Summer 2009
The Southern Sun
Issue IV - Page 1
The Official Newsletter of CA Southern Section FBLA
A Message From the President
Welcome to the FBLA community, and fuel your future! By Erik Nguyen President
Welcome to the 2009-2010 year! As many of you might be aware, the past year was Mrs. Danielle Tuason’s last as our Southern Section Adviser. Although her leave has been a sorrowful departure, I have a feeling the new 2009 Southern Section Management Team and Section Officers will create a lasting legacy for a spectacular year. Recently, California section officers from the six sections met in Williams for the annual California FBLA State Leadership Summit. During the 4-day event, section officers set some amazing goals for the upcoming year. Building off last year’s section team, we in paricular focused on not only keeping communication with chapters, but also helping them keep in con-
tact with one other. Networking will be a tremendous goal, an objective that will be reiterated throughout the year. We also hope to drive Southern Section’s competitive edge by stimulating chapters to do more State Projects PHOTO BY MICHAEL RYLAARSDAM and increase Summer Leadership Summit Professional Snapshot m e m b e r s h i p . Back row (left to right) - Samuel Yun, Erik Nguyen, But the most Raymond Lee; Front row (left to right) - C.C. Gong, Emily important part to Tian, Judy Park remember is to enthe people you meet and the places joy the FBLA experience. Placing in competitions you traveled. Start fueling your is commendable, but chances are, future today by making everyyears from now, the most treasured thing you do in FBLA memorable. southernpresident@cafbla.org adventures will be the memories of
2009-2010 FBLA Southern Section Officer Introductions President: Erik Nguyen Oxford Academy Background Senior; loves video games, comics, Transformer action figures, money; eccentric and loud yet a selfmotivated FBLA fanatic
Vice President: Raymond Lee Sunny Hills HS Background Senior; loves networking, Korean BBQ , tacos; spontaneous, versatile, ostensibly intimidating but possesses a personal touch with people
Secretary/Treasurer: Judy Park Oxford Academy Background Senior; loves dancing, So You Think You Can Dance, singing, green tea ice cream, coffee; dynamic, hardworking and a little dorky
Public Relations Officer: Emily Tian
University HS Background Senior; loves cookbook recipes, jogging, Italian food, Calvin & Hobbes, Jane Austen, The Onion; diligent, super-energetic perfectionist
Parliamentarian:
Samuel Yun Warren HS Background Senior; loves SoBe Lifewater, Samsung products, musician Vanishing Red, free tacos from Jack in the Box; studious and friendly
Partner w/ Leader: C.C. Gong
Troy HS Background Junior; loves tennis, photography, traveling, movies, have fun, friends, pizookies, FBLA, new experiences; caring and optimistic with a blend of ambition
PHOTOS COMPILED BY ERIK NGUYEN
Summer 2009
Why Join FBLA?
The ultimate mix of business, awards and fun By C.C. Gong Partner w/ Leaders
Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) is a nationwide network of students with the same interests and goals, the biggest student business organization in the world committed to preparing students for success in business leadership. Personally, I have transformed into the stronger, more ambitious person I am today thanks to FBLA. FBLA holds numerous leadership conferences throughout the year that are informative and fun, because you get to network with people from across the United States. The innovative workshops teach everything from public speaking skills to the perfect resume to SAT prep. You can also compete in any of the over sixty competitions in various aspects of business including business management and computer skills. If you excel at the local and state levels, you may have the opportunity to win large monetary rewards, glorify your elegant trophies and attend the national conference held at a different location in the United States each year. FBLA is also renowned for its well-roundedness: the plethora of community service projects, for example, builds character and broadens a member’s world view. FBLA provides so many opportunities in leadership, business, community service, networking and competitions. What you gain through FBLA are not only fundamental skills and knowledge guaranteed success, but also the motivation to take control of your future. Remember, fuel your future, and join FBLA to take the leap towards a brighter future!
Issue IV - Page 2
How To Maintain a Local FBLA Chapter Read these tips to learn about the FBLA experience
By Raymond Lee and Emily Tian activities and priorities as well. However, most importantly, you Vice President & Public Relations want members to feel comfortable Officer in the organization. Create socials If your school is not a FBLA and educational events for mempowerhouse, your chapter is bers and the cabinet to get to know on the same boat as most of the one other--ice cream socials, picother divisions. It is not easy nics, guest speaker series, business to get students to attend gentours, FBLA state projects, comeral meetings throughout the petitions. Once the organization year, not to mention recruiting is tied to memorable experiences, prospective members and appeople are more likely to come, pealing to their interests. This is not alone but with their friends. At where you make these students all times, however, be sure to adfeel integrated in the organizadress the situations when students tion and work to reap its rewards. are to act professionally and maAt my local chapter in Sunny turely. FBLA is not and should not Hills High School, students must be purely a party group, though attend a certain number of meetfun is still a definite ingredient. ings and school congregations to With enough experience with the attend an event. In addition, they organization, FBLA will eventumust come themselves to personally hold its place at your school. ally sign-in. But keep in mind southernvp@cafbla.org that regulators are not tyrants. southernpr@cafbla.org You must respect members’ other
2009 OAT Day Recap
Early event encourages chapters to lead active roles By Judy Park - Secretary/Treasurer
The annual Officer/Adviser Training Day (OAT Day) took place at Fullerton’s Craig Regional Park on Saturday, June 13. Despite the early event, the turnout was satsifying: 83 students from ten different schools. The day began with an opening ceremony filled with introductions of the new officers, a noisy roll call of the chapters and a moment of silence for the late Ms. Van Hunnick. After the opening ceremony, the advisers partook in their own meeting as the officers were divided into six groups that rotated within workshops designed to provide vital information for the upcoming year. The workshops included Gold Seal, Chapter/Individual Projects, State Projects, Competitions, Membership/Fundraising, and the Year-At-A-Glance. But the venue would not have been a park if there weren’t to be tons of games! After each workshop, Emily and Jackie led us in games filled with popping balloons, running, acting (in the case of charades) and rather scarily charging towards people with certain characteristics. Afterwards, the officers divided into position-specific meetings for focused discussions and Q&A. The day ended with an intense dogeball game, inter-chapter socializing, and a long awaited dinner. Hopefully the event helped the advisers and the officers form both friendships and ideas, just as the section officers had aimed. southernsectreas@cafbla.org