Key Club travels to Orlando for annual district conference, brings back talent show trophy

BY ALEXANDRA SANSONE

The District Education and Leadership Conference (DCON) is home to members of Key Club dedicated to service. Held at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando, Florida, the conference was put on for the 80th time in the Florida Key Club district. This year’s convention theme being 80 years of service with Florida DCON, its attendants were provided with shirts and booklets featuring tiered cakes in honor of the 80th celebration.

Leaving early Thursday morning, CCHS Key Club members made the journey to Orlando where the conference was kicked off that night with the annual Opening Session. The session included the introduction of the district board members and the recognition of each of the Florida District’s Zones before proceeding to the presentation of candidates running for district office as they each gave speeches to a crowd of over 2,000 individuals.

Leaving early Thursday morning, CCHS Key Club members made the journey to Orlando where the conference was kicked off that night with the annual Opening Session.

Following candidate speeches, conference keynote speaker Erin Fischer spoke about leadership qualities and how to improve one’s self-confidence.

“I liked her, she wasn’t like some of the other people who spoke, she wasn’t boring,” freshman Isabella Marcon said. “I think her stories made you really think about things. Like if she could do that then anyone can do it and if she can stand up for what she believes in then I can do that too.”

Fischer’s presentation was interactive as she encouraged students to come forward and share their thoughts throughout the course of her presentation.

“It was nice to see someone up there who actually cared about what they were doing instead of speaking to us from PowerPoint slides,” sophomore Emma Franz said.

After Fischer’s presentation, the Opening Session drew to a close, leaving the students to wander the grounds of the resort before curfew. The following day was filled with workshops and work for candidates. The day began with Zone Caucuses where members from each zone were given no more than four minutes to question candidates on their platform and why they feel they are fit for office.

The second half of the day was filled with leadership workshops that taught skills like public speaking, service, running for higher office and the basic foundations of Key Club.

The second half of the day was filled with leadership workshops that taught skills like public speaking, service, running for higher office and the basic foundations of Key Club.

“You learn good leadership skills,” Franz said. “It opens up leadership opportunities so if you want a leadership position you can get great tips from the workshops.”

The Entertainment Assembly followed the workshops and featured awards and a talent show. While many students attended the workshops provided, some were busy auditioning for the talent show. This year, CCHS students Ajith Joseph, Carter Frishman, Chris Santana, Tyler Wong, Ashwin Mathi, Bailey Kraus and Matthew Loeb qualified and successfully performed a talent/comedy act in which Mathi played four instruments with his hands and feet at the same time while others are blowing air into the instrument to provide the sound. The act placed first and was announced the following day at the Awards Assembly.

The act placed first and was announced the following day at the Awards Assembly.

“I can’t even play an instrument with my hands and he played multiple at the same time with his feet,” Marcon said. “That’s amazing that he can do that.”

After the awards assembly, members had the day to themselves. The delegates, president and vice president of each club, however, were sent to vote according to their clubs beliefs of which candidate should receive positions on the district board.

The final event of the conference was the Governor’s Banquet and dance. Set up with fine dining utensils, the dress code was formal and guests were required to dress formally. The banquet was used to retire the district board and instate the current district board, which had been determined earlier that day.

The next day, students packed their bags and returned home to Cooper City, having taken with them the experience of DCON.

“I think it’s really cool how all the clubs unite over service,” sophomore Julia Safrin said. “When everyone gets really into it and passionate, it makes the experience so much better.”

Photo courtesy of CCHS Key Club