Welcome to March Madness, a NEW initiative that is sponsored by your FBLA National Officer Team. This project focuses on chapter recruitment and retention by encouraging local chapters to focus on getting involved with national programs and planning local projects that will keep members motivated and excited. Throughout this month of March, we encourage local chapters to recruit new members through Membership Madness and Mania.

Not only can members earn a certificate of recognition for recruiting five new members and/or ten new members, but they can help their state top the NEW March Madness Leader board.  Each Membership Madness will give your state five points and each Membership Mania will give your state ten points.  Everything will be weighted back against the total membership.  All membership madness and mania awards beginning from August through the end of the month will count towards March Madness.  The top ten states will receive national recognition! 

Get your members excited about this project by showing the March Madness video prepared by National President Taylor Sarman and FBLA National Secretary McKenna Murray.

Remember, it is NEVER too late to recruit new members. You can use a variety of methods such as posters, bulletin boards, social media, and word of mouth.

The deadline for state and chapter membership recognition awards has been changed to April 1 so keep spreading the FBLA word!

Poster created through BAA Program by Helena Lagos from Legacy High School in Nevada.

Let your prospective members know that by joining FBLA they can:

• Travel the Country. FBLA members have the opportunity to travel at the local, state, and national levels.  With more than a quarter of a million members in FBLA-PBL, we have a vast network at our fingertips.  Meeting members at conferences is a great way to get your name out there and potentially find a job. The 2012 National Leadership Conference which will be held in San Antonio, Texas on June 29-July 2 is just around the corner.  This conference will feature motivational sessions on a variety of topics and offer such attractions as the Alamo, SeaWorld, and Six Flags.
• Get the Competitive Edge. Today’s business and academic environments require not just keeping up, but staying ahead of the competition.  Students have the opportunity to choose from over 40 competitive and skills events from the areas of technology, public speaking, business, and finance, and management.  The top state winners advance on to the national level to compete for trophies and cash prizes.  Each year FBLA also offers members attending the NLC the opportunity to take certification tests from leading companies so they can earn industry recognized certifications.
• Gain Community Service Experience.  Whether it is a local charity, a state community service project, or national programs such as the FBLA Go Green “Eco-Chapter project” where members plan projects to promote or help raise environmental awareness, our members learn about the importance of helping others.  FBLA is the largest youth volunteer force for the March of Dimes.  During our partnership, our chapters have raised more than $13 million dollars for the March of Dimes.  Not only do our members make difference, but they gain valuable leadership skills by participating in service projects for their school and their community.

Questions? Contact FBLA National President Taylor Sarman (fblapres@fbla.org).

Happy recruiting and we hope to see your state on the top of the Leader Board!