New England and Bermuda District of Key Club International's
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77th Annual
District Educational Conference
Service Under the Stars
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March 27 - 29, 2026
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Sheraton at Monarch Place
Springfield, Massachusetts
WHAT IS DECON?
District Educational Conference (or "DECON") is the biggest Key Club event of the year! Each spring, the Key Clubs of the New England and Bermuda District come together for a weekend of celebration, education, and leadership.
SHARE
At the Service Fair on Saturday, learn about projects that other Key Clubs around New England do to service their schools and communities. Bring back new ideas to make next year even better
SERVE
Take part in service throughout the weekend to benefit local children's hospitals.
Collaborate with Key Clubs throughout the District to meet our annual fundraising goal for Camp Sunshine.
ABOUT THE
VENUE
Sheraton at Monarch Place
1 Monarch Place
Springfield, MA 01144
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We are pleased to be returning to the Springfield Sheraton for our 2026 District Educational Conference. Located in the heart of downtown, Springfield, MA, the Sheraton has been the home of DECON since the 1980s.
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All attendees will stay in the conference hotel and sleep in their assigned room. Only students of the same gender can share a hotel room. Male and female students can not be in the same hotel room or suite unless accompanied by adult chaperone(s).
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Parking and Transportation
Parking is available on-site for attendees in the Sheraton's underground parking garage. Overflow parking is also available at the I-91 parking garage, which is connected to the hotel by a skybridge.​
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Please contact District Administrator Elyse Denorfia if you need to park a bus overnight.
KEYNOTE
SPEAKER
​​Vera Jo Bustos—known to most as “Coach VJ”—is a keynote speaker, author, and mental performance coach who helps athletes, leaders, and high achievers build lasting confidence, navigate adversity, and deliver when the stakes are high.
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With over 3,000 athletes and professionals coached through her company, Mentality Solutions, Vera Jo is trusted by coaches, programs, and organizations nationwide to help people perform with clarity, conviction, and consistency—especially in high-pressure moments.
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“Hard work and talent matter—but without the mindset to match, development becomes stagnant. Confidence isn’t something you wait for. It’s something you train.”
— Coach VJ
