Building Membership Within Your Local Chapter

Sabrina Aebel, Western Area VP

Growing your chapter membership can be a goal for chapters on many different levels. Whether you are a brand new chapter trying to get your first few members or a longstanding chapter trying to beat your own record using the right tactics is an essential component. Every chapter is different just like every person is different. That means not every tactic will work for you. But the best way to find out is by trying each one as a test. Here are a few of the tried and true methods that the strongest chapters use. 

Meeting prospective members where they are. More than likely your biggest group of prospective members will be Freshman students. This means that the best place you can go to inform them about FBLA is where they already have to be. Try asking your school’s administration if you can go to the middle school’s that feed into your High school and talk to the graduating 8th graders about what FBLA can do for them. Another great option is setting up a booth at your school’s open house/meet the teacher night. If your school has a club fair make sure that you make FBLA stand out. During club fairs it is super easy to be forgotten or lost in the chaos so make sure that the people who stop remember you. (not just the sucker you gave them)

Remember that it should be fun. A lot of times it is very easy for officer teams to become caught up completely in big goals and plans for the coming year. This puts having fun and making amazing connections on the back burner sometimes. FBLA is an amazing opportunity to grow professionally and learn about the world of business. But admittedly the reason a lot of students join is because FBLA can be super fun. When you are talking to prospective members make sure to highlight the exciting events as well as the educational ones. It may even be a good idea to host a couple of membership events. For example a bonfire night, a lock-in, or even a trip to an amusement park. This will make students join for the fun but stay for everything else. 

Fundraise. Fundraise. Fundraise. FBLA should not be cost-prohibitive to anyone. Annual dues can definitely keep some people from joining FBLA. One way around this is to spend the year planning more fundraising events so chapter members can basically earn their spot in FBLA through hard work. This allows more people to be able to feel as though they can afford to be a part of such an amazing organization.  

Finally, remember that building membership is not about one big push, but about creating a chapter culture people want to be part of. When you focus on being welcoming, visible, and intentional, your chapter becomes more than just another club, it becomes a community. Try new ideas, learn from what works (and what doesn’t), and don’t be afraid to adapt to your school’s needs. With consistency, creativity, and genuine passion, your chapter will not only grow in numbers but also in impact, setting the foundation for long-term success.

- Sabrina Aebel, Western Area VP