Capitol Leadership

It's a beautiful day here at the Omni-Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C. The red polos are starting to arrive, ready to kick-off FCCLA's Capitol Leadership! The National Executive Council is so excited to meet members and advisers from across the country at the Leadership Banquet tonight. Other things planned for the week are advocacy training, leadership development, and Congressional visits! Want to help promote FCCLA and Capitol Leadership? Tweet to @NationalFCCLA and use #FCCLADC or tag the official Family, Career and Community Leaders of America Facebook page in posts!

Meet Skylar

    Hey all FCCLA members!  I am truly honored to be serving as your National Vice-President of Competitive Events.

 

     I live in a fairly rural community with an average high school class size of 150.  Litchfield’s claim to fame right now is a 2003 graduate, John Carlson, who plays in the NFL as a Tight End for the Minnesota Vikings.  My dad works as a sales representative for Verizon Wireless, which is convenient whenever you have phone issues.  My mom is the daycare director at our church.  I have one younger brother, Treyton, who is 16 and a junior in high school.  We also live in the country and on the same property as my grandparents.  I love spending time with my grandpa and helping him restore classic cars.  I even have a 1955 Chevy Pickup of my own.  It is easy to see family is a huge part of my life.

     This year I am a senior in high school and taking advantage of every opportunity.  I play for my school’s football and basketball teams as an offensive/defensive lineman and a power forward, respectively.  I play bass guitar in the concert band and jazz band.  I am also involved in DECA and Student Council, along with being present at almost every school sporting event.  I take pride in being active in my church as well.  I am on the youth and family board and play bass guitar in church at least twice a month.  In the midst of all this, just like all you other seniors, I am applying to college too!

     If you ever have any questions about Competitive Events or anything email me at sborchardt@fcclainc.org and follow me on twitter @skylarborchardt.  For those of you coming to Capitol Leadership I am excited to see you there!  For those of you attending the Reno or Indianapolis National Cluster Meetings, we will Make Your Mark! 

                                                                                                             In FCCLA Spirit,

                                                                                                              Skylar Borchardt

Photo by: Jill Gabrielson

FCCLA: Leadership Beyond High School

         First, I think it’s important that I introduce myself. My name is Trent Misak and I am a college sophomore at Southwestern Oklahoma State University where I study Mass Communications and am part of the Orientation Leader Program where I serve as an Advisory Board Member. Most importantly though, I am a product of how FCCLA can make an impact on your life and help make you become a better leader in today’s society. I served as the National VP of Membership in 2010-2011 and I'm currently a member of the Leadership Training Team (LTT). FCCLA has continued to be a part of my life even though I am not an active member. That’s why I want to share with everyone that what you learn in FCCLA doesn’t stop in high school; it stays with you and helps you in the rest of your life.  

I could tell so many stories about how I have used what I learned in FCCLA while being a college student, but I will just give you two ways. First, it has helped me be outgoing. College is a time where you start over and make new friends and become part of different organizations. Being active in FCCLA and attending conferences helped me become an outgoing person and not afraid to go out of my comfort zone and make new friends. Second, I developed leadership skills in FCCLA such as, public speaking, organization, punctuality, professionalism, and networking, just to name a few. Each of these has helped me either in the classroom, Orientation Program, developing relationships with important campus leaders, and being an overall good person.

FCCLA gives members so many opportunities and it is important that former members don’t forget to give back. Get involved with a local chapter, evaluate STAR Events, volunteer at conferences or apply to become part of the LTT. Your alumni involvement will continue to allow opportunities for FCCLA members to have, “The Ultimate Leadership Experience” that you had.  

In today’s society having leadership skills is vital. Being active in FCCLA will give you the tools necessary for becoming that effective leader. Think to yourself, “Where would I be without FCCLA?” Sometimes you will be amazed at where FCCLA has taken you and how it has changed your life. 

                                                                                              

Leadership Training Team
L to R: Kristen Ray, Leilani Mullins, Trent Misak, Andrew Schantz (national staff), Molly Sullivan, Caroline Weir

Meet Justin

    Hello FCCLAers! I am honored to be serving as your National First Vice President. This week’s blog is going to give you a little inside information about my life. Here’s  the 411:

    I live in a rural area in the Appalachian Mountains known as Tazewell County, Virginia. I am an energetic eighteen-year-old  senior  who walks the hall of Richlands High School when I’m not traveling for FCCLA. My parents, Rusty and Teresa Hess mean the world to me, and I thank them every day for everything they do for me. My mom is my best friend and I tell her everything about my life. She is my role model and has taught me to never stop believing. I can achieve anything if I set my mind to it. My parents own a small town business that has grown to operate in three states. When I’m home, I spend a lot of my time working in the office helping them with the daily operations of their business. I have an older brother; Josh, who is on a full athletic scholarship to play football at the University of Richmond. Go Spiders! As you can tell, my family means a lot to me, even though we are often miles apart from each other.

     I spend a majority of my time completing FCCLA assignments, working as an intern to the Vice President of Institutional Advancement at Southwest Virginia Community College, and serving on the Tazewell County Relay for Life Committee. At high school I am involved in Hi-Y, Key Club (Kiwanis), Cadre, DECA, People to People Student Ambassador Program, Congressional Youth Leadership Council, 4-H, Science Club, Model United Nations, and I serve as the senior class Vice President. I am very busy! I love having a busy schedule, and constantly having something to do. 

     If I can be of assistance to you in any way please do not hesitate to contact me. You can message me on Facebook, follow me on Twitter @hess_justin, or send me an email at jhess@fcclainc.org. I encourage all of you to join the National Executive Council at Capitol Leadership in Washington D.C., and at one of the three National Cluster Meetings in Reno Nevada, Indianapolis, Indiana, and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. If you’re lucky, you may even get to pie a national officer in the face to support our outreach project Share Our Strength.  I hope you have a fantastic year in FCCLA!

Photo courtesy of Lifetouch.

Meet Magda

     Hola FCCLAers! Well, this week’s blog will give you the inside scoop about myself and Share Our Strength (whoooop whooooop)!

     I live in a small TEXAS town called Orange Grove which consists of a Stripes, four-way stop and Dairy Queen. My family is extremely close and anything but average. My parents, Maria and Catarino, are my heroes and two of my best friends. I have two older brothers, Catarino-22 and Arnaldo-20, who have molded me into the strong and outspoken person I am today. Together, we are either the loudest table at the Chinese restaurant or the craziest group at the beach, and I wouldn’t have it any other way! Words cannot describe how blessed I feel to be a part of such an amazing family.

    A majority of my time is spent on FCCLA, other organizations, and college. I believe there is so much to discover about the world, so endless learning is very important to me. However, I am a natural born adrenaline junkie.  From skydiving and rock climbing to jet skiing and tubing, I live for excitement! There is nothing I love more than watching people laugh (although my mom’s Thanksgiving stuffing comes close)! Traveling the world and helping others are my two most valuable life goals.

    My passion for serving others has allowed me to work very closely with FCCLA’s National Outreach Project. September is Hunger Action Month, and as you may know, Share Our Strength is one of FCCLA’s national outreach project partners. FCCLA is committed to helping solve the hunger crisis in the United States. Last year, FCCLA raised over $40,000 to donate to Share Our Strength. This year, we have set a goal of $150,000! With all of your help, FCCLA can end childhood hunger by 2015!

     I am excited to see what the year brings, and how big of an impact FCCLA can make. Remember, it all starts with YOU!

                                                                                                     In FCCLA Spirit,

                                                                                                   Magda Hernandez

                                         


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Here are a few photos of the NEC wearing orange for No Kid Hungry!

Meet Elliot

     Hello FCCLA members! I hope your school year is off to a great start. I’m writing the blog this week to tell you a little about myself!

     Since FCCLA’s central focus is family, I think it’s fitting to start my blog spot off by telling you about my family.  My family and I are extremely close. Whether it’s family vacations in the summer or supporting a family member at a sporting event, we do almost everything together. My parents, Marty and Teri, work locally in our town. My father is an accountant for a midwest grocery store and my mother is a senior pastor at one of our churches here in Brookings, South Dakota.  I am the youngest of five siblings.  My siblings include Taylor, 24; Alyssa, 22; Alec, 20; and my twin sister, Emily, who is 18. I am truly blessed with the family I have and love spending every minute with them.

     Throughout my childhood in South Dakota, I loved playing all types of sports. From basketball to soccer, I tried it all. I also loved acting as a young kid as well. In high school, I have been involved with numerous extracurricular activities. I run on the track team, play basketball and volleyball, am a member of our school’s Student Council, and am a member of our school’s improvisational troupe that performs skits about the issues young kids and high school students are facing today.

     But hey, enough about me! I can’t wait to see what each and every one of you will accomplish this year in FCCLA. Whether you decide to compete in STAR Events or challenge the status quo in a National Program, I encourage you all to get involved with FCCLA! Our National Cluster Meetings are coming soon to a state near you! For more information, check out the national website. I hope I see you all there!

                                                                                                                     In FCCLA spirit,

                                                                                                                        Elliot Johnson

                                                                                                       2012-2013 National FCCLA President

 Photographed by ML Portraits, Inc.