Leadership: Journey or Destination?
by Sonakshi Garr, State President
Oftentimes, when I think about leadership, I prefer to think of it as a journey rather than a destination. The ability to lead is a very crucial part of FBLA. Whether you are choosing to volunteer in your community, or get involved in a competitive event, you are always choosing to be a leader. Being a leader does not require a fancy title or even a chapter officer position, rather leadership is an active decision you choose to make in the classroom, on the court, or even within your relationships. I often look at leadership as the ability to better the lives of people, and inspire new trains of thought. I remember being a committee leader on my local chapter my sophomore year, and I was overwhelmed with the responsibilities I had and the opportunities that were ahead of me. As a result, I was confused on what being a leader meant. Over the years, by working with a variety of people in a variety of realms, I have learned a few concepts that have helped me initiate conversations and change. I know I am still learning, but going back to these core concepts has helped me in my leadership journey:
1) Give up the need to always be in control. I know when you’re in a group setting with people you don’t know, it is often the easiest option to take control of the entire project you guys are working on for the sake of convenience. However, in taking complete control, you eliminate other people’s chances to learn. Is there a slacker in the group who isn’t going to do anything anyway? Maybe. However, other people want to be included. They want to feel as if they are appreciated and necessary to the project. In assuming the best of people, you eliminate extra work for yourself and you give everyone an opportunity to learn--the true asset of a leader.
2) Be a yes person. There are so many times in FBLA when you need a member to stay after school for a little bit, or you need someone to be the first one to present in front of judges, or you need someone to go shake a business professional’s hand. My advice to you is to always be that someone. Say yes to any opportunity that comes your way, even if it seems as small and insignificant as going first in a presentation line up. Saying yes always opens doors for options, while saying no shuts down an idea. During my time as local chapter president, I never gave a hard no to any idea I heard from my 200 member chapter. That meant that there was always potential for improvement within because different people brought new schools of thought to the table and I remained open minded.
3) Do not be afraid to be firm if you have to. In FBLA, a lot has to get done, and oftentimes members have a lot of fun doing it, which is important. However, it is equally important to accomplish the goals your chapter creates. If you feel like something is not getting done, say it! Clear communication is key. You can tell people to do something without sounding rude. It is important to make progress. Do not be afraid to be firm and clear with people when you feel it is necessary.
4) Take care of yourself! Good leaders manage their mental health and make it a priority. Find time in your day between FBLA, sports, and other activities to make time for yourself. Remember that you aren’t a perfect person. Leadership is a journey that FBLA
allows you to make the most of. If you are having trouble, simply reach out to friends in your chapter, or your caring adviser.
Fundraising 101
by Priyamsa Mikkilineni, State Treasurer
Fundraising is an essential part of helping your chapter. Whether you use that money to fund the various trips we take, social events we host, or give the money to our national partner, March of Dimes. Here are some fundraising ideas:
Dancing with the Staff
Night in the School/Lock In
Hosting a fundraiser takes a lot of time and preparation to plan and execute. Some other options to get money for your chapter which includes:
Business Achievement Awards
by Sofia Feijoo, State Secretary
FBLA members are given the opportunity to compete in the BAAs, the Business Achievement Awards. The business achievement awards allow bright and motivated members to further demonstrate their skills in a wide variety of topics. The BAAs consists of four levels. Future, Business, Leader, and America. As you complete a new level, the tasks will increasingly become more difficult.
Future: The main focus of this award is community service, basic business skills and involvement on a chapter level. In order to receive this award, members must complete 10 activities. When a member completes 10 activities, they will receive a pin from their chapter adviser at a local awards ceremony or chapter meeting.
Business: The main focus of the business award is involvement on the local, regional, state, and national levels as well as community leadership and intermediate business skills. In order to receive this award, members must complete 12 activities. When a member completes 12 activities, they will receive a pin from their chapter adviser at a local awards ceremony or chapter meeting.
Leader: The main focus of the leader awards is involvement on the local, regional, state, and national levels as well as community leadership and advanced business skills. In order to receive this award, members have to complete a total of 14 activities. Names of qualifying students and pins will be sent to the state chair/adviser to be presented at the state leadership conference if desired.
America: The final level of the BAAs focuses heavily on nationwide leadership, all levels of business skills, and community involvement. In order to receive this award, members have to complete a total of 15 activities. Students qualifying for this award will receive pins at the National Leadership Conference.
If you are just starting the BAAs, don’t be afraid to reach out to members of your local (or even state!) officer team for tips or advice on completing the activities. Good luck!
Networking Via Social Media
by Brooke Anderson, State Reporter
In the growing age of technology, social media has become increasingly more important and far reaching for networking. It seems as if more and more business professionals are including social media as a point of contact. Whether it be Instagram, Facebook or Twitter, social media can make a huge difference in a company’s success. Marketing techniques are essential to advertising a company and drawing in consumers. Social media is not solely for the purpose of marketing, but also serves as a tool for individuals to communicate quickly and easily. Social media accounts like Facebook, Instagram, etc. allows for the creator to make their account special to them, and to highlight their individuality. What skills do they bring to the table? What makes them stand out from the rest? Social media is a fantastic way for people to display their strengths and to connect with people.
Multiples sites have groups you can join that have similar interests. This allows for individuals to easily connect with others with just a follow button. Social media is a great tool, but must be used correctly. It is important to remember what is acceptable to post on social media and what is not acceptable. Many hiring managers will look into what accessible social media a potential employee has, and can learn many things from a person’s page. Just remember to be safe and responsible online! Social media is an amazing networking tool, but can be used in negative ways.
The FBLA social media is an easy way to get informed about upcoming events, and learn some new things! Our new Tuesday Tips initiative is working to help provide FBLA members with information essential to their success, not only in FBLA, but in the “real world!” Stay tuned for future posts about our tips and please send in questions that we can answer by messaging or commenting on a Illinois FBLA account!
Chapter Challenge
by Sohom Dash, State ParliamentarianDon’t you want to show the rest of FBLA that your chapter is the best? Well, a great way to do this is to complete the Chapter Challenge. Not only will you be able to brag about the completion of it, but your chapter will receive a pin and ribbons at the National Leadership Conference! To complete the Chapter Challenge, there are 3 parts: Super Sweeps, Non-stop November, and Action Awareness.
Super Sweeps runs from August 1 through October 20. To finish this part, your chapter will need to complete four required tasks as well as six out of ten optional activities. The tasks and activities are centered around the recruitment and retention of members, so not only will your chapter be recognized for completing Super Sweeps, but you will also gain members doing so.
Non-stop November takes place from November 1 through December 10, and to complete it, your chapter will have to finish three required tasks as well as seven out of twelve optional activities. This time, the tasks and activities are mainly focused on the engagement of your members. Once again, your chapter will be recognized on the national website for completing Non-stop November.
Finally, Action Awareness runs from January 1 through March 1. In order to achieve this, your chapter will need to complete two required tasks and three activities from the optional activities list. These tasks and activities are based on the theme of FBLA-PBL Week and CTE Month. Just as in the previous two sections, your chapter will be recognized for all your hard work.
For more information on the Chapter Challenge as well as all the required tasks, visit the national website. Again, this is a great way to show how hard-working and dedicated your chapter is. I highly recommend completing the Chapter Challenge, and I cannot wait to see all of your chapters being recognized through ribbons, pins, and on the national website.
New Members
by Audrey Zednick, State VP, Central Northern Area
As the school season has just begun, the best time to increase membership is right now! Yes, you heard it. Start now. As the beginning of the school year is very busy with everything starting again, the best time to gain new members is the beginning of the school year, whether it be in August or September. The incoming freshmen are all eager to join new things and seniors are looking for fun things to do. To include all classes of students, begin the year with a social event. This social event is used to draw in a lot of students. Having food such as ice cream or pizza can easily draw a big crowd. At an event like this, many students are welcomed by the existing members. They see the friendships and want to be a part of it. It’s a good idea to have an engaging presentation available to showcase was FBLA is. Stress how fun it is and what students get to do in FBLA during the presentation. Have officers and long-standing members advocate for the organization during the event to obtain other members.
Another idea to gain more membership is to hold a meeting. Yes, simply hold a standard meeting. However, make it a goal of every member to bring a friend who isn’t. At the meeting, present on normal issues but incorporate ways to include the new students such as playing a game. Many students are willing to join after realizing what FBLA is about. Simply show them and have fun! At my school, many students of every age group join. Our business teachers do a wonderful job of handing out flyers to each of their classes about the organization. This grows our membership immensely by just simply printing and passing out flyers.
In conclusion, the beginning of the year is the best time to gain new members; however, members can join anytime during the year to participate in events held at your school. Get out there and gain new members!
FBLA-PBL Week
by Jessica Blomberg, State VP, Southwestern Area
FBLA-PBL Week is designated to the second week in February. It’s a wonderful opportunity for chapters to show off their FBLA pride at their schools, and tell people what FBLA is really about, hopefully getting more kids involved and interested in our organization.
This year, FBLA-PBL Week will February 2nd-8th, 2020. The official ‘themes’ for each day are Sunday- Share your FBLA-PBL Story, Monday- Webinar:National Presidents’ Forum, Tuesday- Each One Reach One, Wednesday- Adviser Appreciation/Professional Attire, Thursday- Career Awareness, Friday- FBLA-PBL Spirit Day, and Saturday- FBLA-PBL Community Service.
Although those are nationally recognized themes, individual chapters can come up with their own to use during the week, and invite other students that might not be in FBLA to participate as well! Some themes my chapter has done include neon colors, super heros/villians, throwback day, and FBLA/club t-shirt day.
Overall, FBLA-PBL Week is a fun way to get people informed and interested in this organization, and helps chapters get excited for their upcoming activities in the spring.
Running for Office: The Essentials
by Eeshan Garr, State VP, Northern Area
Running for Office is a big step to take to further your FBLA career. Running for Office expands not only at the chapter level, but at the area, state, and even national levels! If you plan to run for office whether you’re a freshman at the chapter level or a rising junior at the national level, here are some essential tips:
The experience of running for office can hold a rollercoaster of emotions, but in the end, it is an experience that allows you to grow as a person and truly understand the meaning of leadership both in and out of FBLA.
Best Ways to Prepare for Nationals
by Olivia Seaman, State VP, Eastern Area
Going to Nationals for your first time or even your third time can be scary. You can feel unprepared or even intimidated knowing that you will be competing against hundreds of other kids across the nation. In order to stay confident and calm when heading to Nationals you can always follow some of these easy tips to stay prepared.
NFLC Adventure
by Sunny Shaheen, State VP, Central Area
Start off your year with a blast by attending the National Fall Leadership Conference! Every fall, members and advisers from across the nation come together to kickstart leadership development through workshops, networking sessions, keynote speakers, team-building, and much more. Whether you’re a new member eager to learn more about FBLA or a veteran member hoping to refine your leadership, NFLC is a valuable experience for all. This year, NFLC will be held in 3 different hotspots across the nation: Denver, CO; Birmingham, AL; and Washington D.C. Use your free time to take in what these great American cities have to offer, from the people to the sites. This is a great time for bonding with your chapter or relaxing from a day of hard work at the conference. Attend workshops and make the most of them! These professionals and speakers from a wide array of backgrounds and industries have knowledge to share with you that you can integrate into your own journey as a leader. With dozens of different topics to choose from, there will always be a session that interests you. One of my personal favorite things about NFLC is the opportunities to network with members from far and wide. Don’t be shy to introduce yourself to random people since you probably have more in common with them than you think! Use this as a way to begin building a web of connections to leverage in college and in the professional space. The NFLC adventure is one of my most memorable FBLA experiences, and I encourage all members to take the opportunity to embark on it!
Elevator Talk: How to Avoid the Awkwardness
by Kennedy Ruyle, State VP, Western Area
Have you ever been stuck in an elevator? With a stranger? If so, I think we can agree that it's a bit uncomfortable at first. But, there are many ways to avoid this awkwardness.
First, start with a smile. A smile will go along way. A stranger may not remember your name, but they will remember how you made them feel. A smile is a great way to lighten the mood and ease a little bit of the awkwardness.
Next, find something to say. Find some similarity or something to compliment them on. Be genuine and let the conversation flow. Asking general questions such as future plans, profession, or simply "What are you here for?" are great ways to keep the conversation alive.
When it's time for you and your new acquaintance to part ways. Try to find a way to communicate in the future. Whether that means exchanging basic contact information or asking about other events that you both may be attending, try to network. You never know how helpful your networking may be in the future.
How to Support Your Area, Chapter and Members
by Daniel Song, State VP, Southern Area
Are you wondering how you can get more involved and help support your FBLA? There are a variety of ways to get involved and make Illinois FBLA better than ever! Try to impact FBLA at every level!
Area- There are many ways one can help their Area. Start by reaching out to your Area President and seeing what you could do to assist your Area. A great way to make an impact is to help at your Area conference. Judges are a vital necessity at conferences; they help judge events and lend their wisdom to our members. Ask business professionals from your town to aid at Area conference or recruit Professional Division members to help. Another big event at Area is raising money for the March of Dimes foundation. Encourage members in your chapter to donate and try to raise the most money as an Area!
Chapter- Begin by asking your advisor what you can do to help the Chapter improve! Advisors have amazing ideas, but they need dedicated members to show up and execute the plans. Try showing up to all your meetings and recruit friends to become new FBLA members! Community service is a crucial part of all chapters and giving back to the community with your Chapter is a great way to promote your local FBLA and FBLA as a whole! Overall just get involved and have fun!
Members- There are always going to be members that are new or need help around you. A great way to support them is to share any knowledge you have with them, and guide them with their issues. One can support their members by simply listening to their opinions and making them feel heard. If you are a more experienced FBLA member, try to take a newer member under your wing. Help them decide on an event to compete in or explain the significance of completing BAA’s and CSA’s. Pay it forward and the members that you supported will be great supporters for futures FBLA members!
by Sonakshi Garr, State President
Oftentimes, when I think about leadership, I prefer to think of it as a journey rather than a destination. The ability to lead is a very crucial part of FBLA. Whether you are choosing to volunteer in your community, or get involved in a competitive event, you are always choosing to be a leader. Being a leader does not require a fancy title or even a chapter officer position, rather leadership is an active decision you choose to make in the classroom, on the court, or even within your relationships. I often look at leadership as the ability to better the lives of people, and inspire new trains of thought. I remember being a committee leader on my local chapter my sophomore year, and I was overwhelmed with the responsibilities I had and the opportunities that were ahead of me. As a result, I was confused on what being a leader meant. Over the years, by working with a variety of people in a variety of realms, I have learned a few concepts that have helped me initiate conversations and change. I know I am still learning, but going back to these core concepts has helped me in my leadership journey:
1) Give up the need to always be in control. I know when you’re in a group setting with people you don’t know, it is often the easiest option to take control of the entire project you guys are working on for the sake of convenience. However, in taking complete control, you eliminate other people’s chances to learn. Is there a slacker in the group who isn’t going to do anything anyway? Maybe. However, other people want to be included. They want to feel as if they are appreciated and necessary to the project. In assuming the best of people, you eliminate extra work for yourself and you give everyone an opportunity to learn--the true asset of a leader.
2) Be a yes person. There are so many times in FBLA when you need a member to stay after school for a little bit, or you need someone to be the first one to present in front of judges, or you need someone to go shake a business professional’s hand. My advice to you is to always be that someone. Say yes to any opportunity that comes your way, even if it seems as small and insignificant as going first in a presentation line up. Saying yes always opens doors for options, while saying no shuts down an idea. During my time as local chapter president, I never gave a hard no to any idea I heard from my 200 member chapter. That meant that there was always potential for improvement within because different people brought new schools of thought to the table and I remained open minded.
3) Do not be afraid to be firm if you have to. In FBLA, a lot has to get done, and oftentimes members have a lot of fun doing it, which is important. However, it is equally important to accomplish the goals your chapter creates. If you feel like something is not getting done, say it! Clear communication is key. You can tell people to do something without sounding rude. It is important to make progress. Do not be afraid to be firm and clear with people when you feel it is necessary.
4) Take care of yourself! Good leaders manage their mental health and make it a priority. Find time in your day between FBLA, sports, and other activities to make time for yourself. Remember that you aren’t a perfect person. Leadership is a journey that FBLA
allows you to make the most of. If you are having trouble, simply reach out to friends in your chapter, or your caring adviser.
Fundraising 101
by Priyamsa Mikkilineni, State Treasurer
Fundraising is an essential part of helping your chapter. Whether you use that money to fund the various trips we take, social events we host, or give the money to our national partner, March of Dimes. Here are some fundraising ideas:
Dancing with the Staff
- Similar to Dancing with the Stars but instead of famous celebrities you get students to dance with teachers and other staff members in your school
- It’s a great way to get the entire school involved in an event, and can be quite funny sometimes to see teachers dance with very little success
- Low cost and medium return - Depends on how well the event is marketed
Color Run - Host a 5k run with a little twist by having students throw color at the runners at certain checkpoint
- At the end, you can even add a fun “run” for kids who just want to have color thrown on them instead of grueling through 5k
- Medium cost/medium return - Kind of expensive to buy all the color, really helps to get many sponsorships from local businesses as well as get donations for the equipment
50/50 Raffle - Winner of the Raffle receives half of the fund raises
- Low cost, return is based off participation
Night in the School/Lock In
- Plan a fun night in your school filled with games, food, and other fun activities
- It doesn’t have to be all night long but till late at night
- Medium Cost and medium return
Hosting a fundraiser takes a lot of time and preparation to plan and execute. Some other options to get money for your chapter which includes:
- Getting sponsorships from local businesses
- Selling various things such as candy bars or candles
- Have online donation platform
- Just ask for donations!
Business Achievement Awards
by Sofia Feijoo, State Secretary
FBLA members are given the opportunity to compete in the BAAs, the Business Achievement Awards. The business achievement awards allow bright and motivated members to further demonstrate their skills in a wide variety of topics. The BAAs consists of four levels. Future, Business, Leader, and America. As you complete a new level, the tasks will increasingly become more difficult.
Future: The main focus of this award is community service, basic business skills and involvement on a chapter level. In order to receive this award, members must complete 10 activities. When a member completes 10 activities, they will receive a pin from their chapter adviser at a local awards ceremony or chapter meeting.
Business: The main focus of the business award is involvement on the local, regional, state, and national levels as well as community leadership and intermediate business skills. In order to receive this award, members must complete 12 activities. When a member completes 12 activities, they will receive a pin from their chapter adviser at a local awards ceremony or chapter meeting.
Leader: The main focus of the leader awards is involvement on the local, regional, state, and national levels as well as community leadership and advanced business skills. In order to receive this award, members have to complete a total of 14 activities. Names of qualifying students and pins will be sent to the state chair/adviser to be presented at the state leadership conference if desired.
America: The final level of the BAAs focuses heavily on nationwide leadership, all levels of business skills, and community involvement. In order to receive this award, members have to complete a total of 15 activities. Students qualifying for this award will receive pins at the National Leadership Conference.
If you are just starting the BAAs, don’t be afraid to reach out to members of your local (or even state!) officer team for tips or advice on completing the activities. Good luck!
Networking Via Social Media
by Brooke Anderson, State Reporter
In the growing age of technology, social media has become increasingly more important and far reaching for networking. It seems as if more and more business professionals are including social media as a point of contact. Whether it be Instagram, Facebook or Twitter, social media can make a huge difference in a company’s success. Marketing techniques are essential to advertising a company and drawing in consumers. Social media is not solely for the purpose of marketing, but also serves as a tool for individuals to communicate quickly and easily. Social media accounts like Facebook, Instagram, etc. allows for the creator to make their account special to them, and to highlight their individuality. What skills do they bring to the table? What makes them stand out from the rest? Social media is a fantastic way for people to display their strengths and to connect with people.
Multiples sites have groups you can join that have similar interests. This allows for individuals to easily connect with others with just a follow button. Social media is a great tool, but must be used correctly. It is important to remember what is acceptable to post on social media and what is not acceptable. Many hiring managers will look into what accessible social media a potential employee has, and can learn many things from a person’s page. Just remember to be safe and responsible online! Social media is an amazing networking tool, but can be used in negative ways.
The FBLA social media is an easy way to get informed about upcoming events, and learn some new things! Our new Tuesday Tips initiative is working to help provide FBLA members with information essential to their success, not only in FBLA, but in the “real world!” Stay tuned for future posts about our tips and please send in questions that we can answer by messaging or commenting on a Illinois FBLA account!
Chapter Challenge
by Sohom Dash, State ParliamentarianDon’t you want to show the rest of FBLA that your chapter is the best? Well, a great way to do this is to complete the Chapter Challenge. Not only will you be able to brag about the completion of it, but your chapter will receive a pin and ribbons at the National Leadership Conference! To complete the Chapter Challenge, there are 3 parts: Super Sweeps, Non-stop November, and Action Awareness.
Super Sweeps runs from August 1 through October 20. To finish this part, your chapter will need to complete four required tasks as well as six out of ten optional activities. The tasks and activities are centered around the recruitment and retention of members, so not only will your chapter be recognized for completing Super Sweeps, but you will also gain members doing so.
Non-stop November takes place from November 1 through December 10, and to complete it, your chapter will have to finish three required tasks as well as seven out of twelve optional activities. This time, the tasks and activities are mainly focused on the engagement of your members. Once again, your chapter will be recognized on the national website for completing Non-stop November.
Finally, Action Awareness runs from January 1 through March 1. In order to achieve this, your chapter will need to complete two required tasks and three activities from the optional activities list. These tasks and activities are based on the theme of FBLA-PBL Week and CTE Month. Just as in the previous two sections, your chapter will be recognized for all your hard work.
For more information on the Chapter Challenge as well as all the required tasks, visit the national website. Again, this is a great way to show how hard-working and dedicated your chapter is. I highly recommend completing the Chapter Challenge, and I cannot wait to see all of your chapters being recognized through ribbons, pins, and on the national website.
New Members
by Audrey Zednick, State VP, Central Northern Area
As the school season has just begun, the best time to increase membership is right now! Yes, you heard it. Start now. As the beginning of the school year is very busy with everything starting again, the best time to gain new members is the beginning of the school year, whether it be in August or September. The incoming freshmen are all eager to join new things and seniors are looking for fun things to do. To include all classes of students, begin the year with a social event. This social event is used to draw in a lot of students. Having food such as ice cream or pizza can easily draw a big crowd. At an event like this, many students are welcomed by the existing members. They see the friendships and want to be a part of it. It’s a good idea to have an engaging presentation available to showcase was FBLA is. Stress how fun it is and what students get to do in FBLA during the presentation. Have officers and long-standing members advocate for the organization during the event to obtain other members.
Another idea to gain more membership is to hold a meeting. Yes, simply hold a standard meeting. However, make it a goal of every member to bring a friend who isn’t. At the meeting, present on normal issues but incorporate ways to include the new students such as playing a game. Many students are willing to join after realizing what FBLA is about. Simply show them and have fun! At my school, many students of every age group join. Our business teachers do a wonderful job of handing out flyers to each of their classes about the organization. This grows our membership immensely by just simply printing and passing out flyers.
In conclusion, the beginning of the year is the best time to gain new members; however, members can join anytime during the year to participate in events held at your school. Get out there and gain new members!
FBLA-PBL Week
by Jessica Blomberg, State VP, Southwestern Area
FBLA-PBL Week is designated to the second week in February. It’s a wonderful opportunity for chapters to show off their FBLA pride at their schools, and tell people what FBLA is really about, hopefully getting more kids involved and interested in our organization.
This year, FBLA-PBL Week will February 2nd-8th, 2020. The official ‘themes’ for each day are Sunday- Share your FBLA-PBL Story, Monday- Webinar:National Presidents’ Forum, Tuesday- Each One Reach One, Wednesday- Adviser Appreciation/Professional Attire, Thursday- Career Awareness, Friday- FBLA-PBL Spirit Day, and Saturday- FBLA-PBL Community Service.
Although those are nationally recognized themes, individual chapters can come up with their own to use during the week, and invite other students that might not be in FBLA to participate as well! Some themes my chapter has done include neon colors, super heros/villians, throwback day, and FBLA/club t-shirt day.
Overall, FBLA-PBL Week is a fun way to get people informed and interested in this organization, and helps chapters get excited for their upcoming activities in the spring.
Running for Office: The Essentials
by Eeshan Garr, State VP, Northern Area
Running for Office is a big step to take to further your FBLA career. Running for Office expands not only at the chapter level, but at the area, state, and even national levels! If you plan to run for office whether you’re a freshman at the chapter level or a rising junior at the national level, here are some essential tips:
- First Impressions → First impressions can make or break having someone’s vote, and since you’re meeting a lot of people for the first time, it is imperative towards becoming a responsible business leader. Everything counts when you’re trying to win someone’s vote. So, make sure you press your suit/dress, brush your teeth, comb/brush your hair, and put on a big smile!
- Preparing a Campaign Booth → Campaign booths, whether you’re running at the chapter or national level, are an essential part of any campaign. They show the type of person you are, your qualifications for the position, and who you are outside of FBLA as well. To show this effectively, make sure that your campaign booth has a trifold with your goals, experience, and pictures that show your involvement in FBLA. Also, be sure to include candy! Candy can help set you apart from other candidates, and help you be a memorable candidate.
- Speeches → Bright lights, hundreds to thousands of people, and all the focus are on you. While this may sound like a recipe for disaster, let me assure you, it is far from that. Sit down with a piece of paper and a pen in a quiet room, and start jotting down ideas without putting too much thought into them. Slowly begin to craft your words into a speech that include your goals, and who you are as a person. Ask yourself: If I was in the audience, would I enjoy listening to this speech? Start memorizing your speech early. Practice every day and everywhere: on the bus, in-between classes, everywhere! Finally, When it comes time to give your speech, breathe, smile, and remember that no matter what happens, you gave it everything!
The experience of running for office can hold a rollercoaster of emotions, but in the end, it is an experience that allows you to grow as a person and truly understand the meaning of leadership both in and out of FBLA.
Best Ways to Prepare for Nationals
by Olivia Seaman, State VP, Eastern Area
Going to Nationals for your first time or even your third time can be scary. You can feel unprepared or even intimidated knowing that you will be competing against hundreds of other kids across the nation. In order to stay confident and calm when heading to Nationals you can always follow some of these easy tips to stay prepared.
- Educate yourself: Before making your presentation or taking an online test be sure you know what you are getting yourself into. Research your event thoroughly and look into the guidelines and rules for the test or competitive event you will be doing.
- Know your material: When competing in a competitive event make sure you can give a knowledgeable presentation or speech on your topic without a lot of note cards or stopping.
- Prep with a partner: Studying with a fellow FBLA member, friend or even teacher is a great way to prepare for Nationals!
- Practice, Practice, Practice: You can always take practice tests before taking the real one to prepare you for what is to come. If you are competing at Nationals, run through your speech or presentation multiple times. Also, always have a back-up plan in case something goes wrong with a visual aide or computer.
- Bring EVERYTHING you will need: In order to keep track of everything you need for your presentation or trip in general, make a checklist you can check off as you pack.
- Dress for success: Read through the proper dress code and be sure to follow it. The way you dress can really affect someone's first impression of you.
- Positive state of mind: One of the biggest parts of being prepared for Nationals is staying confident and believing that you will do great! Make sure you are well rested and ready to win the day!
- Understand the agenda: If it is your first time flying or traveling to a different state consult your advisor on what the plan is. While it is important to be up-to-date on travel plans you should also understand what you are expected to do when you arrive at NLC.
- Be ready to be outgoing and make friends: Have fun and use this great opportunity to network, make friends and memories! Step outside your comfort zone and take advantage of attending NLC.
NFLC Adventure
by Sunny Shaheen, State VP, Central Area
Start off your year with a blast by attending the National Fall Leadership Conference! Every fall, members and advisers from across the nation come together to kickstart leadership development through workshops, networking sessions, keynote speakers, team-building, and much more. Whether you’re a new member eager to learn more about FBLA or a veteran member hoping to refine your leadership, NFLC is a valuable experience for all. This year, NFLC will be held in 3 different hotspots across the nation: Denver, CO; Birmingham, AL; and Washington D.C. Use your free time to take in what these great American cities have to offer, from the people to the sites. This is a great time for bonding with your chapter or relaxing from a day of hard work at the conference. Attend workshops and make the most of them! These professionals and speakers from a wide array of backgrounds and industries have knowledge to share with you that you can integrate into your own journey as a leader. With dozens of different topics to choose from, there will always be a session that interests you. One of my personal favorite things about NFLC is the opportunities to network with members from far and wide. Don’t be shy to introduce yourself to random people since you probably have more in common with them than you think! Use this as a way to begin building a web of connections to leverage in college and in the professional space. The NFLC adventure is one of my most memorable FBLA experiences, and I encourage all members to take the opportunity to embark on it!
Elevator Talk: How to Avoid the Awkwardness
by Kennedy Ruyle, State VP, Western Area
Have you ever been stuck in an elevator? With a stranger? If so, I think we can agree that it's a bit uncomfortable at first. But, there are many ways to avoid this awkwardness.
First, start with a smile. A smile will go along way. A stranger may not remember your name, but they will remember how you made them feel. A smile is a great way to lighten the mood and ease a little bit of the awkwardness.
Next, find something to say. Find some similarity or something to compliment them on. Be genuine and let the conversation flow. Asking general questions such as future plans, profession, or simply "What are you here for?" are great ways to keep the conversation alive.
When it's time for you and your new acquaintance to part ways. Try to find a way to communicate in the future. Whether that means exchanging basic contact information or asking about other events that you both may be attending, try to network. You never know how helpful your networking may be in the future.
How to Support Your Area, Chapter and Members
by Daniel Song, State VP, Southern Area
Are you wondering how you can get more involved and help support your FBLA? There are a variety of ways to get involved and make Illinois FBLA better than ever! Try to impact FBLA at every level!
Area- There are many ways one can help their Area. Start by reaching out to your Area President and seeing what you could do to assist your Area. A great way to make an impact is to help at your Area conference. Judges are a vital necessity at conferences; they help judge events and lend their wisdom to our members. Ask business professionals from your town to aid at Area conference or recruit Professional Division members to help. Another big event at Area is raising money for the March of Dimes foundation. Encourage members in your chapter to donate and try to raise the most money as an Area!
Chapter- Begin by asking your advisor what you can do to help the Chapter improve! Advisors have amazing ideas, but they need dedicated members to show up and execute the plans. Try showing up to all your meetings and recruit friends to become new FBLA members! Community service is a crucial part of all chapters and giving back to the community with your Chapter is a great way to promote your local FBLA and FBLA as a whole! Overall just get involved and have fun!
Members- There are always going to be members that are new or need help around you. A great way to support them is to share any knowledge you have with them, and guide them with their issues. One can support their members by simply listening to their opinions and making them feel heard. If you are a more experienced FBLA member, try to take a newer member under your wing. Help them decide on an event to compete in or explain the significance of completing BAA’s and CSA’s. Pay it forward and the members that you supported will be great supporters for futures FBLA members!
