J oin the Ranks in FBLA By Debbie Garber 2004-2005 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 Campaigns It’s More than Just Luck!

 Planning  Publicizing  Teach people about FBLA so they actually know what it is and want to join they can’t join if they have no clue what it is  Giving Incentives  Give them a reason to go once they know about the organization  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 last year  Use or build on tactics from years past  Set realistic and concrete membership goals (i.e. 10 new members by October)  Outline target students for recruitment--they are the focus of your efforts and you should plan to do things around them  Focus a brainstorming session around the benefits of FBLA  Create an overall theme and slogan to help students identify that with FBLA Use 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 officers have lots of tools for you to potentially use- they are here for you!! Also try message boards

Publicize!

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

Publicize!

 Use State/National recruiting tools • Posters, brochures, videos, etc.

• • FBLA Marketplace Display section, state, and national awards in a prominent area  Involve school faculty members • • Get recommendations for members Receive permission to speak in classes

Best Ways to Recruit Members          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

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 Meeting • First meetings are the first impression  The Activities  Intriguing activities = more member involvement

Give incentives!--now that you’ve got their attention  Persuade teachers to give extra credit for going to meetings  Set up a raffle and give away free stuff  Use publicity tools to discuss the benefits of FBLA —there are lots of intangible incentives for joining!

 Promise them…FREE FOOD!

The Meeting  The Basics • Introduce FBLA in an entertaining manner--start off with a bang • Icebreakers • Show highlights of activities from previous years and include visuals • Officers should be fun, not stiff • Matching business casual clothing is recommended for professionalism • Deliver on promises

The Meeting  The Extras (Possible Activities) not vital but will enhance your message • • Icebreakers and other games Raffles (FBLA merchandise) • • Guest speakers A workshop on a “cool” topic • Wacky, yet informative video • Photo wall/scrapbook--seeing is believeing • FREE FOOD!

Ideas for meetings...

       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!)

The Activities  Social Events • Welcome Banquet and Induction Ceremony • • Icebreaker-Ice cream social Movie social • Some sort of tournament (board games, card game, video game, etc.) • Picnic/Barbeque • Bowling/pool social

The Activities  Non-social events • • Community service    Environmental cleanup Volunteer in walks (AIDS walk, March of Dimes WalkAmerica, etc.) Tutoring elementary school students Business tours, job shadowing • Conferences • 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 they want to pursue Leadership training through workshops and conferences Encompasses all aspects of business

We offer students . . .

Networking opportunities!

A Resume Booster

A Reason to Dress Up!

Scholarships  Distinguished Business Leader  Johnson and Wales University  Culver-Stockton University  Northwood University  Data Match  University of Miami

Awards and Recognition!

A Professional Atmosphere

The Opportunity to Make New Friends

Innovative Leadership Development Opportunities

 The Chance to The Chance to Gain Self alaa Confidence

Fun!

Hands-on Experiences

Travel Destinations to Exciting Cities!

Through FBLA, Members Learn Success

and Gain Firsthand Experience in Business and Leadership!

Quick Reminders: P lan in Advance Use a Variety of Written and Spoken Word Techniques Give People Incentives to Go to Meetings Have Exciting Meetings Set Up Interesting Events that Involve Many Members Never 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