The annual PASF State Convention, held in San Antonio, is the highlight of the year's work. For a successful Convention, all PASF chapters should actively participate in as many PASF activities as possible. In addition, teachers and students are encouraged to take advantage of the many examples of Mexican and Spanish influence which San Antonio offers.
Each PASF Chapter attending Convention will be expected to bring sufficient adults and chaperones to guarantee strict discipline among delegates. A ratio of 5 students to 1 adult is suggested. These adults and any additional guests will also be required to pay registration fees. You must also comply with these guidelines in order to attend Convention.
PRE-CONVENTION
1. Teachers and principals will be required to sign the back of the Convention
Registration form making head sponsors and other adult chaperones responsible
for student behavior and participation in all Convention activities.
2. Convention attendance is considered a school function and, as such, all local
school board policies will apply to the respective groups. UIL rules regarding
NO PASS/NO PLAY must be followed.
REGISTRATION
3. At registration, all sponsors must provide a list which includes the following
information:
• school name
• all student delegates
• all teacher-sponsors
• all chaperones and guests
GENERAL CONVENTION INFORMATION
4. No school, teacher, or individual may sell merchandise or conduct any fundraising
activity during the PASF State Convention.
5. Delegates shall wear name tags and wrist bands at all times. Tags must be worn where they
are easy to see. Students, teachers, and chaperones not wearing their I.D. tags
and wrist bands
will not be permitted to enter the theater or participate in other PASF
Convention activities. Chapters must provide students and sponsors with name
tags.
6. Each sponsor should advise students to stay in groups. Young men should accompany
young ladies for safety.
7. Sponsors and adult supervisors should stay with their groups during all Convention
activities.
DRESS CODE
8. The Board STRONGLY discourages the use of shorts at Noche
Panamericana, the Business Meeting and the Gran Baile. The Board ENCOURAGES
students to “dress up” while attending the above activities. Since
schools have varying dress codes, it is up to the sponsor to decide what is
appropriate in accordance with the above mention. TAMOAS members
should see TAMOAS guidelines for dress code information.
THEATER ACTIVITIES
9. At the onset of the theater activities, students, teachers, and guests will
be asked to remain seated for the duration of the theater function.
10. If “matters of urgency” arise during the performance, at the
discretion of the ushers, students will be allowed to leave their seats one
at a timed only. This will be monitored from the back of the auditorium by the
ushers.
11. Should a problem arise with students outside of your group:
• Inform one of the ushers,
• The teacher within whose group the problem exists will be made aware
of the situation and an usher will be stationed in the problem area.
12. If the problem persists, the offending party/parties will be escorted from
the premises. The principal of the school will be informed of the problem encountered.
13. At the end of the Business Session, non-voting delegates will be dismissed
from the theater. Voting delegates will stay after the Business Session to vote
for the following year’s officers and any changes in the By laws. Each
chapter’s input is important and determines the future success or failure
of all PASF activities. The principal of the school will be informed if a chapter
does not vote.
CURFEW INFORMATION/HOTEL
GUIDELINES
14. The city of San Antonio has a curfew for unaccompanied minors which is enforced.
This curfew is 11:00 p.m. on Fridays and midnight on Saturdays. Sponsors must
make their students aware of these curfews.
15. Each sponsor should assign a responsible student to be in charge of each
room at night. Students should be reminded that there are other guests in the
hotel and should act responsibly and keep noise to a minimum. Hotels will inform
the Board of any problems which occur. Offending parties will be asked to leave
the hotel. The principal of the school will be informed of this matter.
16. Each sponsor should set a curfew when students should be in their rooms
and strictly enforce it. Hotels also may set a curfew which must be observed.
Sponsors should conduct room checks each night.
Make your hotel reservations early. Making your reservations in September is recommended for this year's Convention. Some people make reservations one year in advance since San Antonio is one of the most popular convention places in Texas. To make reservations, refer to the information provided on the website. The PASF state officers will not make hotel reservations for you.
It is also very important that you follow instructions listed below in order to expedite your hotel check-in time.
1. Check-in time varies from hotel to hotel. Look at the check-in time of the hotel you selected and do not try to check-in before that time. Rooms are seldom available before that time, especially when the hotel is sold out the night prior to Convention.
2. Do not make special requests such as adjoining rooms, rooms on the same floor, etc. These requests increase the length of wait and are at times impossible to comply with because of other hotel guests registered earlier in the week.
3. Inform the hotel of your estimated arrival time.
4. Send names of students and their room assignments to the hotel prior to Convention.
5. Send a hotel occupancy sales tax exemption form (where applicable) along with the reservation request. Bring an additional copy to Convention. It is especially important that the method of payment for each room be already noted with each reservation. NOTE-- The San Antonio entertainment tax cannot be excluded.
6. Send one sponsor to the hotel desk to check in and pick up keys.
The following prices are exclusive of the 10.75% city tax. Check-in time is usually 3:00 P.M. and check-out time is usually 12:00 P.M. Use a credit card to make your reservations. Please note and abide by any specific rules each hotel requires. Bus parking is by the Marriott River Center Mall. The San Antonio trolley stops in front of most hotels.
Cancellation Policy: Reservations must be cancelled 30 days prior to arrival or your school will be charged for the previously reserved rooms.