By Gargi chaudhari
Heritage High School
When the school year gets under way, DECA chapters—especially new ones—are full of possibilities. A good start often translates into a great pace for the remainder of the year. Whether you are an advisor or student leader, here is a specific plan to get your chapter off on the right foot and ensure a worthwhile beginning immediately.
Lay the Groundwork
A solid base is the start of an effective and successful year in DECA, and this is derived through effective recruitment and membership drives. Hold an introductory meeting that highlights the benefits and opportunities for students through DECA. This must be engaging yet informational, showing a clear vision of what DECA can do for its members. By promoting your chapter on popular social networking sites, you raise your chapter's visibility while attracting the interest of prospective members. School officials are another group of people with whom communication is necessary. Their approval is the equivalent of resources and publicity for your chapter.
Plan and Organize
After your chapter has been established, the next thing to do would be to plan and organize your events for the upcoming year. Next, you'll want to make a yearlong plan for your chapter, including goals of your chapter, key dates of events, competition dates, and fundraisers. Having clearly defined goals will direct you in a purposeful direction. Also, having assigned roles and responsibilities within the chapter will help generate ownership and ensure specific duties are taken care of. Set a regular meeting schedule and place them on the school calendar so that everyone can be on the same page. In these meetings, compelling formats and engaging interactions will keep members motivated and participating.
Develop Skills and Knowledge
A well-prepared chapter is one that builds skills and strengthens knowledge. Skill-building workshops are a good way to prepare members for competition and business. Business session topics should focus on public speaking, business etiquette, and strategies in competing. To that end, DECA has provided much useful online training material and a series of webinars which will help advance the members' prowess and knowledge. Applying these assets will keep the chapter competitive and up-to-date with information.
Participate in Community Service
Community service is another important aspect of a successful DECA chapter. Planning and executing community service activities develops teamwork and serves the community. More than that, however, engaging in the local business community can lead to networking opportunities leading to sponsorships to support your chapter. Building those relationships now will pay dividends in both fundraising and community exposure.
Prepare for Competition
With DECA competitions, it is important that preparation is involved if success is to be achieved. This starts by going over competition guidelines so all members are aware of the rules and categories involved. The hosting of mock competitions can also acclimate members to the experience; this will help them build confidence and improve their performance. The more prepared they are, the better they will feel, and the more likely they are to actually win at a competition.
Communicate and Celebrate
This will be an effective method of sustaining morale and motivation through communicating effectively and celebrating the achievements along the way. Publishing your chapter's news through newsletters, social media, and school announcements will also keep everyone in the know and inclusive. You will create a positive and energetic atmosphere in your chapter by celebrating milestones and acknowledging each member's achievements.
With these building a firm foundation, planning and organization, developing skills, community involvement, competition preparation, and celebration of achievements-your DECA chapter has the potential to get off to a great start at the beginning of the year and stay successful through the school year.
Citations
“DECA Inc. - DECA Inc.” DECA Inc, 2014, www.deca.org/.
Partner. “Texas DECA.” Texas DECA, 2014, www.texasdeca.org/txdecapartnerr.
“DECA Direct Online | High School Division.” Decadirect.org, 2024, www.decadirect.org/.