State Updates

Louisiana FBLA members, it is time for state conference! Competitions begin on Sunday, March 25th, and will conclude with the awards session held on Tuesday, March 27th. With competitions less than a week away, this is the final time for competitors to prepare for their contests. Contestants and advisers, remember to download the state conference app to receive conference programs and updates. Good luck to all competitors, and we look forward to seeing you all next Sunday!

Chapter News

JENA HIGH SCHOOL FBLA

FBLA is a club that supports the March of Dimes fundraiser each year. In order to help with this, the Jena High School FBLA Chapter holds an annual FBLA Most Beautiful Pageant at our school. At the pageant, there is always a booth set up that is titled "Audience Choice Award." The goal is to encourage people to pay to vote for their favorite beauty and favorite escort participating in the night's pageant. After the festivities are over, the money is gathered and counted. The winners are then given a token presented to them by the principal of the school, the reigning JHS Most Beautiful, and the current president of the chapter. After the festivities have ended, the money raised by the Audience Choice Award is given to the March of Dimes Foundation. This year at the JHS FBLA Most Beautiful Pageant, the Audience Choice Award raised over $1,600! This fundraiser is a way for the club and its members to give to the March of Dimes Foundation as well as the supportive citizens of the community.

Chandlar Fannin

Jena High FBLA President

2018 Jena High School Audience Choice Winners Jacob C. and Aleaha T.

Our Jena High School chapter of FBLA participated in American Enterprise Day on November 15^th this year as we have done for several previous years as well. We made an announcement over the intercom to let everyone know about the day. We also participated on this day by wearing our FBLA t-shirts to raise awareness for the day.

This holiday is very important to our chapter because it celebrates capitalism and America’s free enterprise system. It is this system that allows Americans to own private businesses and make a profit with little restrictions from the government. Without this system there would most likely be no FBLA and America would not be what it is today and our chapter is glad that we were able to participate in this special holiday.

Jesse Bethard

Jena High School Reporter

ANACOCO FBLA PRESENTS…ADOPT A GRANDPARENT

On November 6, 2017, Anacoco FBLA reached out to the community by sponsoring a Mary Kay Party in the school cafeteria. The underlying purpose was to “Adopt a Grandparent for the Holidays”. Every $20 earned, sponsored a Grandparent for the Holidays. Ladies could buy makeup or simply make a donation.

Donations went toward gift bags for senior citizens in nursing homes. The gift bags consisted of lotion and matching shower gel.

That evening 9 Grandparents were “Adopted” by our club. It was a fun time for everyone.

CASTOR HIGH SCHOOL FBLA SPONSORS AUTISM AWARENESS

During the last several months, Castor High School FBLA promoted autism awareness in the school, community, and surrounding areas. April 2 is designated as the National Autism awareness day. Students and faculty wore blue on April 2 and flyers were sent home with students that identified early signs of autism and treatment options. In October during the Pine Beetle Festival, Castor FBLA decorated a float for the parade and several students from Bienville parish who are on the autism spectrum rode on the float. A booth was also sponsored by the club and FBLA students passed out flyers on autism and treatment options available. Treats and water were available for a donation and the club collected around $150.00 to use for additional autism awareness projects. The club partnered with Behavioral Developmental Services in Ruston to increase awareness on ABA therapy. Representatives of the club went to the clinic in Ruston and met with Mr. Josh McCormick to plan an autism awareness training for our community. While at the clinic, students were allowed to tour the therapy sessions to see firsthand how ABA therapy works and the benefits to the children who are diagnosed with autism. On February 1, Castor FBLA club hosted an autism awareness training at the Castor Community Center. Guests for this conference included parents of autistic children, teachers from our parish who are/will teach autistic children and guests who supported this project. A total of 42 people attended the training. To begin the evening, Mrs. Vicki Pickett, Mayor of Castor signed an official proclamation declaring February 17, 2018 as official Autism Awareness Day for the town of Castor. February 17 is also National FBLA Community Service Day. Mr. McCormick presented ways to handle autistic behaviors both inside and outside a classroom setting when dealing with the variety of behaviors of the autism spectrum. A time of questions and answers proved very beneficial to several attendees seeking answers on dealing with specific autistic behaviors. A delicious meal consisting of a variety of soups, cornbread, dessert, and tea was served to all attending this training. Castor FBLA would like to thank everyone that helped in any way to make this project a success.

CASTOR FBLA HOSTS CAREER AWARENESS

As part of Castor FBLA’s American Enterprise Awareness, Mr. Chris Guin was invited to speak at the club meeting held in October. The focus of the club’s American Enterprise emphasis this year is career awareness. Mr. Guin is a successful entrepreneur and spoke to the club about the importance of education, determination, and hard work that is required to be successful in becoming an entrepreneur in the United States. This meeting also included high school students that are not FBLA members but who showed interest in becoming entrepreneurs.

CEDAR CREEK FBLA

As part of our ongoing community service project to raise awareness and money for Friedreich’s Ataxia (FA), a rare, degenerative, neuromuscular condition, Cedar Creek FBLA recently “painted the town” with facts about FA as well as #CureFA. For this project, the chapter collaborated with more than ten local businesses.

In December, FBLA members read the book We’re All Wonders to elementary school students to shed light on children living with physical disabilities, like those suffering from Friedreich’s Ataxia, and to help the children understand how to treat those who are different with kindness.

KINDER HIGH SCHOOL FBLA

In an effort to promote awareness of the wide variety of careers available in the business world, the Kinder High School chapter of Future Business Leaders of America hosted a presentation regarding CTE, or Career Technical Education. The local officer team invited Mrs. Kim Andrews, the dean of the Sowela Satellite Community in Oakdale, Louisiana on the morning of February 5, 2018.

KHS FBLA decided to open the presentation up to not only its members, but also to members of the student body. There were nineteen students in attendance, with a majority of the attendees being enrolled in the JumpStart program. These students will be going into the workforce in careers related to technical studies, such as accounting, graphic design, welding, nursing, and scaffolding. These are all fields that Sowela Community College specializes in at its institution.

Mrs. Andrews provided valuable information to the students, such as tuition costs in comparison to other schools in the area, and course opportunities that Sowela has. She also spoke about the on-site training that is available through programs that Sowela offers to its students. It was emphasized that the CTE program would work continuously with its students until they are successful in being employed in the field of their choice.

Overall, this presentation was very informative about the flourishing careers of the technical business world. Students at Kinder High School were provided with an inside look at what Sowela Community College offers in these fields. This is but one effort of the KHS chapter of Future Business Leaders of America in its pursuit to inform as many students as possible about the wide world of opportunities in the ever-changing world of business.