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Our diverse membership is driven by innovation, competence, integrity and teamwork — our

attributes and values that draw upon our greatest assets — academically prepared,

community oriented, professionally responsible, experienced leaders. Equipped with knowledge

and experiences, DECA members are ready to THRIVE in their chapters, schools, communities

and careers. THRIVE challenges energized DECA members to succeed vigorously as they prepare

for college and careers.

This is your opportunity to thrive personally, thrive as a chapter and thrive as an association.

Use this insiders’ guide to get a jump start on 2012-2013. HOW WILL YOU THRIVE THIS YEAR?

NEW COMPETITIVE EVENTSIn an economy that is fueling entrepreneurship, DECA is excited to offer two new entrepreneurship events. Unleash your ideas in DECA’s Entrepreneurship Innovation Plan Event that challenges you to conduct idea generation and opportunity recognition to take advantage of market opportunities to start a new business. Already a business owner and looking for a way for your company to flourish? The Entrepreneurship - Growing Your Existing Business Event involves the idea generation and strategy development needed to grow an existing business. This event is only for DECA members who currently own and operate their own business. The H&R Block Dollars and Sense Challenge will become an official competitive event, and DECA will introduce the Virtual Business Challenge — Restaurant Management in 2012-2013.

CORPORATE PARTNER CHALLENGESYour ideas are important, so why not put them to good use? You might even earn major recognition and travel opportunities! Be sure to check out DECA’s Corporate Partner Challenges debuting this summer on DECA’s website. All it takes is an outstanding idea and video presentation.

THRIVE ONINNOVATION + YOUR IDEAS

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THRIVE ON YOUR CHAPTER’S SUCCESS

GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURSHIPWEEK CAMPAIGN

ACTIVITIES MUST OCCUR DURING NOVEMBER 12-18, 2012. CHAPTER MUST BE REGISTERED WITH GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP WEEK PRIOR TO THE WEEK.

SCHOOLOUTREACHACTIVITIES

+ +SUCCESS STORIES

OF ALUMNIENTREPRENEURS

COMMUNITYOUTREACHACTIVITIES

DEADLINE: 11.30

PROMOTIONAL CAMPAIGN

SCHOOLOUTREACHACTIVITIES

+ +CONDUCT THESE ACTIVITIES DURING OCTOBER OR NOVEMBER.

SUCCESSSTORIES

OF ALUMNI

COMMUNITYOUTREACHACTIVITIES

DEADLINE: 11.30

COMMUNITY SERVICECAMPAIGN

OR MOREACTIVITIES

+ +OR MORE

PARTICIPATIONOF YOUR DECA

MEMBERS

FORM OFPUBLICITY/

PROMOTION

DEADLINE: 11.30

75%

CONDUCT ONE OR MORE COMMUNITY SERVICE ACTIVITIES IN NOVEMBERTHAT MEET THE CRITERIA.

MEMBERSHIP CAMPAIGN

MORE STUDENTSTHAN LAST

YEAR

GUIDE YOUR MEMBERSHIP EFFORTS BY MEETING THESE GOALS.

ALUMNI PROFESSIONALS

DEADLINE: 11.30

ADVOCACY CAMPAIGN

SCHOOLOUTREACHACTIVITIES

+ +GUIDE YOUR CHAPTER’S ADVOCACY EFFORTS DURING CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION MONTH IN FEBRUARY.

SUCCESSSTORIES

OF ALUMNI

COMMUNITYOUTREACHACTIVITIES

DEADLINE: 3.1

Meet the requirements in any one of the three blue campaigns above (Promotional Campaign, Global Entrepreneurship Week Campaign and Community Service Campaign) and earn a pennant and certificate.

Meet the requirements in any two of the three blue campaigns above and earn a pennant, plaque, DECA flag and three allocations to attend the all-new THRIVE ACADEMY at ICDC!

Meet the requirements in any one of the categories (Students, Alumni and Professionals) of the membership campaign and earn a pennant and certificate.

Meet the requirements in any two of the categories of the membership campaign and earn a pennant, plaque, DECA flag and three allocations to attend the all-new THRIVE ACADEMY at ICDC!

Meet the requirements in the advocacy campaign during February and earn a pennant, a special plaque from DECA’s Congressional Advisory Board and a letter of recognition to your school administrator and government officials.

THRIVE ACADEMY

DECA is pleased to announce the all-new THRIVE ACADEMY at the 2013 International Career Development Conference in Anaheim. This special two-day experience will be designed

exclusively for members of chapters that earn recognition through our campaigns. Be looking for details about this high-energy experience.

Members must register for ICDC. Please check with your chartered association advisor regarding eligibility to attend.

NOVEMBER IS NOW DECA MONTH! Choose your own DECA Week in November or celebrate DECA the entire month by participating in our campaigns below.

<WWW.DECA.ORG/PAGE/CAMPAIGNS

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THRIVE ON THE ENERGY OF THOUSANDS OF DECA MEMBERSDECA EMERGING LEADER SUMMITA summit is a conference or meeting of high-level leaders, usually called to shape a program of action. The all-new DECA Emerging Leader Summit is no different and will bring together DECA’s best chapter and association student leaders to create programs of work. Imagine learning, sharing and preparing with DECA’s best in a city that thrives on high performers!<LOS ANGELES, CA | JULY 31-AUGUST 2, 2012

INNOVATIONS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP CONFERENCEHome to numerous visionary leaders of past and present, Chicago is the perfect setting for DECA’s Innovations and Entrepreneurship Conference. A blend of workshops and competition, the conference will be the springboard for DECA members to unleash their ideas.<CHICAGO, IL | NOVEMBER 8-10, 2012

WESTERN REGION LEADERSHIP CONFERENCESeattle is calling. Ascend in the jet city to meet Pacific Northwest Executives, prepare for DECA competitions, network with fellow members, find your future career and gain recognition.<SEATTLE, WA | NOVEMBER 15-17, 2012

THE ULTIMATE DECA POWER TRIPAs we know, Washington, D.C. is all about power. Embark on your own DECA power trip – staged in the most powerful location in the nation – full of career workshops, competitive events, leadership activities and more!<WASHINGTON, D.C. | NOVEMBER 16-18, 2012

CENTRAL REGION LEADERSHIP CONFERENCEIdeas. They have fueled new inventions, trends and entrepreneurs, and this fall you’ll experience an array of workshops and sessions to release your ideas. Learn from outstanding speakers, attend dynamic and educational sessions and feel the excitement of the general sessions. <DEARBORN, MI | NOVEMBER 16-18, 2012

NEW YORK EXPERIENCEIt’s the concrete jungle where dreams are made, and the city becomes the living classroom for DECA members as they explore finance, fashion, marketing, and so much more! <NOVEMBER 28-DECEMBER 2, 2012<DECEMBER 5-9, 2012

SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT MARKETING CONFERENCEIn one of the world’s premier locations for family entertainment and world-class professional and college sports, DECA’s Sports and Entertainment Marketing Conference is the perfect venue to provide a rush of adrenaline to members with career interests in these industries. Members will gain an insider’s perspective as the theme parks become the living classroom to complement the lessons from conference speakers.<ORLANDO, FL | FEBRUARY 6-10, 2013

INTERNATIONAL CAREER DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE The highlight of the year and the ultimate place for DECA members to thrive, the DECA International Career Development Conference will again welcome fourteen thousand high school students, advisors, businesspersons and alumni for competitive events, leadership academies and career preparation. <ANAHEIM, CA | APRIL 24-27, 2013

<WWW.DECA.ORG/CONFERENCES/HIGHSCHOOL

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TWEET @DECAINC HOW YOU AND YOUR CHAPTER WILL #THRIVE_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

MAKE YOUR PLAN TO THRIVEREFLECTIONSTake a few moments to reflect on your chapter’s activities in previous years. Identify strengths as well as opportunities for growth.

STRENGTHS OPPORTUNITIES

GOALSBased on your reflections, identify goals for your chapter in the areas of membership, promotion, entrepreneurship, community service and advocacy. Your goals should be attainable but challenging — you and your members might surprise yourselves! Refer to the campaigns to see the awards you can receive for achieving the campaign’s set goals.<www.deca.org/events/membershipcampaign

ACTION PLANSNow that you’ve set your goals, develop action plans to help achieve them.

Post your ambitious goals and actionplans to THRIVE this year on Facebook. <www.facebook.com/decainc