 27, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Baton Rouge.

The Louisiana High School Athletic Directors Association (LHSADA) and the LHSAA/UCA-NCA Cheerleading Coaches’ Clinic will also be hosted at the conference.

Former LSU men’s basketball coach Dale Brown is this year’s keynote speaker. He will be speaking at the Coca-Cola convention luncheon on Thursday about how to find success and happiness as a coach. Here, conference attendees will be able to learn from a highly recognizable and influential former coach while enjoying a catfish lunch all provided by Coke Limited. There are a number of scheduled workshop sessions and roundtable discussions throughout the conference focusing on topics like concussions, serious injuries, sportsmanship and more.

The annual convention is a great opportunity for the LHSAA membership to demonstrate its commitment to the overarching missions and development of the association. It is at this annual meeting that new proposals or changes to existing rules and regulations must be presented and decided upon. This is done in as close to a democratic fashion as is possible—every LHSAA member institution is afforded a vote on issues relating specifically to their classifications, and at the general business session, each school has one vote. All proposals that are passed become official on July 1 of the same year unless explicitly stated otherwise.

Opportunities exist for schools to make their marks on the LHSAA, but it is up to them to take initiative. Schools are given ample time to propose new rules or rule changes to the LHSAA and to organize support for their causes. Principals may submit written proposals for consideration for either their specific class meetings or for the general business session of the annual meeting by November 15 each year. They are also provided a copy of the annual meeting agenda at least 15 days in advance of the meeting itself.

The pride and strength of the LHSAA lies within its committed and connected membership. The annual convention represents that pride and strength, which are sure to reveal themselves later this month. In previous years, approximately 75 percent of member schools had representation at the annual convention. While such attendance is indeed exemplary, it can also improve. It is my hope to see representation from all of our member institutions actively participating at our meetings this year.

Join us for what I know will be one of the LHSAA’s greatest conferences.

For more information on this year’s conference or to register, visit the lhsaa.org/schools/lhsaa-annual-convention/agenda-items Annual Convention section of our website at www.lhsaa.org.

I’ll see you at the conference!