Adviser Appreciation
by Bradley Rozario, State President
Imagine if you didn’t join FBLA. Life would be boring, you would have stayed in your town for all four years of high school, and you wouldn’t be the person you were today. Now, what if I told you this didn’t necessarily have to be your decision. One person could have taken away the fun FBLA experience, and you would have never have known. Without this person, your local chapter would not even exist. The next time you’re appreciating FBLA and the number of things it has done for you, remember, you should really be thanking one important person -- your adviser!
Your adviser has donated their time out of their lives to give you the opportunity to be a part of this organization. They complete all the behind the scenes paperwork and jobs to make sure there are activities and opportunities for you to seize in the upcoming year. And if your adviser said “no”, you would be asking what FBLA is.
Because your adviser took on this job, it should be your job to thank them for all they have done for your chapter, and this organization as a whole. Whether it is a simple “thank you” or an appreciative gift, do something to let them know that they rock! The perfect opportunity to show them your appreciation is right around the corner. February will arrive quicker than you think, and FBLA week will be here. On that Wednesday, February 8, this is your chance to let them know. It is Adviser Appreciation Day, and without a doubt, you should take advantage of the day and show your adviser some love and appreciation.
If you are ever debating whether or not to touch your adviser with a kind gesture, just remember … what if they said “no”. One word makes a difference.
by Bradley Rozario, State President
Imagine if you didn’t join FBLA. Life would be boring, you would have stayed in your town for all four years of high school, and you wouldn’t be the person you were today. Now, what if I told you this didn’t necessarily have to be your decision. One person could have taken away the fun FBLA experience, and you would have never have known. Without this person, your local chapter would not even exist. The next time you’re appreciating FBLA and the number of things it has done for you, remember, you should really be thanking one important person -- your adviser!
Your adviser has donated their time out of their lives to give you the opportunity to be a part of this organization. They complete all the behind the scenes paperwork and jobs to make sure there are activities and opportunities for you to seize in the upcoming year. And if your adviser said “no”, you would be asking what FBLA is.
Because your adviser took on this job, it should be your job to thank them for all they have done for your chapter, and this organization as a whole. Whether it is a simple “thank you” or an appreciative gift, do something to let them know that they rock! The perfect opportunity to show them your appreciation is right around the corner. February will arrive quicker than you think, and FBLA week will be here. On that Wednesday, February 8, this is your chance to let them know. It is Adviser Appreciation Day, and without a doubt, you should take advantage of the day and show your adviser some love and appreciation.
If you are ever debating whether or not to touch your adviser with a kind gesture, just remember … what if they said “no”. One word makes a difference.
Learning Leadership
by Ean Fox, State Vice President, Eastern Area
The world is full of people, people of different race, skill, culture. There are successful people and unsuccessful people in this world. Unlike a lot of things success is something we make happen. I want to tell you what one major key to success is. One of these very important keys is leadership. In FBLA we understand each of these letters to stand for something. F-“Future”, B-“Business”, L-“Leaders”, A-“America”. See leadership is defined as, the act of guiding a person or group in a common goal. A leader is the person who has the quality of leadership and will lead the group to accomplish a goal. We are called the Future Business Leaders of America, because in FBLA you will develop the very quality of leadership.
You will grow and learn as a leader, to prepare yourself for the future. The first way FBLA will develop your leadership skills, is through local, area, state, and national officer positions. You will run for these positions just as an elected official would do. As you run your campaign you must express your ideas to others, and persuade them to vote for you. If you are awarded one of these positions, while in office you will continue to grow as a leader. You will learn how to plan events, conduct a meeting, lead your fellow peers and so much more. Which all will help develop your leadership skills.Another way FBLA will help you develop leadership skills is through participation in workshops and competitions. Workshops can be found at any of the FBLA conferences, which are area, state, and nationals. These workshops are business and leadership based, where students can learn about very important skills and hints. Competitions like workshops can be found at area, state, and nationals. There are three choices in competitions being; preformed, group, and written. The competitions will let you learn and grow as a leader in many ways. FBLA is full of learning and growing opportunities! You can grow as a leader through this organization, to profit your future. Leadership skills will “lead” you directly on the path of success and FBLA will pave the road with these skills.
by Ean Fox, State Vice President, Eastern Area
The world is full of people, people of different race, skill, culture. There are successful people and unsuccessful people in this world. Unlike a lot of things success is something we make happen. I want to tell you what one major key to success is. One of these very important keys is leadership. In FBLA we understand each of these letters to stand for something. F-“Future”, B-“Business”, L-“Leaders”, A-“America”. See leadership is defined as, the act of guiding a person or group in a common goal. A leader is the person who has the quality of leadership and will lead the group to accomplish a goal. We are called the Future Business Leaders of America, because in FBLA you will develop the very quality of leadership.
You will grow and learn as a leader, to prepare yourself for the future. The first way FBLA will develop your leadership skills, is through local, area, state, and national officer positions. You will run for these positions just as an elected official would do. As you run your campaign you must express your ideas to others, and persuade them to vote for you. If you are awarded one of these positions, while in office you will continue to grow as a leader. You will learn how to plan events, conduct a meeting, lead your fellow peers and so much more. Which all will help develop your leadership skills.Another way FBLA will help you develop leadership skills is through participation in workshops and competitions. Workshops can be found at any of the FBLA conferences, which are area, state, and nationals. These workshops are business and leadership based, where students can learn about very important skills and hints. Competitions like workshops can be found at area, state, and nationals. There are three choices in competitions being; preformed, group, and written. The competitions will let you learn and grow as a leader in many ways. FBLA is full of learning and growing opportunities! You can grow as a leader through this organization, to profit your future. Leadership skills will “lead” you directly on the path of success and FBLA will pave the road with these skills.
How to Increase Membership
by Shruthi Kondin, State Parliamentarian
One of the things that makes FBLA strong is our huge membership. The enthusiasm and passion our members devote to FBLA has made FBLA the organization it is today! Since there’s always room for improvement, we should always make a conscious effort to recruit more members to help FBLA grow and prosper! There are multiple ways to spread the word about FBLA to recruit members! The first, and perhaps most obvious, is just recruiting family and peers around you! Encourage your friends to join FBLA, sharing with them the valuable skills members gain, like speaking skills and business ethics. Tell your family members to join FBLA as Professional Division members; our professional division members are just as important as our regular student members by providing us with interesting workshops and helping out at conferences. Recruiting members face- to- face is a personal and successful method to helping FBLA grow. Another tactic at our dispense is everyone’s favorite: social media! The increased technological world we live in today allows us to connect with more and more people. Let’s use this to our advantage and spread the word about FBLA online! Follow our FBLA pages and encourage others to do so as well! Sharing the benefits of FBLA on social media is a great way to motivate others to join FBLA as well. If each of us make efforts to help FBLA develop by increasing our membership numbers, there’s no doubt that we will succeed!
by Shruthi Kondin, State Parliamentarian
One of the things that makes FBLA strong is our huge membership. The enthusiasm and passion our members devote to FBLA has made FBLA the organization it is today! Since there’s always room for improvement, we should always make a conscious effort to recruit more members to help FBLA grow and prosper! There are multiple ways to spread the word about FBLA to recruit members! The first, and perhaps most obvious, is just recruiting family and peers around you! Encourage your friends to join FBLA, sharing with them the valuable skills members gain, like speaking skills and business ethics. Tell your family members to join FBLA as Professional Division members; our professional division members are just as important as our regular student members by providing us with interesting workshops and helping out at conferences. Recruiting members face- to- face is a personal and successful method to helping FBLA grow. Another tactic at our dispense is everyone’s favorite: social media! The increased technological world we live in today allows us to connect with more and more people. Let’s use this to our advantage and spread the word about FBLA online! Follow our FBLA pages and encourage others to do so as well! Sharing the benefits of FBLA on social media is a great way to motivate others to join FBLA as well. If each of us make efforts to help FBLA develop by increasing our membership numbers, there’s no doubt that we will succeed!
National Programs
by Sarah Cluff, State Vice President, Western Area
National Programs are a great way for FBLA chapters to show their dedication and FBLA spirit. The programs are designed to focus chapters on accomplishing goals such as increasing membership, raising money for the March of Dimes, or serving in the community. By participating in these programs, chapters are able to become more involved in the FBLA organization. One National Program that is specifically designed for chapters is the Chapter Challenge. This challenge is broken down into three parts – Super Sweeps, Non-Stop November, and Action Awareness. In each of these divisions, chapters must complete tasks and submit them to the FBLA-PBL website to receive recognition. Super Sweeps, which runs from August 1st to October 20th, focuses on recruiting and retaining members. Non-Stop November runs from November 1st to December 10th, and its purpose is to engage FBLA members, particularly in fundraising for the March of Dimes. The final part of the Chapter Challenge, Action Awareness, is primarily focused on National events such as FBLA-PBL week and CTE (Career and Technical Education) Month. This final part lasts from January 1st to March 1st. Recognition for each part of the Chapter Challenge is given at the area and state levels. There is a special pin awarded to chapters at the National Leadership Conference for the completion of all three parts of the Chapter Challenge, and a ribbon for the Action Awareness completion. The Community Service Awards are an opportunity for FBLA members to be recognized for their community service. Service is one of the three main pillars of FBLA, and as such is a vital characteristic of an FBLA member. There are three parts to the Community Service Awards – Community, Service, and Achievement. At each stage, you must have completed 50 hours of service, 200 hours of service, and 500 hours of service, respectively. These service hours are cumulative, meaning at the Achievement stage you will have a total of 500 hours of service. The first two stages are recognized by a certificate at completion, while the Achievement stage is recognized with a pin at the National Leadership Conference. To celebrate FBLA-PBL’s 75th Anniversary, there is a special award being offered for the 2016-2017 membership year, titled the Diamond Chapter Status. A chapter will earn this status if they completed 10 out of 19 activities (3 are mandatory). These activities include the completion of other National Programs, such as the Membership Achievement Award, as well as other activities focused on promoting FBLA ideals. Chapters who earn the Diamond Chapter Status will be recognized at the 2017 National Leadership Conference.There are various other National Programs offered by FBLA. The Golden Seal Chapter Award of Merit, also known as the Hollis and Guy Kitty Award, is given to chapters that complete 9 out of 12 activities such as recruiting a professional division member, or participating in a fundraiser. The Good Neighbor Award is a National Program that awards local chapters that reactivate another chapter. Connect Ten is a program that focuses on increasing chapter membership by ten members from the previous year, and the Outstanding Chapter Award is a program that is focused on the three areas of Membership/Chapter Management, Community/School, and Education/progress. Overall, FBLA offers numerous National Programs that chapters can participate in. From the Chapter Challenge to the Good neighbor award, each program allows chapters to focus on something specific to improve their chapter. Whether the program focuses on member retention, or on reactivating other chapters, there is always a positive benefit associated with the program. For those chapters that are interested in pushing the limits and going the extra mile, participating in National Programs is the one of the best ways to accomplish this while also showing a strong passion for FBLA.
by Sarah Cluff, State Vice President, Western Area
National Programs are a great way for FBLA chapters to show their dedication and FBLA spirit. The programs are designed to focus chapters on accomplishing goals such as increasing membership, raising money for the March of Dimes, or serving in the community. By participating in these programs, chapters are able to become more involved in the FBLA organization. One National Program that is specifically designed for chapters is the Chapter Challenge. This challenge is broken down into three parts – Super Sweeps, Non-Stop November, and Action Awareness. In each of these divisions, chapters must complete tasks and submit them to the FBLA-PBL website to receive recognition. Super Sweeps, which runs from August 1st to October 20th, focuses on recruiting and retaining members. Non-Stop November runs from November 1st to December 10th, and its purpose is to engage FBLA members, particularly in fundraising for the March of Dimes. The final part of the Chapter Challenge, Action Awareness, is primarily focused on National events such as FBLA-PBL week and CTE (Career and Technical Education) Month. This final part lasts from January 1st to March 1st. Recognition for each part of the Chapter Challenge is given at the area and state levels. There is a special pin awarded to chapters at the National Leadership Conference for the completion of all three parts of the Chapter Challenge, and a ribbon for the Action Awareness completion. The Community Service Awards are an opportunity for FBLA members to be recognized for their community service. Service is one of the three main pillars of FBLA, and as such is a vital characteristic of an FBLA member. There are three parts to the Community Service Awards – Community, Service, and Achievement. At each stage, you must have completed 50 hours of service, 200 hours of service, and 500 hours of service, respectively. These service hours are cumulative, meaning at the Achievement stage you will have a total of 500 hours of service. The first two stages are recognized by a certificate at completion, while the Achievement stage is recognized with a pin at the National Leadership Conference. To celebrate FBLA-PBL’s 75th Anniversary, there is a special award being offered for the 2016-2017 membership year, titled the Diamond Chapter Status. A chapter will earn this status if they completed 10 out of 19 activities (3 are mandatory). These activities include the completion of other National Programs, such as the Membership Achievement Award, as well as other activities focused on promoting FBLA ideals. Chapters who earn the Diamond Chapter Status will be recognized at the 2017 National Leadership Conference.There are various other National Programs offered by FBLA. The Golden Seal Chapter Award of Merit, also known as the Hollis and Guy Kitty Award, is given to chapters that complete 9 out of 12 activities such as recruiting a professional division member, or participating in a fundraiser. The Good Neighbor Award is a National Program that awards local chapters that reactivate another chapter. Connect Ten is a program that focuses on increasing chapter membership by ten members from the previous year, and the Outstanding Chapter Award is a program that is focused on the three areas of Membership/Chapter Management, Community/School, and Education/progress. Overall, FBLA offers numerous National Programs that chapters can participate in. From the Chapter Challenge to the Good neighbor award, each program allows chapters to focus on something specific to improve their chapter. Whether the program focuses on member retention, or on reactivating other chapters, there is always a positive benefit associated with the program. For those chapters that are interested in pushing the limits and going the extra mile, participating in National Programs is the one of the best ways to accomplish this while also showing a strong passion for FBLA.
FBLA Middle Level
by Dalton Veach, State Vice President, Eastern Area
FBLA middle level is one of the newest additions to FBLA-PBL. During the 2008-2009 school year Marion High School created the first FBLA middle level chapter at the Marion Junior High. Since then Carterville Middle School and Wauconda Middle School have activated chapter on the middle level. The first steps in creating a middle level FBLA chapter are to contact your principal and search for a teacher willing to be a dedicated advisor. After introducing the FBLA Membership Handbook to the new adviser, members must be recruited. Recruitment can be from word of mouth, posters, or announcements. After the chapter is established you may reach out to the senior high to help the middle level elect officers, create agendas, and conduct meetings until the middle level officers feel confident in their ability to do so.Creating a FBLA middle level is challenging; however, it is a benefit for the middle level students as well as the high school students. The senior high students learn to conduct meetings as well as how to network with students and teachers pushing them beyond their comfort level. Middle students can learning skills such as speaking in public and being organized. For middle school students, FBLA is an excellent opportunity to learn about leadership and prepare to become area, state, and national officers on the high school level. For the senior high, helping the middle school students teaches high school students values and the responsibilities of being role models. FBLA middle level has the potential to become a great success in the future in addition to becoming a great asset to FBLA-PBL. For more info you can visit www.fbla-pbl.com and choose middle level.
by Dalton Veach, State Vice President, Eastern Area
FBLA middle level is one of the newest additions to FBLA-PBL. During the 2008-2009 school year Marion High School created the first FBLA middle level chapter at the Marion Junior High. Since then Carterville Middle School and Wauconda Middle School have activated chapter on the middle level. The first steps in creating a middle level FBLA chapter are to contact your principal and search for a teacher willing to be a dedicated advisor. After introducing the FBLA Membership Handbook to the new adviser, members must be recruited. Recruitment can be from word of mouth, posters, or announcements. After the chapter is established you may reach out to the senior high to help the middle level elect officers, create agendas, and conduct meetings until the middle level officers feel confident in their ability to do so.Creating a FBLA middle level is challenging; however, it is a benefit for the middle level students as well as the high school students. The senior high students learn to conduct meetings as well as how to network with students and teachers pushing them beyond their comfort level. Middle students can learning skills such as speaking in public and being organized. For middle school students, FBLA is an excellent opportunity to learn about leadership and prepare to become area, state, and national officers on the high school level. For the senior high, helping the middle school students teaches high school students values and the responsibilities of being role models. FBLA middle level has the potential to become a great success in the future in addition to becoming a great asset to FBLA-PBL. For more info you can visit www.fbla-pbl.com and choose middle level.
Professional Division Recruitment
by Trisha Nair, State Vice President, Southern Area
Having trouble finding some professional division members for you local chapter? Don't worry! Here are some tips and tricks on how to reel them in. Professional division members are vital in helping you judge events for area conferences, allotting time for you to present and receive critiques on your own event, or even just giving a second opinion. But how do you recruit such people? Well, the first problem you might encounter is how you can show them that paying a sum of money only to help others can actually benefit them. Sounds pretty difficult, but it can be done. The first thing you have to do is get an audience. Contact local businesses throughout your town with a professional email. An email that comes from a student seeking advice on their competitive event says a lot more than an email coming from an adviser begging for help on the work load. Once you've got the word out, see who responds. If they don't respond, then take the initiative to make a quick visit to the business location and set up a time when you can talk to someone who can help you. Now that you've got the audience, it's time to show off the benefits. If they serve as a professional division member for one year, say that you'll advertise their company on your FBLA shirt which is worn on EVERY SINGLE FBLA outing. Say things like "we'll even throw in a free FBLA t-shirt for you. And you get all of that just by paying the small fee of..." Things along the lines of this. Talk about the great publicity benefits they'll receive by helping a large student based organization. The more they get involved, the more perks they get. But remember that there is a difference between persistent and annoying. Try your best but don't annoy the business owners. After all, they are doing a you a favor by even listening. After trying all of these tips and tricks, finding Professional Division members will hopefully become a little easier.
by Trisha Nair, State Vice President, Southern Area
Having trouble finding some professional division members for you local chapter? Don't worry! Here are some tips and tricks on how to reel them in. Professional division members are vital in helping you judge events for area conferences, allotting time for you to present and receive critiques on your own event, or even just giving a second opinion. But how do you recruit such people? Well, the first problem you might encounter is how you can show them that paying a sum of money only to help others can actually benefit them. Sounds pretty difficult, but it can be done. The first thing you have to do is get an audience. Contact local businesses throughout your town with a professional email. An email that comes from a student seeking advice on their competitive event says a lot more than an email coming from an adviser begging for help on the work load. Once you've got the word out, see who responds. If they don't respond, then take the initiative to make a quick visit to the business location and set up a time when you can talk to someone who can help you. Now that you've got the audience, it's time to show off the benefits. If they serve as a professional division member for one year, say that you'll advertise their company on your FBLA shirt which is worn on EVERY SINGLE FBLA outing. Say things like "we'll even throw in a free FBLA t-shirt for you. And you get all of that just by paying the small fee of..." Things along the lines of this. Talk about the great publicity benefits they'll receive by helping a large student based organization. The more they get involved, the more perks they get. But remember that there is a difference between persistent and annoying. Try your best but don't annoy the business owners. After all, they are doing a you a favor by even listening. After trying all of these tips and tricks, finding Professional Division members will hopefully become a little easier.
Pros to Attending SLW
by Pranati Bingi, State Vice President, Central Area
Being a part of your chapter’s officer team requires proper planning, effective leadership, and excellent teamwork skills. However, sometimes it can be difficult to adapt these qualities going into the new school year. Not knowing your team and how to work with them can be detrimental to your chapter in the long run. Luckily, attending the Illinois State Leadership Workshop is a great way to gain these skills and the key to leading your chapter successfully! From interactive speakers to enthusiastic members, SLW offers it all! On the first day of the workshop you meet the State Officers, the executive board, and the members from different schools. Everyone is then divided into mock chapters and get to meet new people. The speakers interact with all the members to make it a wonderful bonding experience for everyone! One of the younger members-- freshman or sophomore-- get to also gain the experience of running for office by participating in the mock election. Each mock chapter has one representative, so everyone comes together to manage his or her campaign. It is a beneficial learning experience for all members-- both advisers and members. The mock chapters also bounce off ideas and experiences as to what has worked for their chapters in the past. Many people have found this beneficial and continue to keep in touch with the members they met at the workshop. It really comes in handy to ask people advice when they know what they are doing and have have years of experience. In addition to the learning aspects, there are also many games played-- such as “Ships and Sailors”. Members bond over these activities and continue to connect, network, and make new friendships! There is also a dance and a game room just to spend quality time with all of the new people you have met!Ultimately, attending the State Leadership Workshop definitely has its perks. If you are really looking to having one of your best years as an FBLA chapter yet, it is highly recommended that you attend. The people you meet will significantly change your life for the better. The connections you make will last a lifetime! We hope to see you at the next Summer Leadership Workshop!
by Pranati Bingi, State Vice President, Central Area
Being a part of your chapter’s officer team requires proper planning, effective leadership, and excellent teamwork skills. However, sometimes it can be difficult to adapt these qualities going into the new school year. Not knowing your team and how to work with them can be detrimental to your chapter in the long run. Luckily, attending the Illinois State Leadership Workshop is a great way to gain these skills and the key to leading your chapter successfully! From interactive speakers to enthusiastic members, SLW offers it all! On the first day of the workshop you meet the State Officers, the executive board, and the members from different schools. Everyone is then divided into mock chapters and get to meet new people. The speakers interact with all the members to make it a wonderful bonding experience for everyone! One of the younger members-- freshman or sophomore-- get to also gain the experience of running for office by participating in the mock election. Each mock chapter has one representative, so everyone comes together to manage his or her campaign. It is a beneficial learning experience for all members-- both advisers and members. The mock chapters also bounce off ideas and experiences as to what has worked for their chapters in the past. Many people have found this beneficial and continue to keep in touch with the members they met at the workshop. It really comes in handy to ask people advice when they know what they are doing and have have years of experience. In addition to the learning aspects, there are also many games played-- such as “Ships and Sailors”. Members bond over these activities and continue to connect, network, and make new friendships! There is also a dance and a game room just to spend quality time with all of the new people you have met!Ultimately, attending the State Leadership Workshop definitely has its perks. If you are really looking to having one of your best years as an FBLA chapter yet, it is highly recommended that you attend. The people you meet will significantly change your life for the better. The connections you make will last a lifetime! We hope to see you at the next Summer Leadership Workshop!
Summer Activities
by Raj Patel, State Treasurer
When the final bell rings on the last day of school, it doesn’t mean FBLA is out of session! The summer is a great way for FBLA members to work on their service and hone in on their leadership skills. The BAAs, Business Achievement Awards, reflect the hard work in the 4 levels of Future, Business, Leader, and America. Each of which has 3 categories of Service, Education, and Progress. With so much free time, the summer is a great way to knock out many of the BAA levels and categories. Tasks such as community service hours, preparing posters for your chapter, preparing and attending interviews, and much more can all be completed over the summer. There is no better time to get ahead and show FBLA activeness. Another summer activity is attending the Summer Leadership Workshop in Springfield! It is a great way for freshman to get acquainted with the FBLA organization as well as for established members. Hearing guest speakers such as Patty Hendrickson and learning how to create an energetic and active atmosphere at local chapters allows students to practice their leadership roles. A mock election takes place with mock chapters allowing members to experience running for a state or national position. SLW is a great opportunity to connect, network, and learn lifelong skills. There’s no better time to get ahead in FBLA to get BAAs done and out of the way while working on leadership skills. Summertime is a great time to relax and enjoy being free, but FBLA is always on the clock.
by Raj Patel, State Treasurer
When the final bell rings on the last day of school, it doesn’t mean FBLA is out of session! The summer is a great way for FBLA members to work on their service and hone in on their leadership skills. The BAAs, Business Achievement Awards, reflect the hard work in the 4 levels of Future, Business, Leader, and America. Each of which has 3 categories of Service, Education, and Progress. With so much free time, the summer is a great way to knock out many of the BAA levels and categories. Tasks such as community service hours, preparing posters for your chapter, preparing and attending interviews, and much more can all be completed over the summer. There is no better time to get ahead and show FBLA activeness. Another summer activity is attending the Summer Leadership Workshop in Springfield! It is a great way for freshman to get acquainted with the FBLA organization as well as for established members. Hearing guest speakers such as Patty Hendrickson and learning how to create an energetic and active atmosphere at local chapters allows students to practice their leadership roles. A mock election takes place with mock chapters allowing members to experience running for a state or national position. SLW is a great opportunity to connect, network, and learn lifelong skills. There’s no better time to get ahead in FBLA to get BAAs done and out of the way while working on leadership skills. Summertime is a great time to relax and enjoy being free, but FBLA is always on the clock.
Leadership Opportunities in FBLA
by Adriana Feijoo, State Reporter
Future Business Leaders of America is such a rewarding experience for every member. The connections made through conferences, competitive events, and most importantly leadership opportunities is what makes FBLA such a successful organization. Throughout my four years in FBLA, I have learned that the most valuable lessons I have learned have come from being an officer. FBLA provides its members with four different levels of leadership. A member has the opportunity to run for a leadership position at a local, area, state and national level. At each level a member is able to run for the officer of President, Vice President,Secretary, Treasurer, Reporter, and Parliamentarian. Being a local officer allows you to have say in the community service projects your chapter does, the fun activities you do during NFLC and NLC, and the business professionals that come in to present lessons. When you run at area,you are responsible for giving a speech at the opening ceremony and running your campaign booth.Being a regional officer gives you the opportunity to plan your regional conference by picking a keynote speaker, choosing what workshops students will want to see, and creating a fundraiser to help raise money for March of Dimes. At the State level, members need to fill out an official application, give a speech at the opening ceremony, and run a campaign booth. As a State officer, you are responsible for running the State Conference and completing the duties of your officer position. At the National Level, you are responsible for saying a speech at the opening ceremony and run a campaign booth. As a National officer, you are responsible for working with all State Presidents and planning Nationals. Being an officer at any level comes with many benefits. It teaches students how to public speak, how to network with business professionals, and how to work with their peers. Being an local, area, and state officer has allowed me to overcome my fear of public speaking and learn the benefit of working with business professionals. Being an officer is an incredible opportunity and I am extremely grateful that I took advantage of the opportunities FBLA provides for its members.
by Adriana Feijoo, State Reporter
Future Business Leaders of America is such a rewarding experience for every member. The connections made through conferences, competitive events, and most importantly leadership opportunities is what makes FBLA such a successful organization. Throughout my four years in FBLA, I have learned that the most valuable lessons I have learned have come from being an officer. FBLA provides its members with four different levels of leadership. A member has the opportunity to run for a leadership position at a local, area, state and national level. At each level a member is able to run for the officer of President, Vice President,Secretary, Treasurer, Reporter, and Parliamentarian. Being a local officer allows you to have say in the community service projects your chapter does, the fun activities you do during NFLC and NLC, and the business professionals that come in to present lessons. When you run at area,you are responsible for giving a speech at the opening ceremony and running your campaign booth.Being a regional officer gives you the opportunity to plan your regional conference by picking a keynote speaker, choosing what workshops students will want to see, and creating a fundraiser to help raise money for March of Dimes. At the State level, members need to fill out an official application, give a speech at the opening ceremony, and run a campaign booth. As a State officer, you are responsible for running the State Conference and completing the duties of your officer position. At the National Level, you are responsible for saying a speech at the opening ceremony and run a campaign booth. As a National officer, you are responsible for working with all State Presidents and planning Nationals. Being an officer at any level comes with many benefits. It teaches students how to public speak, how to network with business professionals, and how to work with their peers. Being an local, area, and state officer has allowed me to overcome my fear of public speaking and learn the benefit of working with business professionals. Being an officer is an incredible opportunity and I am extremely grateful that I took advantage of the opportunities FBLA provides for its members.
Business Achievement Awards
by Hannah Frier, State Vice President, Northern Area
A common question among FBLA members is in reference to BAA, so we have created a Q&A list to help you out!
What is BAA?
BAA stands for the Business Achievements Award and is a National FBLA program. It consists of four different levels, each with increasingly difficult tasks that you must complete.
How many levels does BAA consist of?
Four. Future, Business, Leader, America.
What types of tasks are required?
Within each of the four levels, members must complete a various number of tasks in the service, education, and progress categories. Activities include creating a bulletin board and inviting someone new to your chapter's general meeting. Visit FBLA-PBL.org to see a full list of these tasks.
Is this a mandatory program?
This is not a mandatory program. However, this awards program will help you become more active in your chapter, increase your knowledge of business, and develop leadership skills.
Will I be recognized for my BAA achievements?
Members will receive a pin after the completion of each level. In addition, students who complete the Leader level will be recognized at the Illinois State Leadership Conference and students who receive the America level will be recognized at the National Leadership Conference.
How do I get started?
All paid FBLA members have the opportunity to receive a BAA account. If you are interested in participating in this program, ask your adviser for your login. Once you have received your login information, visit FBLA-PBL.org/baa3 and get started!
by Hannah Frier, State Vice President, Northern Area
A common question among FBLA members is in reference to BAA, so we have created a Q&A list to help you out!
What is BAA?
BAA stands for the Business Achievements Award and is a National FBLA program. It consists of four different levels, each with increasingly difficult tasks that you must complete.
How many levels does BAA consist of?
Four. Future, Business, Leader, America.
What types of tasks are required?
Within each of the four levels, members must complete a various number of tasks in the service, education, and progress categories. Activities include creating a bulletin board and inviting someone new to your chapter's general meeting. Visit FBLA-PBL.org to see a full list of these tasks.
Is this a mandatory program?
This is not a mandatory program. However, this awards program will help you become more active in your chapter, increase your knowledge of business, and develop leadership skills.
Will I be recognized for my BAA achievements?
Members will receive a pin after the completion of each level. In addition, students who complete the Leader level will be recognized at the Illinois State Leadership Conference and students who receive the America level will be recognized at the National Leadership Conference.
How do I get started?
All paid FBLA members have the opportunity to receive a BAA account. If you are interested in participating in this program, ask your adviser for your login. Once you have received your login information, visit FBLA-PBL.org/baa3 and get started!
Your Guide to Our New Competitive Events
by Bruna Tavares, State Secretary
With our organization being the largest career student organization in the world, we are constantly striving to be better, grow, and build our legacies of leadership! One of the ways we have done so this year is by adding three new competitive events this year to our broad list - Advertising, Journalism, and Organizational Leadership! With these three new exciting events comes uncharted territory, and we are to help you prepare to succeed in these events! Here is a play-by-play of what you need to know to build your legacy by being one of the first and most successful to test in our new events:
by Bruna Tavares, State Secretary
With our organization being the largest career student organization in the world, we are constantly striving to be better, grow, and build our legacies of leadership! One of the ways we have done so this year is by adding three new competitive events this year to our broad list - Advertising, Journalism, and Organizational Leadership! With these three new exciting events comes uncharted territory, and we are to help you prepare to succeed in these events! Here is a play-by-play of what you need to know to build your legacy by being one of the first and most successful to test in our new events:
- Event Types: They’re all Objective Tests
- What does this mean?: You’ll be taking a 100 question test testing your Advertising, Journalism, or Organizational Leadership knowledge!
- What you’ll be tested on: various competencies in Advertising, Journalism, and Organizational Leadership - click on the links to see which competencies!
- When you see this resource, you may be overwhelmed, but realize that you will only be tested on the tip of the iceberg of each competency - you won’t need to be a master on Alternative Forms of Advertising Media AND Influences on Advertising, but rather you’ll need to know basic information about them.
- So, how do I prepare?: Since these are completely new events, our National Center doesn’t have sample questions for us to refer to. That we means we have to do it the old fashioned way and use Google! It’s simple - choose a competency and/or a task under the competency, and put it into Google! Then, find a TRUSTWORTHY and usable source, and study up! Once you feel you’ve hit all the tasks under one competency, move on to the tasks in the next. It helps if you type or write down what you’re learning so you have something to refer to for future studying. It’s that simple!
- So, should I take the tests?: If one of these topics seem appealing and interesting to you, YES! If you think your talents would fit another competitive event better or you’d like to learn about a different topic, find the right competitive event for you here.
Education Through FBLA Events
by David Ying, State Vice President, Central Northern Area
FBLA events establish a precedent to the standards of learning within the general educational community. In addition to inspiring students to pursue goals outside of the classroom related not just to business, participation in FBLA events aids students in understanding what cannot be taught within the classroom. From public speaking to testing to presentations, FBLA events cover many of the necessities for transitioning from the classroom to the real world. In addition to providing an adequate understanding of the business/professional world,attending conferences to pursue success in FBLA individual events promotes creativity, hard-work, and independence. Whereas a student may be motivated within a classroom solely for the purpose of pursuing a good grade, an FBLA event takes this level of interest one step further. This utmost level of excellence can only be accomplished through intense work, great focus, and a desire to win. FBLA is successful because it is an organization that combines learning with real life. Students are able to understand the significance of their classroom material through standing on stage to receive an award for their brilliance. There is immediate return for their tenacity, and through team building and individual events, students learn to develop a school pride, as well as individual confidence. FBLA events will continue to be successful as long as they lay the foundation for future FBLA members.
by David Ying, State Vice President, Central Northern Area
FBLA events establish a precedent to the standards of learning within the general educational community. In addition to inspiring students to pursue goals outside of the classroom related not just to business, participation in FBLA events aids students in understanding what cannot be taught within the classroom. From public speaking to testing to presentations, FBLA events cover many of the necessities for transitioning from the classroom to the real world. In addition to providing an adequate understanding of the business/professional world,attending conferences to pursue success in FBLA individual events promotes creativity, hard-work, and independence. Whereas a student may be motivated within a classroom solely for the purpose of pursuing a good grade, an FBLA event takes this level of interest one step further. This utmost level of excellence can only be accomplished through intense work, great focus, and a desire to win. FBLA is successful because it is an organization that combines learning with real life. Students are able to understand the significance of their classroom material through standing on stage to receive an award for their brilliance. There is immediate return for their tenacity, and through team building and individual events, students learn to develop a school pride, as well as individual confidence. FBLA events will continue to be successful as long as they lay the foundation for future FBLA members.