MARYLANDFBLA

MARCH 2019 EDITION

MDFBLA CHAPTER CONNECTIONS

SLC is Here

Competing at the Next Level

Basket for Babies and the March of Dimes

NLC Information

How Does ML FBLA BenefitYour Future?

Mar 4 - Mar 22 SLC 2019 Testing WindowOpens/Closes

Mar 15 Sports Career Day -Washington Wizards, DC

Mar 18 SLC Production TestingReceipt DeadlineSLC 2019 Payment ReceiptDeadline Maryland State LeadershipConference

Mar 20

Mar 28 - Mar 30

KEY DATESMARCH

INSIDE THISISSUE

SLC IS HERE

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA!

@MDFBLA @MDFBLA @Maryland FBLA@MDFutureBusinessLeaders

It’s March, and you know what that means? The MarylandState Leadership conference is here! Before the beginningof the conference, there are still some important dates inMarch leading up to states. The SLC online testing openson March 4 and closes on March 22. On March 18,production tests are due and should be submitted online.On MaOn March 20, all money is due for SLC, and if your chapterhas photos they would like to put in the SLC slideshow,those photos are due and should be submitted toupload.mdfbla.org. Finally, SLC begins on Thursday,March 28 and ends Saturday, March 30. This conferencetakes place at the Delta Hotels (formerly Hunt Valley Inn)in Hunt Valley, Maryland.

For this conference, our state chapter has many entertainingevents and learning experiences to share with it’s members.The keynote speaker for this conference will be a mentalist, andhe will blow your mind! The workshops for this conference aredesigned specifically to educate our members and teach themvital skills and information that are necessary in business. Somemembers of Mamembers of Maryland FBLA will be campaigning for state officeduring this conference, so make sure to visit their booths, askquestions, and examine the campaign process! Many otherexciting events will be occuring during the conference, includinga Battle or the Regions trivia game and a “goose chase”, so getready! There is a lot to look forward to.

Remember to prepare for your events, pack business attire and comfy clothing, pack snacks for whenyou're hungry, pencils for open events, and any other important items. Maryland FBLA is excited to seeeveryone there!

-Hannah Klein, Region 4 VP

PRESIDENT’SMESSAGE

ESMERALDASAMUDIO

All the Best,Esmeralda Samudio, State President

Dear FBLA Friends,

It is my pleasure to announce that the 2019 StateLeadership Conference is just a couple weeksaround the corner and the State Officer Team couldnot be more excited!The State Leadership Conference is an energy filledweekend where you can meet hundreds of studentsjust like you, who also enjoy business, competitionand most importantly have a passion for FBLA!This year the conference is being held March 28 toMarch 30 at the Hunt Valley Inn, I hope to see youthethere! There will be multiple opportunities for youto learn how to “Create. Lead. Inspire.” throughoutthe entire weekend, so make sure to get enoughsleep in the days prior because you definitely donot want to miss out on these amazingopportunities to network and meet new friends,while at the conference. This year’s national themeis “Cis “Create. Lead. Inspire.” So, get ready to participatein interactive workshops and discover theopportunities that are available to you throughMaryland FBLA.While at SLC you will also get a chance to visitcampaign booths of students running for StateOffice, I highly encourage you to talk to thoseindividuals and ask them questions about theirfuture ideas for the organization and their

campaign platform. It is crucial that you do sobecause these are the students that will beleading this organization next year!Everyone’s ultimate goal is to attend the NationalLeadership Conference, which is the pinnacle ofevery FBLA experience. In order for you to alsoexperience such an incredible event like theNational Leadership Conference, you must workhard to be prepared at the SLC. To get recognizedat the state, and national lat the state, and national levels, it is important thateveryone practices and prepares for theircompetitive event because as Bobby Knight oncesaid, “The will to succeed is important, but what’smore important is the will to prepare.”

I hope you all are just as excited as the StateOfficers to attend the State Leadership Conference!I know that all of you will enjoy the conference andlearn something valuable that you can take back andapply to your chapters and your lives as well.Thank you for such a great experience, it has beenmy honor to semy honor to serve as your 2018-2019 Maryland FBLAState President! Best of luck to the next State Officerteam!

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The State Leadership Conference is an exciting andcompetitive way to highlight your skills and challengeyourself in competitive event. Winning at states is a greataccomplishment, but many FBLA members will look towardsthe National Leadership conference to find a chance tocompete at an even higher level against students from alloover the world. Additionally, students competing at theNational Leadership Conference, which takes place in lateJune in San Antonio, Texas, will be competing for thousandsof dollars of scholarships and cash prizes. Due to the increased competition, I can't stress enough howimportant it is to invest significant time into preparing even further in your competitive events. Youshould study or rehearse three or four times as much as you did for completing a states if you hope todo well on the national level. Please check out the resources at mdfbla.org under “Resources,”“Competiti“Competitive Events,” and “Member Center.”

At this year's State Leadership Conference, we will once again be holding the Baskets for Babies Marchof Dimes fundraiser. We want to encourage every chapter to submit a basket for the raffle that will beheld at the State Leadership Conference. This is a fun and engaging wayfor chapters to participate in fundraising for March of Dimes.

If you’ve attended the State Leadership Conference before, you’veprobably noticed a string of baskets lining the counter of the lobby. Ornamented with bouquets or decorated with glitteOrnamented with bouquets or decorated with glitter, these basketsare directed towards fundraising. You should consider lending a handtowards this infinitely positive cause.

Check out the Maryland FBLA under Resources for information on thecompetition and how to submit your basket, we hope to see every chaptersubmit a basket this year. Thank you!

The State Leadership Conference is an exciting andcompetitive way to highlight your skills and challengeyourself in competitive event. Winning at states is a greataccomplishment, but many FBLA members will look towardsthe National Leadership conference to find a chance tocompete at an even higher level against students from allo

-Luke Mann, Region 5 VP

COMPETING AT THE NEXT LEVEL

-Jacob Miller, Region 1 VP

BASKETS FOR BABIES/MARCH OF DIMES

CHAPTER PLAN OF ACTION

TIPSAND TRICKS

Hold chapter meetings that include business workshops/ invite a guest speaker12. Attend the State Leadership Conference (March 28-30 2019)

3. Celebrate SLC winners

HOW SHOULD YOU LEAD YOUR CHAPTER? TIPS FROM YOUR STATE OFFICERS:

233. Get NLC student commitments as soon as possible43. Start fundraising to cut costs for National Conference (San Antonio, TX)5

FBLA FUN FACTHamden L. Forkner is the founder of FBLA, and was astudent from Columbia University. He was also thefounder of Forkner shorthand system.

1. With SLC right around thecorner, remember to always overprepare for presentations andcompetitive events

2. Have an elevator speech ready!You never know who you mightmeet.

3. Take advantage of open eventsat SLC

4. Don’t forget to smile back :)

5. Reach out to local businessesfor sponsorships, PD members,and guest speakers

FUNDRAISER IDEAS5K/10K RACE

PURSE BINGOOrganize a race at school

Play bingo for purse and bags

GOLF TOURNAMENT Hold a golf tournament at a local course

BOOK SALEDonate used boks or sale at a low price

NATIONAL LEADERSHIP CONFERENCEMARYLAND FBLA

DAVID JINSTATE REPORTER-HISTORIAN

MIDDLE LEVEL CORNER

The Maryland State Leadership Conference is rightaround the corner, but be on the lookout for theNational Leadership Conference taking place thissummer!The National Leadership Conference is what itsounds like an spectacular event in which every year,the national officers and leadership convene toorganize a 4-day conference designed towardsfacilitating networking opportunities, workshopexperiences, and exciting competition. However, inoorder to qualify to compete at the NLC, you or yourteam must place top four in your competitive eventat the state level.

This year, the NLC will take place in San Antonio,Texas and will span from June 29 to July 2. You don’twant to miss out!. The National LeadershipConference is a truly rewarding and fun experience.Make sure to give it your all so you can qualify forand attend the National Leadership Conference thisyyear!

Membership in Middle Level FBLA is a wonderful opportunity to help prepare you for your future in theprofessional world. You will gain the confidence to speak in front of people. You will discover the secret todeveloping leadership skills. You will hear workshops from professionals and compete in challenging eventsat the regional/state/national level. These experiences will not only allow you to prepare in becoming a FutureBusiness Leader of America, but help you to build character, confidence, and allow you to improve uponyourself. In the future, you will be able to apply the skills you learned in FBLA to the professional world.FBFBLA will help you to be able to write a killer essay, format a resume to perfection, give an impromptu speechwith full confidence, and communicate effectively. Joining ML FBLA will give you the experience and skillsnecessary to be successful.

Best,Kathy Yao, Parliamentarian

If you would like to know more, you can find lots ofinformation about the NLC on the National FBLAwebsite. You can even seek out past NLC competitorsin your local chapter or your adviser to ask questions!

Can’t wait to see everyone there!

CHAPTER OF THE MONTH

The Middletown High School FBLA Chapter has beeninvolved in many fantastic tasks this year and recentlycompleted an extremely valuable service project.Following the death of a Middletown High School senioron the way to school in 2015, driving safety has becomea focus in the community. Texting and driving are seenas an impoas an important issue the community can work to remedyand promote awareness of. With this in mind, at the lastMiddletown High School FBLA meeting, members workedto create no texting and driving public service announcement posters. The club was able to create over 15posters. These posters will be hung around the school in order to promote awareness of the dangers oftexting and driving. Members feel they are making a difference not only in the high school but within thecommunity with their efforts. The Middletown High School FBLA Chapter hopes to pursue similarcommunity awacommunity awareness and service projects in the future. Maryland FBLA appreciates and supportsMiddletown High School FBLA’s efforts to raise awareness for an important issue in their community.

MIDDLETOWN HIGH SCHOOL

MEMBER OF THE MONTHMegan Harris is currently a freshman at North East High School(cecil County). Despite this membership year being her first year inFBLA, Megan stepped out of her comfort zone and took on thechallenge of serving as her chapter’s freshman officer position ofLiaison. She has already begun to develop a deep understandingand love for the organization, and truly embodies what it means tobe a member of FBbe a member of FBLA by giving back to her local chapter. When itcame time for North East to host the Region 3 LeadershipConference, she stepped up and wanted to help in any waypossible to make sure that the conference ran smoothly.

Without her help, the conference would not have been a success! During chapter meetings, Megan alsogoes out of her way to keep members informed and lend a helping hand to others.

Thank you Megan for your dedication to FBLA, and keep up the fantastic work!

MEGAN HARRIS - North East High School