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FRANCE

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FRANC

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Emily Richey

International FBLARecruitment

projectEmily Richey

Table of Contents

Facts about the Country.......................................................................................................3

Economic Facts....................................................................................................................5

Travel Information...............................................................................................................6

Culture and Custom.............................................................................................................9

Eating Habits........................................................................................................................9

Benefits of FBLA...............................................................................................................10

FBLA Website and Social Media......................................................................................11

New FBLA Project............................................................................................................11

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References..........................................................................................................................12

Appendix 1.........................................................................................................................14

Appendix 2.........................................................................................................................16

Appendix 3.........................................................................................................................18

Appendix 4.........................................................................................................................19

Appendix 5.........................................................................................................................20

Appendix 6.........................................................................................................................21

There are many barriers that divide the world today. Whether these barriers are languages, races,

religions, political issues, or other factors, they cause an international separation. Likewise, there

are also things that contribute to world unity. One of which is business. No matter what country

you live in, you experience business in some form. Businesses all across Earth compete against

one another for customers. This international business is a huge part of this generation and

should be taught to people starting at a young age.

Facts about the Country

France is the home to 66, 206, 930 people. (WorldBank. Web.) The metropolitan portion of the

nation is located in Western Europe. It borders the Bay of Biscay and the English Channel.

France is between Belgium and Spain, and it is to the southeast of the UK. The coordinates of

the country are 46 00 N, 2 00 E. This country not only includes its land area in Europe, but also

some overseas regions such as French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte, and Reunion.

The geological appearance of northern France is primarily flat plains or rolling hills. However,

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there are mountains everywhere else. This is where the Pyrenees and Alps mountain ranges are

located. (Cia. Web.)

The government structure is a republic style, and there is no official date of independence for

France. Similar to the states in the United States of America, France is divided into 27 regions

(22 metropolitan regions and 5 overseas regions). These regions are subdivided into 96

metropolitan departments. This system seemed to work efficiently until January 1, 2016, when

the French government decided to reduce the number of regions to 13 through amalgamation. In

order to keep structure throughout all of these regions, the government abides by a constitution

that was established on October 4, 1958. It was last amended in 2008. As far as citizenship is

concerned, there is no citizenship by birth. Citizenship by descent is accepted as long as one

parent is a citizen of France. Dual citizenship is allowed and five years of residency are required

for naturalization. (Cia.Web.)

The executive branch is controlled by the Chief of State, President Francois Hollande. The head

of the government is Prime Minister Manual Valls. The president appoints the council of

ministers as suggested by the prime minister. The legislative branch consists of a senate with

348 seats. These seats come from various areas based on their populations. Finally, the judicial

branch has a court of cassation that different judges are elected to. (Cia. Web.)

The economic system of France ranks high in comparison to other countries in the world. France

is the number one most visited country in the world and has the third largest income from

tourism. (Cia. Web.) The GDP of the country is $2.6 billion and is expected to grow by 0.4%. It

averages $40,375 per capita. The unemployment rate is 9.9%, which is surprisingly high

considering the tourism demand in the nation. The current inflation rate is 0.6%. The tax rates

are similar to those in the USA in that the more money you make, the more money you have to

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pay. The top personal income

tax rate is 45%, and the top

corporate tax rate is 34.3%.

(Heritage. Web.)

Economic Facts

France specializes in working

with industrial products such as

machinery and transportation equipment, aircraft, plastics, and iron and steel. Therefore, these

are all products frequently exported by the country. Other popular exports include chemicals,

pharmaceutical products, and beverages. The number one buyer of French products is Germany.

Although Germany exports many industrial items, it also imports many of them. Machinery and

equipment that cannot be made domestically are purchased from other countries. Other imports

include vehicles, crude oil, aircraft, plastics, and chemicals. Since Germany gives France so

much business, France returns the favor and buys most of their imported items from them. (Cia.

Web.)

Many people view France as a country that exclusively focuses on tourism and industry. What is

often overlooked is their agricultural success. The country’s chief agricultural products are

wheat, cereals, sugar beets, potatoes, wine grapes, beef, dairy products, and fish. These products

are used in many of the world famous French foods. (Cia. Web.)

Foreign exchange is a vital part of business. It

allows for large corporations to have more

competition, resulting in lower prices for consumers.

5

USA France Germany0.00%2.00%4.00%6.00%8.00%

10.00%12.00%

USA; 4.90%

France; 9.90%

Germany; 5.50%

Unemployment Rates

Unemployment Rates

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Some countries can produce certain items easier and cheaper than others, so by selling these

items to other countries, they are essentially helping them out. The reserves of foreign exchange

and gold in France is $143.5 billion. The exchange rate of EUR to USD is 0.885 to 1. France’s

number one exchange partner is Germany, then Belgium, followed by Italy. Other big partners

include Spain, Netherlands, UK, USA, and China. (Cia. Gov.)

Currency in France is in Euros. When traveling to this country, be careful where you exchange

your currency. Do not exchange it in the airport or in tourist-heavy areas of Paris or you will

receive high service charges. Go directly to the American Express agency on 11 Rue Scribe

(metro: Opera, or RER line A, Auber) to exchange your money for free. Keep in mind that the

lines at this agency may be considerably long because there are no charges. A lot of places in

France will not accept credit or debit card charges below 15-20 Euros, so do not solely rely on

your card. Make sure that your pin code does not contain any letters. If it does, change it to all

numbers before visiting France because that is what the machines there accept. When

purchasing things in this country, do not try to barter prices like you might do in Morocco. This

can come across as very offensive. (GoParis. Web.)

There are numerous forms of transportation throughout France. There are 464 airports in the

country and 294 of these have paved runways. There is one heliport. The railways extend

29,640 km across France. In just the metropolitan area, there are 1,028,446 km of paved

roadways. There are 8,501 km of waterways in metropolitan France, 162 merchant marines, and

numerous ports and terminals. (Cia. Web.)

Travel Information

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For the FBLA recruitment trip, I plan to fly with American Airlines out of the terminal in Dallas,

TX (DFW) to Paris, France (CDG). The flight will depart Monday, May 23, 2016, at 5:10 PM

and arrive Tuesday at 9:35 AM. The return flight will leave Friday, May 27, 2016, at 11:35 AM

and arrive the same day at 3:05 PM. The airline tickets come in a package deal with the hotel

room. The hotel is the Eurohotel Sovereign Saint Denis Basilique, where I will stay three nights.

This hotel is located only 9.95 miles from the airport. This package costs $1,133.04. (Priceline.

Web.)

In order to make this trip, I will need various documentation. I will need to print off my

boarding pass prior to the departure date and present it to the TSA officials at the airport. I will

also need my passport and a Valid ID. A passport can be purchased at a post office. However, I

already have a passport valid through the trip dates, so this will not be an additional expense.

My driver’s license will be an acceptable form of ID. There will be no additional charge for my

luggage because American Airlines allows one free carry-on bag and two free checked bags for

all passengers on transatlantic flights. (AA. Web.)

Once I arrive in the country, there are several methods of transportation I can use to get around.

To begin, I will need a way to get from the airport to my hotel. The Commuter Train (RER) is

the recommended form of transportation for visitors leaving the airport. It costs 8.40 Euros to go

from the airport to the city, where the hotel is located.

This is the cheapest option. When going from place to

place within the city, my options are to take the Metro,

RER, Buses,

Tramways, or a

Bus Tour. Some of these cost more than others and can

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be difficult to predict. That is why I plan to purchase the Paris Visite Pass, which will allow me

to have unlimited access to the Metro during my trip. This pass costs 53.55 Euros and includes

all six zones. The metro lines that are most overcrowded are 1, 2, 4, 11, 12, and 13. It is

recommended to avoid these during rush hours (8-10 AM; 5-8 PM). Metro lines 6 and 2 are

above ground during most of their routes, so by taking them, I will get a good view of the city.

Line 6 goes right by the Eiffel Tower. (GoParis. Web.) I plan on meeting at Notre Dame

International High School in a conference room to speak with the corporate sponsor, and then I

will go into their auditorium to speak to the students and teachers as a whole.

Many people question the safety of the city after the attacks that have taken place recently.

However, this is uncommon in France. Pickpocketing is the biggest crime. In large crowded

areas it is advised to be very careful with your valuables. A good way to avoid pickpocketing is

by having traveler’s checks and money belts. Do not carry more than $100 in cash at one time.

Never leave items unattended because they could be confiscated by security or stolen. There are

certain places that are advised to be avoided, especially at night or when alone. These places are

Les Halles, Chatelet, Gare du Nord, Stalingrad, and Jaures because they have a lot of gang

activity and are the site of a lot of hate crime. Do not wear highly visible jewelry or clothing that

affiliates you with a religion, political movement, or another controversial issue. The final safety

precaution is to be careful on the roads. Drivers are very aggressive and oftentimes do not yield

for pedestrians. It is not advised that visitors rent cars. (GoParis. Web.)

The hotel that I will be staying at offers free WiFi, which will be my main form of

communication. I will communicate via social media, Skype, and email on my laptop. There are

public phones located throughout the city in case I need to contact anyone while outside of my

hotel room. I plan on getting an international toll-free number from my bank in case of an

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emergency with my account. Other important numbers to know are: Medical Emergencies –

Dial “15”; Police – Dial “17”; Fire Brigade – Dial “18”. (GoParis. Web.)

Culture and Custom

Business relations vary greatly from country to country. In France, it is important to be

extremely knowledgeable about the history of whatever you are talking about. Conversations at

meetings often turn into spirited debates where you will be expected to expand greatly on what

you are talking about. It is encourage that you compliment people in France on their food.

French people place great value on privacy. They like for there to be a big distinction between

business and personal life, so be sure that you respect this. Business correspondence is often

impersonal. Make sure that you know the proper way to address individuals. Men should stand

up when a person of superior rank enters the room. Handshakes are expected as a form of

greeting to a business person, and a kiss on the cheek is how you greet a friend. Be sure to dress

appropriately because first impressions are very important in France. (BusinessCulture. Web.)

My trip will not fall on any holidays. I will arrive approximately a week after Whit Monday,

which is a nationally recognized holiday celebrated on May 16. It is also known as Pentecost

Monday. Since it is a legal holiday, many business and government offices are closed.

(TimeAndDate. Web.) Another popular national holiday is Fete de la Federation, which is

celebrated on July 14. It celebrated the establishment of the constitutional monarchy that took

place on the one year anniversary of the storming of the Bastille. (Cia. Web.)

It is proper business etiquette in France to schedule meetings far in advance. When you arrive to

the meeting, give your business card to that person’s secretary so they can log your arrival.

French business people get five weeks of vacation in the summer, and some companies shut

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down during the month of August. This is why I scheduled my trip in May before these

vacations take place. Appointments are best between 11 AM and 3:30 PM. It is important to

keep in mind that French meetings are usually held to discuss issues, not to actually make a

decision. (BusinessCulture. Web.)

Eating Habits

The standard cost of meals at a restaurant in France are 5-10 Euros for fast food and 15-20 Euros

for a sit down meal. (TripAdvisor. Web.) Many types of food are offered including sandwiches,

meats, seafood, soups, and desserts. Just like any other

country, there are certain items on the menu that are more

popular than others. For breakfast, it is recommended that

you eat a pastry and drink a cup of coffee. Various types of

pastries are offered such as croissants, Pain au Raisin, Pain au Chocolat, and Chausson aux

Pommes. These items will allow you to eat a fairly cheap breakfast. For lunch and dinner, some

of the more popular items include grilled cheeses with or without ham, quiche, escargots, crepes,

omelets, onion soup, mussels, falafels, and macaroons. (ParisLogue. Web.)

Benefits of FBLA

Future Business Leaders of America will be beneficial to both the students and the teachers in

this country. Since English is the second language at these schools, FBLA will help improve

their knowledge and familiarity of this language. It will also encourage international business by

teaching students to be business leaders earlier on. This will be especially helpful in an area that

welcomes so many tourists and is so involved in the world of business. If a French FBLA

chapter is chartered, then the business departments at schools may grow. This could create more

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teaching jobs, decreasing the national unemployment rate. It could also spark students’ interests

in business related fields, increasing the number of corporations founded in the future. This will

also contribute to the decrease of the national unemployment rate. Both students and teachers

will get the opportunity to network with other students and teachers from across the world and

share ideas on how they run their education programs. This could benefit France by improving

their education system.

FBLA Website and Social Media

The Internet is something that people all across the world have in common. The website could

add an international blog that would allow business teachers from all participating countries to

register and post questions, comments, or suggestions to other teachers. This would particularly

benefit new chapters like France by answering any questions they may have without them having

to constantly contact the headquarters. The website also has a description of all competitions,

which would be very useful to the France FBLA chapter.

Social media is a huge part of this generation. This could obviously be used to allow members to

communicate with other members who live across the world. It could also be used by allowing

information to be sent to international chapters faster. Things such as copies of Tomorrow’s

Business Leader that are sent through the mail to chapters could be sent through social media to

chapters oversea to reduce shipping costs.

New FBLA Project

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One new idea for an FBLA project or activity that the students and teachers in France could do

would be to improve community service. This would be something that would greatly benefit

this nation considering the tragedies they have faced recently.

The FBLA members could do things such as make signs to

place throughout the city that have sayings on them about love,

unity, strength, and patriotism. This would lift the spirits of

many French citizens and help gain recognition for their newly

chartered FBLA chapter. Along with making posters, they

could plant red, white, and blue flowers on their school campus to show their national pride.

By doing this community service project, they would be taking community service to a whole

new level. Community service is often thought of as something just for your own town or small

area. However, if the schools all across France did the same community service project, it would

become more of a national project and would promote the idea that their whole country is just

one big community. The FBLA chapters who participated could even log their hours from this

project to receive recognition through the FBLA CSA program.

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Works Cited

"Average Meal Cost - Paris Forum." - TripAdvisor. Web. 25 Mar. 2016.

"Business Communication." Business Culture. Web. 25 Mar. 2016.

"Checked Baggage Policy." Checked Baggage Policy. Web. 25 Mar. 2016.

"Currency Converter." - Yahoo! Finance. Web. 25 Mar. 2016.

"Essential Paris Safety Tips." About.com Travel. Web. 25 Mar. 2016.

"Europe :: France." Central Intelligence Agency. Central Intelligence Agency, 09 Mar. 2016.

Web. 25 Mar. 2016.

"France." Economy: Facts, Population, GDP, Unemployment, Business, Trade. Web. 25 Mar.

2016.

"How to Get to Paris from the Main Airports? Read These Tips." About.com Travel. Web. 25

Mar. 2016.

"Meeting Etiquette." Business Culture. Web. 25 Mar. 2016.

"Population, Total." Population, Total. Web. 25 Mar. 2016.

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"Save up to 60% on Top Hotels* for Whatever's on the Line." Priceline.com. Web. 25 Mar.

2016.

"Top Tips for Handling Money and Payments in Paris: Stay Safe and Smart." About.com Travel.

Web. 25 Mar. 2016.

"What to Eat in Paris." WhyGo Paris RSS. Web. 25 Mar. 2016.

"Whit Monday in France." Whit Monday in France. Web. 25 Mar. 2016.

Appendix 1

Itinerary

Monday, May 23, 2016

Leave home and drive to Dallas.................................................................8:00 AM

Stop for lunch............................................................................................12:00 PM

Arrive at airport...........................................................................................2:30 PM

Departure.....................................................................................................5:10 PM

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Arrival.........................................................................................................9:35 AM

Purchas Paris Visite Pass..........................................................................10:00 AM

Ride metro downtown...............................................................................10:10 AM

Exchange money at the American Express Agency.................................10:45 AM

Eat lunch in downtown Paris.....................................................................12:00 PM

Meet corporate sponsor for dinner..............................................................5:00 PM

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Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Eat breakfast at the hotel.............................................................................8:00 AM

Ride metro to the high school...................................................................10:00 AM

Tour facilities and eat lunch.....................................................................11:00 AM

Speak to students and teachers....................................................................1:00 PM

Meet with only school officials...................................................................4:00 PM

Eat dinner in downtown Paris.....................................................................6:00 PM

Return to hotel.............................................................................................7:00 PM

Thursday, May 26, 2016

Eat breakfast at the hotel.............................................................................9:00 AM

Ride metro to the Eiffel Tower.................................................................11:00 AM

Eat lunch near the Eiffel Tower................................................................12:00 PM

Tour and climb the tower............................................................................1:00 PM

Ride the metro downtown...........................................................................3:00 PM

Explore the sites around the city.................................................................3:30 PM

Eat dinner....................................................................................................5:00 PM

Return to hotel.............................................................................................6:00 PM

Pack items up...............................................................................................7:00 PM

Friday, May 27, 2016

Eat Breakfast...............................................................................................8:00 AM

Ride metro to airport...................................................................................9:00 AM

Departure..................................................................................................11:35 AM

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Arrival .........................................................................................................3:05 PM

Drive home to Arkansas..............................................................................3:45 PM

Stop for dinner.............................................................................................5:00 PM

Arrive home.................................................................................................9:45 PM

Appendix 2

Recruitment Ideas

1.Candy Invitation – Hand out candy bars such as a Payday with an invitation say, “Come

join FBLA and see how to increase your PAYDAY!” Hand out invitations to all

prospective members inviting them to the first meeting.

2.Signs – Place signs throughout the school and on lockers that promote the new

organization. This will spark the attention of many students.

3.Icebreakers and Games – This will allow people to interact at meetings and make the

meetings more fun. Having fun will encourage more students to join. Also, knowing

some of the people involved will push students to join.

4.Food – Food is a good way to convince people to come to events. If you can get the

students to come, then you can capture their attention before you hand out the food.

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5.Giveaways – Have a drawing for a prize. Oftentimes business will donate items to be

raffled off. Let only members who have paid their dues register to win.

6.Pictures/Information – Decorate a bulletin board or hang up posters that show pictures

from previous years. Actually seeing students in Chicago, with students from Hawaii,

and engaging in competition may help get future members more excited about joining.

7.Local Member Sign-Up Form – Have a chapter meeting and print off the local chapter

member sign-up from and give it to everyone in attendance.

8.Create and hand out a one-page flyer – Highlight local, state, and national projects and

activities.

9.Social media – Post reminders for people to join FBLA and pictures from previous events

on social media. This is the easiest way to connect with the younger generation and get

information across to them.

10.Send out an email – Send out a school wide email reminding everyone to sign up for

FBLA. This will ensure that every single student was contacted.

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Appendix 3

Travel Expenses

Expense Type Amount

Airline/Hotel $1133.04

Paris Visite Pass $59.80

Food (Approximate) $130.00

Site seeing $100.00

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Other $100.00

Total $1522.84

Appendix 4

Budget

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Appendix 5

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$1,133.04

$59.80

$130.00

$100.00

$100.00

Airline/Hotel Paris Visite Pass Food Site Seeing Other

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Brochure

Appendix 6

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Presentation

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