Convention Information

The Lads to Leaders/Leaderettes convention is an annual, weekend event where thousands of youth and adults gather to display the talents they’ve worked on all year.  It encourages and motivates participants to grow, and brings families and churches together by crossing generational lines. At the convention, students and adults are recognized for the work they’ve completed over the past year, and students in grades 3-12 are given the opportunity to compete against other students of similar age and ability in such areas as speech, song leading, debate, puppets, Bible Bowl and art.

In 2012, Lads to Leaders/Leaderettes will be hosting conventions in six locations on April 6-8:

Atlanta, Ga.
Dallas, Tex.
Indianapolis, Ind.
Memphis, Tenn.
Nashville, Tenn.
Orlando, Fla.

2012 Convention Themes

Overall Theme
We'll Work 'til Jesus Comes

Bible Bowl
James, 1 Peter, 2 Peter
The 2011 Bible Bowl study questions, test questions and final round questions will be worded from the New Kings James Version ONLY. 

Pearls Study Series
Called
Pearls is a 13-lesson classroom or individual study of the chosen Bible book for the current convention year. (Coming Fall 2011)

Debate
Resolved: Baptism – immersion in water – is essential for salvation.

2012 T-Shirt Design

Deadlines and Important Dates

2012 Convention Date:
April 6-8, 2012

Convention Registration Opens:
December 3 at 8:00 a.m. (CST)

Registration Deadline for Event Participation:
January 23, 2012

Hotel Reservation Deadline:
March 2, 2012

Pre-convention Events:
Jonathan Bourland nominations, Mass Media entries, and Music Composition entries must be mailed to the appropriate addresses listed for each convention and postmarked by January 23, 2012. Bulletin Board and Year-Round Bulletin Board entries must be received via email by January 23, 2012 at bulletinboard@lads-to-leaders.org.

Scholarship Applications:
Scholarship applications must be mailed to the National Service Center and postmarked by February 6, 2012.

Bible Bowl and Pearls:
Bible Bowl and Pearls Test Dates: February 8-21, 2012. Completed test answer sheets are to be returned to the appropriate coordinators and MUST be postmarked by February 21, 2012.

SPECIAL NOTE FOR 2012:
Verification for all pre-convention events will be done through our registration system. Details on the verification process were included in the registration packet that team leaders received in October. The only things that need to be sent by the registration deadline are listed above.

Registration Fees

NOTE: Fees are due for everyone that is registered as of January 23, 2012 (based on the fee schedule below).  After this date, de-registering someone, whether the group’s registration fees have been paid or not, will not reduce the amount owed for registration.  Meeting rooms, awards, programs, schedules, insurance, etc., are all based on the totals as of this date.

Third Grade - Adult
$35 per person

Kindergarten - Second Grade
$35 per student if participating in Centurion of Scripture, Good Samaritan, Parade of Winners, Puppet Theater, Year-Round (Advanced) Puppeteering, Second Language, Bible Bowl or Know the Books
No fee if not participating, or if only participating in Oral Bible Reading, Song Leading, Songs of Praise or Speech.

Pre-School
No Fee

Participants Not Attending Convention
$15 (This covers awards)

Late Fees
$5 per person, added by the National Service Center after January 23. This is in addition to the fees noted above.

Mail payment to the National Service Center by February 6, 2012.

Checks, VISA, Discover or MasterCard are accepted.  Note that seating order in the awards ceremonies is determined by the date that the first registration payment is received.  You will pay the hotel directly for your rooms.  If possible, please submit one lump sum payment per group rather than individual checks.  You can pay part of the registration early to ensure your seating location and then pay the balance as soon as registration is complete.