Discovering Your Voice at Nashville

By: Donna Corder, National Consultant Team

In 18 days, the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America National Leadership Conference will start in Nashville, TN.  There are many opportunities awaiting delegates, competitors, officers, and ADVISERS. 

Advisers may earn up to 1.5 CEU credits for participating in activities at the National Leadership Conference. A non-refundable administrative fee of $20 is charged for this service.  If you did not register for this opportunity, you may pay an extra $20 to receive a  verification form to complete and gain credit.  You must do this early, however, as this opportunity will fade away after 3:00 pm on Monday, July 8. 

Advisers may earn Professional Development Units (PDUs) through the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS).  All participating individuals certified in Family and Consumer Sciences are responsible for complying with AAFCS requirements regarding annual reporting.

In addition to the student activities, there are several opportunities planned specifically for the advisers.  Kicking off the week is the networking round table event.  Local advisers from all over the nation will be sharing their expertise in several different areas like STAR Events, chapter management and fundraising.  Come join the fun as you network with others and learn how to create a stronger and harmonious chapter.

On Monday and Tuesday, there will be several different Adviser Professional Learning (APL) sessions led by the National Consultant Team so plan to attend one of the following:

·        FCCLA 101

·        Three Part Harmony

·        Money, Money, Money

·        Batter Up!  Creating a Successful STAR Event Team

·        Optional to Essential

Great compositions need a strong ending and we will be completing ours with the Adviser Recognition Session on Wednesday, July 10. Students need to be recognized for their successes and so do advisers.   Bringing to a close this fabulous event will be our special guest speaker, Dr. Lindsey Shirley, teacher educator from Utah State.

The National FCCLA Leadership Conference holds many opportunities, not only for the student members, but also for the advisers.  Come join the symphony of opportunities and “Discover Your Voice” along the way.

“Wear a pedometer” and Other Things to Expect at NLC

By Allison Kreifels, NCT, 12-13 NECA

Whether this is your first or fiftieth FCCLA National Leadership Conference, you have an exciting time ahead of you in Nashville, Tennessee, July 5-11.  The National Executive Council, National Consultant Team, and National Staff have been working hard to ensure that this conference will truly be an event in one of the neatest venues available.

When I decided to write this blog, all I could think of was how my first NLC in Nashville went.  When my luggage handle broke halfway through the first of the three atriums I had to travel through, I quickly realized the Gaylord Opryland Hotel and Convention Center was unlike any other.  So, hopefully, this entry will give you some information of what to expect with not only the venue but the many events going on at the 2013 FCCLA National Leadership Conference.

Dress Code

The dress code for all sessions has been published in the original conference mailings and is also available on the website.  This dress code which was established by the Board of Directors allows for a professional appearance by all members and markets our organization positively. 

Different main sessions

If you have been to NLC before, this one might throw you for a loop.  This year, there will actually be 2 opening sessions and your attendance will depend on which region you belong to.  Opening and Closing Sessions will be split but the Business Session will remain as one session. 

Walking a long distance

Walking a lot just comes with NLC but at this venue, it’s down to a science!  The beautiful Gaylord Opryland Hotel features gardens that any master gardener would envy and great walking paths.  Learn the short-cuts through the hotel and study the map carefully to make sure you know where you are to go.

STAR Event registration and events

Advisers need to be sure to pick up their students’ STAR Event registration packets and all remind all participants to attend their Orientation on Sunday, July 7 from 6:00-7:00 PM.  It is imperative that students attend this meeting so they can get all of their points for their event as well as have any questions answered.

I personally cannot wait to see all of you at NLC in July!  It’s a great time of year to catch up with old friends and see the amazing things that students are doing all around the nation.  Have a great rest of your year and I will see you all in Nashville as we Discover Our Voice together!

FCCLA Summer Activities

By Nikki Sue Larkin, Utah FCCLA State Adviser

Needing some ideas to keep the FCCLA spirit alive this summer?  Check out the following tips!

• Give chapter officers leadership training assignments during the summer.  These assignments could be to read a chapter out of the FCCLA Ultimate Officer Handbook Training Manual or the Student Leadership Challenge, write a reflection and some goals they have for their position for the upcoming year, or have them memorize the opening and closing ceremony (including the creed) and the purposes of FCCLA.

• Participate in a parade.  Decorate a float and make flyers to hand out as you walk down the parade route. 

• Get together to do service projects for the community. These could include planting flowers, cleaning up the highway and serving at the local community events.

• Do a chapter officer training before school starts up again in the fall. Have officers bring their favorite candy that represents them. Give each officer a binder with important information about FCCLA, list of duties for their office, or a school calendar. Put together a program of work for your chapter.

• Do a summer leadership conference for chapter officers during registration day in August that gets them focused on getting kids signed up before school even starts.

• Have chapter officers come on registration day to help give kids direction in the halls, get kids excited for school, and also be seen around as part of the leadership of the school. By doing this students understand that FCCLA officers are all part of the leadership for the school.

Do you have any summer FCCLA ideas?

Chapter Records: Who, What, When, Where?

By Rachel VanPelt, National Consultant Team

Last year my chapter celebrated our 5^th anniversary as an FCCLA chapter.  Our chapter officers planned a big reunion dinner for our members, parents, and alumni as part of their Life Event Planning STAR Event.  Besides the financial planning and budgeting that my students strengthened from planning the event, we quickly realized the importance of another aspect of our chapter: maintaining detailed and accurate chapter records!

When I first started teaching, I knew for sure I would remember everything we did as an FCCLA chapter.   After all, these were memories that would last a lifetime!  But somehow the years and activities have blurred together and I find myself wondering exactly when did we do a toy drive… was that last year?  Two years ago?

Luckily, over time our chapter records have become more detailed as our chapter has grown and developed. 

Here are some chapter record keeping tips that have worked for us:

• Keep a detailed spreadsheet of member information, including email address and phone numbers, to keep in touch with current and former members.
• Create a Vice-President of Records position.  This officer can be responsible for creating notes of everything discussed at officer meetings to remind each person of the roles and responsibilities for upcoming activities.
• Maintain a notebook of community contacts.  Members can go directly to the notebook to find the name and phone number of a community partner we have previously worked with instead of spending time trying to re-find information that has previously been established.
• Encourage members to compete in a Chapter Showcase STAR Event.  These visual displays and manuals are valuable resources to use to promote FCCLA to potential members or community members.  Alumni also enjoy looking at these projects as they reminisce about their experiences in FCCLA.

The Positive Impact of Career and Technical Student Organizations

By Jennifer Buffaloe-Parker, NBCT, FCCLA Adviser

This year marked a new and exciting venture as I took a brand new group of students to our State Conference for FCCLA (Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America).  I have been attending these conferences yearly for the past ten years.  This marked the first time that I had a group that was excited about actually competing in competitive events and wanting to win.     This group wanted more.  They had a spark of excitement and fear.

As they prepared, in the weeks that led up to state conference, we spent many hours after school helping each other understand what needed to be done for each project.  We ended up with three strong groups and three strong projects.  I was proud of my students and they were proud of themselves.  They practiced and changed things daily.

I could see that they were all getting anxious.  I tried to continue to provide a strong front for them, even though deep inside, I was a nervous wreck.  It seemed like in no time at all.  I sent them all to compete and in no time at all they were back sharing their experiences with me and each other.  Now the hard part was to wait until the next day for our results.

Finally the last day was upon us and I sent my three groups into the contestant lineup to receive their awards.  As my groups came to the stage I almost screamed with pride when their names were announced and they got to walk across the stage and receive their bronze medals.      Five students and five bronze medals!  I was about to bust with pride and I was so proud of my students for their accomplishments.  Finally my last contestant was approaching the stage and I could barely contain myself when her name was called as the gold medal winner and the representative for our state to the National Leadership Conference in Nashville, Tennessee, in July.  We were all so excited.  We had come to compete and we had conquered them all! 

As we were driving home, my students said to me that they had a great time.    They all wanted to continue in FCCLA and my classes and compete again.  This gave me such a great sense of pride and accomplishment as a teacher.  I became a teacher to make a difference in the lives of young people and today I realized that I had a made a difference in the lives of these six teenagers!  I had made a difference and I want to continue to do so for many more years!   Do nott be afraid as an adviser to take a chance on doing something new. 

Do you have stories like this one?  They really encourage other teachers to have their students compete!