TO:
DECA members and potential members and DECA Parents/Guardians
FROM:
Mrs. Moore & Mrs. Woodruff, MRHS DECA Advisors
DATE:
August 12, 2015
SUBJECT:
DECA info
Just a note to let you know more about how rewarding DECA can be for your son or daughter. DECA has been preparing
emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality and management since 1961. DECA is a cocurricular organization. In other words, it is part of the Marketing classes. DECA provides leadership training, promotes
excellence and teaches real life job skills and community consciousness. Students who are currently enrolled in
Marketing or have previously taken Marketing are encouraged to join. Additionally, students who are interested in
taking Marketing are also eligible. For further information, you can go to: www.deca.org or www.azdeca.org.
Yes, of course, DECA costs some money. The good news is that this year, West-Mec has picked up our State and
National dues which are usually $12.00 per student. We do fund raisers to help raise funds for other expenses including
conferences and/or competitions.
Here are some of the events and estimated costs of attending DECA functions:
Fall Leadership Conference (FLC) – November 4, 2015– Phoenix, AZ. This conference is held to familiarize DECA
members with DECA activities, leadership and opportunities. Interactive workshops are held for the students and this is
a ‘no pressure’ – ‘no competition’ learning occasion. The registration cost is paid for by West-Mec. Student costs are
$10 for a ticket to the Suns game, $15 for a Ridge DECA t-shirt and purchase of dinner downtown.
Western Region Leadership Conference - November 20-22, 2015*. This conference, WRLC, is held annually and is a
leadership and teamwork conference to teach the students more about DECA and the benefits of belonging. This year it
is the ULTIMATE DECA POWER TRIP and is combined with two other regions. The cost is TBD, but should be
approximately $600 plus food and whatever entertainment. An estimated 3500+ students from the United States will
be in attendance. You can find out more about this at www.deca.org/austin/ .
***All DECA students should attend this.*** Western District Conference – downtown Phoenix, AZ. January 21, 2016.
This is a 1 day competition. We compete with other DECA chapters in the western portion of the state. Approx. 600
students attend. Cost: $15 + lunch. This is the first real competition -- students can win medals, ribbons and awards.
Note: we are always looking for adult judges for competitions.
Entre-Tainment – February 10, 2016. – University of Phoenix stadium in Glendale. This is a new conference this year and
details are to follow. However, this will be for students who are interested in opening their own business and there will
be a Shark Tank type of competition which will result in seed money for the winning proposal/presentation. Final
competition wioll be held at CDC.)
***Most DECA students can attend this*** Arizona State Career Development Conference (CDC). Feb 29 - March 1,
2016. Unless there are very special circumstances, only those who attend 1/21/16 will be allowed to attend this
conference. This conference is being held in Phoenix at the Phoenix Civic Plaza. (I can usually use chaperons; if you’re
interested, let me know.) There will be 2200+ students from around the state. The cost is usually around $100.00 plus
food.
International DECA Career Development Conference - April 22 - 26, 2016* in Nashville, TN. Only those students who
win at the state conference can attend this conference. Approximately 15,000 students from around the world attend
and compete for awards and scholarships. Cost is TBD.
In addition to these state and national conferences, Ridge DECA does community service projects such as Adopt-AFamily. Local chapter activities are also held for training and preparation for conferences, as well as for
social/networking purposes.
Most important info - please read this next paragraph!!!
We will be doing fund raisers as the semester goes on to help the students learn about selling and to finance their trips.
Students should be able to earn most of their trip costs. However, there is an Arizona law that can really help us out.
There is a state law that allows you to make payments up to $200 for single adults and $400.00 for couples filing jointly
to DECA for your son/ daughter’s expenses and then you can take that $200/400 as a CREDIT on your Arizona state
income tax. You get to give the money to your student and they get to use the money for DECA expenses. But the best
part is -- you then get the money back from the state when you file your Arizona income taxes. Yes, you read this
correctly. If you itemize, you can also use it as a deduction on your Federal taxes. I’d be happy to discuss this if you
have any questions. You can send a check to the school with a tax credit form (I can supply) or you can go online at
http://www.dvusd.org/domain/2806.
Some answers to questions you may have. You are basically “lending” the money to Ridge DECA until you get your tax
return. The credit is for fees paid in support of extra-curricular activities. The taxpayer does not have to have a child in
school to claim the credit (so, “Uncle Joe” and “Neighbor Sue” or “Big Brother Tom” or “Carol in the Office down the
hall” could also donate and claim the tax credit for your child’s expenses if s/he needs the extra money or it can be
donated to the general DECA fund). It can be any amount up to the maximum; so $25 or $50 or whatever you can
donate helps. The payment must be received in calendar year 2014. The law was created to help parents by offsetting
some school expenses. Sorry, if your student doesn’t attend a conference, we can not return the money--it will be used
toward regular DECA expenses, particularly civic consciousness projects. No, you do not HAVE to make this payment; it
is just an easy way for students to participate in DECA activities.
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. (623) 376-3103 or renee.woodruff@dvusd.org
* Travel dates not included.