FCCLA…
THE ULTIMATE LEADERSHIP
EXPERIENCE!
How do I get started?!
Jenn Callahan
Iowa FCCLA State Executive Director
jenn.callahan@iafccla.org
WHY START A FCCLA CHAPTER?
You get to know your kids outside of the
classroom and connect with them in a different
way!
 To provide extra leadership opportunities for kids

Gives kids a place to belong!
 Gives them ownership!

To market your program!
 To make a difference!
 To help strengthen individuals, families, and
communities!
 To show your administration, school, and
community what FCS is all about!

HOW DO YOU START?

Talk to administration about the idea


Talk to kids about starting the organization


Visit the Iowa and National websites! Great facts sheets
that you can take with to explain…especially if there has
never been a chapter affiliated at your school.
GET THEM EXCITED!
Contact Jenn to be added to the adviser mailing list

You will receive a new chapter packet with a CD!

(Video, posters, information, etc)

Hang up posters!

Promote first to your students in your classes!


Have them share with friends!
Once you have members….the next step is to
AFFILIATE!
AFFILIATION & MEMBERSHIP DUES


Affiliating online is the easiest! YOU Can do it!
Enter in student names and their current grade!
$3 – State of Iowa membership dues
 $9 – National Headquarters membership dues
 Chapter & District dues vary


What happens when you have new students
throughout the year?
Keep updating and affiliate them!
 Due to Nationals by May 31. Most advisers get them done
in early fall before District meeting.
 Members MUST be affiliated to partake in activities like
STAR Events, being a district officer, and voting at
districts!
 If you are using FCCLA lesson plans, activities, ideas, etc.
then you need to affiliate your members!

MISSION

To promote personal growth and leadership
development through family and consumer
sciences education. Focusing on the multiple
roles of family member, wage earner, and
community leader, members develop skills for life
through:





Character development
Creative and critical thinking
Interpersonal communication
Practical knowledge
Career preparation
--FCCLA website, www.fcclainc.org
8 PURPOSES








1. To provide opportunities for personal development and
preparation for adult life.
2. To strengthen the function of the family as a basic unit
of society.
3. To encourage democracy through cooperative action in
the home and community.
4. To encourage individual and group involvement in
helping achieve global cooperation and harmony.
5. To promote greater understanding between youth and
adults.
6. To provide opportunities for making decisions and for
assuming responsibilities.
7. To prepare for the multiple roles of men and women in
today’s society.
8. To promote family and consumer sciences and related
occupations.
--FCCLA website, www.fcclainc.org
GET YOUR KIDS EXCITED!
If you teach 7-12, start with junior high!
 Explain to them what it’s all about!
 Let them help out with small and simple tasks
(fundraisers & organizing service learning
events)
 Include 8th grade students after spring break to
start thinking about joining in high school



Introduce STAR Events, invite them to meetings,
encourage them to run for leadership roles, etc.
Show videos about FCCLA, invite a chapter from
another school to speak, invite a State Officer to
speak, Skype with a chapter about conference
experiences, STAR Events, etc.
INTRODUCING THE IDEA IN
YOUR CLASSES
Introduce FCCLA at the beginning of the school
year!
 Integrate & incorporate FCCLA in all classes!


First week of school do activities:
Video
 Scavenger Hunt
 Snack party!
 Movie party!


Again…get your kids excited!

Once they are excited, they truly become leaders…and
THEY lead the organization! The adviser is important
but…needed to guide them along the way!
WHAT DO YOU DO NEXT?


Make sure the kids first understand what FCCLA is all
about!
 This is important so when they tell others they are in
the group, they can say what it stands for and really
talk about the meaning of the association!
Pick a service-learning project to focus on!
 What are the needs within your community? Ask
around and find out!
 Then once you do one thing, the community will keep
coming to you for help!

Attend Fall Leadership Rally! (you do NOT need to be an
affiliated member to do this!)

Once you affiliate…attend your District meeting to learn
more about FCCLA!
WHAT DO YOU DO NEXT?


You can pick a fundraiser to try out to earn money for
state conference in March!
Go to state conference and see amazing speakers, attend
great breakout sessions, and watch students compete in
STAR Events!
 Great first way to learn about STAR Events before
trying them out!
 Volunteer to help judge or be a room consultant!
IMPORTANCE & INTEGRATION OF
FCCLA TO YOUR FCS PROGRAM
It’s hard for me to picture being a FCS teacher
WITHOUT FCCLA!
 Integration!






Implement the National FCS Standards through
FCCLA!
Connection with real-word: authentic learning!
Use the planning process in day to day activities,
projects, etc.
Power of One Modules
National Programs and STAR Events

All students can do these projects, but it’s up to those who
want to affiliate and become members who can do more
with it in FCCLA!
IMPORTANCE & INTEGRATION OF
FCCLA TO YOUR FCS PROGRAM

You can start projects in class and use FCCLA
resources

This is really easy to do when you incorporate it to
what you are already doing in class.
This gets kids excited to want to do something
beyond the classroom…a service learning
event…which they can take their initial project
and turn it into a STAR Event…..all cocurricular.
 Truly markets your program!


You get to show your school and community what
FCS is all about! And they WILL know!
STAR EVENTS
STAR (Students Taking Action with Recognition)
events
 Do not need to participate in STAR Events within your
first year!

Best way to learn is to come to state conference and watch
students present!
 Rubrics and guidelines online to download and print off


Students compete at District, then advance onto State

Those with the “highest gold” advance to Nationals!
STAR EVENTS
CONTINUED…
When you decide to take on STAR Events, just
start with one or two!
 Take the time to read through the rubrics and
guidelines and really get to know the event and
what is expected.
 Once you become familiar with one, you will
easily learn about others!
 Remember you are there to guide the students,
but it is their project to do and create!

FUNDRAISING IDEAS!

My biggest success as an adviser has been sugar
cookies!









Flowers at Valentine’s Day
Scensty! 25% of total profits!
Buffalo Wild Wings night!
Garage & Bake Sale
Farmer’s Market
Listen to the kids!


Halloween – between 600-800 sold! $1 each
Valentine’s Day – between 800-1000 sold $1 each
Did spring ones this year to help with Nationals!
They come up with the ideas, organize and plan, and run
with it!
Lots of ideas listed on the websites!
SERVICE LEARNING PROJECTS

Again…what does your community need?
Children’s Miracle Network
 Toys for Tots
 Children and Families of Iowa
 Blood Drive!
 Students come up with individual or smaller
group projects for their STAR events!
 Raised money for FCCLA member’s family who
was in need from a house fire

TIPS, SUGGESTIONS, ADVICE!

Find one or two students who are really passionate and
who are truly leaders!



Take some kids to Fall Leadership Rally! These kids will get to
know what FCCLA is all about and can come back and share
with others!
Integrate as much as possible into your classroom so
your FCCLA time is in class! Shouldn’t be looked at as
“extra work!”
Promote your program! Keep your administrators up to
date!

Write articles for school website, create your own FCCLA site,
send email updates to the school, create movies, etc.


HAVE YOUR STUDENTS DO THIS!!!
Make a Facebook or Twitter page!

Search for “Iowa FCCLA” on Facebook or search “@IAFCCLA” on
Twitter!
TIPS, SUGGESTIONS, ADVICE!

Take one step at a time!


Start small! Don’t feel like you need to do everything
your first year!
Don’t be afraid to ask for help from other
advisers…you can always email me, I’m more than
willing to help out!
Once you have a chapter, showcase your
accomplishments! Create a “wall of fame”, a
chapter scrapbook, and/or collect quotes and
stories from students about their experiences in
FCCLA!
 Review the www.iafccla.org and www.fcclainc.org
websites for more great information, dates, etc.

THIS IS AN I-MOVIE PUT TOGETHER FROM MY 1ST TWO YEARS AS AN
ADVISER AT VAN METER THAT WAS HELPFUL TO SHOW STUDENTS A
LITTLE MORE ABOUT WHAT IT “LOOKS” LIKE!
QUESTIONS?
CONTACT INFO