Beyond the Red

By Derek Price 

The 2013 National Leadership Conference is on its way as thousands of FCCLA members from across the nation arrive in Nashville Tennessee.  This is the time of the year where FCCLA members get to showcase their talents as they compete in STAR Events, participate in general session and attend workshops. The 2012-2013 National Executive Council will help FCCLA members “discover their voice” throughout the leadership conference. The conference will also be the place where voting delegates will elect the new National Executive Council that will lead the organization into the following year. There are a lot of exciting things happening at NLC this year for FCCLA members; however it is also exciting for alumni members as they are playing an important role in this year’s conference.

By Annie Storey

Stay Involved.  Give Back.  Invest in FCCLA.

Is your leadership jar full of wealth? Did you learn key skills through FCCLA that have helped you grow personally and professionally?  Did FCCLA make a difference in your life?

October 6-12, 2013 is the time to show your gratitude to FCCLA for giving you the ultimate leadership experience.  FCCLA chapters across the nation will be asking their alumni to give back by donating to the FCCLA Invest in Youth Campaign.  All donations will be applied to the fund that you select – leadership development, STAR Events, STOP the Violence, scholarship funds, etc.   FCCLA will sponsor a chapter celebration for the chapter that brings in the most donations and their adviser will receive a $200 prize so be sure to connect with your chapter to help them win.

Giving back comes in all forms.  Whether you can donate a year of membership dues ($9) to signify your time in FCCLA or you can go for the Gold and donate over $500, we know that your gift signifies the importance that FCCLA has had on your life.  Our goal is to raise $10,000 for FCCLA’s Invest in Youth campaign – we look forward to your involvement!

By Jessie Pratt

Besides the warmer temperatures, tiny flowers poking their heads out of the ground and the return of the robins, the runners are a sign that Spring has finally arrived.  They have said so long to their treadmills and are beginning to hit the streets, bike paths and country roads once again.  And some of them might just be training for the Run4Red 5k at the 2013 National Leadership Conference in Nashville, Tennessee.

Run4Red made its debut last year at the 2012 National Leadership Conference to support FCCLA programming through Alumni & Associates. Not only is this 5k run/walk  a great way to stay fit and promote Student Body, but it is also an opportunity to give back to a worthy group of individuals who are still passionate about FCCLA.

Last year 125 superstars laced up to Run4Red, and this year we are aiming to double that number! So what are you waiting for, start training now and sign up to Run4Red at this year’s National Leadership Conference and help Alumni & Associates discover their voice.

This is a fun run/walk event around the property of the Gaylord Opryland that any age level can participate in. The overall 1st, 2nd and 3rd place finishers will be recognized on stage at the Opening General Session.

If you would like to volunteer, donate or have any questions about the FCCLA Run4Red 5k feel free to contact Alec Ostapovicz at [email protected] or Jessie Pratt at [email protected].

Interview conducted by Brian Garsh

Q: How were you involved as a student and as an alumnus? A: I was a State Officer as a sophomore and held multiple chapter offices including co-president.  As an Alumnus, I helped chaperone students at State and National Leadership Conferences. I also worked at State Conferences. I participate with the New Jersey Career and Technical Education Partnership grant as well.

Q: How has FCCLA helped you become successful? A: FCCLA has helped me become successful in many ways. As a State Officer, I learned things such as etiquette, time management, public speaking, and a good work ethic. I continued to work on those skills and traits as I continued with the organization. Teamwork was another major thing I learned. As a student, I didn't necessarily realize how useful most aspects of FCCLA would be. But as an adult, all of these things have helped make me successful.

Q: What is your current position and where do you work? A: My title is Senior Program Coordinator at the Career Equity Resource Center, which is housed at the Center for Women and Work. The Center for Women and Work is at the School of Management and Labor Relations at Rutgers University, the State University of New Jersey. The Career Equity Resource Center (CERC) is grant-funded through the Office of Career and Technical Education in the New Jersey Department of Education. We provide professional development, technical assistance, and resources to teachers, educators, schools, and school districts who have Perkins-funded Career and Technical Education programs, regarding equity in relation to special populations as defined in Perkins legislation. One of our big initiatives right now is a project entitled the Regional Equity and Access Development Initiative (READI), which is based on a comprehensive institutional change model. We are finishing our first year in the Central region and next year we will be working in the Northern region.

Q: How has FCCLA involvement made you successful in your current job? A: Having been a part of FCCLA, CTE, and the CTEP grant actually was a reason I was able to get my job. Because I've been involved with some aspect of FCCLA every year since the Fall of 1998, I have had many opportunities and learned things that really come into play at my job. Since I was a student in a Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) through FCCLA, I can speak to other schools about all the benefits of them and all the wonderful ways it can help students. Through FCCLA, I became a part of the CTEP grant out of Camden County College. Things like public speaking, creating and delivering presentations, attending conferences, and meeting education professionals is an intricate part of what I do on a daily basis, and things like that are a direct benefit of my FCCLA involvement.

Q: What advice would you give to new alumni? A: In terms of advice, seek ways to give back to something that gave you so much.  You might be surprised how much more you learn. It really is a great opportunity and is rewarding. Think of the things you learned in FCCLA and how they might be able to help you at work, school, and your life.

By Carmen Zavala

This year, the National FCCLA Executive Council has created a challenge for members to increase membership across the country, reaching for a goal of 213,000 members by the end of the year. With every class that graduates, keeping a steady amount of members is a challenge for high schools and junior high schools. However, a new batch of students is added when the new school year begins. It is up to the students who are still active members to invite them to take advantage of membership. This brand new challenge creates an incentive to continue recruiting members, with rewards for the individual, chapter, and state that recruits the most new members.

We, as alumni, are faced with a different type of challenge. While we gain new potential members every year, our challenge is to keep those who were involved in FCCLA as teenagers interested in the organization. This challenge becomes more difficult as more time passes after graduation, when those of us who may have been close have moved away, gained other interests, and started our own careers and families.

However, the increase of the utilization of social networking has made our job as recruiters a bit easier. FCCLA A&A now has its own Facebook and LinkedIn pages (note: you must be a current dues-paying member to join). We, as members, are encouraged to recruit at least 3 members by the end of the school year. In addition, we are also given an incentive to recruit new members. For every member who puts your name in the “referred by” box in their sign-up sheet, you have a higher chance of winning one of the awesome prizes that will be offered by the national office.

The bronze medal winner will receive an FCCLA "swag bag", full of FCCLA goodies.

The silver medal winner will receive an FCCLA "swag bag" and complimentary registration to the 2013 National Leadership Conference in Nashville, TN.

The alumnus who recruits the most members by the end of the challenge will receive an FCCLA "swag bag," complimentary registration to the 2013 National Leadership Conference in Nashville, TN, and a $250 travel voucher to help get you there.

The state who recruits the most members will also receive recognition at the National Leadership Conference in July!

So tell your Facebook friends, join the A&A LinkedIn group, and let everyone know how they can continue their involvement in FCCLA after high school!

The Alumni & Associates Council is a brand new group of seven FCCLA alumni members that are working together to help expand and strengthen Alumni & Associates.  They come from all over the country and each bring in a unique perspective and insight on how to make your A&A experience the best it can be.  If you have any questions about the AAC, please email [email protected]. 

Carl Archut, Jr., New Jersey Volunteer Coordinator Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, 2016

Brian Garsh, New Jersey Secretary The College of New Jersey, 2015

Hillary Merick, Missouri Membership Outreach & Recruitment Chair St. Louis College of Pharmacy, 2016

Derek Price, Missouri Beyond the Red Chair Missouri State University, 2016

Jessie Pratt, Illinois Run4Red Chair DePaul University, Class of 2016

Bryan Schuerman, Maryland Alumni Reception Chair WHAG News - Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc.

By Hillary Merick

Teachers, pharmacists, preachers, lawyers—what do all of these people all have in common? You’ve guessed right, it’s FCCLA! Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America alumni are among the most successful and diverse professionals in the country.  Can you imagine bringing all these incredible minds and personalities together for the better good?  Well that is exactly what is possible with FCCLA Alumni & Associates!

FCCLA Alumni & Associates is an incredible extension of the national FCCLA organization, in which members truly believe in the goals and ideals of the Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America.  Members of A&A include former members of FCCLA, Future Homemakers of America, HERO, and New Homemakers of America as well as other individuals who believe in the mission and purposes of FCCLA.  As with any other successful organization, FCCLA’s Alumni and Associates members are an integral part of the success of FCCLA.  A&A  helps to strengthen FCCLA by encouraging volunteers at the local, state, and national level as well as proving to members how far the skills they learn in FCCLA can truly transcend their lives.  Members get the opportunity to reconnect with friends, make connections, and share experiences with one another which would otherwise not be possible.   With all these great benefits why wouldn’t everyone want to join?

With FCCLA being one of the largest student run organizations in the country, we would think Alumni & Associates would be flooded with members, but the unfortunate reality is that this is not the case.  Members are the backbone of any organization, no matter what the focus.  This is where we all come into play.  It is our job as leaders to inspire others and show them exactly what they are missing by not joining FCCLA Alumni & Associates!  We need to reach out to current high school students in order to keep from breaking the connection once they graduate high school.  New programs, recruitment drives, and membership campaigns are going to be a very important part when it comes to increasing membership.  Nothing will be more critical than making that connection to show that the FCCLA journey does not end when they are handed their diploma.

By Bryan Schuerman

Attention all FCCLA A&A members:  As FCCLA Members from across the country discover their voices, help us discover OUR voice at the Alumni & Associates Reception.  Join us at the 2013 National Leadership Conference in Nashville, Tennessee to connect with other FCCLA alumni from across the country to share your story on how you discovered your voice, keep the spirit of FCCLA alive, and meet fellow alums!  Stay tuned for more details in the coming months, and we hope to see you at the National Leadership Conference’s Alumni & Associates Reception!  See you in Nashville!

If you know any graduating seniors who will be attending NLC, be sure to have them purchase A&A membership for a discounted rate of $7.50 so they can attend the reception as well!  Only dues-paying A&A members will be permitted in to the reception. 

Laura is currently a PhD student at Virginia Tech, earning her degree in public policy at night while she works full time in financial services. On top of that, she recently founded her own freelance writing and editing company in the summer of 2012. Needless to say, her schedule is extremely busy but, Laura loves having a balanced life!

FCCLA Connection: In high school, Laura took a few FACS classes her freshman year in her high school in Ohio. She really enjoyed the courses and eventually became a chapter officer. Over the years, Laura became more involved, and competed in STAR Events at the National Leadership Meeting in 2004, where she and her partner earned gold-level recognition for their Entrepreneurship project. The project helped prepare Laura for all the important details of owning a business herself.  Additionally, she utilized her writing skills to help prepare to be a teaching assistant while earning her master's degree. Now, Laura has helped over 100 clients by writing for them, or helping them improve their own writing skills. She never imagined that the skills she developed in FCCLA would turn into such a great opportunity, but her years as a member have definitely paid off.

What values from FCCLA have helped you in your career the most? “FCCLA taught me a lot about managing money, planning for future success, eating healthy, and managing my time.  Every single one of those lessons has come in handy over the years. FCCLA also helped me connect to my community in ways that I found valuable, and that commitment to others continues even today. I've been a Girl Scout leader, created my own self esteem program that I presented to over 1,000 young women, and been a domestic violence advocate and speaker for over 5 years.”

If you could give advice to today's FCCLA students, what would it be? “I have two pieces of advice. The first is to always make your own way. Never let anyone tell you that you cannot do something - they are wrong. I can't tell you how many times people have laughed at what I wanted to accomplish (being a writer, earning my PhD) and as I achieve all of my goals, it reinforces the importance of believing in yourself and making your own luck.

My second piece of advice is to always make time for yourself. Life is busy, whether you're in college, a parent, in the working world, or a combination of the three. Setting aside one night of regular "me" time is so critical. I get up early to hit the gym while listening to my favorite music. It sets the tone for my day and gives me that hour alone I need! Always take time to decompress!"

By Erik Scearce

Summer 2013 will mark the 14th year since FHA/HERO members voted to change the name of the organization to Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America. This marked the start of a new era for the organization. It was the peak of a transformation. In the midst of all this there is one thing that remained the same. Teen Times is the official publication of the FCCLA organization and has been since FHA started in 1945. It has provided a time capsule to forever preserve the history of this great organization. The September/October 1999 Teen Times was the first issue since the organization became FCCLA. This issue provided a great deal of insight as to what the new century would bring. Questions related to the rebranding of the organization were addressed, which include "why should individuals join FCCLA," "what issues will be the main focus for FCCLA," and "is the organization changing what it does." The new name was in response to the years of work the organization put forth to transform itself to meet the needs of a changing society. Many of the programs FHA coordinated and sponsored throughout the 90’s continued into the 21st century with FCCLA. The organization displayed this message throughout this issue of Teen Times by highlighting programs such as the Japanese Exchange Program, Families First, Parliamentary Procedure, and more. Developing strong leaders in families, careers, and communities is a key component to the enduring mission of the organization. It was fitting that the first issue of Teen Times, under the FCCLA name, spotlighted members and facets for which members could take on leadership roles. Articles featured in this issue that focused on leadership include “Take the Lead for Career Success,” leader profiles, and an address from the, now former, Executive Director Alan T. Rains, Jr. He discussed how the delegates of each state were the ones who analyzed, discussed, and voted to approve the name change. Further on, he discussed and emphasized the importance of each member providing input on two proposed, new logos for the organization. Even though the transformation of the organization occurred nearly fourteen years ago, the purposes will remain applicable and seen in 2013 and the years to come. At the start of the new millennium, FCCLA rolled out Member Quest 2000 in order to build membership in chapters across the nation. A major component of this program was the “3R’s” of membership, which include recruiting, retaining, and recognizing members. These are three terms have become critical parts of each membership campaign the organization has put on in the last decade and a half. Overall, the September/October 1999 Teen Times was a historic and crucial issue as it provided members information, resources, and reassurance that the move to a new name was the right choice for the organization.

The high school class of 2013 is one of the primary demographics that Alumni & Associates is trying to target for membership.  They'll be fresh out of FCCLA after graduation, and will likely be looking for ways to stay involved after they move on to postsecondary education and/or a career.  The good news is, Alumni & Associates offers plenty of ways to keep the FCCLA spirit alive "beyond the red" - all they need to do is sign up!  Remember, graduating seniors receive a discounted rate for their first year of A&A membership - only $7.50 (use discount code SNRS in checkout)!  So reach out to the graduating seniors you know and tell them to log on to www.fcclaalumni.org and sign up today!

Check out some of the reasons that the 2012-2013 National Executive Council is planning to stay involved and give back with Alumni & Associates when they graduate:

“Reflecting on my four years as a member of FCCLA, I have benefited in ways I never thought were imaginable. Due to this, I want to give back to the organization that transformed me into the leader I am today. I hope I can express my gratitude for all FCCLA has done for me by joining Alumni and Associates.”   Elliot Johnson, National President

"I want to give back to the organization that molded me into who I am, and so that other members of FCCLA have the amazing leadership experiences that I did. That's why I'm joining Alumni & Associates." Skylar Borchardt, National Vice-President of Competitive Events

“FCCLA has given me a diverse and exciting national network of friends and like-minded people. I know joining Alumni & Associates after high school will allow me to maintain that network and keep in touch with those great friends! Alumni & Associates is also a perfect opportunity for me to give back to the organization and keep up with The Ultimate Leadership Experience!” Caleb Hearon, National Vice-President of Membership

"I know that I will be a member of Alumni & Associates for my entire life once I graduate because I will always carry with me with values and purposes of FCCLA. This organization has completely transformed me into the leader I am today, and for that, I will be eternally grateful. I will always support FCCLA, so that every student gets the opportunity to be part of the Ultimate Leadership Experience." Ashley Faulkner, National Vice-President of Finance

"I plan on joining Alumni & Associates because it is the perfect way to stay involved in FCCLA.  I know it will connect me to a vast amount of people I can network with, people I can talk to for support, and allow me to volunteer and give back to the organization that has given so much to me." Linsey Armstrong, National Vice-President of Public Relations

"I plan on staying involved with FCCLA through A&A because of the great things FCCLA has done for me and I want to continue to give back.  I also want to stay involved because FCCLA is able to help so many people, and I want to continue to be a part of that."  Chandler Classen, National Vice-President of Development

"I am joining A&A because I love FCCLA.  I want to help other students see how outstanding the organization is through the efforts of Alumni & Associates." Ashley Labrum, National Vice-President of Programs

"I am joining Alumni & Associates to continue the ultimate leadership experience after high school and beyond." Marquis Johnson, National Vice-President of Parliamentary Law