Stand & Celebrate News

Stand & Celebrate has been scheduled for August 1st and 2nd, 2008, a mere 83 days, 19 hours, 48 minutes and 13.019691 seconds away!

Stars Color Logo

Stand and Celebrate 2008
“Kids Are My Business!”


2008 Stand and Celebrate Photo Contest

The Wyoming Children’s Action Alliance is preparing for the 8th annual Stand and Celebrate Conference, which will take place in Casper, WY on August 1st and 2nd, 2008. We will be sponsoring a photography contest again this year. This is an exciting way to showcase quality programs and highlight children learning through play. Conference attendees will vote on the photos at the conference and winners will be announced during the awards ceremony on Saturday at noon. This year’s prizes will be:

  • 1st prize - $150 Lakeshore gift card
  • 2nd prize - $100 Lakeshore gift card
  • 3rd prize - $50 Lakeshore gift card

Only submissions adhering to the following guidelines will be accepted:

  • Photographs MUST be taken by a child care professional in a Wyoming licensed or legally exempt facility
  • Only two (2) submissions per child care professional will be accepted
  • Submissions must be received via e-mail or postmarked prior to July 10, 2008
  • Name, address, and phone number of photographer must accompany each photo (please do not attach to front of photo)
  • Release forms must be completed by the child’s parent/guardian and returned with the photo(s)

If the picture is taken with a digital camera, do not alter or reduce the size. Digital photographs may be sent via email to jamberson@wykids.org or saved on a CD and mailed to the WCAA.

If you are sending a developed photograph, please send an 8 X 10. If you would like to add a caption for your photograph, please write it on a piece of paper and summit it with the photo and permission slips.

WCAA
ATTN: Photo Contest
3116 Old Faithful Road
Suite 100
Cheyenne, WY 82001

Any photos submitted become the property of the Wyoming Children’s Action Alliance, and may be used at our discretion and will not be returned. If you do not want your photographs used for other purposes, do not submit them. All photos submitted to this contest are subject to the Department of Family Services approval. Any photo showing disregard to child health or safety will be reported to the Department of Family Services.

Download a Release Form

An Invitation From the Wyoming Department of Family Services

Stand and Celebrate—Call for Presenters


The Department of Family Services will host the “2008 Stand & Celebrate” conference in Casper, Wyoming on August 1 & 2, 2008. We are please to send you the enclosed “Call for Presenters” and hope you will consider participating in the conference by presenting a workshop on Friday, August 1st at Casper College. These workshops help early childhood professionals and foster parents from across the state meet Child Care Licensing and Foster Care training requirements and increase their knowledge of best practices in the care of children.

We are looking forward to an exciting conference this year! On Saturday, August 2nd, our featured speakers will include Barbara Coloroso from Kids are Worth It!, the music of Cathy Bollinger, a little stress relief from Shawn Brown and motivation from Lisa Murphy, the “Ooey Gooey Lady”. As always, the focus of the conference will be celebrating the importance of early childhood professionals and foster parents in the lives of children.

The Department will pay you an honorarium of $50.00 for presenting your workshop (limit of two presenters per workshop). I hope you will consider sharing your expertise and knowledge with other professionals from around the state. Please download and fill out “Call for Presenters” and return by April 11, 2008 to:

Department of Family Services
Attn: Eve Barela
Hathaway Building, 3rd Floor
Cheyenne, WY 82002

We look forward to working with you to make this a wonderful conference! If you have questions, please contact me at 777-6350 or via e-mail at ebarel@state.wy.us.

Sincerely,
Eve Barela
Child Care Representative

2007 Photo Contest Winners!

We would like to thank everyone who participated in the Stand & Celebrate Photo Contest 2007. We received so many wonderful pictures this year it was difficult to select the 11 finalists. The following are the three top place winners of the Photo Contest held on August 4th.

First Place—Kamie Dorssom, Laramie, WY First Place--Kamie Dorssom

Fountain of Youth

Second Place—Chasity Hornecker, Casper, WY Second Place--Chasity Hornecker

I Think I “Nose” You

Third Place—Kathleen Sisson, Sheridan, WY Third Place--Kathleen Sisson

Don’t Burst My Bubble!

2007 Graduates

Stand and Celebrate is a time to come together to learn and to honor professionals who continue to develop and expand their knowledge and skills. This year we honored the following “graduates”.

Apprenticeship Graduates
    • Clouse, Rita
    • Graham, Nicole
    • Johnson, Brenda
    • Keslar, Donna
    • Mowl, Janet
    • Wilson, Madelene
Recipients of a CDA Certification CDA Renewals
  • Byer, Kristina
  • Campos-Carrillo, Cecilia Cristina
  • Clouse, Rita
  • Daly, Lyndi
  • Decker, Shannon
  • Dudgeon, Kristi
  • Graham, Nicole
  • Griess, Pauline
  • Herrick, Barbara
  • Johnson, Brenda
  • Keslar, Donna
  • McGuire, Karen
  • Mahaffey, Cressie Lynn
  • McVey, Teri
  • Morris, Frances A. “Frankie”
  • Mowl, Janet
  • Nash, Julie
  • Olson, Mardell K.
  • Olson, Sandra Jean
  • Parker, Waiva
  • Richardson, Linda
  • Rush, Casi
  • Schultz, Sherri
  • Wilson, Madelene
  • Borgmann, Malinda
  • Cote, Erica
  • Erpelding, Susan
  • Glanzer, Susan
  • Hofer, Jane
  • Mann, Pam
  • Pascoe, Tiffaney
  • Sayer, Linda
  • Schwartzkopf, Tara
  • Ward, Ann
  • Williams, Ruth

WCAA also presented two special awards to two very deserving awardees:

  • Mentor of the Year was awarded to Trish Dunne
  • Kerri Mahlum was honored for her Outstanding Leadership for “pioneering” the educational component of the Apprenticeship Program.

Congratulations to all the graduates and honorees!

The WCAA Staff at Stand & Celebrate 2007 The WCAA Staff at Stand & Celebrate 2007

Back: Deanna Frey
Middle: Rose Martin, Jessica Taylor, Judy Amberson, Deanna Chafin, Brandy Burns
Front: Lori Tiegs, Michael Broad