FBLA prepares for Regional Leadership Conference
The next Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) conference is the Regional Leadership Conference which is a qualification for specific state events and takes place on Jan. 18 at Excelsior Middle School in Marion, Iowa.
Events that students are able to qualify for the State Leadership Conference include Graphic Design, Introduction to Business Presentation, Job Interview, Publication Design, Public Service Announcement, Social Media Campaign, and Website Design. General sessions and workshops are also available for students to attend.
“We will compete in events in our region against schools and the top four that win at this one will advance to state. Only certain events will compete at this one and if you’re not competing in an event at this conference then you go straight to state,” Tiffany Le said.
This year Bettendorf FBLA has also attended the State Fall Leadership Conference in Des Moines, Iowa, and National Fall Leadership Conference in Denver, Colorado.
“My last state event was the State Fall Leadership Conference in October, where we hit record registration numbers. Members from across the state came to Des Moines for two days, to learn more about business, network with other members, and have fun. We had different businesses and speakers, like Adam Caroll, came and give workshops to the members in attendance,” president of Bettendorf FBLA and Iowa FBLA State Treasurer, Zach Berntgen, said
In addition to attending conferences and networking, FBLA raises money for the March of Dimes which is a foundation that works to improve the health of premature babies and their mothers. Bettendorf FBLA hosted a pancake breakfast to help raise money for this organization.
“Our last event was March of Dimes Pancake Breakfast. I think it went pretty well. We raised around $400,” senior Haylie Spencer said.
FBLA is not a club solely based on becoming a business owner, and all new members are always welcome to join meetings in Sarah Roeder’s room at 7:45 a.m. on Fridays.
“FBLA isn’t only for people who want to go into business, and I think that’s what a lot of people think because it has business in the name. Being a part of it and attending the conferences really helps with preparing for the future, especially for high schoolers who don’t know where to start when it comes to going to college,” Le said.
Kayla Petry and Tamanna Sandal collect donations for the March of Dimes Pancake Breakfast.