{"id":2027,"date":"2016-01-07T00:49:03","date_gmt":"2016-01-07T05:49:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mdstudentcouncils.org\/?page_id=2027"},"modified":"2026-10-10T12:29:14","modified_gmt":"2026-10-10T16:29:14","slug":"registration-faq","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/masc-temp.on-forge.com\/index.php\/registration-faq\/","title":{"rendered":"Registration FAQ"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"\"<\/a><\/u><\/strong><\/em>Frequently Asked REGISTRATION Questions<\/u><\/strong><\/h3>\n

If your question is not addressed here, please contact the MASC Registrar at wayne.perry@mdstudentcouncils.org<\/a><\/p>\n

For questions about registering MASC Appointed Staff, Regional Executive Board members, and Workshop Presenters for a Conference, and determining the number of your voting delegates,\u00a0 CLICK HERE.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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1.\u00a0 Do I have to be a member of MASC to register for a conference?<\/strong> It depends on the event. Your school does NOT have to be a member of MASC to register for the Fall Leadership Conference<\/em>.\u00a0 However, ONLY MEMBER SCHOOLS may register for the Legislative Session<\/em> and the Convention<\/em>.<\/p>\n

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2.\u00a0 \u00a0How do I register a delegation for a statewide event (Fall Leadership Conference,\u00a0 Legislative Session, <\/em>and the Convention)<\/em>?\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n

Only the school advisor<\/strong> may register a delegation for MASC statewide events.\u00a0 This may not<\/strong> be delegated to a student as the process entails making a financial contract with MASC.\u00a0 After you review the event’s Registration Checklist<\/em> and have completed the Registration Worksheet<\/em> (both documents are available on the specific event page), use the registration link provided on that event page to begin registering your delegation.<\/p>\n

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3.\u00a0 What is an “attending advisor”? <\/strong><\/p>\n

MASC is not responsible for students attending events.\u00a0 Every student must be under the direct supervision of an adult authorized by their school\u2019s principal.\u00a0 This individual is typically the school’s SGA advisor\/sponsor, but may be another teacher or other staff member approved by the principal.\u00a0 In some circumstances, the principal may approve of an attending advisor from another school or office (i.e. the Regional Advisor) to be responsible.\u00a0 The individual authorized must be familiar with and able to enforce the relevant student policies of the school and district. Additionally, they must fully meet MASC’s expectations of all advisors at the event.<\/p>\n

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4.\u00a0 Can a regional advisor register students?\u00a0 <\/strong>Yes and No \u2013 a regional advisor may register the regional president, 2nd vice president\/middle school representative, and the student member on the Board of Education.\u00a0 Other students should be registered through their school\u2019s advisor\/administrator.<\/p>\n

Request for Exceptions \u2013 please email Karen.Crawford@mdstudentcouncils.org and Wayne.Perry@mdstudentcouncils.org<\/em><\/p>\n

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5.\u00a0 What if my school wants to participate, but I am not able to attend?\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n

Although MASC prefers that students attend with their school SGA advisor, we realize that there are circumstances that prevent that from happening.\u00a0 The key point is that students are directly supervised by an adult authorized to do so by their school principal. In such circumstances, see the question above.<\/p>\n

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6.\u00a0 Why can’t students attend MASC events without an advisor?\u00a0 Isn’t MASC a student organization?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Technically, the Maryland Association of Student Councils (MASC) is not<\/strong> a student organization.\u00a0 As its name states, MASC is an association of school student councils, not students.\u00a0 Member schools send delegates, authorized by school principals, as representatives.<\/p>\n

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7.\u00a0 In the interest of building leadership capacity, can our SGA president take care of the online registration?<\/strong><\/p>\n

No.\u00a0 Online registration creates a binding financial contract between the school and MASC.\u00a0 Only an adult duly authorized to act as an agent of the school principal may do that.<\/p>\n

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8.\u00a0 <\/em>How will schools pay for this conference?\u00a0 <\/strong>MASC accepts a school check or credit card \u2013 full directions are on the\u00a0Registration Checklist<\/em>\u00a0and in the\u00a0Confirmation Email<\/em>\u00a0sent immediately after online registration submission.<\/p>\n

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9.\u00a0 <\/em>Do students pay individually or do the schools pay for the students?\u00a0 <\/strong>The schools pay for their delegation to attend MASC events.\u00a0 How the school comes up with the cost of participation is totally up to the school.\u00a0 The cost of participating in a MASC event, determined by the number and roles registered, is the responsibility of the school.\u00a0 Many schools use student council funds or principal funds to pay registration fees.\u00a0 Others charge participants all or part of the fees for their participation.\u00a0 In such cases, the student\/parent needs to give the cash or check to the school, as the school\u2019s registration, completed only by the school advisor or administrator, must be paid by credit card or official school\/system check.<\/p>\n

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10.\u00a0 What do event registration fees pay for?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Fees associated with participating in MASC events first go to pay for the costs of the event.\u00a0 The money collected pays for food, facility use,\u00a0 instructional materials, and name tags, as well as administrative costs for office supplies, postage, server space, contracts, personnel, and other MASC operating expenses, including a stipend for the hosting school\/region.\u00a0 MASC works very hard to keep participation in our events as affordable as possible.\u00a0 Situations involving prohibitive financial hardship should be discussed with the school principal and the regional advisor.<\/p>\n

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11.\u00a0 Why does it say my school has zero votes?<\/strong><\/p>\n

This indicates the number of votes your school is allotted.\u00a0 Zero votes typically means that your school is not yet a member of MASC.\u00a0 (Regional offices will always indicate zero votes.)\u00a0 Membership is not required to attend the MASC Fall Leadership Conference<\/em>, so this number is irrelevant.\u00a0 Membership is<\/strong> required for attending the Legislative Session<\/em> and the Convention<\/em>.\u00a0 You can apply for membership by clicking “Join Now<\/a>” on the MASC website<\/a>.\u00a0 Membership opens yearly on July 1st and closes at the start of the winter break.<\/p>\n

If your school has already applied for membership, and you still have zero votes, your application is likely still being processed.\u00a0 Have you submitted your dues payment?\u00a0 Did the principal electronically sign the authorization for membership?\u00a0 Each of these will stall the processing of membership.\u00a0 If you have any further questions about your membership, contact the MASC Membership Coordinator.\u00a0 \u00a0(Read this\u00a0 OVERVIEW<\/a> of the MASC membership application process.)<\/p>\n

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12.\u00a0 My principal and I didn’t receive emails as described in the registration instructions. Should I just register again?<\/strong><\/p>\n

No<\/strong><\/span>.\u00a0 If you clicked on the submit button at the top of the page, separate emails to you and your principal were immediately sent to the email addresses provided on the form you just submitted. It is sent from <\/strong><<\/span>no-reply@goformz.com<\/strong>><\/strong>.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Re-registering will only duplicate your information and complicate the whole process.\u00a0 The problem in such a case is typically one of the following: something in your system’s (or your school\u2019s) network server has blocked or rerouted your email, your computer’s settings, your email software settings, or any combination of those possibilities.\u00a0 There is no uniform way school systems handle incoming emails.\u00a0 If you did not find it in your inbox immediately, try the following:<\/p>\n

a. Check trash\/junk\/spam folders for the <goformz.com> domain. Also, be aware that some email systems have various labels for legit inboxes, such as \u201cUpdates,” “Social,” etc. Check in those too.<\/p>\n

b.\u00a0 There may be a time delay that your email system uses. Check for it again in a couple of hours.<\/p>\n

c.\u00a0 If, after waiting and searching, you and\/or your principal can’t find your emails, first contact your IT specialist at your school.\u00a0 Sometimes, email servers will block certain email address domains.\u00a0 Your IT specialist should know what to do.\u00a0 Invite that individual to contact the MASC Registrar at <wayne.perry@mdstudentcouncils.org<\/a>>.<\/p>\n

Not receiving the emails could also be due to a simple typo in an email address on the form.\u00a0 It can happen to the best of us and can be an invisible space unintentionally added.\u00a0 If you have waited and searched and your IT specialist has no other explanation for why you can’t find your “Registration Confirmation” email, contact the MASC Registrar at <wayne.perry@mdstudentcouncils.org<\/a>>.<\/p>\n

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13.\u00a0 My delegation has changed significantly since I first registered online. Should I just start over?<\/strong><\/p>\n

No<\/strong><\/span>.\u00a0 Starting over duplicates information and complicates things.\u00a0 Inform the MASC Registrar of what kind of changes you need to make.\u00a0 The registrar will determine the easiest and most efficient way to deal with them.\u00a0 \u00a0Occasionally, you will need to start over again, but contact the MASC Registrar first.<\/p>\n

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14.\u00a0 What do I do if I need another copy of an invoice?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A PDF of your Registration Report\/Invoice<\/em> is attached to the emails sent after you submit your registration. Save that file so that you have access to as many copies as you may need.<\/p>\n

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15.\u00a0 I completed an initial registration, but then went on 2 more times to add more students. I now have 3 separate invoices.\u00a0 Is there a way to get one invoice that combines them all so that I can just pay a single amount?<\/strong><\/p>\n

It is perfectly fine to combine multiple invoices into one payment.\u00a0 That is totally up to the individual who is paying, usually your school bookkeeper.\u00a0 If a separate single invoice is required, contact the MASC Registrar, and one will be provided.<\/p>\n

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16.\u00a0 Why are there deadlines for registration, payment, and refunds?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Unless you have participated in organizing a statewide event for many hundreds of people, you may not realize the amount of work that goes into efficiently planning and carrying out a successful event.\u00a0 Detailed planning for MASC events begins at least a year before the actual event.\u00a0 Facilities must be sought out and reserved.\u00a0 Event materials must be pre-ordered, and food must be determined and arranged (including as many as 50 special diets) long before an event takes place.\u00a0 A significant amount of money is spent or encumbered by the deadlines we set.\u00a0 Vendors are not likely or able to accept changes if they are too late, and if they can make changes, there are frequently additional charges applied.\u00a0 Most of the costs for a participant have already been paid for by the time the deadline comes along.<\/p>\n

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17.\u00a0 My school wants to pay membership dues and registration with one payment. Is that acceptable?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Since membership dues and event registration payments are now handled by separate offices, this is no longer possible without making special arrangements with the MASC Registrar.<\/p>\n

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18.\u00a0 Why does the principal have to sign our invoice?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The entity attending the event is the school as represented by a delegation of students and an advisor.\u00a0 A school may not be represented at MASC events without the signed authorization of the school’s principal or designee.<\/p>\n

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19.\u00a0 This is the first time my school has participated in a MASC event. When I tried to register, my school was not on the drop-down list. What now?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The registration process pulls school information from a custom database of schools that have been members or have participated in even one MASC event since 2004. If your school is not on the list, it is most likely due to one of the reasons described below.<\/p>\n

a. Your school is new to MASC. In such a case, click in the “Enter value” box that pops up and enter your school’s name, and go on to the other fields to provide the requested information.\u00a0 For future events, you will find your school listed.<\/p>\n

b. Your school has a balance due from past events, or at least the MASC records indicate such.\u00a0 Schools may not register if they still owe for past events.\u00a0 Contact the MASC Registrar to resolve this issue.<\/p>\n

c. Be sure you are looking for the formal name of your school.\u00a0 We make every attempt to use the school name that your system provided to the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE).\u00a0 It\u2019s easy to forget that your school\u2019s official name is much more formal than what it is called by students, teachers, and families.<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 d.\u00a0 The Legislative Session and Convention are only open to MASC member schools.\u00a0 Your membership must be COMPLETE before the school name will be listed.<\/p>\n

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20.\u00a0 What do I need to check in my delegation when we arrive at the event?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Within a day or 2 of the event, you will receive instructions regarding check-in.<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0 Within a day or 2 of the event, you will receive instructions regarding check-in.\u00a0 The email is sent by the MASC registrar and will be labeled: MASC FLC26 Check-In Form \u2013 with your school name. (MASC +Initials for Conference + Year +Check-In Form<\/em>)
\n2.\u00a0 You may not complete the check-in form until the morning of the event!\u00a0 (Just as you would never record your classroom attendance for tomorrow today, do not complete this form until the morning of the event. PLEASE NOTE: If you are not the attending advisor for your delegation, it is your responsibility to forward this link to that individual.)
\n3.\u00a0 The morning of the event (on your way or when you arrive), click on the link in the email, and follow the instructions on the form.
\n4.\u00a0 There is one check-in form for each registration, so if you completed additional registrations, you will have additional check-in forms accordingly. All registrations must be checked in separately.
\n5.\u00a0 Please also note that by default, subs will assume the workshop assignments of the original registrant. If there are specific changes that need to be made, please see the MASC Registrar at the event.
\n6. Nametags for your delegation and any other information you will need at the event will be available from your regional advisor or designee.
\n7.\u00a0 NOTE<\/strong>:\u00a0 On-site advisors should bring and KEEP<\/strong> all student emergency forms.\u00a0 Advisors will administer any medications needed.\u00a0 MASC will NOT have a first aid station.<\/p>\n

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21.\u00a0 Because of various reasons, I\u2019m not going to be able to meet the deadline. What do I do?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Contact the MASC Registrar immediately.\u00a0 Remember that meeting the deadline only requires that the principal has submitted their electronic signature and approval.\u00a0 This signed invoice not only authorizes your delegation to attend but also guarantees payment.\u00a0 Although MASC expects you to process payment of the invoice at the same time you request a signature, there is no payment deadline.\u00a0 The various schools and systems across the state have differing timelines for processing payments, which are well beyond the advisor’s control.\u00a0 Once MASC receives the invoice signed by the principal, payment is assured.<\/p>\n

Please note: Meeting the deadline is the sole responsibility of the school advisor.\u00a0 Coordinate with your principal so that the signed form is submitted. Do not depend on someone else to meet your deadline<\/em><\/strong>.\u00a0 Follow up with them until you know everything has been completed.\u00a0 If paying by check, double-check the PO box address on the invoice!!\u00a0 \u00a0These are different for membership and conference registrations.<\/p>\n

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22.\u00a0 What if I find out MASC has not received our payment, but the office tells me they sent it?<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is almost always due to the school’s accounting software that auto-fills an old address and then creates an envelope\/mailing label with incorrect information.\u00a0 First, confirm that the payment was sent to the address provided on the invoice.<\/span>\u00a0 In such cases, ask the office involved to contact the MASC Registrar.\u00a0 If payment was sent to the correct address, send the MASC Registrar the check number, the amount, and the date the check was written\/sent, and it will be investigated and resolved.\u00a0 \u00a0Snail mail takes about five days once the post office has actually received it.<\/p>\n

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23.\u00a0 What do I do if one of my students cancels at the last minute? Can I get a refund?<\/strong><\/p>\n

MASC strongly suggests that you arrange to have additional students ready to substitute for a delegate at a moment\u2019s notice.\u00a0 \u00a0There is no additional fee for substitutes.\u00a0 \u00a0If you have complete paperwork for him\/her, you can decide to bring a substitute right up to the time you leave for the event.<\/p>\n

There are no refunds of registration fees after the signed Registration Report\/Invoice<\/em> submission deadline.\u00a0 \u00a0In cases of extreme circumstances, an appeal can be made to the MASC Executive Director for a partial or full refund.\u00a0 \u00a0Remember that by the time of the postmark deadline, most of the anticipated registration fees for an event have been encumbered; materials have been purchased, food has been ordered, and contracts have been signed.\u00a0 Refunds after the postmark deadline are not just revenue losses; they are additional costs that MASC and the event host must cover themselves.<\/p>\n

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Frequently Asked REGISTRATION Questions If your question is not addressed here, please contact the MASC Registrar at wayne.perry@mdstudentcouncils.org For questions about registering MASC Appointed Staff, Regional Executive Board members, and Workshop Presenters for a Conference, and determining the number of your voting delegates,\u00a0 CLICK HERE. 1.\u00a0 Do I have to be a member of MASC […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2027","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/masc-temp.on-forge.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2027","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/masc-temp.on-forge.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/masc-temp.on-forge.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/masc-temp.on-forge.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/masc-temp.on-forge.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2027"}],"version-history":[{"count":57,"href":"https:\/\/masc-temp.on-forge.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2027\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15903,"href":"https:\/\/masc-temp.on-forge.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2027\/revisions\/15903"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/masc-temp.on-forge.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2027"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}