Letter from the President

It is indeed an honor to introduce the 2021 WACPC Year in Review and what a year it has been!

This is an opportunity to reflect on this past year, noting all of the struggles and adaptations that have been made. The good news: WACPC was able to offer competitive opportunities for our athletes, despite COVID restrictions. Many thanks to awesome site directors, hard-working WACPC Board members, coaches, judges and volunteers. Everyone stepped up for our athletes! Plans are being made for the new year as this is written. A Fall Conference is anticipated as well as in-person competitions. Interestingly, many coaches reported positive reactions to the block scheduling which eliminated long competition days. There are opportunities to make changes and adaptations to the “way we have always done” things. The WACPC Board continues to place the welfare of athletes first, needs of coaches, and the financial implications of decisions at the forefront for decision-making. “Is this good for the athletes? Is it as “fair” as possible? What would the financial implication be? What does the membership think?” Please consider reading the posted minutes on the website to keep up with the latest board and committee happenings. This summer the Board will be busy updating the policies in the handbook and the website. There are considerations to registration, deadlines, divisions, safety, quizzes, the All State selection process, judge training, as well as sites for 2022. Committees will be meeting in June to take up these issues as well as any submitted by membership. I hope you enjoy the WACPC Year in Review. Morgan Flury and her team have worked hard to capture the essence of the year. Please join me in appreciating all your team has been able to accomplish as well as the collective accomplishments of all. Thanks for allowing me to be part of WACPC leadership these past six years. I have enjoyed working with all of you as we have moved forward and made changes. The memes created by the athletes and all of the hugs have been humbling for sure! Honoring the Coach of the Year and being photographed with a Port Washington dancer displaying a letter of intent from Viterbo were recent highlights! (Thanks, Isabelle!) I have been fortunate to work with a dedicated Board of Directors, all volunteering their time and energy to the sports of cheer and dance. I will miss many of the opportunities WACPC has afforded me. Yet, I look forward to continuing to work on the board as the Past President to ensure a bright future for Wisconsin’s Cheer and Dance sports. I would like to extend congratulations to our new President, Carrie Luedtke from East Troy, and our new Vice President Alea Norrish from Eau Claire. Thankfully, our Treasurer, Julie Pankow from Hortonville, and Secretary, Lisa Gerdman from Pewaukee, will continue to serve. The new executive board will undoubtedly be awesome and will continue to move WACPC forward for all of us!

Sincerely,

Sue Putra, President

Wisconsin Association of Cheer & Pom Coaches, Inc.