Please Welcome to the Stage. . . .DONNA

By Allison Kreifels, National Consultant Team

Perhaps you talked with Donna Corder in the Adviser Resource Room or maybe you got some great ideas in one of her sessions.  No matter when you saw her, once you got through her thick Texas accent, you learned very quickly that Donna Corder loves FCCLA.

Donna Corder is the newest member of the Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America National Consultant Team and comes from Lubbock, Texas.  Donna enters the team with a wide variety of experiences in education including teaching Kindergarten for 5 years.  However, since 2004, she has been a high school teacher and FCCLA Adviser and has “loved every minute of it.”  One might say that being in this field is in her blood as her own grandmother was a FACS teacher and FCCLA adviser. 

Donna has had some great opportunities in FCCLA but of everything FCCLA has to offer, her favorite is thing is watching the growth and development of her students.    Donna says, “I cannot even begin with the many stories of students that have had drastic life changes from being involved in FCCLA.  The opportunities that FCCLA provides separate these students from their classmates.  People ask me why I give so much to FCCLA and the answer is clear.  FCCLA changes peoples’ lives and develops strong leaders for our future.” 

In addition to everything Donna does in the classroom and chapter, she also enjoys many hobbies.  Her favorite, most relaxing hobby, is to design and sew formal dresses.    In addition to making most of her own daughters’ formals, she alters and makes formals on her own time for students as well. Donna also enjoys reading Christian fiction and self-help books as well as watching movies.

So the next time you hear someone speaking passionately about FCCLA followed by the word, “ya’ll,” look for Donna’s smiling face and make sure you have materials to take some notes, because she has lots of great ideas to share.  Welcome to the NCT, Donna Corder! 

Join FCCLA!!!

With the beginning of a new school year approaching, we once again turn our focus and efforts toward membership.  FCCLA ended on a positive note with membership numbers last year as we soared past the 200,000 mark!  Final affiliation counts showed FCCLA increasing membership and we are now striving to reach even more students in the 2012-2013 school year.  


Our first effort to increase membership is the release of the new 2012-2013 Join FCCLA membership kit.  The membership kit CD is divided in five sections: New Advisers, Returning Advisers, Occupational Advisers, Youth Leaders, and Resources. On this CD, you will find many new and updated resources, including help to integrate FCCLA into the classroom, FCCLA lesson plans, project and recruitment ideas, and much more!  Also included is a new FCCLA Membership Video to help promote FCCLA in your chapter! We hope you will find the CD beneficial when planning for the year and that you will use these materials to encourage your members to recruit, retain, and be recognized.  Membership kits will be mailed August 1, 2012 so be on the lookout for this great resource!

FCCLA is also launching a brand new "iRecruit" membership campaign for the 2012-2013 school year!!! Members will have the opportunity to showcase their recruiting skills on the individual, chapter, and state levels to help reach our goal of 213,000 members. The incentives offered this year are incredible and give some great opportunities for friendly competition. Prizes for winners include an iPod Touch, VIP Pass to NLC, Chapter Highlight in Teen Times, and much more!  So go to www.fcclainc.org for more information, find some enthusiastic FCCLA members , and start RECRUITING! 

Will you help us reach our goal???

  

National Executive Director NLC and Membership Update

By Michael L. Benjamin, , M.P.H., CAE, National Executive Director

As this is my first blog of the year, I’d start by saying thank you to the more than 6,800 FCCLA members, advisers, alumni, and guests who attended the 67^th National Leadership Conference in Orlando, Florida, July 8-12.  The NLC had the highest attendance to date with over 3800 participating in competitive activities. Kudos to all the participants in those events and a special thank you to the volunteers and FCCLA staff who helped to make this conference a success!

With this year’s conference theme “#realitycheck,” participants examined and discussed several critical issues, including family, school and community violence prevention, physical as well as financial fitness, the changing roles of men and women in the home and workplace, future career exploration, and countless community service projects.  We received positive feedback on the brand new FCCLA app which gave attendees the ability to upload on their smartphones conference information, speaker and workshop descriptions and real-time conferences updates and feedback.  And attendees created their own conference schedules. We plan to use this app throughout the year at all FCCLA meetings. 

In moving forward, we’re looking for a great membership year. With the 2012 FCCLA member affiliation ending at 202,189, we have established our 2012-13 student membership goal at 213,000. So be on the lookout for the new membership kit.  The kit will be in the mail by the first of August. 

Have a safe rest of the summer!

FCCLA NLC Attendees Get a #realitycheck

By Donna Corder, National Consultant Team

The National Executive Council (NEC), along with almost 7,000 attendees, got a "#realitycheck" at the National Leadership Conference (NLC) in Orlando, Florida, July 8-12, 2012.  Members and advisers alike were offered many different opportunities to build stronger chapters through networking and workshops.

The National Consultant Team (NCT) kicked off the NLC by offering Adviser Academy, FCCLA 101, Adviser to Adviser, and Adviser Networking.  Advisers learned chapter management, the basics of FCCLA, and connected with other advisers to share their many ideas.  The learning opportunities continued through Tuesday, training advisers how to incorporate service learning, leadership skills, and current events, while learning how to take time to rejuvenate and reduce stress. 

In addition, advisers across the nation were recognized for their service to FCCLA and attained Adviser Mentor, Master Adviser and Spirit of Advising awards.  Congratulations to these advisers for all of their hard work!  Don’t forget to submit your applications for these awards next year. 

Throughout the NLC, many advisers made connections with other professionals nationwide.  The NCT would like to challenge you to continue these connections.  This year, the FCCLA blog will be updated every week on Wednesdays, with Executive Director, Michael Benjamin, posting once a month.  This is your opportunity to share your ideas, suggestions, and strengthen your support system.  We want to hear from you, so check out those blogs weekly and let us hear from you.  Keep on blogging!

Introducing the NEW official FCCLA app!!!

The new FREE FCCLA app available for iPhone, Android, and Blackberry users is coming soon!!!  The FCCLA app will debut at the 2012 National Leadership Conference in Orlando, Florida!  Members and advisers who download the app will have access to conference schedules, social networking, speaker information, attendee photos, and push notifications for the most up-to-date conference information.  Stay tuned to the national FCCLA website and FCCLA social media sites for the most up-to-date app download information!

Not coming to NLC this summer?  You can still download the app and follow along with social updates, pictures, and news about the conference!  The app is a great way for parents, advisers, and members not attending the conference to be part of the experience!