NLC NLC TOOL TOOL BOX BOX Mountain Plains Newsletter SPRING 2019
TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 - MPVP Message 2 - SLC Recap 3 - Packing List 4 - How to be a Good Voting Delegate 5 - Competition Tips 6 - National Office Campaign Tips 7 - How to Maximize your NLC Experience 8 - Things to do in San Antonio, Texas 9 - National Councils 10 - PBL 11 - Farewells
MPVP MESSAGE
Greetings Future Business Leaders! The Mountain Plains Council and I are so excited to bring you the spring edition of the Mountain Plains Newsletter. As we head into National Leadership Conference Season it’s important for you to take advantage of the opportunities that the NLC provides. National Leadership Conference is a place where you can compete, connect and collect. Compete by preparing for your competitions to the best of your ability and being confident during your presentation. Connect by meeting and networking with new members from across the world and by making lasting friendships with your fellow FBLA members. Collect by getting the W in your event but also by gaining knowledge from the incredible workshop presenters. I’m so excited to hear about your NLC experiences and to see how you all will create, lead and inspire at Nationals! You all have worked incredibly hard to get to this point and you should be proud of your accomplishments thus far. I can’t wait to see how you all will continue to create, lead and inspire at Nationals! See you all at NLC in San Antonio, TX this summer! Maddy Remington FBLA Mountain Plains Region VP fblampvp@fbla.org | @fblampvp on instagram | fbla-pbl.org
TEXAS FBLA SLC "This year I was not able to attend the full fbla slc because of conflicts, but I still competed for my event. It was a unique experience because it was in my home city of houston. I had to present a case study and my group was the first one presenting bright an early at 8 am. However, my partner and I had made a mistake and forgot to read the instructions, thus we didn’t realize that the judges would be asking us questions throughout our presentation. So, our 7 minute presentation got compressed down to 3… that was the worst case study I have ever given to say the least. And while we fought the judges afterwards, what this mishap taught me was that you cannot expect everything to go your way. Even if you think you are prepared, there can always be a curveball thrown your way. Somehow we made it to nationals, but more than winning my partner and I learned to be open to everything. We will now always read the instructions, and adapt our presentation accordingly. I can’t wait to compete this summer :)" -Sakshee Jain, Communications Director “The Texas FBLA SLC was tons of fun! We had our State Conference in the bustling city of Houston this year and the city was full of surprises. Even though we had a little rain ⅔ days, we made up for it with our exciting opening and closing sessions. We had some incredible speakers, including Chris C Speaks for our opening session keynote! Additionally, we had some awesome officer candidates this year who campaigned during the second day, and we also had lots of vendors set up talking to members! Our awesome state officer team collected money for the march of dimes using baby jeans and we raised tons of money! Texas FBLA had a bunch of incredible competitors at State and we have lots advancing to Nationals in San Antonio this summer! Can’t wait to see everyone kill it in their competitions at NLC!” -Maddy Remington, MPVP
SLC RECAPs
NORTH DAKOTA FBLA SLC "The 2019 North Dakota State Leadership Conference began on Sunday, March 31st, and lasted through April 2nd. We were very fortunate to have had our Mountain Plains Region Vice President, Maddy Remington, in attendance for the entire conference. On Sunday, members that participated in chapter project events competed before heading to the opening ceremony where community leaders and FBLA members received awards for their excellence in FBLA programs, service to the March of Dimes, dedication to FBLA, and many others. We also listened to the keynote speaker for the conference, Jeff Becker, who taught us that nothing, not even our fears, can hold us back. The second day of the conference was filled with competition, workshops, campaigns, and the election of the 2019-2020 North Dakota state officer team. The day ended with a country music performance for ND FBLA by the North Dakotan sister duo, Tigirlily. The State Leadership Conference came to a close with the Awards of Excellence Ceremony on Tuesday morning. It’s safe to say the 2019 North Dakota State Leadership Conference was a success. We are very excited to see many members advancing to the National Leadership Conference this summer and how they choose to Create, Lead, and Inspire. " - Kennedy Shereck, Membership Director
SLC RECAPs
NEBRASKA FBLA SLC "The Nebraska State Leadership Conference last month was truly a transformative last chapter in my FBLA journey. I’ve attended SLC ever since I started in FBLA, and the entire experience has been full of memories that have largely defined the past four years. Whether it be forging meaningful relationships with members across the state, participating in impactful event competition, or listening to the campaign platforms of candidates, SLC has truly exemplified the core thesis of a business conference: connection. You see, business is a very “social” discipline, one where you have to interact and start conversations with other people to reap the benefits. The Nebraska State Leadership Conference echoes this principle by allowing members to be “themselves” as they meet with business professionals and others within the state. This SLC, I competed in several team performance events as well as two individual performance events: Job Interview and Future Business Leader. These events tested my speaking skills as well as general career-oriented preparedness in a resoundingly business setting. As I look forward to college, I know that FBLA’s competitive events, particularly performance-oriented ones, will help me as I look to start a new company or enter the financial world. In addition, I also attended a lot of the candidate-oriented events to listen to speeches and understand everyone’s platforms before making a final vote. Finally, I spoke with many members across diverse sections of Nebraska and also talked with some local business professionals during socialization sessions." - Akshay Sharma, Communications Director
SLC RECAPs
Packing list 1. Business Attire (2-3 sets) 2. Shirts and Pants (I recommend shorts because Texas is hot) 3. A Camera (to remember your NLC experience) 4. Sunglasses!! 5. A fanny pack or purse (to carry the essentials) 6. Your ID (for people who are flying) 7. A reusable water bottle (to stay hydrated in the texas heat) 8. Competition Materials (laptop, papers, products, etc.) 9. Money for food or fun 10. Hair and Makeup products 11. Business or dressy shoes 12. Headphones and chargers (for those long travel days) 13. Sunscreen!! 14. A Notebook (to take notes at workshops!)
how to be a good voting delegate It is an honor to be appointed as a chapter or state voting delegate. You have been selected to be the voice of your local or state chapter, and with that comes responsibility. Voting delegates play such a vital role in FBLA, so it is important to be thorough when selecting who will lead our organization for the next year. Here are some tips that are sure to help you when elections roll around at our National Leadership Conference this summer in San Antonio, Texas. Attend the campaign rally. It is important for voting delegates to attend the campaign rallies because it is a brief opportunity to know a little more about the candidates and their goals. You get to hear them give their speeches and answer a few questions. At the rally, it’s a great idea to take some notes for discussion later with your chapter to make it easier to come to a final decision. Visit all of the campaign booths. Visiting all of the campaign booths is one of the best things a voting delegate can do. Only visiting one or two does not provide enough information to make an informed decision. Yes, if you attend the campaign rally, you do get to hear their speeches and ask some questions, but conversing with a candidate at their booth offers a much different perspective. You have the opportunity to learn more about them. It also gives each candidate the chance to further explain what they would do if elected if elected because let’s face it, it’s difficult to cram all of your plans for a national organization into a 2 minute speech. Attend the voting session! This may seem like an obvious one, but it is by far the most important. Every single vote counts. By not attending, you are missing an opportunity. The fate of FBLA rests in your hands as you get to elect who will lead the national organization. As you head into the National Leadership Conference as a voting delegate, keep in mind the honor you have earned and how you will accomplish your
competition tips!! Don’t be nervous! -Nats is a big deal, and many fall under the stress of such a major competition! You have to understand that you deserve to come here, and thus are in an equal shot of winning. Do your best, have fun, and that will ease your tensions. Practice, Practice, Practice -They say practice makes perfect, and it is absolutely true. The more your comfortable with your event, the better you will do under pressure, and thus better overall. Memorize your lines -If you have a presentation event, the best way to win is make sure you sound clean and polished. Memorizing your lines are just an easy step to making sure your on stage during that award ceremony. Take practice tests -The best place to look for possible questions or topics, is either test frenzy, a textbook or quizlet. Better yet, you could use real life application skills and ask anyone you know who works in the specific sector to give you a couple of pointers. Look on youtube or FBLA website for previous projects -This is especially beneficial for speaking events. By searching up your specific event you might be able to understand what the judges are looking for at nationals, and how you should be preparing.
campaign tips
When running for an office, it’s important to have a strong campaign. Here are some helpful tips for running for an FBLA office! Campaign theme A strong campaign includes a memorable slogan. Candidates often choose slogans that rhyme or go with their names. The goal is for members to remember you and what you will bring to the organization. Goals It’s important to establish realistic goals. While some goals seem like great ideas in theory, they may not be possible to achieve. Try to be sure that you are able to explain how your goals can be reached. This will only make your campaign stronger. You can make a better impression as a candidate when you’re able to show what impact you can make as an officer. Materials When deciding what campaign materials you will be distributing, it’s a good idea to choose items that members can use throughout the conference. When they use your campaign materials, they will be reminded that you are a candidate and may be more likely to vote in your favor. The more people you can reach with your name, the better. Campaign Speech When running for office, it is crucial to have a good speech so members know your goals, reason for running, and why you would be best fit for the position. Your speech should not be too long, nor too short, but just enough to get your point across. If you can, incorporate your campaign theme into your speech. Respect One of the most important things to remember when campaigning is to always respect the other candidates. No matter how badly you want to win, bashing other people and their goals will not help.
` By: Kennedy Shereck & Kaylie Reese
How to Maximize Your NLC Experience 1. Network! FBLA conferences are a great place to network so go out and try to meet as many people as you can. FBLA members are so friendly and we like to make friends with fellow members! You never know who you might meet or where they're from! 2. Pin trading is such a fun part of NLC, make sure you get some of your state's pins from your adviser or state director so you can trade with members from other states or countries! 3. Attend the workshops! I know it probably sounds like the last thing you want to do in a city full of crazy tourist attractions but I promise they can only help not hurt you. They are super interactive and lots of them have tips that will help you grow your local chapter. 4. Go meet the National Officer Candidates! Even if you're not a state or local voting delegate, getting to know the individuals who will serve you this year can be a great learning experience! You can learn a lot about FBLA and what your leader’s platforms are. If you are a voting delegate, you can meet the people you are voting for and get some insight into what they want to do to better FBLA. 5. Sightsee! San Antonio is full is a dynamic city full of culture! You never know what interesting facts you may find out. If you don't know any places in San Antonio, the Alamo and Riverwalk are both great places to start! If you are planning to go out and sightsee in the city, i would recommend planning out your travels before hand and making sure everything is open it at the time you plan to go. 6. Make sleep a priority! Getting enough sleep before a conference is always a great idea. You will be doing lots each day of the conference, whether that's attending workshops or sightseeing, you don't want to be tired when you're out and about! 7. While you're at NLC, I recommend trying out some food you've never had before. NLC is a great opportunity to open yourself to the unknown and try things you've never done before, so don't stick to the regular old McDonalds and Chick-Fil-A diet. Try out some local restaurants and cuisine. (sidenote: TexMex is bomb!)
Things to do in San Antonio, Texas Get in the Texan spirit and take a gander at the North Star Mall Cowboy Boots. (Free) Hang out in Market Square, maybe do some shopping or grab a bite to eat. (Free) Walk along the famous San Antonio Riverwalk. (Free) Explore the magnificent Natural Bridge Caverns. ($18) Tour the historical San Antonio Missions Park. (Free) Take a GO RIO San Antonio Cruise boat tour along the beautiful riverwalk. ($12) See all the amazing world records in the Guinness World Records Museum. ($23) Be amazed by the sea life at the San Antonio Seaworld park. ($42) Believe it... or not at Ripley’s Believe It or Not Odditorium. ($23) Go see the crazy wax creations at Ripley’s Wax Museum. ($23) Ride every Texas sized roller coaster or every kiddie ride at Six Flags Fiesta Texas. ($63) Remember The Alamo and go see it in downtown San Antonio! (Free) Check out the crazy cool night light show at the San Fernando Cathedral. (Free) Find more San Antonio attractions and buy tickets at www.visitsanantonio.com **Check pricing and hours on the websites for these attractions, not all are open 24 hours a day.**
national councils Many FBLA members yearn for more. They understand the importance of involvement in this organization, but many don’t know how to become more involved. Getting to lead on the national level of any organization is an amazing feat; it allows for ample opportunities to network, develop a greater passion for said organization, and make a direct impact on a large scale. Often times people believe that the only way to get involved on the national level is to become a national officer. That may be true in other CTSO programs, but FBLA is the exception. FBLA allows for involvement through the national executive councils. Speaking on behalf of the National Mountain Plains Region council, I can say that applying to serve on the National Mountain Plains Executive Council has been one of the best decisions I have ever made. It has helped me gain confidence in myself, my work, and grasp a better knowledge of this organization as a whole. It has allowed me to go beyond just being a member, and give back to the organization that has given me so much. Not only that, but it has given me seven new best friends from all over the nation. It has been truly enlightening to be able to see all of the work that our national officers do behind the scenes, in order to allow our state and local chapters to run so efficiently and successfully. In addition to the relationships and knowledge developed through our time as council members, we given a sizeable amount of responsibility along with endless freedom. We must adapt to this environment, become more organized, work hard when nobody is watching, and be creative in times without catalyst. Discovering new ways to create, lead, and inspire is perhaps the most exhilarating part of being an FBLA member, and this experience is elevated as a national council member. We all strongly encourage you to apply to hold a position on a national council next year. If you’re wondering what exactly it is we do, we all have respective positions that have their own responsibilities.  Throughout the year we were entrusted with task of coordinating social media campaigns to promote the National Program of Work, the council, our newsletter, and FBLA as a whole. We also published a monthly newsletter, The Mountain Plains Newsletter. Each of us are assigned with articles to write, graphics to make, as well as doing polls or question and answer sessions on social media for the graphics. Alongside this, we were also tasked with items such as finding donation sponsors for NLC, reaching out to government officials, meeting via google hangout for one meeting a month, sending out emails to chapters, or any other odd job that we can help out with. Through this work, you are able to gain a whole new perspective and passion for FBLA. If you are wanting to apply but are not sure where to begin, keep your eye on the social media of the new Mountain Plains Vice President that will be elected at NLC. They will post more information about applications towards the end of the summer. Outside of the regional vice president councils, the national Parliamentarian, Treasurer, Secretary, and President also have their own councils to apply to. The Mountain Plains Council strongly encourages each and every one of you to apply for a position on this council in the upcoming year. There is something for everyone in this organization, so be sure to cease every opportunity you are given in this organization, because you never know what passions, paths, and unopened doors lie ahead of you.
Written by: Drake Vorderstrasse and Sadie Shriver
why to join pbl after high school So, you’re a graduating senior and done with FBLA? Wondering what to do next? Well look no more, as you may know, there’s already a wonderful organization that exists for your postsecondary education: Phi-Beta Lambda. Phi Beta Lamba is essentially a Career and Technical Education organization that carries FBLA’s introductory promise all the way into the collegiate level. Activities in PBL can complement your academic experience and give you an edge in your future career. You can take on leadership and in your job interviews, you can point to those positions you held within the largest collegiate business organization in the world. Moreover, just like FBLA, PBL conferences are GREAT places to network with business professionals and fellow members. On the collegiate level, networking is even more important because it can make getting a job or a mentor for a future career extremely easy. Thus, if you are even thinking about going into a business-oriented career, joining PBL is the way to go, because it will not only look great on a resume, but will allow you to gain impactful skills that will extend far beyond your academic experience. In addition, PBL continues FBLA’s legacy of competition by offering a wide array of objective and performance events. This allows you apply your academic knowledge to areas outside of the classroom within the frame of challenging exercises that will test your creativity. These are also great ways to develop skills, as most of the business world is based on displaying a cogent understanding of concepts and displaying that understanding through good presentation skills. In the end, know that the end of FBLA is by no means truly the end of the development of your business panache. Continue exploring, and PBL is a great way to do so in the future. Written by: Akshay Sharma
farewells
Drake Vorderstrasse Executive Assistant "Serving as the Executive Assistant on the Mountain Plains Regional Council has been an unforgettable experience. Having the chance to cooperate with several other members from various states of the Mountain Plains is an opportunity that has truly shaped me as an individual and a leader. Being a small part in the huge strides that our region takes on a yearly basis is something that any member should be inspired and honored by. Applying to councils like that of the Mountain Plains Vice President is something that can take your activity to the next level. Thank you so much to our current MPVP, Maddy Remington, for giving me this opportunity. Your service has helped us as an organization develop immensely. Good luck in Oklahoma as you close this chapter of your life. To close, thank you to the Mountain Plains and FBLA and the Mountain Plains as a whole for making this year such a huge success."
Kaylie Reese Communications Director "It has been a true blessing to be able to serve on the Mountain Plains Region Executive Council. Through my duties as a council member, I have been able to obtain valuable experiences as well as quality friends. As my time as a communications director comes to an end, I would like all of you members, my fellow council members, and the MPVP for making this year in FBLA an unforgettable adventure. Although I am sad this year is coming to an end, I am excited to see where these experiences take me, as well as the rest of FBLA. Again, thank you so much."
farewells Akshay Sharma Communications Director: "It’s truly been a great honor to serve on the Mountain Plains Region Council this year. Through being a communications director, I’ve been able to make many valuable connections as well as learn impactful life-long skills. Moreover, this council has allowed me to further my leadership on a larger scale and give back to FBLA. So, as my final chapter in FBLA draws to a close, I’d like to thank all the members, fellow council members, and our Regional Vice President for making this year so amazing. I’m definitely excited to see where the future takes me and know that FBLA has been an extremely important aspect of my high school experience. Thanks so much, Mountain Plains FBLA, and keep getting those #MountainPlainsGains!"
Sakshee Jain Communications Director: "Being part of the Mountains Plain Region has been eye opening and rewarding. The role of a communications director has shown me what it takes to run such a outreaching organization. In order to effectively run a region as large as ours, one has to constantly be on top of their game, and follow through with all that they have set for. By being on this team, I have met people from all over our region, and it has opened my eyes as to the depth of how much members put in to run this organization. This position has taught me so much, and I will cherish this opportunity for a lifetime. To Maddy, my fellow council members, and fbla participants, thank you for allowing me to grow and learn by being part of this team. We truly have shown #MountainPlainsGains. Thank you :)"
farewells Sadie Shriver Membership Director "It has been an amazing experience getting to serve as the 2018-2019 National Mountain Plains Region Membership Co-Director. During my time on the council, I have been able to create everlasting friendships, lead on the national level, and inspire the posterity of the organization that we hold so dear to our hearts. Thank you to all of the Mountain Plains Region members, our awe-inspiring Regional Vice President, and fellow council members for making this an outstanding year. Without you guys, the Mountain Plains wouldn’t have gotten all of these gains. As this membership year comes to a close, remember all that you have learned, gained, and experienced through FBLA. This is truly an amazing organization that allows for a world of opportunity. "
Kennedy Shereck Membership Director "Serving on the 2018-2019 Mountain Plains Region Council as Membership CoDirector has been an honor and incredible experience. I was able to work with remarkable individuals on the council, my amazing co-director, and our outstanding Mountain Plains Region Vice President. I am always looking for more ways to be more involved in FBLA, and the Mountain Plains Council provided the perfect opportunity to do so. I am truly grateful to have been a part of it. From serving on the council, I have learned that there are countless ways to make an impact and be a leader in your community, state, and country. Thank you Mountain Plains FBLA for making this past year a good one; I can’t wait to see what next year will bring!"
farewells Maddy Remington FBLA Mountain Plains Region Vice President Serving as your Mountain Plains Region VP this year has truly been one of the best experiences of my life. I’ve been apart of this amazing organization for three years and in those three years, I've learned so much more than I ever would've imagined. This organization and its members inspire me everyday in their passion, drive and dedication. Service, Education and Progress are the three words on the emblem of FBLA-PBL. Those three words carry so much weight in this organization because that's essentially what FBLA is, to its core. I’d like to thank all of you for this experience and this opportunity to reflect on what service, education and progress mean to me. As i say my goodbyes in only 20 days from now, I can't help but think about the immense gratitude and respect I have for each member who has made FBLA what it is today. Thank you to my council for helping me make this newsletter what it is month after month. Thank you to my advisers, Mrs. Crook, Mrs. Matlock. Mrs. Smothers and Coach Haynes, for believing in me, even when I didn't believe in myself. Thank you to my friends, state officers and fellow national officers for supporting me through this journey and helping make every second magical. But most importantly, Thank you Mountain Plains Region FBLA for being the BEST REGION out there and for inspiring me endlessly. You all have made this year an incredible success and I’m so excited to see the amazing new heights this region will reach in the future! #MountainPlainsGains !! -- Maddy