Kick off FBLA-PBL Week with the National President’s Forum! All three division national presidents (FBLA PBL, and Professional Division) will host a live Google Hangout on Monday, February 11, 8:00 pm EST.
Another great way to start the week is with Business Achievement Awards (BAA). BAA is an aggressive, self-directed, results-based business and leadership program designed to compliment academics, while accelerating a student’s leadership skills. Promoting and participating in the Business Achievement Awards is an excellent way to begin FBLA-PBL Week and begin your Fight to the Finish.
The BAA is a great way for you to:
hone your business and leadership skills, from basic (Future level) to expert (America level)
showcase your talents and skills through integrated academic work and project-based activities
receive recognition at the local, state and national level
You can also compete in the ”Fight to the Finish” contest recognizes the top 10 states with the most Business Achievement Awards completed. Using a weighted scale of awards completed (1 for Future and 4 for America level), the top 10 states will receive recognition at the National Leadership Conference Regional meetings. Points are based on state-level membership, so every state earns points based on awards completed, regardless of state membership size.
Do you have questions about the Business Achievement Awards? Speak to your adviser and start earning points for your state today, and don’t forget check out this BAA Tutorial.
The final day of FBLA-PBL Week to dedicate solely to community service!
There are tons of service activities in which your chapter can participate. Some activities include: working with the March of Dimes, volunteering at a homeless shelter, conducting a blood drive, developing community improvement projects, or developing a project with any other service organization.
Serving the community is part of FBLA-PBL’s creed. Serving others,
helps members learn about real-world issues, concerns, and needs;
matches members’ strengths with community needs;
provides practical experience in planning and organizing;
Future Business Leaders of America-Phi Beta Lambda is one of the few associations that can truly call itself a lifetime association. You can join FBLA-PBL in middle school and continue your involvement throughout your professional career.
By now, most of you are familiar with our three student divisions: FBLA-Middle Level for junior high/middle school students, FBLA for high school students, and PBL for postsecondary students. Our fourth division is the FBLA-PBL Professional Division, designed for working professionals.
The Professional Division offers established business people the opportunity to teach and mentor the next generation of business leaders. Professional Division members include alumni, educators, administrators, counselors, business professionals, parents, and government officials. These people are ready and willing to work with you and your members at the local level.
Many Professional Division members mentor FBLA-PBL members through career counseling, job shadowing opportunities, workshops presentations and speeches on current business trends such as business ethics, how to obtain summer internships, and how to dress and prepare for job interviews.
Here are some tips on how you can get involved with your Professional Division and begin working with your professional members and community leaders – which is the purpose of Career Awareness Day.
1. Reach out to local businesses. Contact your local professional members to arrange business tours or ask them for suggestions on businesses to visit. Don’t forget to publicize your visit by posing for a photo, preparing a news release, and posting it to your social networks.
Seminole State College PBL Chapter members visiting a local fire station to present a donation.
2. Recruit speakers and workshop presenters. Whether it’s your state conference or a regular chapter meeting, make sure you invite professional members and other business and community leaders to speak at a local chapter meeting about hot-button business topics.
3. Get career coaching. Have your members work on resumes and ask your professional members or business leaders to critique them. Take it a step further by arranging mock interview sessions between FBLA-PBL members and professional members. Another career-boosting activity is to arrange a job shadow day. These could even turn into summer internships or part-time jobs — you never know!
Sutter Union High School FBLA Chatper — Job Shadow
4. Prepare for Competitive Events. Ask business leaders and professional members to mentor members as they prepare for competitive events. Whether it is a speaking event, an interview event, a written event, or a chapter project/report event, professional division members have “been there, done that.”
Bonus idea: Western Wayne High School in Pennsylvania came up with a unique project: They researched Fortune 500 companies, made paper t-shirts with company logos and hung them in the classroom on a mock clothesline. A great project to learn about leading businesses!
Wayne High School FBLA Chapter with a business clothesline
Starting April 25 to July 3, the Microsoft Store is hosting their Giving Kids Tools for Tomorrow program. They have selected three organizations that are dedicated to providing a brighter future for children: FBLA-PBL, Scholarship America, and Boys Hope Girls Hope. Each can receive up to $100,000 in software. Each time a vote is cast for FBLA-PBL we will receive $5 worth of Microsoft software. Voting is easy! Just visit the program’s Facebook page at microsoftstore.com/givingkidstools or stop by a Microsoft Store near you. It is not necessary to make a purchase to vote. Just be sure to vote between April 25 and July 3 to support FBLA-PBL. Each person may only cast one vote. Help us show the power of FBLA-PBL!
