MASC Convention Bulletin

We are excited to have you attend the 2026 MASC Convention. Below is important information for your reference, as well as details you should share with the students who will be attending with you.

If you are not the attending advisor, please be sure that the attending advisor receives all of this information.

Convention schedule: https://tinyurl.com/wtpvwzeu

The graphic is linked to the MASC Convention web page.

Please plan to eat dinner on your way to Ocean City, or check into your hotel and walk to a nearby restaurant once you arrive. Many local restaurants offer group discounts or special menu pricing for student groups.

If your region does not permit students to purchase food directly while on a field trip, consider building a $15–$20 dinner allowance into the amount you collect for items such as your regional T-shirt or transportation. You can then distribute that amount to each attendee in an envelope upon arrival so they can pay for their meal.

The graphic is linked to a Google page listing restaurants near the Convention Center.

Advisors who registered students will receive an email with instructions for check-in from MASC’s Registrar, Wayne Perry, at least one day before the convention. That email will be followed with another with your delegation’s Check-in Form attached. Follow the instructions provided to be ready for a quick and smooth check-in process.

As a courtesy to others, have all necessary documents and any changes (substitutions, no-shows, etc.) ready when you arrive at the check-in table. Update and complete your Check-in Form while traveling to Ocean City.

If the school advisor who registered students is not attending, it is that advisor’s responsibility

to ensure that the attending advisor receives all necessary documentation.

MASC recommends making two copies of each Participant Emergency Form—one to submit at

check-in and one to keep at the hotel.

Once you check-in your delegation, you will be directed to another location to pick-up your

name badges, t-shirts, and other Convention materials.

MASC is excited to once again feature the Hall of Ideas — a great opportunity to showcase your school’s or region’s best project, activity, or event while gathering inspiration from others across the state.

Simply bring a display board highlighting your project, including photos and clear directions for implementation, and drop it off at the MASC Office (located around the corner from on-site check-in). Please remember to pick up your board before departing on Friday.

We are our own best resource — so share your best ideas and learn from one another!

Students selected to present a workshop at the convention should check in with the student workshop coordinator on Wednesday evening before the Regional Orientation (6:30 PM).

All presenters will pick up their certificate and certified presenters will also pick up a gavel lapel pin. If needed, MASC has ten "C to HDMI" adaptors that can be checked out to connect a laptop to the LCD projector.

We hope all advisors carefully selected the correct T-shirt size on the registration form. However, MASC typically has a limited number of extra shirts available. Students or advisors may exchange sizes at the Information Center on Wednesday evening during recreation.

To request an exchange, please bring the originally issued T-shirt and swap it only if the desired size is available. Please note that exchanges will not be permitted during the initial distribution at check-in.

MASC expects students to dress in attire that is appropriate for the school setting and supports a safe, respectful, and productive environment.

MASC suggests that regions follow these t-shirt suggestions:

Wednesday - wear your school spirit wear

Thursday - wear your region t-shirt (If no regional t-shirt, wear your school spirit wear)
Thursday evening awards banquet - students are welcome to "dress up" but it is not required

Friday - Convention t-shirt

MASC is also selling spirit wear each night during recreation - we have the regular MASC "hoodies" in black and college grey, crab t-shirts, sweats, and quarter-zips. Maryland Print House accepts all forms of payment.

Please check your registration and notify Wayne.Perry@mdstudentcouncils.org immediately if you missed any dietary restrictions, including anyone observing Ramadan.

The Convention Center concession stand (cash-less only) will be open every night during recreation. See the attached PDF for items/costs

Meal Menu:

• Snack Wednesday Evening: Variety of Ice Creams to include: strawberry shortcake bar, chocolate chip cookie sandwich, chocolate éclair bar, caramel cone
• Breakfast Buffet Thursday: Scrambled Eggs Plain, Applewood Smoked Bacon, Home Fried Potatoes,Southern Style Biscuits and Butter, Seasonal Fresh Fruit Platter, Orange Juice, Iced Water, Coffee, Decaffeinated Coffee, Hot Tea
• Boxed Lunch Thursday: Variety of sandwiches, each served on a freshly baked Kaiser roll: Ham & Cheddar,Turkey & Provolone, Roast Beef & Swiss, Grilled Seasonal Vegetables; All boxed lunches include a bag of potato chips, fresh fruit, cookie, and bottled water.
• Awards Banquet Thursday Evening: Mixed Field Green Salad/Chef's Choice of One Dressing, Three Cheese Chicken Alfredo, Mashed Potatoes & Fresh Vegetables, Roll and Butter, Chocolate Cake, Iced Tea/Water
• Snack Thursday Evening: A trio of boardwalk famous caramel corn, white cheddar popcorn, and fresh popped buttered
• Breakfast Buffet Friday: Scrambled Eggs Plain, Sausage Links, Home Fried Potatoes, Pancakes with Syrup,Seasonal Fresh Fruit Platter, Orange Juice, Iced Water, Coffee, Decaffeinated Coffee, Hot Tea

Thank you for supporting your students’ participation at the Convention. Your role as a chaperone is essential to ensuring a safe, organized, and productive experience for all attendees.

Advisors whose students are presenting a workshop are asked to serve as the chaperone for that session. Our MASC student workshop coordinators also appreciate those advisors completing and submitting an observation form, as this feedback helps us continually strengthen and improve the quality of our student-led workshops. These assignments are included in the chaperone list. Note - it may be the attending advisor for that student or another advisor from the same region.

Advisors who are not assigned to workshops will be scheduled to assist with chaperoning our recreation activities.

While regional advisors (or their designee) will lead the Region Breakout sessions in collaboration with the regional president or their designee, other advisors are asked to attend these sessions to assist as needed.

Additionally, MASC would like all advisors to attend the General Sessions — not only to sit with and support their students, but also to assist with any questions or concerns that may arise and to help ensure a safe and well-supervised environment. To support this expectation, the Advisor Hospitality Room will be closed during all General Assemblies.

The Advisor Hospitality Room is a welcoming space to grab a snack and connect with other advisors, but it is not a substitute for the meals provided during the convention. MASC will offer coffee, water, soft drinks, and light snacks, as well as a fun advisor drawing for gift cards and other items. Feel free to stop by throughout the convention, and check the chart to see if your ticket has been selected!

MASC sincerely appreciates your time, flexibility, and continued commitment to student leadership and civic engagement. Your support makes these conferences possible, and without you, we would not be able to provide these meaningful opportunities for students.

This chaperone assignment list is linked to the graphic - and yes, you are appreciated!!

Help your students be informed and thoughtful voters.

While the candidates for President, 1st Vice President, 2nd Vice President, and Treasurer will deliver speeches and participate in a Q&A session, time is limited and may not allow students to fully get to know each candidate. Please encourage your students to review the candidates’ résumés and personal statements in advance and to come prepared with meaningful questions.

There will also be designated open campaigning time during the first evening of recreation, as well as limited time during lunch on the second day, providing additional opportunities for students to connect with and engage the candidates.

The graphic is linked to the "Meet the Candidates" MASC web post!

During recreation on Wednesday evening, a Talent Show will be held in the Performing Arts Center. Due to time constraints, participation is limited to 15 acts. Participants will be selected by region, then by order of sign-up within each region.

Sign-ups will open at the start of the Opening Session and close ten minutes into the first General Assembly. The Google Form link will be in the Convention app.

In order to save money and be environmentally friendly, MASC uses an app to access all information for the Convention (schedule, room assignments, maps, banquet seating, first aid station, chaperone assignments, recreation, voting ballot, candidate information, election rules, and so much more.

Some middle school students do not have cell phones, so we want to print a few papers with schedules and other essential information that they can fold up and keep in their name badge holder.

If you have any middle school students who would need a printed schedule, please complete a SHORT Google Form so we have a better idea of how many copies to make. Click on the Information Center graphic for the link.

There is always someone at the MASC Information Center to answer questions. It is centrally located on the second floor of the Convention Center. The second floor is where all of the region and workshop rooms are located.

MASC contracts with a professional first aid provider and will have basic first aid supplies available on-site for minor injuries or needs. For prescription or over-the-counter medications, advisors are responsible for retaining and administering these according to their own school system’s field trip and medication guidelines.

This ensures student safety while maintaining compliance with school policies. Please plan accordingly so that any necessary medications are accessible to students at all times under the supervision of their advisor.

MASC is pleased this year to welcome back A'ric Jackson as our motivational speaker! A'ric will be doing a workshop for all of our students (6-8th, 9-10th, 11-12th graders). During a brief portion of the Thursday afternoon General Assembly, A’ric will host an informal advisor “hangout” session. MASC encourages advisors to attend and take advantage of this opportunity to connect; however, we ask that at least one veteran or regional advisor from several regional remain in the General Assembly to help supervise students and ensure continuous coverage.

A'ric Jackson - BIO: For over a decade, people have been inspired and motivated by the words of Mr. Aric Jackson. His mission is to Teach, Inspire, and Encourage all those who hear him, and to take the challenge of helping others pursue their goals and dreams. A charismatic and genuinely heartfelt communicator, Aric truly electrifies an audience.

Watching him speak on stage helps you realize why he is such a unique and gifted orator. For it takes a genuine speaker to present information with shared experience, passion to research a topic much deeper, and to share that information with the audience using skills that will make it a memorable and exciting experience for all.

Aric has served as a student leadership speaker for organizations like Future Business Leaders of America, Health Occupation Students Association, DECA, FCCLA, National Association of Secondary School Principals LEAD Conferences, and many Statewide Student Council Conferences across the country.

The graphic is linked to A'ric's webpage.

Our portable region signs have been reconstructed and are ready to go! Please remind your regional president to show their spirit — but not be too enthusiastic when waving them around 😊

The signs will be signed out to regional advisors at the Wednesday afternoon on-site check-in and must be returned on Friday prior to departure.

While at the hotel, the regional advisor should maintain responsibility for the sign. In the event of a hotel evacuation, the sign will help students quickly locate their region in a pre-designated outdoor gathering area.

Please release any hotel rooms that will not be used, as hotels would like the opportunity to rebook them for other guests.

If needed, regions may arrange a late checkout for advisor rooms to store luggage. Alternatively, luggage can also be stored in the region room at the Convention Center.

MASC must be completely cleared from the Convention Center by 12:30 p.m., one hour after the convention ends, as another group will be arriving.