Spring Mission Edition

Spring 2013

Issue 3

Mission edition A

a section with a mission PRESIDENT’S CORNER Dear Mission Valley FBLA, This year has gone by so quickly with only one more month remaining until the State Leadership Conference (SLC)! It has truly been an honor serving as your first Mission Valley Section President. During these past few months, I have had the pleasure of meeting so many dedicated members whose passion for FBLA reminds me of why I love this organization so much. Hearing members cheer with excitement at the Big Stars Awards Ceremony, seeing members network and have fun at Big League Dreams, and watching FBLA members transform into amazing leaders at the first Mission Valley FBLA Section Leadership Conference were definitely highlights of this year!

I want to commend every single member in Mission Valley FBLA who participated in Section Projects, recruited new members, and attended the Section Leadership Conference, making our first year as a section a true success. Congratulations to the members who qualified for SLC; our next goal is to make Mission Valley stand out at SLC next month in Santa Clara from April 18-21, so be sure to keep studying. I have no doubt that Mission Valley will again rise to the top in Making it Big and Pioneering Possibilities! Remember that if you have any questions or need any assistance, I am only an email away. Do not hesitate to email me at yoo@cafbla.org.

SINCERELY, YADANAR OO, MISSION VALLEY SECTION PRESIDENT

UPCOMING EVENTS April 18-21: State Leadership Conference at the Hyatt Regency, Santa Clara April 25: Deadline for BAA America Level

JUMP START! The school year is coming to a close and new officers are being elected which means that it’s time to prepare for a new FBLA year! You might be thinking, isn’t it a little early to be planning for the next school year? My answer is “No, it’s never too early!” The summer is actually the perfect time to start planning. Use the 2-month vacation to train your new officers, create goals for the school year, and prepare yourselves for events that happen as soon as school starts up again. Don’t wait for Officers and Advisers Training (OAT) Day, but instead use this valuable time to train your officers by teaching them the basics of FBLA, the duties pertaining to their position, and ambassadorship. Create reasonable goals that will motivate you for competition, membership, community service, fundraising, and any other area your chapter wants to grow in. It’s also a great time for the officer team to create bonds, help each other prepare competitive event materials, and plan meetings. Furthermore, the more you do during the summer, the less stress you’ll have during the school year!

BY: NOELLE MARYNE, VICE PRESIDENT OF MEMBERSHIP

MAKING IT BIG The first ever Mission Valley Section Conference was held at Gabrielino High School on Saturday, February 23, 2013. Over 550 members attended, making it the third largest section conference in the state! Members were able to enjoy a multitude of activities, including workshops and opportunities to network at Big League Dreams. There were many workshops offered to the members with topics ranging from Entrepreneurship to Networking. In addition, members participated in intense competition in their numerous events to win the respect of their peers, plaques, and the chance to participate in the 2013 California FBLA State Leadership Conference. Arcadia received first place for the Mission Valley Section Conference’s Sweepstakes with Gabrielino in second place and Diamond Bar High School right behind in third place. Participants also had the opportunity to meet and network with members from their own chapters as well as other chapters at Big League Dreams. They were able to engage in team-building games as well as competitive activities. Many new relationships were made, even some that will last for a lifetime. Overall, Mission Valley Section’s first Leadership Conference was a phenomenal success! It was a memorable, engaging experience that will be hard to top in the upcoming years!

BY: GREGORY GUNADI SECRETARY-TREASURER

service, education, and progress

Spring 2013

Issue 3

The Mission Valley Section Officer Team would like to thank everyone for helping make our first year a successful one!

CHAPTER UPDATES: GABRIELINO HS

FINDING AN INTERNSHIP

From February 11-16, Gabrielino FBLA actively participated in FBLA-PBL week activities to promote our great organization. On Tuesday, members wore club t-shirts to kick off the week. Wednesday was “Appreciation Day”, so members placed thank you notes and gave gifts to advisers and professional members in gratitude for their hard work. Members then competed for the Mafia head title by suiting up on Thursday. If having the largest Mafia, the head of the mafia receives a crown and ruler of all the mafia. To have the largest mafia, the leader must find people in advance to come to school in business attire and register as part of the leader’s mafia. Finally, towards the end the week on Friday, Gabrielino hosted a carnival that showcased many booths and games, including ring tossing, and hula hoop race to raise money for the March of Dimes. Overall, FBLA-PBL week was a huge success, and encouraged members to become more involved and active with the club while engaging in fun activities throughout the week.

BY: WILLIAM LIN, LEADERSHIP ASSOCIATE

Internships are a great way to obtain additional work experience in one’s field of interest. There are many ways to obtain an internship. One of the best available resources to use to obtain an internship is FBLA. Following the internship guide in the California FBLA Internship Project is very beneficial, which provides guidelines and suggestions on how to find an internship. There you can find sample interview questions, and resume tips. Additionally, FBLA is a great program to mention in your interview and resume. Explain how you are an avid member of the largest student business organization in the world, and how your participation in FBLA has helped you develop many skills. Moreover, use your resources at school. A great idea is to consult your teachers and counselors, as well as the school’s Career Center, for guidance. It is very likely that they are aware of various businesses and programs that are looking to hire interns. Additionally, they may know of companies that have hired students in your school from the past, and what sets of skills and qualities employers are seeking in interns. Overall, the best way to start looking for an internship is to use your resources and your network base.

BY: JACKIE HWANG, LEADERSHIP ASSOCIATE

INTRODUCING YOUR 2013-2014 MISSION VALLEY SECTION OFFICER TEAM! President: Michael Ruan  Grade: 11th  School: South Pasadena High School  Why did you join FBLA? FBLA is everything I’m passionate about: business, service, leadership. How much better does it get?

Vice President of Activities: Jackie Hwang  Grade: 10th  School: San Marino High School  Five words to describe yourself: Motivated, Passionate, Dedicated, Reliable, Diligent.

Vice President of Membership: Charlie Diep  Grade: 11th  School: San Gabriel High School  Why did you run for Section? Section office is the next stepping stone for me because I have been a chapter officer for 2 years and I feel like contributing more to my chapter and our section. I also feel that I can make a difference in upcoming middle schools and increasing total membership Public Relations Officer: Madeline Lee  Grade: 10th  School: Arcadia High School  What does FBLA mean to you? FBLA is an indescribably wonderful experience, an organization I am proud to be a part of and honored to represent locally, regionally, and sectionally.

BY: DAPHNE CHEUNG, LEADERSHIP ASSOCIATE

MAKING STATE ONE OF THE BEST! Will you be attending California FBLA’s State Leadership Conference? If so, I’d first like to start off with a “Congratulations!” for being a part of FBLA and making it up to State.

In order to make this conference one of the best, here are a few tips on how you can prepare:  Continue to study and prepare for your competitive events!

State competition is quite intense and will require even more studying than at the Section level. Take more practice tests and read through textbooks related to your competitive event.  Don’t forget to pack all your essentials, including professional clothes, appropriate casual clothes, toiletries, money, study materials, a few number 2 pencils, an eraser, and a valid ID.  Start booking your source of transportation as soon as possible! Whether by bus or plane, booking early will keep costs low.  At the conference, be sure to network with other members and business professionals in workshop sessions. State leadership conference will be a great opportunity to broaden your connections with people from all across California.  Lastly, be excited! There is nothing more than spirit and excitement that can help you get the best out of the conference, so remember to look forward to State and come with a positive attitude!

BY: SARA PAK, VICE PRESIDENT OF ACTIVITES

service, education, and progress