By Kathryn Lock
Round Rock High School
Whether you’re leading a chapter of 10 or 500, engagement is crucial to a successful DECA chapter. I’ve broken down engagement into 3 categories: competition, community service, career preparation.
COMPETITION
EVENT SELECTION
Keep prospective members interested in joining DECA by hosting ‘speed dating’ for various events. Have stations where veteran members give a 1-2 minute pitch of the event. By the end of the meeting, members will have an accurate understanding of several events.
TEST PREP
Host a live Kahoot tournament using cluster exam questions. Bring snacks and increase the stakes by offering DECA swag to the winner!
COMMUNITY SERVICE
COLLAB WITH OTHER SCHOOLS
Members can connect with students from other schools and also reconnect with people they’ve met at previous conferences/events
If you are a small chapter this is a great way to pull off a bigger service event
Offering the opportunity to connect with students outside of competition allows members to see DECA as more than just a competition club
Bonus: you can work towards completing your Texas Two-Step campaign
CAREER PREPARATION
GUEST SPEAKERS
Ask community leaders, entrepreneurs, and professionals from diverse background to talk on a topic of your choice
Topics can include different paths to careers, roles within a start-up, or how to get experience while still in high school
Having guest speakers highlights the connections that DECA can bring