[mxer210]

I decided to start an FBLA chapter at my school next year, and I wanted to see if anyone has participated in this club. It's like a business club at high schools and colleges and they compete in competitions like business plan competition, entrepreneur competition, or website competition are some examples. they have over 40 competitions and it looks really cool.

[bigpund]

Hey There. If I do remember correctly, I think I saw your posts today on the FBLA-PBL Message Board.

Anyway, I just graduated from high school in Maryland. Our chapter was started by my brother and a couple others, eight years ago. We quickly grew larger and larger and our presence was known across the state. Anyway, I have served in my positions in my local chapter such as Treasurer, Senior Project Manager, and then President this year. As well, on the state level I served as the Maryland Region IIC Vice President.

Anyway, FBLA has been the best thing to happen to me in high schoo, besides the Academy of Finance, another business organization.

I saw your post here and just wanted to drop you a note and say congratulations on making the awsome step of starting a new chapter at your school and wish you the best of luck.

If you have any questions or what to know something in particular, feel free to ask. But definitly hang out on the Message Board over at the National site, you will easily learn a lot.

Good Luck!

Chris Pund
Class of '04
River Hill High School
Maryland

[jor133d]

I love FBLA!

I became a member this year and I competed in the Web Development category and I took 1st place at the Wisconsin State Competition and I will be going to Denver in a week for the national competition.

I also was voted the President of our local chapter for next year.

[bigpund]

jor133d, great to hear you had success in your first year. web design is always a tought category to place in. best of luck to you and your team.

on a side note, perhaps we will see each other at the conference.

[jor133d]

Chris,

What event are you in? Web Design?

[bigpund]

jor133d,

I will be competing in FBL (Future Business Leader). Unfortunatly, we didnt get a chance to make a site for web design. I was really mad about this, but the people that were going to do it slacked off big time.

Can I see your site by chance? You can email me a link if you want, or hit me up on aim- bigpund2k2


Thanks.

Chris

[Steve]

Can you link me to the FBLA site?

[bigpund]

The national website can be found at www.fbla-pbl.org

The country is then broken down in regions, which usually all have websites. Then most states have there own websites as well. And then past that are chapter websites. All links can be found on the national website.

Chris

[mxer210]

I'm really looking forward to doing it for my first time next year, and if your in high school, join fbla, and if your in college, you should do pbl. If you dont have a chapter at your school, start one like me.

[jdflemng]

Let me just start by saying that FBLA is great! I graduated high school in 1998 and was involved in the club all four years. I held an officer position my junior year and was President of our chapter my senior year. This is an invaluable experience for not only entreprenuers but also those who want to go into the corporate world.

While I was in FBLA I had the opportunity to do a work/study program. Although it was minimum wage, the experience was priceless. FBLA teaches you important skills such as how to write an effective resume and how to interview for a real job. I strongly encourage you to participate in the competitions. You'll have an opportunity to get feedback from employees of real companies, not to mention the networking opportunities.

When I started college in the fall of '98 I interviewed with a Fortune 100 company in the city I was attending college. I was a freshman and in competition with 16 other students (all juniors and seniors). I got the position and my employer told me it was due to FBLA and my previous work experience. I was the first freshman they had ever hired before.

I worked at that company throughout college and have been full-time here now for about 18 months. The month after I got out of college I bought my own house. I make WAY more money than any of my friends my age, and I contribute most of my success to the opportunities created from FBLA.

Bottom line, FBLA will provide you with the opportunities you will need to succeed. It can really open doors for you. To say the job market is competitive is a gross understatement. A college degree is the bare minimum these days, and if you think that's all you'll need to get a job you're wrong. There are thousands of twenty-somethings out there with college degrees waiting tables. Work experience and experience with organizations like FBLA are a pre-requisite to get a job in the "real" world.