Join the Ranks in FBLA

By Debbie Garber2004-2005 FBLA MPVP

and Lisa Smothers, Membership Director

Airplane Icebreaker Time!

Your Task is to determine the best model for a

paper airplane. Each person will get several sheets of paper and 5

minutes to create the best airplane!

Go!

Time to Test Those Planes

Let’s test our planes. Form a single file line behind the line of masking tape on the floor.

Your Goal: To hit the bullseye poster on the opposite wall.

We will take the next 3 minutes to do this.

Debrief Questions

What happened out there? Did you work individually or in teams? Did you make one plane or several? When someone succeeded in hitting the

bullseye, did that person help others with their design?

Did anyone ask the successful person to share their design?

The Point

Nothing prevent participants from working in teams; yet most did not.

Nothing prevented the skillful designers from assisting others.

There was no limit on how many planes a person could try out.

We all can be much more effective in recruiting new members if we work together as a team and help each other.

Recruitment CampaignsIt’s More than Just Luck!

PlanningPlanning PublicizingPublicizing

Teach people about FBLA so they Teach people about FBLA so they actually know what it is and want to actually know what it is and want to join--they can’t join if they have no clue join--they can’t join if they have no clue what it iswhat it is

Giving IncentivesGiving Incentives Give them a reason to go once they

know about the organization Being Creative!Being Creative!

How to leave footprints in the minds of potential members... Word of mouth Kids sell to kids! Success stories Bring back your graduates Boys + Girls + Food

= Recruitment Give your officers

ownership

Plan! Create a Recruitment Committee made up of officers/members from Create a Recruitment Committee made up of officers/members from

last yearlast year Use or build on tactics from years pastUse or build on tactics from years past Set realistic and concrete membership goals (i.e. 10 new Set realistic and concrete membership goals (i.e. 10 new

members by October)members by October) Outline target students for recruitment--they are the focus of Outline target students for recruitment--they are the focus of

your efforts and you should plan to do things around themyour efforts and you should plan to do things around them Focus a brainstorming session around the benefits of FBLAFocus a brainstorming session around the benefits of FBLA Create an overall theme and slogan to help students identify Create an overall theme and slogan to help students identify

that with FBLAthat with FBLA Use State/National recruiting tools from Web siteUse State/National recruiting tools from Web site Ask other local chapters--they may have tackled some of the same

problems you are facing Identify key outside sources for help--regional, state, and national Identify key outside sources for help--regional, state, and national

officers have lots of tools for you to potentially use--they are here for officers have lots of tools for you to potentially use--they are here for you!! Also try message boardsyou!! Also try message boards

Publicize!

Use the power of the written wordUse the power of the written word• Place posters around campusPlace posters around campus• Create fun brochuresCreate fun brochures• Set up publicity items around classroomsSet up publicity items around classrooms• Write letters to prospective membersWrite letters to prospective members• Use back-to-school mailers

Publicize!Use State/National recruiting toolsUse State/National recruiting tools

• Posters, brochures, videos, etc.Posters, brochures, videos, etc.• FBLA MarketplaceFBLA Marketplace• Display section, state, and national awards in a Display section, state, and national awards in a

prominent areaprominent area

Involve school faculty Involve school faculty membersmembers• Get recommendations Get recommendations

for members for members• Receive permission to

speak in classes

Start a mentorship program for older kids to work with freshmen and sophomores

Offer incentives for membership Go to junior high schools and speak to

the kids coming into high school next year… advance marketing

Present information for parents and students at school’s open house

Emphasize FBLA’s scholarships and the money they could earn for college

Have a booth at all career fairs Contact all freshmen & sophomores in

a school through flyers or locker notes Get school sports teams involved Ask business sponsors for help

Invite prospective members on a field trip

Host a dance Emphasize the benefits of getting a

step up on the average student Try subliminal messages in

announcements and bulletin boards Host a FBLA Open House Create mock competitions for potential

members Get a FBLA rep on the Student

Council Use business partnerships to get

discounts for FBLA members Speak at Freshman Orientation

Best Ways to Recruit Members

Utilize Membership Madness and Membership Mania Membership Madness- Recruit 5 New

Members and Receive a Certificate from the National Center.

Membership Mania – Recruit 10 New Members and Receive a Certificate from the National Center.

Ideas for Written Word…

Plunge into FBLA!

Theme Development

Please get into groups and take five minutes to develop a theme that you could potentially use throughout the year for recruitment.

Go! Share Ideas.

Getting Them Hooked

The MeetingThe Meeting• First meetings are the first First meetings are the first

impressionimpression

The ActivitiesThe ActivitiesIntriguing activities = more

member involvement

Give incentives!--now that you’ve got their attention Persuade teachers to give Persuade teachers to give

extra credit for going to extra credit for going to meetingsmeetings

Set up a raffle and give Set up a raffle and give away free stuffaway free stuff

Use publicity tools to Use publicity tools to discuss the benefits of FBLAdiscuss the benefits of FBLA—there are lots of intangible —there are lots of intangible incentives for joining!incentives for joining!

Promise them…Promise them…FREE FOOD!

The Meeting

The BasicsThe Basics• Introduce FBLA in an entertaining manner--start off Introduce FBLA in an entertaining manner--start off

with a bangwith a bang• IcebreakersIcebreakers• Show highlights of activities from previous years and Show highlights of activities from previous years and

include visualsinclude visuals• Officers should be fun, not stiffOfficers should be fun, not stiff

• Matching business casual clothing is recommended for Matching business casual clothing is recommended for professionalismprofessionalism

• Deliver on promisesDeliver on promises

The Meeting

The Extras (Possible Activities) not vital but The Extras (Possible Activities) not vital but will enhance your messagewill enhance your message

• Icebreakers and other gamesIcebreakers and other games• Raffles (FBLA merchandise)Raffles (FBLA merchandise)• Guest speakers Guest speakers • A workshop on a “cool” topicA workshop on a “cool” topic• Wacky, yet informative videoWacky, yet informative video• Photo wall/scrapbook--seeing is believeingPhoto wall/scrapbook--seeing is believeing• FREE FOOD!

Presentations from local businesses (cater these to members’ interests)

FBLA-PBL Trivia Games; Quiz Bowl Competitions

Public Speaking Practice Events Ice Breakers (there are lots of

books you can buy on this topic) Competitive Event Study Time Team building or leadership

activities Speakers:

State/National Officers Local Businesspeople Motivational Speakers Local Celebrities (news

anchors/reporters, local athletes, local politicians)

Make a Video Project: To recruit FBLA-PBL members To recruit Professional

Division members To activate/reactivate

chapters To obtain corporate

sponsorship Plan parties for special occasions Business videos (etiquette,

business dress, public speaking, etc)

Video tape conferences (State/Nat’l) and play during meeting (great incentive to get more members to attend conferences)

Make a Chapter Scrapbook (be sure to take lots of pictures!)

Ideas for meetings...

The Activities

Social EventsSocial Events• Welcome Banquet and Induction CeremonyWelcome Banquet and Induction Ceremony• Icebreaker-Ice cream socialIcebreaker-Ice cream social• Movie socialMovie social• Some sort of tournament (board games, card Some sort of tournament (board games, card

game, video game, etc.)game, video game, etc.)• Picnic/BarbequePicnic/Barbeque• Bowling/pool social

The Activities

Non-social eventsNon-social events• Community serviceCommunity service

Environmental cleanupEnvironmental cleanup Volunteer in walks (AIDS walk, Volunteer in walks (AIDS walk,

March of Dimes WalkAmerica, March of Dimes WalkAmerica, etc.)etc.)

Tutoring elementary school Tutoring elementary school studentsstudents

• Business tours, job-shadowingBusiness tours, job-shadowing• ConferencesConferences• Fundraising events (Candy

sales, grams, etc.)

Ideas to Focus on While Creating a Recruitment Campaign

Membership in FBLA-PBL

Gives members “hands-on” business experience and a connection to the business world through conferences, tours, and programs.

Helps students choose the path or direction which Helps students choose the path or direction which they want to pursuethey want to pursue

Leadership training through workshops and Leadership training through workshops and conferencesconferences

Encompasses all aspects of business

We offer students . . .

Networking opportunities!

A Resume Booster

A Reason to Dress Up!

Scholarships

Distinguished Business LeaderDistinguished Business Leader Johnson and Wales UniversityJohnson and Wales University Culver-Stockton UniversityCulver-Stockton University Northwood UniversityNorthwood University Data MatchData Match University of Miami

Awards and Recognition!

A Professional Atmosphere

The Opportunity to Make New Friends

Innovative Leadership Development Opportunities

The Chance to Gain Self alaa Confidence

The Chance to

Fun!

Hands-on Experiences

Travel Destinations to Exciting Cities!

Through FBLA, Members Learn Success

and Gain Firsthand Experience in Business and Leadership!

Quick Reminders:

Plan in AdvanceUse a Variety of Written and Spoken Word TechniquesGive People Incentives to Go to MeetingsHave Exciting MeetingsSet Up Interesting Events that Involve Many MembersNever Underestimate the Power of FREE FOOD!

and Don’t Forget to HAVE FUN!

Time to Create a Campaign that You Can Use! We will get into groups! With the groups at your table, come forward and get

supplies Use what you have learned and plan a recruitment

campaign Carry out a part of your plan to publicize (whether this is

creating posters, making announcements, press releases, etc.)

Don’t forget to plan ideas to publicize, meetings, activities to keep members hooked, and anything creative!

Questions