Preparing for Conferences

By Jahnavi Kolli, Illinois FBLA State Parliamentarian
The State Leadership Conference is just under two months away! While this may seem like a
long time to prepare for your competitive events, the conference has a tendency to sneak up
very quickly. Starting event prep early is crucial to success (and a trip to Atlanta), so here are a
few tips to help you prepare:

1) Stay consistent; coordinate a practice schedule with your teammates (or yourself). For
presentation events, weekly or bi-weekly meetings will help with consistency and
productivity. Think of it like a mandatory meeting; for example, my parliamentary procedures team practiced weekly for months leading up to SLC and NLC (the bronze medal at nationals was worth it!) Even if you are a test-taker, setting aside time to study
will help you stay focused and consistent.

2) Use your resources. In addition to the countless Quizlets, Youtube videos, and practice
tests online, Illinois FBLA has a competitive event resource bank coming out to ensure
you are well equipped to compete. Use these resources to prepare so there are no
surprises on the day of! Also, be sure to check out your event’s rating sheets and rubrics
to maximize your points.

3) Ask for help when you need it. If there are members in your chapter that have
previously competed in your event, don’t be scared to reach out and ask for advice. After
reaching out to alumni that competed in my event last year, I understood exactly what to expect during my presentation; nothing beats experience!

4) Dress for success during the conference. Be sure to compete in professional,
appropriate business attire regardless if you’re competing in a performance or written
event. Violating the dress code can significantly impact your score and placement!

Good luck with your event preparation, and we look forward to seeing you in April!