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WINTER 2018
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Nebraska FBLA @nebraskafbla
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FBLA STATE ADVISERS Jacqui Giesler (Garrison) 402-471-4865 jacqui.garrison@nebraska.gov Sydney Kobza 402-471-4818 sydney.kobza@nebraska.gov
2018-19 STATE OFFICER TEAM Alek Timm, President Drake Vorderstrasse, Vice President Morgan Mills, Secretary Olivia Sis, Reporter Kirk Rangel, Treasurer Bryan Zutavern, Parliamentarian
flc recap This year’s Fall Leadership Conferences in Kearney and Omaha prepared Nebraska FBLA’s members to Create, Lead, and Inspire! 395 members attended the conference in Kearney and 658 attended in Omaha. The Opening General session led by the state officer team kicked off each morning. Bill Cordes, the inspiring keynote speaker, reminded members to maximize their FBLA and high school experience with his “You Only Get Out What You Put In” (YOGOWYPI) philosophy. Following the Opening General Session, members learned how to fulfill their local chapter officer duties through workshops hosted by the state officers. In the afternoon, members attended a variety of workshops hosted by area business, local chapters, and the state officer team. At the end of the day, chapters met up for an hour to develop their FBLA Program of Work, implementing ideas gathered throughout the conference. This allowed chapters to brainstorm new activities and events and ask the state officers about the information they received throughout the day. The knowledge gained at the Fall Leadership Conference prepares chapters to stay active throughout the year. Nebraska FBLA hopes every member had as much fun as the state officers did and that they are ready to Create, Lead, and Inspire!
important slc details
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Quick Links to fall FEATURES A Turn with Zutavern The Sis Twist Member of the Month Chapters Creating Success Drake's Take Leaders in Action
Rangle's Angle Empowering Advisers Timm Times Morgan's Minute SLC T Shirt Design Contest NFLC Photos
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Becoming a parli pro a turn with zutavern
by bryan zutavern, parliamentarian
Meetings are a cornerstone to any FBLA chapter. An important piece of a meeting is Parliamentary Procedure. The use of parliamentary procedure varies from chapter to chapter, and depending on how serious your chapter is about parli pro, you may use a lot or you may use very little. Regardless of your knowledge of parliamentary procedure, it’s nice to know what it is, and how it could make life easier for your chapter.
Special Committee reports Special orders of the day Unfinished business New business Adjournment One Simple Motion
What is Parliamentary Procedure?
The one and most simple motion that all members should be able to do is a main motion. A main motion is made to introduce a new question or subject. For example: if you are talking about possible fundraiser ideas, the wording for your idea would be “I move that XYZ FBLA sell pizza and cookie dough for our local fundraiser.” It is important to remember that when making a motion you raise your hand and you are recognized by the chair before you speak. After the motion has been made, your idea must then be seconded by another member who does not need to be recognized by the chair.
Parliamentary procedure is a set of rules that were created to help business meetings run smoothly. Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised is the official book for FBLA-PBL. The national and state parliamentarian use the latest edition of the Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised series, which as of right now is Edition 11. Agendas An agenda, also known as order of business, is a very important part of parliamentary procedure. There is a specific order to an agenda. Some agendas are more complex than others. A simple way to remember the simple parts of an agenda is MRS SUN.
For more parliamentary procedure tips and tricks keep your eyes out for a present from your state parliamentarian.
Call to Order Minutes - read and approved Reports of officers, boards and special committees
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outstanding local reporter award the sis twist
by olivia sis, reporter
Does your chapter reporter excel at promoting your chapter’s success and deserve to be recognized? Look no further than the Outstanding Local Reporter Award!
To be eligible for the award, the chapter reporter must fill out the application and attach all of their FBLA work submitted for publication from March 1, 2018, to February 28, 2019. Then, the materials will be emailed to the current state reporter, who will select the winner from the applications received. If you are interested in this award, or you think your chapter reporter is a good candidate, be sure to check out the Scholarships and Awards section of the Nebraska FBLA Handbook for more information and the application form!
member of the month Nebraska FBLA is proud to have outstanding members who go above and beyond in their local chapters. To recognize these shining stars in our organization, we have continued our Member of the Month program for the 2018-19 year. Congratulations to our winners for October and November: Dustin Hovanec and Joseph Hiatt.
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This unique award recognizes one outstanding reporter for their dedication to reporting chapter success at the local level. The recipient of the award will be presented with a plaque for their accomplishments at the State Leadership Conference.
SING OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM Apply here to submit your application to sing the National Anthem at SLC. DEADLINE: DEC 7
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Chapters Creating Success Arlington Our chapter hosts a Bank in School event each year where junior and senior high members work as tellers and every Friday morning elementary students come in to cash in some money into their accounts.
Carnival, they also assisted the city chamber in their annual Scare On The Square event. Gibbon Our chapter sponsors “Scare the Square� at the Gibbon Fire Hall. Over 150 children participate in the annual Halloween event which provides fun activities in a safe environement. Members designed and managed games, provided a pinata for three different age levels, served a hot dog meal, and also collected gift cards that were given out to the children.
Ashland-Greenwood Our chapter picked up trash on the side of the road for Adopt-aHighway and we also went trick or treating for the food bank. Auburn Our chapter cleaned up trash at four different locations around Auburn in September. We wrote a media release to share what we had done, what type of trash was found at each location, and how to better the community.
Johnson-Brock Every year, our FBLA Chapter hosts a "Senior Citizen Prom" for the elderly in our area. We show them our SLC presentations, play bingo, dance, and serve a three-course meal.
Blair Blair hosts an Activity Fair at the beginning of the school year to encourage students to join FBLA. The officer team also visits all business and computer classes and encourages students to join.
Raymond Central Before the school year started, we attached welcome back signs to current and prospective members. Along with these signs were pieces of candy to help start the year off right.
Dorchester Dorchester FBLA teams up with EPAC to convert a high school hallway into a "Haunted Hallway" for middle school and elementary students to pass through. We also host Halloween themed games and pass out candy. Community members also host a Truckor-Treat event behind the school. We had over 200+ students this year participate in our event on October 28th.
Tri County Our chapter's Community Service Project this year was the Feed Nebraska Project. We partnered with our Student Council and FFA chapter to collect canned food items on Oct. 22 to donate to the Blue Valley Community Action Project in Fairbury. Twenty two FBLA members participated. More than 900 pounds of food were collected from Plymouth, Swanton and DeWitt. Wilber-Clatonia Our chapter hosted our annual Cancer Awareness Week to raise awareness and money for help combat different types of cancer. Students wore a different color every day of the week to show support for a type of cancer. W-C donated $1,700 to the American Cancer Society by gathering change, selling balloons, and collecting donations at their football game.
Dundy County Stratton Our chapter hosted community Halloween activities on October 30th. Members registered children for the pumpkin and costume contests, led a parade down Main Street, and selected contest winners. Fillmore Central Our chapter has helped the community of Geneva in many different way. In addition to helping at the Heritage Crossing 4
breaking the ice in your chapter drake's take
by drake vorderstrasse, vice president
What exactly is an icebreaker?
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An icebreaker is an activity that is facilitated with a specific purpose in mind. Icebreakers may be different from school to school. Some chapters may be trying to promote meeting attendance, so they may host activities more aimed toward fun than an actual lesson. Another chapter may already have large numbers, so they may have an activity that works on communication or leadership.
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At this point in the school year, most FBLA members are finally in the swing of things at school, and they might even be getting bored with their day to day schedule. They may lack the motivation to attend an FBLA meeting, which means members may miss out on the things that made them join FBLA in the first place. Chapter officers’ can help reenergize members using an icebreaker activity. Here are my tips to plan an icebreaker activity.
How do I pick an icebreaker? If your chapter has a program of work, start there first. If your chapter wants to raise participation in SLC Projects, host an activity where multiple groups have a topic for a website that they have to sketch an outline for. This activity promotes collaboration and creativity. Your chapter could put a fun twist on this idea by giving silly topics or providing prizes for the outlines voted the best by the officers. How do I facilitate an icebreaker? Facilitating the icebreaker can be the most chaotic part of this process, but it’s also the most fun. Keep your icebreaker simple, and be sure you’re giving clear and concise directions. When your officers aren’t helping run the icebreaker, make sure that they’re taking plenty of pictures for future use. Having photos of your chapter having fun is always something nice for students and advisers to look back on. There’s also the plus side of having those images to use to promote future meetings. The more fun being had, the more attendance there will be in the future. If you’re ever unsure of how an activity will go, just bring candy. No high school kid isn’t having fun when they’re consuming handfuls of candy. Happy Holidays (and icebreaking)!
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NOMINATE A BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR Submit your chapter's nominations by January 15, 2019.
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leaders in action Students organized the cans by type and delivered them to the pantry. Along with cans of food, students also brought items the food pantry needed like laundry detergent, toothbrushes, and toothpaste. This project is looked forward to every year by both the students and the people at the Washington County Food Pantry.
ADAMS CENTRAL
AUBURN
Our chapter has made it an annual tradition to “trick-or-treat” for canned goods on the weekend before Halloween. It is a good opportunity for members to get involved in the community and interact with their peers. This year, we had a great turnout collecting multiple crates filled with cans. Members met at three different locations and covered nearly 15 routes. The cans were then taken to the Hastings Food Pantry. They were very thankful for our large donation.
Auburn FBLA gives members the opportunity to elevate their futures through our monthly lunch meetings. During the two different lunch blocks, the chapter serves pizza, pop, cookies, and assorted fruits and vegetables. Auburn FBLA also invites a local business-person from their business of the year to come and speak. In years past, they have partnered with Magnolia Metal, Ariens, the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution. This year, their business of the year is the Nemaha County Hospital. Members have gotten to hear first hand about medical school, all of the positions available, as well as some crazy stories!
ARLINGTON
Arlington Public School’s FBLA completed our annual food drive last week. Students and staff collected 3,446 items and $229 for the Washington County Food Pantry. Arlington FBLA has been sponsoring this food drive for over 20 years.
Members enjoy free food while listening to them speak. Through the guest speaker, members are able to network with said business-person, and are given the resources to later contact them about job shadows, further information on their occupation, and career readiness. Lunch meetings are always a hit with the members. 6
leaders in action AURORA
BOYD COUNTY
Aurora FBLA sophomore, Olivia Lawless, is a two-year member of the local officer team. Last year, Olivia stepped up to the challenge of cowriting the Partnership with Business Report, and she was a presenter at SLC for that report. Olivia is enthusiastic about all things FBLA.
The Boyd County FBLA chapter teamed up with the FCCLA chapter in their school for part of their community service project. Their project is focusing on the elderly and the connection between the youth and elderly in the community. One of their first projects was making homemade fidget quilts that would be donated to the local nursing home. Fidget quilts are quilts that fit in a person’s lap that provide sensory stimulation for someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia. The chapters started by advertising their project on the school website. Members of the community donated material, buttons, ribbon, zippers and other trinkets that would be used on the quilts. Once the chapters had received the donated items, they planned a work night. On October 18, both members from the FBLA and FCCLA chapters pieced together different textures of materials and various items that would be perfect for fiddling with. All together, the members constructed three fidget quilts for the residents. Once they were finished, chapter officers delivered the quilts to the nursing home in our community. The residents and nursing home staff were very appreciative of the gifts.
BLAIR
This year the Blair Chapter of the Future Business Leaders of America is teaming with Cargill, Inc. for their annual Partnership with Business project. This year, committee members Joel Murch-Shafer, Carley Damme, and Matt Simonson are heading the effort to partner with Cargill. So far this year, we have had a community workshop informing our community about hard-to-fill jobs that Cargill has available. In addition, Blair FBLA also helped host an annual Halloween party for the employees and children of Cargill. Members from Cargill also presented a workshop at the Fall Leadership Conference in Omaha where members learned about the company’s many opportunities. We are very excited for the rest of the year, as we have some exciting opportunities planned. Pictured is the Cargill presenters who shared valuable information with community members interested in prospective jobs at the Cargill plant.
CENTURA “A huge thank you goes out to the March of Dimes for all of the research they have done. Without them, I don’t know where we would be with our boys.” These words of gratitude were uttered by Boelus resident, Molly Eilenstine, while sharing the story of the premature birth of her twin sons. The Centura Future Business Leaders of America were fortunate enough to hear Molly Eilenstine’s empowering experience 7
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leaders in action game for students to partake in. In this guessing game, baby photos of the school’s FBLA seniors were attached to a cart with donation jars, and was transported throughout the school during study periods. For as little as a dime, people could enjoy deciphering the babies’ identities, all while donating to the March of Dimes organization.
with the March of Dimes organization in their efforts to aid mothers and infants in the event of prematurity. For more than 40 years, FBLAPBL has raised over $15 million as the March of Dimes’ leading youth fundraising partner. Throughout Centura FBLA’s March of Dimes week, the chapter members have jumped on the bandwagon and adopted the March of Dimes mission to spread awareness and hold fundraisers. They labored over multiple projects, in hopes that their efforts would promote research that will aid families in the event of prematurity.
All of these efforts led up to the grand finale of Centura FBLA’s March of Dimes week: the March for Babies mini-walk, which commenced on September 21st during the halftime of a home football game. During the evening of September 21st, the spectators were given the opportunity to donate, partake in the baby photo guessing game, and get their face painted by FBLA members. As a whole, the night produced a total of $245.65, surpassing last year’s amount! When halftime drew near, community members were offered purple glow bracelets, a proud symbol of the March of Dimes and of premature infants everywhere. One by one, spectators filtered out of the stands to meet on the track, until over one hundred participants marched forward to honor those who have been or are currently affected by prematurity. The deep, purple banner billowed in the wind, as community members, students, and even the opposing team, joined the March of Dimes mission in a lap around the track. Centura FBLA would like to thank Molly Eilenstine for sharing her prematurity experiences, and they would like to thank the March for Babies participants for donating and joining them in their mission to support the March of Dimes.
The Centura FBLA chapter has used multiple, creative techniques to raise money, many of which are continued presently. From September 17-21, prematurity statistics and March of Dimes facts have been arranged and announced over the intercom in the mornings to spread prematurity awareness throughout the student body. These statistics were transferred onto poster boards by eager FBLA members, so the posters could be displayed at the March For Babies mini-walk later in the week. Notifications were also placed in the teacher’s lounge to encourage Centura’s staff to donate five dollars a day towards the March of Dimes cause. In doing so, the staff members could wear jeans during the school day, while honoring the chapter’s annual “Jeans for Babies” fundraiser. The Centura chapter also created a fun “Guess Who”
You can hear Molly Eilenstine’s story and watch the fundraising efforts of Centura FBLA by clicking on the following link: https://youtu. be/38z56Jqlhe8 . 8
leaders in action Dorchester FBLA hosts an annual Vendor Show for small businesses in our community. We call it the “Vendor Show Extravaganza.� During this event, business owners are able to advertise to an audience they may not have previously had the chance to. This year, a new youth business, Country Crafted, will be advertising and selling at the vendor show. These business owners are students at Dorchester Public School and have been preparing all year long. They have competed in numerous business competitions, and have started creating a social media following for their hand-crafted jewelry.
CHADRON
The Chadron High School FBLA chapter participated in the annual Trick or Treat for Canned Goods within our community. This year's event included our Chadron Interact Club with the goal of collecting extra cans to donate. Participants dressed up and interacted with the people in the community for the purpose of providing food for a local food pantry. Teams competed with each other to collect the most cans and be declared the winning team for the year. A total of 360 cans were collected and then used to create a display in the high school commons with a pumpkin constructed from our collections. The pumpkin helped advertise within the school for additional donations. The Chadron High School FBLA chapter would not be as eventful without our advisers Brenda Budler and Renae Noble, who organized these events and helped make them happen.
DUNDY COUNTY STRATTON
Dundy County Stratton FBLA partnered with FFA and FCCLA to conduct the Just Drive event on October 9th. Just Drive shares the dangers of unsafe driving habits, such as not wearing a seatbelt or texting and driving, and promotes safe driving for teenagers.
DORCHESTER
Just Drive is presented to the student body as a surprise, as the officer teams wanted to discover the true driving habits of the student body. The officers met at the school an hour prior to class and inspected all students and teachers for unsafe driving habits. Later in the morning, the presidents and vice presidents of all three chapters presented statistics, facts, and videos about unsafe driving in an assembly. 9
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leaders in action The three chapters invited local police officers to speak at the assembly, where they spoke about their experiences with teenagers and distracted driving. Following the police officers’ presentation, students from each class were selected to participate in an obstacle course where they wore vision-impairing goggles to simulate worsened mobility skills while driving. To conclude, each student signed a puzzle piece, symbolizing their pledge to drive safely.
the morning’s activities and assisted with the silent auction. Officers also ensured the safety of ladies who modeled clothing from several local retail businesses as they approached the stage area. In conclusion, the chapter believes that this year’s China Luncheon was once again a success with several favorable comments received regarding the professionalism and helpfulness of the FBLA members present. GIBBON
FILLMORE CENTRAL
Our chapter does so many great things to impact our community. We are involved in Adopt a Highway to keep our roads clean. We collaborate with the Gibbon FCCLA chapter and have a great time with all our CTSO members at Gibbon High School. We also provide concessions for varsity football and junior high basketball games throughout the year. This school service is essential in making sure the athletic events are providing a fullservice concession stand and valuable practical lessons in salesmanship, counting change back to customers, inventory and purchasing.
Every year, the Fillmore Central Chapter of FBLA assists the Geneva Chamber of Commerce with the Geneva China Luncheon. Ladies from Fillmore County were given the opportunity to create a decorated table based on the theme, “Hats Off to …” this year. The FBLA Chapter sponsored one of the 22 tables based on the theme, “Hats Off to Baseball”. Prior to the event, it had been decided that all of the year’s earnings would be donated towards the fundraising effort to build a new Geneva Community Center.
KEARNEY
The Fillmore Central FBLA members assisted in serving as waiters and waitresses for the tables by completing various tasks, including filling pitchers with water and coffee, delivering trays of food, and helping to clean up after the luncheon had ended. Throughout the day, some of the FBLA officers served as emcees of
Throughout September and October, Kearney High School Chapter of FBLA has been determined to further interaction and benefits for members. We hosted many social activities 10
leaders in action in order for members to get to know each other and develop skills in communication and collaboration. The chapter held FBLA Olympics with balloon racing contests, donut eating competitions, etc. and the winning team had their dues paid while the second place team earned free Kearney FBLA shirts. Furthermore, the chapter had a Family Feud game night that was extremely successful in helping members get to know each other. The games and activities were typically followed by information about the many opportunities FBLA has such as March of Dimes and the many competitive events.
Senior Jayden Jorgensen led the group in prayer before the meal. Students were asked to donate the fruit, desserts, and milk offered for the day. FBLA Adviser Ashley Wit was impressed with the manner and poise the students showed. Mrs. Wit noted, “I was honestly surprised at how much these kids enjoyed serving others and their enthusiasm for going back again!”
In addition to having a great time, the chapter also contributed to the community and brought guest speakers in to share their experiences. This month, FBLA collaborated with other KHS organizations (FCCLA, Key Club, FCA, and HOSA) in order to collect and donate canned food to local pantries. The groups walked around neighborhoods dressed in Halloween costumes, a whopping 1000+ pounds of food was collected -- an unprecedented record compared to previous years. Additionally, guest speakers were invited to share their experiences with FBLA. For instance, the new KHS principal came to talk about his vision for the school. Additionally, Matt Meister came to speak at the area meeting about effective leadership and communication styles. These events provide great opportunities for members and plan to continue as we proceed throughout the year.
Members left feeling humbled and grateful for the opportunity to help the less fortunate. FBLA President, Hallie Epley, stated “It was incredibly rewarding to see the smiles on their faces and to be graciously thanked by all. Definitely would do it again!” RAYMOND CENTRAL
LAWRENCE-NELSON
Each year, our chapter competes against Wahoo FBLA Chapter to collect spare change for the March of Dimes. The member from each school who collects the most gets a pie in the face from the other chapter’s president.
Lawrence-Nelson FBLA members traveled to Lincoln to serve at the Matt Talbot Kitchen & Outreach center on September 29th. Students prepared, served and cleaned-up the meal. 11
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leaders in action SKUTT CATHOLIC
Twin River FBLA’s 7th Annual Appliance Drive was a huge success. On October 26, 21 FBLA members retrieved different appliances from community members in Genoa, Monroe, and Silver Creek. The members also donated the use of four pickups to haul the appliances. Members collected 12,940 pounds of appliances, 120 pounds of aluminum cans, and 4,600 pounds of rough iron. This was taken to the local scrap yard to be recycled.
Our Skutt Catholic FBLA executive team set a goal to improve our Go Green efforts and further promote recycling school-wide. At the beginning of the school year, our executive team gave our “Go Green” presentation to all freshmen through one of their classes to introduce them to the habit of recycling while at school. We also set a goal to increase underclassmen participation in FBLA, so our other presentation objective was to promote FBLA and invite all freshmen to our first meeting. As a result, we had a huge turnout to our first meeting! As of October 15th, 37 freshmen have attended at least one FBLA event. This is an increase of 236% in freshmen participation! By conducting our “Go Green” presentations and creating a welcoming environment, we have been able to achieve our goals of increasing recycling awareness and underclassmen participation.
WILBER-CLATONIA
The Wilber-Clatonia FBLA members participated in their annual event, “Trick or Treat for Cans,” one of the state projects that the chapter participates in is the Feed Nebraska challenge. This collaborative service event is designed to help feed those in our community in need. All items collected are donated to a local food pantry or given to students in the backpack program.
TWIN RIVER
Forty-five members split into five teams and routes across Wilber going door-to-door speaking about their efforts in supporting Feed Nebraska and collecting non-perishable food donations. Members competed to see which team collected the most. The winning team collected 371 items and the event collected 1,414 items in total. 12
middle level spotlight rangel's angle
by kirk rangel, treasurer
Nebraska Middle Level is a growing program for younger members. It helps younger members get involved and get immersed in the world of FBLA . One of Nebraska FBLA’s goals is to increase Nebraska Middle Level growth by increasing Middle Level membership by 2% as well as generating participation in the Middle Level Member of the Month.
Both members agree that the Middle Level is a great place to start their FBLA career. Members are also able to participate in the Lead Program and the Community Service Awards. The two finished saying, “Middle Level has helped them develop their public speaking and leadership skills”.
Pay for College with FBLA Being a member in FBLA comes with many perks including scholarships that you can apply for. There are numerous scholarships available from organizations, colleges, and award programs. By showcasing your FBLA achievements, you will have a chance to earn scholarships. Nebraska FBLA offers two $500 scholarships to outstanding senior FBLA members who plan to attend a 2-4 year institution while majoring in business. The deadline is set for February 1st. Phi Beta Lambda also offers two $1,000 scholarships to senior FBLA members majoring in business as well as becoming a member of PBL. This scholarship also covers state and national dues for the first year as a PBL member. The deadline for this scholarship is also February 1st. These scholarships are a good way for members showcase their involvement and get rewarded through FBLA. 13
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At the 2018 NLC in Baltimore, Maryland, Nebraska FBLA took two Middle level members from Boyd County. Brayden Almgren competed in Business Math & Financial Literacy while Joshua Kersch competed in Career Exploration. Both members said the conference was a great experience. They commented saying, “Members had more opportunities to network with FBLA members from across the country”. The two also noted a more energetic and business-like atmosphere than at the state conference. Brayden and Joshua were able to explore the sites of Baltimore and Washington D.C. saying it was a great opportunity to see the famous landmarks.
PREPARE FOR SLC Join us at Ramada Plaza, Omaha April 4-6, 2019 Competitive Events Ribbon Projects
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empowering advisers Adams Central Year after year, Mr. Mulligan continues to encourage his members to become more active in the betterment of our community, while maintaining an energy that keeps the organization fresh and vibrant.
Gibbon Mrs. Stroh supports our chapter by always having the resources to help us complete our projects, along with providing support to our committee leaders.
Arlington Our sponsor, Shawna Koger, encouraged membership by providing Krispy Kreme doughnuts for anyone who paid their dues before our most recent meeting.
Johnson-Brock Seth Feeken has only been an FBLA advisor for two years, but he has been helpful in planning officer and chapter meetings, tailgates, service projects, and our SLC events.
Ashland-Greenwood Our adviser, Amber Dutcher, has encouraged our members, taught us life skills, and made everything fun.
Lawrence-Nelson Ashley Wit never stops finding new ways to show community support. She started Community Cares, a project which donated an entire Thanksgiving meal to several families, and took us to serve food at Matt Talbot Kitchen.
Auburn Mrs. Gerdes has worked relentlessly to mold our chapter and its members into what it is today! Having only been an advisor for six short years, she is constantly offering her expertise and fresh ideas to grow the chapter.
Raymond Central Ms. Bastian helps members Create, Lead, and Inspire through FBLA. She allows us to come into her room for study hall anytime we need to work on projects and has has served as a mentor to many of our members.
Dundy County Stratton Our adviser, Peggy Parker, dedicates herself to the organization by encouraging all members to be involved, ensuring the success of chapter projects, and assisting officers and members whenever necessary.
Wilber-Clatonia Our firstyear chapter adviser and business teacher, Brookelyn Trampe, is motivating members for every FBLA event and is always inspiring members to challenge themselves.
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state officer vlog timm times
by alek timm, president
It is without a doubt that this my favorite time of the year when it comes to FBLA activities. We’ve recently wrapped up our Fall Leadership Conferences in Omaha and Kearney and returned from an exciting weekend in Chicago at the National Fall Leadership Conference. Right now, the State Officer Team feels the buzz of excitement as chapters return home with new insight, goals, and plans for the upcoming year. It is a great part of the year when budding leaders start to bloom.
Running for a State Office entails a few steps leading up to campaigning at SLC. If you're in grades 9-11 and attended the Nebraska Fall Leadership Conference, you are eligible to apply. You must first complete the application found on the website by answering a few questions about your FBLA involvement and qualifications. and You’ll then take a written FBLA knowledge test at State Officer Screening Day and participate in an interview with the State Board of Directors. Following a passing score on the test and interview, you’ll be all set to campaign at SLC (my all-time favorite FBLA activity)! Even if you’re still on the fence, I’d highly encourage you to fill out the application and give State Officer Screening Day a chance. Serving as a State Officer is an unforgettable experience that I have not regretted one bit. To get a first-person perspective on being a State Officer, you can check out my vlog from NFLC in Chicago! The link is below. Good luck in your applications! I cannot wait to see many members on stage at SLC sharing their goals and vision for the future of Nebraska FBLA.
ready to apply?
Click Here
not yet? alek Has more to share 15
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As you continue to work in your local chapter during the year, I would highly recommend taking your leadership to a new height and consider running for a State Office. Currently in my second term, I truly believe that the State Officer experience is unique and offers an infinitely beneficial experience that will change how you see our organization.
DRESS FOR SUCCESS AT FBLA CONFERENCES Click here to view the FBLA Dress Code
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baa submission: top 10 tips morgan's minute
by morgan mills, secretary
I am sure by now all of you are preparing projects and setting yourself up for success at SLC, but don’t forget to complete the next level of the Business Achievement Awards! The levels of the BAA’s are Future, Business, Leader, and America. As you progress through each level, the requirements become more challenging and rewarding. When you complete any level you will receive a pin. The Leader and America level award winners will earn stage recognition at SLC. If you want a chance to make it on stage, complete the BAA’s now! Here are 10 tips to help you when completing the BAA’s: 1. Consider each activity »» You will need to complete activities from the Service, Education, and Progress sections.
»» Decide which activities would be the best choice for you, and select them.
2. Utilize your chapter »» What activities are on the list that your chapter already does?
»» Make selections based on activities you will be able to accomplish.
3. Set goals for each activity »» Now that you know which activities you will be completing, develop a plan for accomplishing each task and set a deadline on your calendar.
»» Set aside a block of time each week to work on the BAA’s to ensure you have the activities completed by the deadline.
4. Knock out the required activities first »» In each category (service, education, and progress) there are a prescribed number of required activities. Focus on getting these done first. 5. Use your resources »» Have a question on how to complete an activity? Ask your adviser or another member who completed them in previous years.
»» Advisers often save work from previous years, so they can help you understand exactly what you need to do.
6. Be yourself »» You may gain some ideas from other brochures, videos, or past submissions, but make sure you put your own twist on your work. 16
7. Focus on one task »» If you are like me, you may be focused on one task, and then you get distracted by the next.
»» Unless you are waiting either to hear back from someone or for a specific time to accomplish an activity, focus on the one you are trying to complete until it is done.
8. Use your networking skills »» Whether you are recruiting members for the Professional Division or inviting someone to speak at a meeting, utilizing your networking skills will come in handy while completing each level.
»» Save it in a safe place. (Google drive, flash drive, etc.)
10. Remember deadlines »» This year’s BAA submission deadline is March 1st.
»» Don’t try to get everything done at the last minute.
I am very excited to see many members complete the BAA’s this year. Remember: one of our state goals is to place in the Top 8 in the BAA Big Ten. You can help reach this goal! If you have questions, you can email me at secretary@nebraskafbla.org. Good luck!
which Tee gets your vote? Choose your favorite design and cast your vote by December 21.
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9. Save your work »» Each level is a step up from the one before, so you will use work from previous levels to help you complete the next step.
LOCAL STAR VOLUNTEER Nominate one of your local chapter volunteers! Click here to submit your nomination online.
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9 - 201 2018 A K S EBRA ATE
The
Pledge
nFLC throwback The State Officer Team and the 272 members of the Nebraska delegation took to the streets of Windy City of Chicago on November 1, for an exhilarating two-day conference. Not only was the conference packed full of amazing speakers, but it was also full of information for delegates to begin to Create, Lead, and Inspire in their local chapters.
Chicago boat ride that included a breakfast, dance floor, and amazing view of the Chicago Skyline. After the boat ride, members and advisers explored the city of Chicago. These sites include Navy Pier, Willis Tower, the Chicago bean, as well as many more sites and sounds that Chicago had to offer. After exploring the city, the delegation took part in the exhilarating two-day conference. Nebraska members attended workshops leadership skills, college and career advice, networking tips, and more. Members also heard from inspirational keynote speakers Brandon Lee White and Carlos V. Spencer at the opening and closing sessions. At the end of the National Fall Leadership Conference, members returned home to Nebraska with new ideas, ready to Create, Lead, and Inspire!
To start off their stay in Chicago, the Nebraska delegation checked into the Congress Plaza Hotel, which just so happens to be the most haunted hotel in all of Chicago. This haunted hotel has many strange ghost sightings and even a sealed room on the twelfth floor that staff members are too afraid to talk about. In fact, many people believe that this hotel was the inspiration for Stephen King’s novel 1408. After a good night’s rest, the members and advisers got to go for a ride on a Spirit of 18
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The Pledge is published three times a year by the Nebraska Future Business Leaders of America. (August, December, March) Submit your articles at nebraskafbla.org > News > Submit Chapter News OLIVIA SIS Nebraska FBLA Reporter reporter@nebraskafbla.org
JACQUI GIESLER Nebraska FBLA Adviser jacqui.garrison@nebraska.gov
SYDNEY KOBZA Nebraska FBLA Adviser sydney.kobza@nebraska.gov
The Nebraska Department of Education recognizes the value of Career & Technical Student Organizations in the personal and professional development of career education students through Nebraska Career Education. Per Nebraska Statute 79-772 to 79-775, the Nebraska Department of Education provides financial and administrative support for state leadership and administration of the Center for Student Leadership and Expanded Learning.
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It is the policy of Nebraska FBLA not to discriminate on the basis of gender, handicap, race, color, religion, marital status, age or national or ethnic origin in its education programs, membership policies, or other administered programs.
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NOMINATE A BUSINESS OF THE YEAR Submit your chapter's nominations by January 15, 2019. There are separate categories for small and large businesses.
