FCCLA Emblematic Gear

Some people are so hard to shop for at Christmas. You really are completely stumped at what to get them. Well we now have the perfect answer for you. Why not get them some FCCLA gear? It makes perfect sense! With FCCLA gear you can make your friends happy plus spread the news about our great organization. So the next time your looking for a perfect gift go online at www.fcclainc.org and check out all the great items the FCCLA store and API have to offer!

NEC Gives Thanks/ New Poster Series

First and foremost, the NEC would like to wish you all very happy holidays. We hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We'd like to take a second to tell what about FCCLA we are thankful for.

"I'm thankful for all the postivity that surrounds an FCCLA event. All the members are friendly and the meetings are so electrifying. It's impossible to be in a bad mood when you've got the FCCLA spirit."
-Kristy Paquette, Vice-President of Public Relations

"FCCLA has opened so many doors, and helped me find my voice."
-Alex Durham, Vice-President of Community Service

"I'm thankful for the opportunity to develop leadership skills, make lifelong friendships, and positively affect the world."
-Ariana Lake, First Vice-President

"I'm most thankful for the opportunities that it gives students around our country to develop life skills. I'm also thankful for the diversity that our organization offers, giving students opportunities no matter what their history or race is."
-Miguel Astello, Vice-President of Programs

"I'm most thanful for the personal growth FCCLA has given me. I am the confident, career ready, professional, and unique person I am today because of FCCLA!"
-Jessie Pratt, Vice-President of Finance

"I'm thankful for the members, as they continue to inspire me, and many others, to be the best person I can be."
-Kaylen Larson, President

"I'm most thankful for having the opportunity to make friends with people across the nation who share the same passion for helping others and making a difference world wide."
-Tori Coates, Vice-President of Development

"I'm most thankful for everyone involved in FCCLA members, advisers, national staff, and everyone behind the scenes. Without the hard work, dedication, and passion there would be no FCCLA."
-Hannah Wright, Vice-President of Membership

"Because of FCCLA, I am thankful not only for the chance to be a part of the National Executive Council, but being apart of it with my 9 best friends. I will be close with these guys for the rest of my life and I encourage every single in of you to go out and meet an FCCLA member and hopefully have the same outcome as I did: To meet someone that could possibly change your life."
-Kelcie Sturgeon, Vice-President of Parlimentary Law

"I'm most thankful for the life experiences. being a part of the nec has not only taught me simple things like how to navigate an airport or how to handle grouchy attitudes late at night while practicing, but it has also taught me some of the most basic fundamentals that I will use the rest of my life."
-Jessica Pope, Vice-President of Competitive Events

With that being said I'd like to remind you all about the new FCCLA poster series. The posters are a quick and easy reference to use when talking about our great organization. They are also a perfect conversation starter. Everytime someone walks into your adviser's classroom or wherever else you have those posters hanging they are going to wonder what FCCLA is all about. You can then express what aspects of FCCLA YOU are thankful for, and possibly recruit new members!

National Cluster Meetings in Review

Do you have what it takes to be the ultimate FCCLA survivor? Well,  over 5,000 FCCLA members and advisers took on the challenge as they came together in the Denver, Colorado, Minneapolis, Minnesota, and finally, the Big Peach, Atlanta, Georgia. Attendees not only had the opportunity to network with others from across the nation, but also develop their leadership skills! Through a variety of workshops, students and advisers alike were challenged to raise the bar in their families, careers, and communities. They even had the opportunity to listen to motivational speakers John Beede and Gerald Jones.

Alec Ostapovicz, Virginia FCCLA State President, said, "This year's cluster meetings have been one of the best! From the keynote speakers, the workshops, the fantastic NEC, all the friends I made and reaquainted with from across the country, and all the leaders that grew from these wonderful experiences; this year we really raised the bar. "

Students also had the opportunity to compete in competitive events such as Impromptu Speaking, Culinary Knife Skills, Culinary Food Art, and the Family and Consumer Sciences Knowledge Bowl. The top ten Skill Demonstration Event competitors from each site qualified to compete at the 2012 National Leadership Conference July 8-12 in Orlando, Florida.

And speaking of  the National Leadership Conference, the theme for the conference was also announced. ***Drum roll please*****
#Realitycheck is the official theme for the 2012 National Leadership Conference. This announcement was met with a thunderous applause and enthusiasm. So, be sure to work hard throughout the year so that you too may join us for a #Realitycheck in Orlando, Florida!

Attendees left the national cluster meetings inspired to dream, believe, and achieve in their chapters, regions, states, and nation.

March of Dimes

Hello all of you ultimate leaders! This is your VP of Community Service, Alex Durham!
I hope all of you are adjusting to the time change, I know I enjoyed my extra hour of sleep last night! Are there any earthquake survivors out there?? Comment and tell us about your earthquake experience!

As we all know, it's the beginning of November! November is a very special month not only because of Thanksgiving, but because World Prematurity Day is the 17th! Every year, 13 million babies are born prematurely worldwide. A million of them never get the chance to celebrate their first birthday, and many more face serious, lifelong health challenges. Raising awareness of this serious problem is the first step to defeating it! As FCCLA members partnering with the March of Dimes, it is our job to raise the awareness and educate others about saving babies! So why just advocate one day, when we could the whole month of November?! The March of Dimes Youth Volunteer Council has created a "2-week fun fund raising plan" to help give students different ideas of how to advocate in your schools! I would love to provide this to anyone who is interested, I also have media kits and guides that I would be happy to share! Be sure and join the March of Dimes on Facebook and Twitter, as well as check out their website http://www.marchofdimes.com/volunteers/teamyouth.html I challenge YOU to work hard all month long to honor the 1 million babies worldwide who died this year because they were born too soon, and the 12 million more who struggle to survive! If you are interested in receiving more information contact me at Email: adurham@fcclainc.org, Facebook: Alex Durham, Twitter: AlexAnneDurham I am happy to answer any questions that you have and provide all of the information your hearts desire! Don't forget November 17, 2011 is World Prematurity Day, be sure to wear your purple! I will be keeping up with your success on Facebook! Thank you for working together for stronger, healthier babies!

Speaking on behalf of "Team UNO" we are very excited to see some of you at the National Cluster Meeting in Denver, and I'm sure "Team A" is just as excited about their meeting in Minneapolis! I hope you have a great week, and safe travels!

Meet Ariana/ FCCLA Picture Contest

In the words of Tori Coates, "Hi I'm Ariana Lake and I am a princess. Sometimes in the morning I like to go to the window of my castle and look at the mountains and sing to the birds. Then they all come and fly around my head and it makes for a very lovely day." But really...Most people call me Ari. I'm a Montana girl through and through. I love to ride horses, camp, ATV, ski, and basically anything else you can do outside! My all time favorite things are going horseback riding, cheer leading, and spending time with friends and family. :) A fun fact is that I live in a house shaped like a pyramid. Yes, like the ones in Egypt! I also happened to be on MTV in August because of it. :) I joined FCCLA because I believe that practicing acts of kindness and doing good for my community is crucial. As a National FCCLA Officer, I put it upon myself to make a difference so that each one of you can feel that something wonderful, something different, something unique, and something life changing that FCCLA has to offer.

One of my other passions is competitions though...like the upcoming FCCLA picture contest!

Here's the D.L.-- We're going to be holding a contest via Facebook and Twitter. The challenge is to be the participant with the funniest, most unique, interesting, overall AWESOME that ties in FCCLA and the NEC's determined monthly theme. The theme for November will be *drum roll please* CRAZY SOCKS! So what YOU need to go do is take crazy sock pictures with something FCCLA in it and tag the National FCCLA Facebook page or National FCCLA Twitter. The winner will be announced at the end of the month. Best of luck! Lights. Camera. ACTION!!

Meet Kristy/ FCCLA Social Media

Hey ya'll I'm Kristy Paquette, your National Vice President of Public Relations. Ya'll may know me better as the National Vice President of the Random Facts Countdown (haha). I'm 17 (soon to be 18!!). I'm originally from Louisiana, but moved to Texas when I was about 13. The town I live in now is the hometown of Miranda Lambert. If you want me to talk your ear off, start a conversation with me about baseball or Batman because I absolutely can't get enough of either. I love the Rangers with all my heart and soul and if they don't win the World Series I may just lose my mind. I also love the Saints (Who Dat?!). Baylor better be ready for me when I graduate because I want to major in nursing there. In a nutshell I'm the goofy one. I love laughing all day, and you'll hear me say the weirdest things to make you start laughing too. But the funniest thing about me is the fact I used to be so shy and quiet before FCCLA. I know, hard to believe, right? I owe it all to FCCLA, so I can't wait to repay the organization by having the best year ever this year!!! If you have any questions, cocerns,...crippling fears, don't be afraid to hit me up on Facebook or my email. I'm always up for a good Dr. Phil moment.

But back to business, let's talk about how important social media is now a days. I, for one, check all my social media outlets at least once a day. It's where I let myself creep out and learn what's going in the world from the football scores to relationship statuses to information about school or FCCLA. FCCLA has so many pages and profiles you can check out to learn more about the organization. For any facts FCCLA, you can go to the website at fcclainc.org and read about the programs or register for an upcoming conference. FCCLA has a Facebook profile (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America) and twitter account (@NationalFCCLA) where you can get a daily dose of FCCLA including newly updated information. There are also many chapter and member pages like The FCCLA Lovers!! (Josey Stevens just beefed up its membership quite a bit!) which serve as a forum for members across the country. Last but not least there is the FCCLA National Executive Council blog (fcclanec.blogspot.com) where you can learn about the council and what we are up to now.

Capitol Leadership in Review

Look around Facebook and you'll see it has been flooded with status updates, pictures, and posts of FCCLA members who had an amazing time at Capitol Leadership in Washington D.C.. The week started off with the Leadership Training Team members, Andrew, Emily, and Caroline, teaching us about important qualities a leader must possess. We learned how to dress, interact, and even eat properly. We learned important topics FCCLA wants the government officials to take notice of including Youth Safety, Nutrition and Wellness, College and Career Readiness, and the Carl Perkins legislation and funding. On Tuesday, we swarmed Capitol Hill. We are all ready to make a difference through FCCLA. Everyone talked to representatives or senators or their staffers. Throughout the week many members also got to see the beautiful sights of D.C. Overall it was an unforgettable experience. We all made new friends and great memories. If you'd like to hear more about Capitol Leadership feel free to contact any of the members of the National Exective Council. We'd love to tell you anything you want to know about Capitol Leadership!!

Meet Miguel/ Cluster Meeting Excitement

Hey FCCLA members! My name is Miguel Astello from Madisonville, Texas and I am proud to be serving as your National Vice-President of Programs. 


Does anyone know what group of meetings is coming up that are educational, inspiring, and FUN?  THE NATIONAL CLUSTER MEETINGS!!!!! The meetings will be held November 11-13 in Denver, Colorado and Minneapolis, Minnesota. The November 18-20 meeting will be in Atlanta, Georgia. The cluster meetings are a great time for you to gain more leadership skills as you interact with members from all over the nation. No matter what cluster you choose to attend, the experience will be just as thrilling! Now I am going to give you a little more information about myself.


I go to school in Madisonville, Texas, which is right in between Houston and Dallas. I am involved in other organizations in my school such as band, debate, and FFA. My priority in life right now is literally FCCLA. I became involved when I was in 9th grade. At first, I just participated in STAR Events and attended the National Leadership Conference in Nashville, but later in my school life I decided to run for a FCCLA office. That turned out to be one of the best decisions I ever made in my life. I love to spend time with my friends, but I also love learning more. Now, when I say learning I DO NOT mean math, english, or science. I mean learning about useful facts, political structure, and news. In the future I hope to attend Baylor University and double major in Business Administration and International Business, and Minor in Political Sciences. This basically means that I want to run for the President of the United States one day. (No Lie) So that is me in a really small nutshell.


I really encourage everyone to attend a Cluster meeting because the experience will truly be life changing! With FCCLA you are sure to get The Ultimate Leadership Experience when attending any FCCLA meetings and events!  

Meet Tori/ Capitol Leadership

Hey, hey FCCLA! I'm Tori Coates, proud to be serving as your National Vice President of Development!  As all of you know, FCCLA is packed full of amazing opportunities for members to have the Ultimate Leadership Experience, and one of those opportunities is Capitol Leadership!  The National Officers are PUMPED for this year's event, and we hope all of you are as well!

Speaking from personal experience, Captiol Leadership is one of the best events of the year!  Not only do attendees have the opportunity to network with members from across the nation, but they also get to develop leadership and advocacy skills, meet with members of Congress and federal officials and explore the nation's capitol! Capitol Leadership is an awesome experience, and the National Executive Council can't wait to share it with you in exactly one week :).

Now to tell you a little bit about myself.  I'm from the beautiful state of Oklahoma and a proud Oklahoma State Cowboys fan! I love to watch sports and cheer on my team!  I live in Westville, which is a town of about 2,000 people and 3,000 cows ;). Just kidding, but it is a very small community; great things come in small packages! I'm a Junior in high school this year and involved in many activities including NHS, Arvest Leadership Board, Academic Team, Student Council, Cheerleading, FCA, Choir, D-FY, Educational Talent Search, and, of course, the best of all-FCCLA!

My priorities in life can be broken down into three basic categories: 1) Jesus 2) Family 3) Education.  I think that believing in something bigger than yourself, having a good support system, and always looking for opporunities to learn and grow are the keys to success in any situation. I love my life, and I strive to make a difference everyday, whether that be through a smile, a simple act of kindness, or something on a larger scale.  You will rarely find me not smiling or being silly, because I believe that life is too short to be anything but happy.

If you would like to know anything else, please message me on Facebook or email me at tcoates@fcclainc.org-I would love to hear from you!! :) I'm looking forward to a great year, and I encourage all of you to soak up as much FCCLA as you possibly can!  It truly is a life-changing experience, and the more involved you are, the more fun it is!

Community Service/ Meet Alex

Sorry about the posting delay everyone. Unfortunately Alex had some technical difficulties and couldn't send the blog yesterday. Thankfully, she was able to send it in today so without further ado here's Alex!


Hey everyone! I am Alex Durham, your National Vice President of Community Service! This year's National Outreach Project consist of 3 components!  Share Our Strength is the fundraising opportunity, March of Dimes is the educational opportunity, and Soles4Souls is the onsite opportunity! If you visit each of these organizations' websites you will be able to find out a little more about them! We are asking that you fundraise for Share Our Strength, educate people about March of Dimes, and participate in the onsite opportunity at the 2012 National Leadership Meeting this summer in Orlando, Florida by bringing a pair of NEW or GENTLY used shoes to donate to the cause! I hope you FCCLA Lovers are kicking off your year with some awesome activities and projects!

To switch gears real quick, ill tell you a little bit about myself! I am 17 years old and go to a very small school in southern Arkansas! I am a huge Arkansas Razorback fan! Woo Pig Sooie! (win or lose) Haha. I have a rather large family, 4 brothers and 4 sisters to be exact! I have been a cheerleader for about 10 years, I love watching all sports. I enjoy hunting, going to the lake, and competeing in pageants! Maybe you'll know me as Miss Arkansas one day?! Haha. Just a dream. My life is pretty hectic and busy, but I enjoy the simple things in life and wouldn't have it any other way! I'm not gonna rattle on much longer, so if you would like to know more or have any questions about anything feel free to email me at adurham@fcclainc.org :) I encourage each and everyone of you to join in and make this a great year of helping others and making a difference!

New Events/ Birthday Wishes

Hello again FCCLA! This is Jessica Pope, your Vice President of Competitive Events, and I am here to inform you and remind you of all the new competitive events going on this year at two of the three National Cluster Meetings.

We have decided this year to add new on site Skill Demonstration Events. These events will be hosted at Cluster Meeting in Denver, CO and Atlanta, GA. They include Culinary Food Art, Culinary Knife Skills, and Impromptu Speaking. Each of these events are individual events not team events.  In order to compete in these skills demonstration events, you must register online when you register to attend the Cluster Meeting. Registrations are limited, so first-come first-served until the event is full. You must also have your national membership dues paid by November 1^st.

Culinary Food Art you will showcase the best of participants’ creative and artistic skills in utilizing an assortment of food items to create an interesting food art item. Culinary Knife Skills will showcase the best of participants’ knife skills. Participants will produce six uniform pieces for each knife cut meeting industry standards and demonstrate proper safety and sanitation procedures. And lastly, Impromptu Speaking recognizes participants for their ability to address a topic relating to FCCLA and Family and Consumer Sciences without prior preparation. The ability to express one’s thoughts in an impromptu situation while maintaining poise, self-confidence, logical organization of point, and conversational speaking are important assets in family, career and community situations.

1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd place event winners will each receive a trophy during the Closing General Session of the National Cluster Meeting they are attending. All participants will receive a certificate of participation. The top 10 participants in each event from both Cluster Meetings will be invited to compete head-to-head at the National Leadership Conference in Orlando!

We are all excited to see you and your amazing skills at Cluster Meeting! So register today and get in on all the new competitive experience that FCCLA is providing!

Thanks for sharing Jessica! We would also like to wish Ariana and Alex belated happy birthdays because they were never officially recognized on the blog. Since this is the NEC blog, it makes sense we send our best wishes to both of them. Happy Birthday!

A Day That Will Never Be Forgotten

Everyone knows today is the anniversary of a very sad day in history for our country. In honor of those who lost their lives or family members we have Henry Sookram, FCCLA New York State President, to tell us about  September 11, 2011 and what FCCLA did to help.

September 11, 2001 marked not only an ending, but it was also a beginning: it was the beginning of a show of unity, a show of spirit, and a show of strength.  These same traits that became noticeable in our country are the same traits that have always been part of the FCCLA organization.
                In January of 2002, the New York State association of Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America showed their support to communities devastated by the tragic events of 9/11.  Mrs. Dianne Mosher, along with two officer elects, Briana Dolan and Noelle Jones, took a trip that would soon change the lives of many.  The three representatives of NYS FCCLA paved a path of leadership, as they delivered 100 pounds of Hershey’s Hugs and Kisses to emergency services personnel of Lower Manhattan, each bag with a personal note of gratitude.  Along with this delivery, they were also able to visit Ground Zero, and leave some comfort at a nearby church, where other workers were stationed.                   
NYS FCCLA was joined by Wisconsin CTSOs, FCCLA included, to assist in the efforts of raising funds to replace needed equipment lost in the tragic events of 9/11.  Mrs. Mosher, Jesuina, Noelle, Briana, Chris Tiffany, and other FCCLA members, traveled to New York City to present the proceeds from their joint efforts.
                Ninety-seven FDNY vehicles were lost in the attacks of September 11.  Although insurance and assistance from FEMA would only cover part of the funds needed to replace these emergency vehicles, Wisconsin CTSOs created a campaign to help in the funding.  Ultimately, $130,000 was raised and presented.
                This year, 2011, marks the 10^th anniversary of the tragic events of September 11.  While FCCLA was able to show such support for all that were impacted by these historic events, we must also acknowledge the fact that efforts like these should be a continuous part of our lives.                                                             
 On behalf of the New York State FCCLA, I wish for everyone to show unity, spirit, and strength in a time such as this, and our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone impacted by the tragedy of September 11.

Henry Sookram
2011-2012 NYS FCCLA President,
and VP of Alumni and Associates.

Meet Jessie/ Fundraising

Before we introduce Jessie Pratt, VP of Finance, I wanted to make sure that all of you are aware that the latest issue of Teen Times has been sent out. Be sure to read it and show it to your fellow chapter members. Now here's Jessie!!

Hi everybody! My name is Jessie Pratt and I am from Wisconsin. I'm more than honored to serve as your 2011-2012 National Vice President of Finance. So to do a brief introduction of myself; I have lived in southern Wisconsin my whole life, in a small Swiss village called New Glarus. Some fun facts you might enjoy about me is that I can ride a unicycle, I am a first degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do, and I spent 3 weeks in Germany this past summer. I am also involved in Student Senate,Mock Trial,German American Partnership Program, National Honor Society,4-H, and Cross Country.

So now let's talk about something super fun! FUNdraising!! So, in today's world finding enough support to attend leadership conferences or give back to the community or an organization is not always easy. This past week we've been asking around for some great ideas from our very own members on how they boosted their chapter's checking accounts!

"We do Hot Chocolate Sales. We sell them for $1 and overall raised $1,000 and even had a press release!"
-Carl Archut Jr. New Jersey

"We sell Otis Spunkmeyer cookies. Kids love those ooey-gooey chocolatey cookies."
-Brian Will Virginia

"Ice Cream Social! $1 a scoop :) Toppings are complimentary. "
-Kyle Andrews Utah

"We duct taped our chapter president to the wall by the office at our school last year for Childrens' Miracle Network!...We asked people for $1 for each minute he was stuck up there."
-Hayley Ellis Iowa

Try looking into fundraising opportunities other than selling food like a carwash or a lip sync contest. Approach local businesses and ask if they'd be will to match the funds you've raised. You'd be surprised how much they would be willing to support you. The possibilities are endless with a little imagination! Keep us posted and feel free to send pictures, I'd love to hear all about your great ideas and successes! Good Luck!

Meet Hannah/ Lets Talk About Membership!

Hey guys I’m Hannah Wright from Nebraska! I am so honored to say that I am your 2011-2012 National VP of Membership, for all of you who don’t know I stand at 3’2”.

A little bit about me, I was born and raised in Neligh, Nebraska, population 1,600. My senior class has 30 kids and I know everyone’s parents all the way to their dog…it is a very small town! I am in FCCLA, FBLA, One Act, Speech, Dance, All School Play/Musical, Choir and many more activities. But, I would not be where I am today if it wasn’t for FCCLA. I was born with Spondyloepiphyseal Dysplasia Dwarfism. After I was out of my mom I was in an ambulance on my way to Omaha to the Children’s Hospital. The doctors prepared my parents for the worse and told them at best, I would live to be 6 months old…well did I prove them wrong! My parents raised me the same way they raised my older brother and sister--to my family nothing was different with me, I was just short. Later on in 2003 my mom was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. She kicked some major cancer butt and came out stronger than before. She is my super mom and my hero. When we all thought our lives would finally become normal we found out my grandpa had colon cancer. On July 7th, 2007 he lost his battle and it shook my family--that was year I joined FCCLA. I started out a shy 8th grader not really knowing what to do and was asked to be the Freshman District Creed speaker. I nervously agreed and wrote a speech about my life so far. The day came and I said my speech in front of 600 of my peers, when I was done I looked up and saw my fellow FCCLA’ers with tears in their eyes and then they stood up and gave me a standing ovation. After that I was running for the Peer Education Team, State Officer, and National Officer. FCCLA has taught me to take my past experiences and show others it doesn’t matter your history, you can achieve your dreams if you are willing to work at them.

So FCCLA, here we are! As VP of Membership it is my job to give you some ideas to help recruit members. I asked some members to see what they do in their chapters…

“Scholarships! Those seniors need all the scholarships they can get! My chapter gives away 3 scholarships each year to active members. It really helps increase active members!” –Justin Hess Virginia

“Go to talk to local schools that don’t have FCCLA but have FACS classes! Inform the students about the benefits of FCCLA, what we do, and why we are in it! Of course don’t forget to inform the Administration and the FACS teacher(s)!” –Patrick Colgan Nebraska

“My chapter has a lock-in for underclassmen to teach them about FCCLA with games, food, and an overnight stay at the school” –Kali Lenhoff Nebraska

“Go talk to those who are eligible to join FCCLA in a year or two! Play games and give presentations on what you do in FCCLA and why it’s so amazing!” –Rose Haugen North Dakota

Don’t forget to Recruit, Retain, and Recognize! To find more ways to get members go to www.fcclainc.org and look under the Membership tab where you can find many resources to help you out!

August Meeting in Review

This week from Wednesday August 17th through today, we have been trying to plan a strong, dynamic year for all of you members. Our lips are definitely sealed on certain details, but we can share a few things.
   First of all, we have definitely bonded much stronger as a group. This allowed us to bounce ideas off of each other much easier and create out of this world ideas. We learned about all the new opportunities that will be provided to the members and discussed how to promote these and make them reach their greatest potential. We drafted our Program of Work which states the guidelines we will use to try and grow the organization. I'm not sure if anyone in this council has ever focused so much on the wording of a sentence. Our goal was to clearly state what benefits we want to give to the members and how we are going to get you those benefits.
  Then came the fun parts. We have officially decided our theme for the 2012 National Leadership Conference!!!!!! We are so excited to unvail it to everyone AT CLUSTERS!! Until then you will have to wait in anticipation because like I said before, we've got that theme under lock and key for now. We also created the skits for the National Cluster Meeting. These will not be shared till clusters either!!! We can't wait to surprise and inspire every single member. If it makes you feel any better we can announce the officers that are going to each cluster meeting:
Denver- Ariana Lake
              Tori Coates
              Kristy Paquette
              Alex Durham
              Miguel Astello

Minnesota & Atlanta- Kaylen Larson
                                   Jessica Pope
                                   Hannah Wright
                                   Jessie Pratt
                                   Kelcie Sturgeon

Now more than ever before I think we can all agree that we are truly honored to represent the FCCLA members while making these decisions and serving as your 2011-2012 National Executive Council.
                                

Meet Kelcie Sturgeon

Once again congratulations to all the competitive events participants. Keep up the good work and we hope to see you next year in Orlando! The next officer we'd like to introduce is Kelcie Sturgeon, the VP of Parlimentary Procedure. Take it away Kelcie!!

Why hello all you amazing people! My name is Kelcie Sturgeon from West Virginia and I am proud to announce that I am your 2011-2012 National Vice-President of Parliamentary Law! Wow. That sounds so weird to say. I still can’t process it enough that I am a National Officer. Every day it sets in a little more. I think it’ll finally hit me at Clusters when I get to speak in front of the finest members around. YOU. I can’t seem to thank you guys enough. The members are what make this organization amazing.
I can’t even begin to fathom where FCCLA has taken me. I started out in 6th grade in my Home Economics class where I was introduced to my middle school FACS teacher, Mrs. McBee. Because of her, I am standing where I am today.
As soon as I saw the eight officers in those red blazers at my first State Leadership Conference, I knew that is exactly what I wanted to do. Eventually I ran for state office and I was elected the 2008-2009 Vice-President of Public Relations and Community Service (Mouth Full). Again, I am so truly blessed as West Virginia doesn’t have a limit on how many times you can run for office (Probably because we’re so tiny). Anyways, the next year I was elected 2009-2010 First Vice-President. The next two years I was elected 2010-2012 State President. After being elected, State President for my second term I decided to start filling out the application to be a National Officer Candidate. That was the hardest part out of the entire process. But look where I am, a National Officer. Very Awesome feeling to say that. In case you were wondering, I did have to give up my position as State President, but I’m not complaining too much! Haha!
I live in Morgantown, West Virginia, HOME OF THE MOUNTAINEERS! I am so proud to live in WV.Some of my favorite things include singing in and out of the shower, acting, speaking in front of large crowds, hanging with my friends, and shopping. My favorite book is now Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. My favorite color is green. My favorite kind of music would have to be Alternative, Rock, Country, and Pop. I really like to paint but hate to draw. Everything about me is spontaneous. I love being loud and energetic. I am a fun person to be around who will always make you smile! When I graduate from high school, I will attend a University where I will get my masters in Political Science where maybe one day I can run for an real office. I hope one day I will get to intern at the White House, where that is one of my big dreams!
I am so truly blessed right now; I am unable to put it into words. I can already see great things happening this year. If you have any questions don’t hesitate to email or Facebook me. All my information is on the national website, fcclainc.org. I want to hear from YOU! And trust me, you will be hearing a lot from me!

Meet Jessica Pope/ Competitive Event Review

Thank you Kaylen for sharing with us! Next NEC officer we'd like to introduce is Jessica Pope, the 2011-2012 National VP of Competitve Events.

Hello FCCLA,

So what do most people look forward to most when they come to National Leadership Conference? Well the competitions of course! And, this year has again pushed our competitive events to a whole new level! From STAR Events to the Otis Spunkmeyer O-riginal Recipe contest, this was an amazing year with lots of opportunities to show your originality!

This year, we had 3,500 students participate in STAR Events! This is a 450 person increase from last year!

 We held a FACS Knowledge Bowl Competition with the winners being:

«      1^st place: New Berlin High School – Illinois

«      2^nd place: Jonesboro FCCLA – Arkansas

«       3^rd place: Selah High School – Washington

The 2011 Recycled Flag Contest Winner was Kyila Hopson Mosley – Nebraska.

The 2010-2011 FCCLA Leaders to Watch Contest participants included:

 Student Winners: Bobbi Anderson – Kansas, Linsey Armstrong – Nebraska, Rachel Cheng - New Jersey, Elizabeth Cook – Wisconsin, Madelyn Dunavant – Alabama, Cara Gooch – Missouri, Dalton Noakes – Kansas, David Shah - New Jersey, Sara Smith – Nebraska, and Daven Woosley – Kentucky.

Adviser Winners :  Jeanne Dowell – Kansas, Marcy Hamiliton – Missouri, Beth Moore Williams – Georgia, Pat Neville – Indiana, Nicole Perez - New Jersey, and Bryan Tolle - West Virginia.

And we can’t forget the Otis Spunkmeyer O-riginal Recipe contest winner! The O-riginals Winning Creation was: "Peanut Butter Cup Ravioli Sundae" by Leah Schneider from Ocean Township High School FCCLA, New Jersey.

 I would like to congratulate all participants! It was truly a great year, and I look forward to an even more amazing year and increasing our number of competitors! Everyone keep up all your hard work, and we will see even more winners and gold medalists in Orlando!

My name is Jessica Pope, and this year I will be serving you as the 2011-2012 National Vice-President of Competitive Events! I come to you from the great peach state of Georgia. I joined FCCLA as an 8^th grader and have been thrown into a whirlwind of leadership experiences and fun ever since it began. I competed in STAR Events for two years and the Georgia knowledge bowl competition before being elected into my first state officer position. This past year, I served as Georgia’s State President and will be serving on the State Executive Council for my third and final year this year. They call me Grandma Pope on our state council since I have been around for so long so feel free to call me that as well, if you please!

Other than FCCLA, I am an active member of FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes), Beta Club, and Student Council.  I have cheered since I was four years old and was on our high school’s varsity competition cheerleading squad for two years before being elected to state office and choosing to focus on FCCLA over cheerleading. As well as high school cheerleading, I was chosen by the Universal Cheerleading Association for their All Star squad and was given the opportunity to travel to France; however, I was unable to go, but was still named a member of the team for 3 consecutive years. I also competed on our school’s hip-hop dance team bringing home a gold medal and first over all at the Show Stoppers National Competition. I am a pretty competitive individual. I guess my national office fits me well! I have also been a member of HOSA (Health Occupation Students of America) and FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America).

I come from a small town with only 4 stop lights, and the worst traffic jam you can get into is stuck behind a tractor. I have ridden horses since I could walk and bought my own horse at the age of seven. I now own five horses and also raise cattle, as well as being an active pageant participant. I know...I am a good mixture of everything. Baseball is my favorite sport! I enjoy just cuddling up on the couch with my daddy and some boiled peanuts watching our Braves bring home a win! My favorite music artist is Michael Jackson. He always has been and he will forever be the best singer ever! I absolutely love eating Mexican food and sushi with sweet tea of course! The beach is my favorite place to be other than Bryant Denny Stadium on game days! (University of Alabama’s football stadium) I am still undecided on a college major at this time, but I plan to attend the University of Alabama next fall.

If you have any other questions about me, the competitive events, or would just like to talk to me about your FCCLA experience feel free to email me on my address that can be found on the national website, www.fcclainc.org.

Welcome to the NEC Blog/ Meet Kaylen

Hello all of you Ultimate Leaders! The 2011- 2012 FCCLA National Executive Council has created this blog so all of you can get to know us a little better and hear from us frequently throughout the year. With this blog you can ask us any (appropriate!!) question that pops in your head, and we will try our best to answer them. For the first few weeks we'll tell you a little about ourselves. We'll start off with our main man (or in this case woman) Kaylen Larson, your 2011- 2012 National President.
As we complete another year of FCCLA, we look back to what a success it has been.  The 2010-2011 National Executive Council set the bar high for the incoming officers.  The 2011 National Leadership Conference, “Imagination in Action,” was an experience that I, and many, will never forget.  From the speakers, such as Chef Jeff, to the networking opportunities, such as the exhibit hall, on to the leadership training sessions, such as the State Officer Training, this year’s conference truly was the Ultimate Leadership Experience!  I hope to see you all at Capitol Leadership in Washington, D.C., at one of the Cluster Meetings in Minneapolis, Denver, and Atlanta, or at next year’s National Leadership Conference in Orlando, Florida! 
        My name is Kaylen Larson and I serve as your 2011-2012 National FCCLA President.  I am more than excited to work with the new National Executive Council and you, the members, as we continue our organization into the future.  I joined FCCLA in 2005 as a sixth grade student.  That same year, I attended my first State Conference and knew that I wanted to be up on that stage.  In 2010, after rapping my candidate speech while 2,000 members gave me a beat, I was elected the MN State VP of Community Service.  I attended my first National Leadership conference in Chicago, Illinois as a state officer and had another, “A-ha,” moment: I wanted to run for national office.  After months and months of preparation, and a little luck, here I am!   
        In my school I’ve always been involved in many activities.  I’m a former volleyball and basketball player and am involved in the National Honor Society, Student Council, Heads Up (anti drug and bullying group), MN All-State Choir, choir, Fall Musical, vocal/piano lessons, and am Class President.  This past year, I was a member of the National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS) Teen Distracted Driving Team and joined the Minnesota Safety Coalition as a youth representative.  My involvement with NOYS provided me with various opportunities to advocate for the distracted driving epidemic in Washington, D.C., in my state, and in my community.  I would not have been blessed with all of these opportunities had I not joined FCCLA back in 2005. 
        My favorite books and movies are the Harry Potter series (huge fan).  I love baked potatoes with cheese and sour cream as well as 2% Swiss chocolate milk.  My favorite place that I’ve traveled to is probably New Orleans, LA with a close second being Salzburg, Austria.  My favorite color is green and my school mascot is the Greenwave (we don’t know what a Greenwave is, either). I speak German and am hoping to learn Mandarin in college.  I haven’t decided on what school I am going to after I graduate, but I know that I’m interested in majors related to International Business/Leadership, Communication Studies, and Political Science.
        Enough about me, I’d love to hear about YOU!  Feel free to tell me about yourself by messaging me on Facebook or sending a message to my email account, listed on the national website, www.fcclainc.org.