Fall 2014
BRINGING BUSINESS AND EDUCATION TOGETHER
In this issue: Competitive Event Tips
Recruiting Tools
Member Recognition High 5 & BAA
and MORE!!!
National Staff
National Board of Directors Ted L. Harshbarger, Chair
Chris Pendleton
Karen Heslep, Chair-elect
Lisa Weeks
Nebraska PBL State Adviser Peru State College tharshbarger@peru.edu Mountain Plains Region
PBL Adviser Arkansas State University Mountain Home kheslep@asumh.edu Southern Region
Zulema Garcia
KPMG LLP zgarcia@kpmg.com Business/Industry Representative
Lisa Hofstetter
FBLA Adviser Linn County Area Career and Technical Center lhofstetter@brookfield.k12.mo.us North Central Region
Lee C. Marcoux
FBLA Adviser Hidden Valley High School chris.pendleton@threerivers.k12.or.us Western Region State Chair/State Adviser Alabama State Department of Education lweeks@alsde.edu Southern Region
Kelly Wilkerson
FBLA Adviser Warren Township High School kwilkerson@wths.net North Central Region FBLA-PBL Division Presidents
Sam Kessler
FBLA National President fblapres@fbla.org Pennsylvania
FBLA State Director Connecticut State Department of Education lee.marcoux@ct.gov Eastern Region
Beau Cobb
Shea Padilla
David Jones
FBLA-PBL State Chair Arizona Department of Education shea.padilla@azed.gov Western Region
Deb Parman
PBL Adviser Colorado Mesa University dparman@coloradomesa.edu Mountain Plains Region
PBL National President pblpres@fbla.org Rhode Island Professional Division National President pdpres@fbla.org Maryland
ADMINISTRATION Jean M. Buckley President and CEO ceo@fbla.org Elena R. Daly Executive Assistant eassistant@fbla.org Becky Grant, CMP Programs Coordinator programscoordinator@fbla.org Mary Ait Staff Accountant finance@fbla.org Colin Murphy Customer Service/Reception Associate general@fbla.org Jim Spence Customer Service/Mail Associate custsvc@fbla.org MEMBERSHIP Troy D. White Director, Marketing & Membership marketing@fbla.org Lisa Smothers Membership Director membershipdir@fbla.org
Ex-Officio Members
Tom Payne, CPA Director, PBL College/University Relations phibetalambda@fbla.org
Georgia FBLA Executive Director monty@georgiafbla.org Southern Region
Ashley Witherspoon Customer Service/Database Associate custserv@fbla.org
Jean M. Buckley
CONFERENCE Richard Bowen Conference Director conferencedir@fbla.org
Monty C. Rhodes, Past Chair
FBLA-PBL, Inc. President and CEO ceo@fbla.org
2014–15 FBLA National Officer Team
Robert Smothers Conference Manager conferencemgr@fbla.org
Sam Kessler
Sarah Niederee
Annika Mulaney
Nick Crawford
FBLA Southern Region Vice President Ringgold High School, Georgia fblasrvp@fbla.org
Stephen Lock Education Associate education2@fbla.org
Ruben Torres
Ian Mullane
COMMUNICATIONS Laura Morgan Communications Manager communications@fbla.org
FBLA National President Wissahickon High School, Pennsylvania fblapres@fbla.org FBLA National Secretary Bartow High School, Florida fblasec@fbla.org FBLA National Treasurer Warren Township High School, Illinois fblatres@fbla.org
Hiral Patel
FBLA National Parliamentarian Castle Rock High School, Washington fblaparl@fbla.org
Sabrena Sabet
FBLA Mountain Plains Region Vice President Great Bend High School, Kansas fblampvp@fbla.org
FBLA Western Region Vice President Centennial High School, Arizona fblawrvp@fbla.org
EDUCATION Carla Boulton Education Director education@fbla.org
FBLA-PBL, INC. 1912 Association Drive Reston, VA 20191-1591 P 703.860.3334 F 866.500.5610 www.fbla-pbl.org
FBLA Eastern Region Vice President Lakeland High School, New York fblaervp@fbla.org
Tomorrow’s Business Leader Fall 2014 Volume 45, Issue 2 (ISSN 0279-9685). Published quarterly (summer, fall, winter, and spring) by Future Business Leaders of AmericaPhi Beta Lambda. Periodicals postage paid at Herndon, VA and at additional mailing offices. SUBSCRIPTION: $1.25 of the national dues pays for a one-year subscription. Editorial and advertising sales offices at FBLA-PBL, Inc., 1912 Association Drive, Reston, VA 20191-1591 703.860.3334. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Tomorrow’s Business Leader, 1912 Association Drive, Reston, VA 20191-1591. Materials may be reprinted with prior permission of the editor. Editorial submissions are encouraged and should be addressed to the editor. All FBLA-PBL, Inc. publications use the Chicago Manual of Style. Publisher: Jean M. Buckley. Editor: Laura Morgan
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TOMORROW’S
Business Leader
Table of CONTENTS
President’s Message ................................................ 2 FBLA National President Sam Kessler says Step Up to the Challenge March of Dimes ........................................................ 3 FBLA-PBL chapters celebrate Prematurity Awareness Month Competitive Events .................................................. 4 Microsoft, LifeSmarts, & Virtual Business Challenge winners PBL Corner ................................................................ 5 PBL National President Beau Cobb shares tips for competition preparation
Calendar of Events DECEMBER 15 17 JANUARY 1 5 7
Member Recognition ............................................... 6 Learn about High 5 (FBLA-Middle Level) & BAA (FBLA)
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Chapter Tools ........................................................... 8 Resources and FBLA membership benefits
FEBRUARY 1–28
National Fall Leadership Conference ................... 10 Highlights from the NFLCs Money Matters ....................................................... 11 Savings tips and FBLA member discounts Community Service ............................................... 12 Tips for your community service project Fundraising ............................................................ 13 Check out ways for your chapter to raise funds Sponsors & Partners .............................................. 14 Discover FBLA sponsors & partners
2 8–14 9 10 11 12 13 14 20
Dues deadline to receive winter publications Webinar: Preparing for Competitive Events
Action Awareness begins Spring Stock Market Game begins Webinar: Second Semester Recruitment and Retention March of Dimes: Grant application postmark deadline
National Career and Technical Education Month LifeSmarts spring contest Virtual Business Finance Spring Challenge Virtual Business Management Spring Challenge FBLA-PBL Week National Presidents’ Forum & Fight to the Finish Each One Reach One Day Adviser Appreciation Day Professional Dress Day Career Awareness Day FBLA-PBL Pride Day Community Service Day Tomorrow’s Business Leader— spring issue copy deadline
Chapter Highlights ................................................ 15 See projects and activities from chapters across the country
Follow FBLA-PBL @FBLA_National
FutureBusinessLeaders
pinterest.com/fblapblinc
youtube.com/fblapblinc
Welcome from the President by FBLA National President Sam Kessler Last year, more than 200,000 FBLA members put Excellence in Action—gaining valuable networking experience, helping their communities, and competing, all while paving their way toward a successful future. This year, more members than ever before will Step Up to the Challenge and gain unique skills and experiences by taking advantage of all that FBLA has to offer. When thinking how to maximize our FBLA experiences, it is important to consider the importance of challenging ourselves. FBLA has maintained an unparalleled record of success for more than 70 years because we have never shied away from challenge. We are constantly pushing the envelope, developing and implementing new strategies to increase membership benefits. The FBLA national officers are excited to announce the return of some of our favorite membership recruitment and chapter recognition programs like Action Awareness and the Seven Up Challenge.
With Action Awareness, your chapter is tasked with completing activities to promote FBLA-PBL Week and CTE Month to grow your membership and earn recognition at the National Leadership Conference (NLC). Any chapter that successfully increases membership numbers by seven members from last year’s total will be recognized at the NLC in Chicago for completing the Seven Up Challenge. If you are personally able to recruit five new members, you will receive recognition at the NLC for completing Membership Madness. Recruit ten new members and you will be recognized for Membership Mania. Details on these programs (including the submission forms), and any others in the national program of work, can be found online at fbla-pbl.org. Challenge yourself to brainstorm new ways to recruit members at your local chapter. Make a personal goal to recruit at least one new member, and always be on the lookout for interested students. Remember to focus on recruiting underclassmen as members—an early membership ignites passion for FBLA that will only grow with time!
When thinking about recruitment strategies, consider how your chapter has been successful in the past, and visit fbla-pbl.org for some excellent ideas. Employ strategies that you think are well suited to your school’s environment, and don’t be afraid to try new things! Remember that recruitment isn’t everything; local chapter officers should also host activities and events to retain an enthusiastic membership. Existing members are encouraged to seek out FBLA opportunities that interest them beyond the local level. From valuable workshops to exciting competitions, think about all of the opportunities that FBLA has to offer, and challenge yourself to make the best of your time with this organization by registering for conferences and maintaining an active membership. The adventure of another year is underway, and it is up to us to make this year one to remember. On behalf of your entire national officer team, I wish you luck this year. I am excited to see what we all achieve when we Step Up to the Challenge!
ACTE Business Education Student Division Awards FBLA swept the secondary awards, winning all five regions! Congratulations to:
I—Sam Kessler (Pennsylvania) II—Annika Mulaney (Florida) III—Rohan Aggarwal (Iowa) IV—Grant Hutson (Arkansas) V—Trevor Kroger (Nebraska) 2
Tomorrow’s Business Leader
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Competitive EVENTS
FBLA Finalist Malcolm Byron Places Second in U.S. in Microsoft Excel 2010 Congratulations to Malcolm Byron! Certiport hosted their 2014 Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) U.S. National Championship June 20–22, 2014, event in Atlanta, Georgia, where Malcolm placed second in the Excel 2010 competition. A student of Fuquay-Varina High School in North Carolina, Malcolm was one of more than 300,000 students in the United States who entered the competition to demonstrate their level of proficiency in utilizing the world’s foremost desktop computing applications. At the event, finalists participated in timed exams and interviews to demonstrate their expertise in Microsoft Office Word, Excel, and PowerPoint programs.
Selina Winter, Sr. Operations Program Manager, Microsoft Learning; Malcolm Byron; and Aaron Osmond, Vice President, Global Certiport Offering
Virtual Business Management Challenge Congratulations to the LifeSmarts Fall Challenge winners who are eligible to compete at the National Leadership Conference in Chicago.
Congratulations to these Management Challenge Round 1 Qualifiers who are eligible to compete at the National Leadership Conference in Chicago. AZ—Prescott HS Nakai Lake, Luke Arminio, & Dylan Zawicki
CA—Homestead HS Adela Yang & Peggy Xu
CA—Cupertino HS Andrew Sun, Darren Lee, & Raman Kathuria
CO—Challenge School Edwin Bodoni & Evelyn Bodoni
FL—Pensacola HS Basel Aljohani
FL—Palm Beach Gardens HS Jean Philistin & Christina Brown
GA—Savannah Arts Academy Anderson Duong
IL—West Chicago HS Jacob Urban & Cameron Zayia
MO—Thomas W. Kelly HS Bryston Beggs
MI—Cranbrook Kingswood Upper School Allen Luo & Shoya Yoshida
PA—Upper Dublin HS Kevin Duan, Jennifer Xiao, & Nina Cheng
MO—Ft. Zumwalt South HS Cameron Leahy & Jean-Claire Perini
TX—Harker Heights HS Jacob Nichols, Alexander Fermin, & Adam Duvall
NC—West Carteret HS Aaron Pennock & Alex Lewis
WI—Alma Center Lincoln HS Justin Arzt & Jacob Aguilar
sponsored by
ND—Divide County HS Noah Knudson & Evan Eriksmoen OH—Lebanon HS Elijah Kelsey & Jacob Folmer PA—Fox Chapel Area HS Yelim Lee & Sophia Lee VA—George C Marshall HS Will French & Brian Weiss WA—Cheney HS Leanna Eik & Kendra Kendall 4
Tomorrow’s Business Leader
Virtual Business Finance Challenge Congratulations to the top winner of the Fall Virtual Business Finance Challenge: Trong Duc Bui from Southwest Miami Senior High School (Florida) who will receive a $500 cash prize. Enter the spring challenge, February 2–27, 2015. A chapter may enter any number of teams.
Stepping Up to the Competitive Challenge
PBL CORNER
by PBL National President Beau Cobb
Spring is right around the corner, and you know what that means . . . competitive event season is almost here! It’s hard to believe that roughly ten years ago, I was in your shoes studying for my FBLA competitive event. Over 11,000 members will join us this summer in Chicago for the opportunity to compete against the best and brightest in the nation. Make sure that you earn your ticket to this year’s National Leadership Conference! FBLA’s competitive event system is made to test what you have learned in the classroom. Here are a few of my tips for success: • • • • • • •
Begin studying now! Check out the Competitive Event Study Guide that is available at the FBLA-PBL MarketPlace. The night before the competitive event, make sure to get an adequate night’s sleep. Always go with your gut! In most cases, your first instinct for an answer is correct. Don’t second guess yourself! If you are participating in a performance event, make sure to rehearse your presentation as many times as possible. Follow the FBLA-PBL dress code (find it online at bit.ly/FBLA-PBL_dress_code). If you don’t follow the dress code, you may lose points or not even be allowed to compete. Most importantly, have fun!
Our competitive event program highlights the best of the best, and by putting in some extra study hours you can earn scholarships! From my family to yours, have a wonderful holiday season, and feel free to reach out to me at pblpres@fbla.org if you want more advice about our national awards program!
Check Out the MarketPlace The MarketPlace is your national source for emblematics, training, and chapter management merchandise.
Apparel, Publications, Jewelry, Supplies, and Much More! ORDER TOLL FREE:
1.800.507.7007 ORDER ONLINE:
fblamarketplace.com
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Middle Level RECOGNITION
Check out the HIGH 5 Leadership Achievement Program exclusively for FBLA-Middle Level members! 5? h g i H s i t Wha
gh ture throu reer! n e v d a n a Ca on takes you ss, Community, and rea. m a r g o r P a t h ine en Achievem hapter, School, Bus ging activities in eac ip h s r e d a C Le LA llen The High 5eadership Areas: FB u complete five cha five core Lnt recognition as yo Earn insta
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For additional FBLA-Middle Level recognition opportunities, check out the Middle Level Achievement Program (MAP) at bit.ly/fbla-ml_MAP 6
Tomorrow’s Business Leader
FBLA Member RECOGNITION
Accept the BAA Challenge What do study hall, a snow day, and no school all have in common? The answer: These are all excellent times to be working on your Business Achievement Awards (BAA)! The BAA prorgam is an aggressive, self-directed, results‑based business and leadership program designed to complement academics while accelerating your leadership skills. The awards focus on the words surrounding the FBLA Crest: Service, Education, and Progress. The first two levels of the BAA (Future and Business) are recognized at the local level. Members completing the third (Leader) level, are recognized at their state conferences in the spring. Finally, members earning the America level receive an America level ribbon and pin at the National Leadership Conference (NLC). They also have a group photo session at the NLC and are given a press release to send to their local and school newspapers. As you step up to the BAA, here are a few helpful tips to help you get started:
of the stress of pacing yourself to complete the program individually. Take advantage of school breaks. With the exception of the downtime between deadlines, the BAA website is open 24/7! This means you can get a jump start on completing a level of the BAA! Setting one hour per day during the break will help you complete the next level. What better way to start the new year than by receiving an FBLA award? Brag about It! Completing a level of the BAA is a rewarding experience—and you deserve to receive recognition. In addition to receiving a certificate and another bullet point on your résumé, tell your friends and community about your experiences! Local entrepreneurs who find out you’ve completed the BAA marketing project may ask you to help their business with marketing. Don’t forget to encourage your chapter members to complete at least one level of the BAA.
Start now! The best time to start any level of the BAA is right now! The deadline for the first three levels is March 1. Whether you’re a new member soaking in the world of FBLA, or you’re a senior looking for a boost on your scholarship résumé, the BAA program provides excellent opportunities to learn more about FBLA on all levels by encouraging conference attendance and expanding your skill set at the same time. Incorporate your chapter. The BAA program allows members to work on the activities and levels independently. Many chapters use the BAA Bingo game as a chapter meeting icebreaker, sponsor different days for members to wear special shirts, or have a “fight-to-the-finish” competition at the local level to see who can finish their America level first. Incorporating the program with your chapter’s yearly activities will not only boost participant numbers, it will also alleviate some Fall 2014
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Membership RECRUITMENT
Tools to Build Your Chapter FBLA chapters have developed effective programs to excite potential members and recruit them into the largest and oldest business student organization in the world. We must continue to develop innovative programs to excite members about FBLA. Chapter officers and advisers work together to expose as many students as possible to FBLA. They work diligently, creating and utilizing tools to increase their chapter’s membership. The FBLA-PBL National Center has developed several tools designed to help chapters recruit and retain members. Chapter Management Handbook. This redesigned chapter resource is available to all members and advisers on the home page of the website at fbla-pbl.org. Membership Poster. Each chapter received this poster designed to help recruit members. Membership Recruitment Video. This video is designed to be played prior to the beginning of an open house meeting or any class and offers a fast‑paced introduction to FBLA and its many benefits. A link to the video can be found at fbla-pbl.org in the Join Today box. Chapter Challenge. All chapter delegates that complete the Chapter Challenge program and attend the NLC will receive a ribbon. The top states with the most chapters achieving Chapter Challenge, based on weighted percentage of total chapters within the state, will receive national recognition.
Webinars and Google Hangouts. These monthly sessions feature national officers and staff members sharing insights on everything from competitive events to connecting with business professionals. These tools bring awareness to FBLA and excite potential members about the opportunities provided by FBLA. To enhance your recruitment efforts, chapters should host an upbeat meeting for both returning and potential members. These meetings should utilize the inspiring videos created by the national office, the informational presentations and brochures edited by chapters, and a special twist that motivates our potential business leaders, such as incentives, food, and giveaways. As you Step Up to the Challenge, you will continue to increase membership and succeed as the most influential student organization in the world. If you discover a new and innovative way to increase or retain membership, please share it by e-mailing membershipdir@fbla.org.
CHAPTER CHALLENGE Don’t miss the final stage of the Chapter Challenge! Action Awareness (January 15–March 1) Chapters will be required to complete one task for each day of FBLA-PBL Week, one task for CTE month, and one for America Saves to promote awareness of FBLA programs. All chapters that complete Action Awareness will receive ribbons at the NLC. All NLC delegates of FBLA chapters completing all three Chapter Challenge programs (Super Sweeps, Non-Stop November, and Action Awareness) will receive special pins at the NLC.
PRESS PLAY. STEP UP TO THE CHALLENGE. Want to stay up on the latest FBLA news, learn about new programs, sharpen your competitive edge, and even meet your national officers? Visit the FBLA-PBL YouTube page, youtube.com/fblapblinc, to watch webinar and Google+ Hangouts recordings. Press play to Step Up to the Challenge!
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Tomorrow’s Business Leader
Membership BENEFITS
Big
10 Benefits of Membership
1. Competitive Events As a member of FBLA, you have the opportunity to showcase your academic excellence in more than over 50 competitive events! Don’t forget to include state and national award placings on your résumé! It’s a great way to prove you’ve got the skills that employers are looking for. 2. Travel If you like traveling the country, meeting new friends, and building your professional edge, FBLA is the organization for you. With state and national conferences every year, members get the chance to experience new cultures, attend workshops presented by industry professionals, and network with members from across the country! 3. Leadership Opportunities Ever wished you could help lead your peers and help others find new opportunities? FBLA gives members the chance to showcase their leadership on the local, state, and national levels. 4. Scholarships Let’s face it, life can get expensive! Between school tuition and travel to national conferences, the cost of being a college student can take a large chunk out of members’ pockets. There are several scholarships offered at the national level. These include the Distinguished Business Leader Scholarships and many other financial scholarships offered by our organization’s partners!
6. Industry Awareness Have you ever heard of YEF or AICPA? If these acronyms make you say IDK, then note this benefit of FBLA! Our organization partners with over 50 businesses and organizations that provide industry awareness for members. Without FBLA, you might have never heard of YEF, or the Young Entrepreneur Foundation. These connections to the industry may just help you land a dream job with a company or organization you never even knew existed! 7. Civic Consciousness In a recent report, over 75% of young adults mentioned they wish they had a way of giving back to the community. While doing something for the community you live in may seem daunting, FBLA provides students the connection to civic groups and rewards chapter members who help improve the communities where they live and work. 8. Professional Development & Presentation Skills When seeking a job, the first thing an employer will ask is what professional skills you have. How great would it be if you could respond with concrete examples of professional development and specific skills mastered? FBLA helps define these skills through programs like the BAA, which requires members to create professional portfolios, give presentations to student groups, and enhance their business skills. 9. Internships and Job Opportunities Did you know that you can apply to be an IFL or NLC intern? These interns earn valuable experience managing a national conference by getting hands‑on experience. Look for more information in the NLC Conference Guide coming soon!
10. Fun 5. Networking Opportunities Let’s face it, there is no better reason to join an It has already been said that FBLA gives members organization than the chance to travel, but let’s really focus on building because it is FUN! FBLA your network! Creating connections to business members have a blast professionals, workshop presenters, and other making new friends, student members will help you establish a huge seeking the thrill of network base. In today’s competitive market, it’s having their name a lot more who you know and not just what you called on stage at the know! NLC, and seeing the results of their hard work all year! The best chapter activity is the one in which members are having a blast!
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National Fall Leadership CONFERENCE
More than 5,600 members, advisers, and guests representing 39 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands attended the 2014 National Fall Leadership Conferences held in Washington, D.C.; Minneapolis, MN; and New Orleans, LA. Opening keynote speaker Josh Shipp shared how attendees can face and overcome challenges. Business partners and professionals presented workshops ranging from fundraising to networking, helping members continue their leadership journey.
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The New Orleans NFLC featured two exclusive workshop tracks: PBL Pathways and the FBLA‑Middle Level 360° Leadership Experience. From tours at the FBLA-PBL National Center (D.C.) and KPMG (MN), to the March of Dimes Blue Jeans for Babies Dance at each conference, there was something for everyone in attendance. “This year’s NFLC is one I won’t soon forget!” said Oklahoma FBLA President Holland Gray. “I can’t wait to see what’s in store for NLC 2015!”
Money MATTERS
All Aboard the Savings Express by PBL National Treasurer Karthik Krishnan
I know that you’ve heard it before—start saving now because $100 a month today will yield a million dollars when you retire. It’s a great goal and when you’re making enough to justify putting that amount away, I completely recommend it. Right now, that might not be affordable and the future can seem far way. At the end of the day though, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t start saving what you can, when you can. Just two quarters a day for the next year will be a great start towards paying for your flight to the 2015 National Leadership Conference in Chicago. Imagine your relief when you are looking for ways to fund your trip and realize you’re almost there. Saving doesn’t always have to be large amounts for the long haul—it can just be small increments that add up over time. So how do you start saving? First, write up a few short‑term and long‑term goals. Perhaps you want to save for a down payment on your first car or put some money away for college.
Whatever the goal may be, just price it out and put it in writing. Second, figure out a place to put your money away. It should be a place that you have specifically dedicated to that goal. For you that might be a small shoebox at the back of your closet or a “young savers” savings account at your local bank—whatever works for you. Many banks have these types of “custodial” accounts that your parents can open for you so that you can keep your savings in one place. Finally, put a little bit away every chance you get. Get into the habit of putting some money away before you start spending it. I promise that you’ll be impressed with what you can put together with a little discipline and some time. That’s it—that is all it takes to start the lifelong journey of saving. For tips and tricks on how to save, visit FBLA-PBL partner America Saves at americasaves.org.
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Community SERVICE
Connecting Your Chapter to the Community through Volunteering by Josh Seides
What should we do for community service? This is the tough question many FBLA chapters are asking themselves this time of year. With so many meaningful opportunities for service out there, here are a few tips to make the most out of your members’ time. Do not wait for them to come to you. Volunteering is hard to navigate in today’s market with the plethora of organizations and service projects out there for youth to choose from. Many of your local community organizations will not have time to come and look for you; your chapter needs to go to them. The first step in contacting organizations is to meet in person. Most professionals just do not have the time to go through dozens of calls to get back to you. Instead, consider taking your local community outreach officer, president, and any other active members to the organization’s office. Stop by, introduce your FBLA chapter, and talk to them about what opportunities are available for your members. This way, organizations can ensure your chapter is committed, professional, and willing to work. Get the PR on your tail. Fast. One of the major focal points in your volunteering efforts should be the media. After setting up potential dates with the organization, have your community outreach officer, or other officer in charge of media relations, contact a local newspaper or bulletin. Explain what your FBLA chapter is doing, how many members will be involved, and how this will impact your local community. You will often need to submit a press release to newspapers to get them interested, typically chocked full of captivating pictures. Getting press for your volunteering activities can attract a variety of potential business partners and possible sponsorships for your chapter and your service project. Make sure to publicize through Facebook and Twitter as well!
Organize early. Before the actual date of your activity, your chapter needs to make sure all the logistics are in place. Specifically, focus on member sign-up. At a local chapter meeting, inform members about the volunteer project and get interested students to sign up. Create a list, possibly on Google Drive, to keep track of who can help, available times, and their contact information. Assign participants roles in the project early on so they can prepare ahead of time for the service project. With these tips, you can ensure your volunteering efforts will be time well spent for your community. Not only will your community have benefitted, but your members will also feel a sense of responsibility and pride as well. Make sure to reach out and stay involved to give back, one project at a time. Josh Seides is a junior at Alpharetta High School in Atlanta, Georgia, and vice president of his FBLA chapter. He is the founder of the nationally‑recognized Technocademy, Inc., a nonprofit that teaches technology to senior citizens nationwide (technocademy.org). His work has been published or is forthcoming in Philadelphia Social Innovation Journal, Nonprofit World, and American Careers, among others.
Congratulations to Steven Brown of Warren Township High School! Steven placed second in the Men’s Wearhouse Prom Rep program and won $15,000.
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National FUNDRAISERS Association Motor Club Marketing (AMCM) AMCM offers a roadside assistance program that earns profit now and on renewals. E-mail fbla@amcmonline.com, call 605.254.8876, or visit amcmfbla.com. Country Meats Country Meats features fresh smoked snack sticks that everyone loves! Sell for $1 and receive 45% profit! For FREE SAMPLES call 800.277.8989 or visit countrymeats.com/samplepack. DormCo.com Provides FREE $5 DormCo.com gift cards to give to each senior in your high school with your chapter earning 15% of all sales. Call Jeff at 888.925.2899, e-mail FBLA@DormCo.com, or visit DormCo.com/FBLA. Krispy Kreme Fundraising Krispy Kreme Fundraising offers doughnuts, BOGO cards, certifications, and coffee to help your chapter raise some dough! Visit krispykreme.com/fundraising, e-mail fundraising@krispykreme.com, or call 800.4KRISPY. Ozark Delight Ozark Delight Lollipops are only available for fundraising. They do not sell to stores or other retail markets. Call 800.334.8991 or visit ozarkdelight.com. Popcorn Palace Offers premium popcorn in lots of flavors guaranteed to be fresh and delectable. Keep 50% profit upfront. To get your free information kit, call 800.873.2686 or visit popcornpalace.com/Home/Fundraising. Pride Distributors Pride Distributors specializes in producing “Your Town”-Opoly, a custom board game. Call Pride Distributors at 800.451.5442 or visit Townopoly.net. Schermer Pecans Offers a delicious and healthy fundraising product. Call 800.841.3403, e-mail schermerpecans@yahoo.com or visit pecantreats.com. School Spirit Coffee School Spirit Coffee provides personalized packaging for their coffee fundraiser. Call 800.570.1443, e-mail Debbie@schoolspsiritcoffe.com, or visit schoolspiritcoffee.com. Tom-Wat Fundraising Tom-Wat Fundraising features multiple fundraisers from catalog sales to cookie dough and much more. Call 800.243.9250, e-mail sales@tomwat.com, or visit tomwat.com. Zencaus Zencaus offers FBLA gift cards that can be redeemed for a wide selection of products. Call 888.960.6148, e-mail customerservice@zencaus.com, or visit fblagiftcards.com. Zinch.com Zinch.com connects you with scholarships and best-fit colleges. Zinch will donate $1 to your chapter for every member who signs up! Visit Zinch.com/FBLA or e-mail Rob@zinch.com.
PROMOTE YOUR FUNDRAISER
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Sponsors & PARTNERS
Dardis Academy is one of the best professional training opportunities for high school and college students— period. Our students gain skills in oral and written communication, professional image, business etiquette, and persuasive communication skills. They are able to prove their work ethic, character, and mental toughness through our unique program. The Dardis Academy lays the foundation for a solid future in business. The program provides executive training from world‑class instructors, hands-on experience for a powerful résumé, and an opportunity to earn college credit. Students participate in an interactive training class and internship. They learn best-in-class leadership skills and techniques, and have an opportunity to apply what they’ve learned in the real world. Following this experience students are invited to an exclusive networking event with companies looking to hire Dardis graduates. To learn more, e-mail info@dardisinc.com or call 800.720.6329.
Gain the Oracle Edge with Oracle Academy. Technology is everywhere. It is ubiquitous across industries and drives the global economy. It permeates our everyday lives, and understanding computer science and coding is critical to global progress and prosperity. What you study matters. Opportunities are plentiful for students with strong computer science and technology skills. Oracle Academy wants to help you gain a competitive advantage. We work with schools and educators around the world to provide access to world‑class technology, expertly developed curriculum, training, and resources to help students get hands-on experience with industry‑leading technology and gain the Oracle edge. Learn more at oracle.com/academy.
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Tomorrow’s Business Leader
Since 1993, College Works Painting has been in the business of providing extraordinary training in leadership and management to college students by way of a real-world entrepreneurial experience. Interns learn to create a marketing plan, conduct sales, hire employees, work directly with clients and manage a team of employees. Each intern is paired with a mentor that teaches our proven business system. The average intern earns over $9,000 over the course of the program. Rated by Princeton Review as one of the most selective and well compensating internships, College Works is available in over 25 states for outstanding college students. Check us out at youtube.com/ CollegeWorksInc to see us featured in the news and testimonials from alumni. For more information or to apply, visit us at collegeworks.com.
Lead 2Feed reminds you of their student leadership program that’s a proven process for students to become passionate, service-minded leaders for life. Advisers receive free project-based lessons aligned to Common Core State Standards. Lessons are leadership-driven activities centered on the challenge of solving a hunger issue on a local or global level. Student teams can enter the Lead2Feed World Hunger Leadership Challenge for $500,000 in donation prize money to nonprofit hunger organizations. For more information and to register visit lead2feed.com.
Earn 50% in profits by selling a fun, unique product with Popcorn Palace! Our gourmet popcorn fundraising program offers 13 handcrafted flavors in various price ranges. There are no up-front costs or an order minimum. Best of all, you keep your profits up front, and your order will come pre-sorted. To get your free information kit, call us at 800.873.2686 or visit popcornpalace.com/ Home/Fundraising.
Get ready to pitch your creative business idea! Mercer University is looking for students with big business ideas to be the next entrepreneurial leaders. Students interested in pursuing a major in Mercer’s Stetson School of Business & Economics are invited to come to campus on January 31, 2015, for the Business Scholarship Challenge. Learn more about Mercer’s business programs, pitch your business idea to a panel of judges, and compete for a four-year business scholarship to Mercer—ranging up to full tuition. You are eligible to attend! To attend you must complete the registration form for the Business Scholarship Challenge. Then prepare your business model and get ready to pitch your idea! For more information about the competition visit bethebear.com/business-scholarshipchallenge.cfm.
National Youth Leadership Forum (NYLF): Business Innovation takes place in San Francisco and New York, two of the largest business hubs in the United States. The forum gives students direct access to professionals and corporations driving today’s economy. Students enjoy engaging curriculum, challenging MBA-style simulations and case studies, the insight of university admissions representatives, and can receive up to two (2) college credits. NYLF Business Innovation allows students to test drive their future career at the top business universities, such as Stanford University, University of California, Berkeley, and Pace University, in a way not offered anywhere else, while providing the applied skills that top colleges and employers are seeking. NYLF Business Innovation is powered by Envision, the premier college & career readiness program provider for high school students. For more information, visit envisionexperience.com/explore-ourprograms/nylf-business-innovation.
Chapter HIGHLIGHTS
NEBRASKA
h just ing for Crete Habitat for Humanity. Wit eer unt vol oon ern aft an nt spe ers mb Fifteen Crete FBLA me t of paint. age was scraped and received a fresh coa gar nt’s ide res te Cre a rk, wo of rs hou 1 ½ happy the homeowner was when how see to e nic s wa “It s. eer unt vol ny The job went quickly with so ma A member Jessilyn C. we were helping her out,” remarked FBL
ALABAMA Auburn High School FBLA held a “Leaf it to Us” fundraiser with yard cleaning services. The cost was $20 per hour for five dedicated workers per hour. All proceeds benefit FBLA and the March of Dimes. Members and advisers were avail able to assist with debris removal, rak ing, planting, placing pine straw, an d other tasks that did not require power tools.
GEORGIA Malcom Bridge Middle School FB LA members made fall decorations for Lanier Garde ns nursing home and delivered them to residents. “It w as amazing seeing them light up when we talked to them,” said chapter officer Claire Miller. FBLA plans to do this again soon!
KANSAS Clifton-Clyde FBLA held its first Powder Puff Football Game to raise awareness for breast cancer and to raise money for the American Cancer Society. The freshmen and sophomore girls played against the junior and senior girls. The guys took on the roles of coaches, refs, chain gang members, announcers, and yell leaders. Members of the band played the national anthem and FBLA members were photographers and videographers for the game. The chapter sold T-shirts to raise money, took donations at the admissions gate, and provided a concession stand for a free-will donation. Even though it was a bit chilly, a good crowd came out to support this endeavor. A great time was had by all, and $712.79 was raised for the American Cancer Society. Fall 2014
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Chapter HIGHLIGHTS
FLORIDA
operate Durant FBLA members tCougar Cave, a studen ore. run school supplies st ery Cougar Cave is open ev day before school and and Thursdays, during lunch Tuesdays e and at was used for storag th e ac sp es pi cu oc d an ts. “The most popular en ev s pu m ca to s le sa ticket cluded sticky notes, in ve ha ve Ca ar ug Co items at said FBLA Chapter ,” ils nc pe d an s ok bo cards, note ng. Historian Nicole Garli store, s include opening the ie lit bi si on sp re r be Mem aff it, and collecting st to rs ee nt lu vo g lin schedu do s. “The students really money from purchase ter d of them,” said Chap everything. I’m so prou Adviser Ruth Rothe. den said she gives w Bo m Pa l pa ci in Pr Durant store is a welcome he “T . ks ar m gh hi ve Cougar Ca ally s,” Bowden said. “It’s re addition to the campu b skills and real world jo ts en ud st e th ng vi gi not about making a t’s “I . id sa e sh ” e, nc rie expe make a profit. It’s to pe ho e w gh ou th al profit, ople skills they’ll pe e th ng ni ar le ts en about stud need for life.”
PENNSYLVANIA Forbes Road CTC FBLA m embers hosted their first Veterans Day Br eakfast. Veterans from a local senior comm unity, the American Legion, and ve terans from the staff were invited to a fre e breakfast. Students gave a brief pr esentation about each branch of the milita ry, then invited veterans to speak about their time in the service. The culinary students served breakfast to the veterans, and each veteran was awarded a Certificate of Thanks from the staff and students of Forbes Road. An awesom e time was had by the students and the ve terans. A bake sale was held to fund the even t, and the extra proceeds will be donate d to Twilight Wish, the state service project.
WYOMING The Cheyenne South High FBLA Chapte r completed a very big community service project! The pro ject was running the Gobble Wobble children’s race on Saturd ay, November 1st. This race is part of the 5K Turkey Trot. The objective of both races is to raise awareness and funds for the local homeless shelter. The kids who ran the race were between ages five to twelve. The older children ran nearly a mile, while the you nger kids ran about 1/3 of a mile. Chapter members collected donatio ns from local businesses for goodie bag s that were given to each participant. Additionally a prize bag wa s awarded to the boy and girl winner of each race. Members also visited with media to promote the Turkey Trot/G obble Wobble. This is the 3rd year the chapter has worked with the Comea Shelter to make the race succes sful.
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Tomorrow’s Business Leader
Chapter HIGHLIGHTS
ILLINOIS Stevenson High School ho sted their 4th annual Kick ball Fundraiser with Mundele in, Vernon Hills, Warren Township, and Wauconda High Scho ols. A big crowd turned out to raise money for the Mar ch of Dimes, while playin g a fun and competitive game of Kickball. It was a chilly Th ursday night, but members enjo yed socializing with each other and supporting FBLA’s nationa l charitable organization.
Submit your chapter news at bit.ly/fbla-pbl_news TEXAS Cinco Ranch FBLA held its annual social. “Scare Away Hunger” Halloween xes This fun and memorable event mi the charity and fun together, creating trickperfect combination. Instead of canned or-treating, members collected ted food before the event to be dona al to Katy Christian Ministries, a loc y of nonprofit organization. On the da ught Scare Away Hunger, members bro e their cans and dressed up in festiv for the costumes. Prizes were awarded the member with the most cans and ter best costume. This year, the chap on by members showed their dedicati collecting 594 cans!
MISSOURI Grand River Tech nical School FBLA hosted a 5K Colo Walk/Run with 6 r 5 participants. Ch ildren and adults “collected” colors along the course, celebrating the completion of th e 5K by receiving the final color by the school’s stad ium. Participants enjoyed this fun healthy family ex and perience. Procee ds from the even helped chapter m t embers attend th e National Fall Leadership Confe rence. The chapte r plans to make th Color Walk/Run a e n annual event.
Fall 2014
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BRINGING BUSINESS AND EDUCATION TOGETHER
Fall 2014