2007 - 2008 Adviser Updates

February 2008 - #2

URGENT REMINDER
March 1 is the deadline for affiliating any members that will be participating in STAR Events or Power of One.  This deadline is not one that we can be flexible on, it's imposed by National FCCLA, so even for new chapters, this one is hard and fast.  You can affiliate online at http://www.fcclainc.org/secure/Affiliation/index.tmpl, or print out the forms to mail in at http://www.fcclainc.org/content/membership/.

One more important thing to note:  Any students competing in Early Childhood or Culinary Arts, or the occupational category for any STAR Event need to be affiliated as Occupational members.  Please check your copies of your affiliation forms to verify that your students are classified correctly.  If you need to make any changes, you must request the form from me by Tomorrow at 3:00 p.m., so you can get them in on time.  These forms are due to National FCCLA by March 1 as well.

I will be out of the office from Thursday through Monday so if you have any questions at all, please call earlier in the week.

Gimme Five!
Congratulations to the 8 schools that have achieved Gimme Five! recognition as of December 31.  The complete list of chapters and membership is on our website at http://www.mifccla.org/membership/goals.htm.  Several schools are just a few members away from achieving this recognition, your goals are on this page...March 1 is the deadline to add members for Gimme Five! as well.  Please note that I have not received the affiliations sent in January or February yet, so any members submitted are not reflected in the posted numbers.

Scholarships
I will be sending out a mailing to seniors that competed in STAR Events last year, as well as seniors that have been reported as chapter officers encouraging them to apply for the Family & Consumer Science Educators of Michigan Scholarship.  Please encourage any other seniors in your FCCLA chapter to apply.  FCSEM was generous and doubled the scholarship amount last year, and now presents two $1000 scholarships to FCCLA members. 

The information and application, as well as several other scholarships, scholarship search engines, and tips on completing scholarship applications on Michigan FCCLA's website at http://www.mifccla.org/students/scholarships.htm

National Program Awards
I encourage you apply for national recognition in any of the national programs, the program award applications are due by March 1 and can be found on the National FCCLA website at http://www.fcclainc.org/content/youth-award-applications/.  Please note - in order to qualify for the Platinum level of our State Community Service Project, you must send it in for National Recognition with a National Program by March 1.

State Officer Candidates
 If you have any strong chapter officers or leaders in your chapter, please consider encouraging them to run for a state office.  Michigan FCCLA relies on students to stand up and take the lead in planning the year, and representing FCCLA in many ways.  The information and application are on our website at http://www.mifccla.org/index.html - right on the home page.  If you or your students have any questions, feel free to contact me.  This is a fantastic opportunity to not only gain statewide and national recognition for your school, but your students will participate in intensive leadership training as part of their term.  Applications are due March 7.

State Leadership Meeting
This year's State Leadership Meeting is on April 9-11, 2008 at the Valley Plaza Resort in Midland.  The registration is due by March 7, but feel free to register early :-).  A tentative agenda, complete information, and the registration form are on our website at http://www.mifccla.org/meetings/slm.html.

STAR Events Binders
All STAR Events with a portfolio require participants to purchase their STAR Events official binder/notebook through FCCLA’s national emblematic supplier, API. The binder/notebook is available in red or white with a clear front packet and FCCLA on the spine of the binder/notebook. The binder/notebook is available on the FCCLA supply web site, www.fccla-store.com under supplies and also under certificates. The binder/notebook is also available by calling API. The three-year grace period for earlier versions of the binder/notebook has EXPIRED. All binder/notebooks must be up-to-date, have the “3-ring” binding, and be of the correct width to accommodate content, divider tabs, and page protectors. Point deductions will be given to participants that do not have the correct binder/notebook and/or if all pages and tabs do not fit within the dimensions of the binder/notebook at the 2008 State Leadership Meeting.  In the past few years, the binders have sold out prior to our State Leadership Meeting.  I encourage you to purchase any needed binders ASAP to avoid this challenge.

 


February 2008

February is a big month for FCCLA.  Not only does FCCLA Week fall this month, but a huge number of deadlines fall at the end of it. 

Memberships
Congratulations to 7 chapters that have achieved Gimme Five Recognition so far!  The membership numbers that I have only reflect rosters received at National FCCLA by November 30...so I know that number will go up.    To see where your chapter stands in the challenge, go to http://www.mifccla.org/membership/goals.htm.

Please note that all memberships for STAR Events Participants and Power of One Recipients must be received at National FCCLA by March 1, or they will be ineligible for recognition.

Program Award Deadlines
If you have students participating in any of the National Programs, the deadline to receive National Recognition is March 1.  All of the forms are available on National FCCLA's website at http://www.fcclainc.org/content/youth-award-applications/.  If you submit an award for National Recognition, please fax a copy to me as well - we do not receive them from National FCCLA and would like to recognize your chapter for your accomplishments as well.

FCCLA Week
FCCLA Week is February 10-16, 2008.  FCCLA chapters nationwide are encouraged to promote FCCLA in your school and community...and get the recognition you deserve for your efforts.  There are some great resources and ideas for you on National FCCLA's website at http://www.fcclainc.org/content/fccla-week/. Scroll down to the end of the page to get to the FCCLA Week Information.

State Officer Candidates
Michigan FCCLA is looking for a few good individuals that want to help provide direction to the organization.  We’re hoping that your chapter may have someone that wants to run for a state office this year. 
 The opportunities to develop teamwork, public speaking, decision making, and social skills are unparalleled as a state officer.  The officers put in a lot of hard work, from planning the Fall Leadership Workshops, the State Community Service Project, and the State Leadership Meeting, to writing letters, articles, and visiting chapters – but the rewards are great.  I can speak from experience. You learn and grow more than you can imagine when you serve as a state officer in any organization.  If you have a student that you think would benefit from this experience, please encourage him or her to run for office. 
 As an officer’s adviser, we only ask that you help proofread assignments they are given throughout the year, to keep them on-task, and help to ensure that they can be at all of their commitments.   Complete information can be found here: http://www.mifccla.org/advisers/link0708/candidates/01info.pdf, and the application can be downloaded here:  http://www.mifccla.org/advisers/link0708/candidates/04application.pdf.  The deadline to turn in applications is March 7.

State Advisory Board Meeting
The State Advisory Board is meeting on February 16 to discuss this year's State Leadership Meeting, proposals for next year's SLM, and the National Leadership Meeting, as well as other items pertinent to Michigan FCCLA.  If there's anything you would like to suggest that the Board discuss, please let me know by February 14, and I'll add it to their agenda.
Workshop Recommendations
As we’re working on plans for the State Leadership Meeting, input is always helpful.  If you have suggestions for workshop topics, please let me know.  Thanks for your input!
 

December 2007

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  It's hard to believe that we're already approaching December 1, but here we go!

Membership Affiliation - Deadline:  December 1
I want to remind you that the deadline for submitting your membership affiliation form to National FCCLA is December 1.  There are two options to affiliate:

To affiliate online, go to:  http://www.fcclainc.org/secure/Affiliation/index.tmpl
To print the form and do it manually, you can download the form here:  http://www.fcclainc.org/assets/files/pdf/membership/affilform.pdf

Some frequently asked questions:  Chapter ID - your chapter ID is listed on our website at http://www.mifccla.org/membership/goals.htm.  If you're a new chapter, just leave it blank if you fill out the paper form, if you do it online, there's an 800 number to call to get an ID assigned to you.
Chapter Name - just list your school.  For some reason, some states have different chapter names from the school names. 
Type of Member - If you teach in a comprehensive FCS program, your members should be affiliated as "Comprehensive."  If you teach in a wage-earning (Child Care, Teacher Cadet, Culinary Arts) program, those members should be affiliated as "Occupational."  If you have members that are in both a comprehensive and occupational class, it's your choice as to how you affiliate them, but be aware that it impacts what types of competitions they can enter (i.e. Culinary Arts and Early Childhood are only open to Occupational Members, Career Investigation is only open to Comprehensive members).

Membership dues are $19.00 a person.  Instructions and guidelines are on page 5 of your Michigan Link, and online at http://www.mifccla.org/advisers/link0708/general/05membership.pdf

Please note:  Membership dues go up to $29.00 per person after December 1.

Michigan Idol T-Shirts
Due to popular demand, we have extended the sale of the T-shirts that were offered for the Fall Leadership Workshops.  The design is online at www.mifccla.org, and an order form can be downloaded at http://www.mifccla.org/meetings/idol_tshirts.pdf.

The t-shirts DO NOT reference the Fall Leadership Workshops.  They are black, 100% Heavyweight cotton.  Email me if you have any questions.

Healthy Relationships
I just learned about an opportunity to educate your students about Healthy Relationships while earning money for your classroom, with a pilot program that National FCCLA is making available. 
 
 In order to receive a benchmark payment of $30;
 
  • Agree to teach the lesson on the back of the poster you received, “Introduction to Healthy Relationships” to at least 30 students
  • Register the lesson by clicking on the link labeled: FCCLA Dating Violence Lesson Registration on the FCCLA Web site at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=LBCt6FwEs4KiCRW6i_2byk2A_3d_3d
  • Teach the lesson by December 1, 2007
  • Fill out a short form and fax it to Natalie Middleton at (405)848-2078
All of the information you need is on the home page of the National FCCLA website at www.fcclainc.org.
 

October 2007

Happy October!  It seems like just yesterday that I was amazed it was September...and here we are already at October.  Wow!

Membership
Chapters have two options to submit their Affiliation Forms to National FCCLA.  To register online, visit National FCCLA's website at http://www.fcclainc.org/secure/Affiliation/index.tmpl.  You can also affiliate by mail.  The Affiliation Forms are on the CD that was included in your "Be Part of It" Membership kit from National FCCLA.  (If you haven't had a chance, check that CD out - it has a ton of other great resources) as well.  The Affiliation Form asks for your chapter ID number.  The list of Chapter IDs is on our website at http://www.mifccla.org/membership/goals.htm.  New chapters will not have an ID - it's assigned after you affiliate your first time.

We're continuing our Gimme 5 Challenge this year.  Your chapter's goal is included on the Chapter ID list.  I encourage you to go for the goal and take advantage of this great recognition opportunity.  Chapters increasing their membership by just 5 members will receive a commemorative plaque to display at the school on-stage at the State Leadership Meeting this April.

Fall Leadership Workshops
The Fall Leadership Workshops are quickly approaching.  November 5 we're at CMU, November 6 is at EMU, and November 7 is at LSSU.  The registration deadline is October 17.  All of the registration information and forms are online at:  http://www.mifccla.org/meetings/flw.htm

Help Needed!
We are looking for chapters to help us at the Fall Leadership Workshops by bringing samples of STAR Events that you have done throughout the years.  We'll display them around the room for new members to look at to see what they're like when completed.  I'm also looking for a couple of teams to do a demonstration at each FLW location in front of the group.  If you have students that may be interested, please email me ASAP.  Thanks!

Competitive Events - LOTS of changes (but really good and exciting ones)
The New STAR Events Manual is now a free download at www.fcclainc.org.  We will be using these new guidelines for our state competitions this year.  There are four new events - Financial Planning, Interior Design, Fashion Design, and Recycle & Redesign, and the Culinary Arts Event has been revised.  The guidelines for the other events have not changed (with the exception of some formatting and grammatical changes). 

The State Advisory Board met this weekend and revised our State Competitive Events Program as well.  I'll be sending the guidelines for the new events, but some highlights of the changes are:

  • The State Competitive Events will no longer be referred to as "Life Skills Events."  Instead, we're referring to them as "State STAR Events"
  • The Life Skills Exhibit and Life Skills Presentations Events have been combined and renamed "Project Exhibit."  Teams of one to four people can enter.
  • Life Skills Challenges has been split into two separate events - Healthy Lifestyles Challenge and Community Service Challenge.  Both events will be open to teams of one to four people.
  • Two new events will be added.  "Public Speaking" is a prepared-speech event, and "Creative Teaching" is a lesson planning/presentation event.
Once the events have been reviewed and approved by the State Advisory Board, I'll send an email notifying you of their availability online, as well as mailing the new competitive events sections to your Michigan Link.

Cluster Meetings
If you plan on attending a Cluster Meeting this fall, please let me know.  There are a couple of advisers looking to see if anyone else is going - to potentially coordinate transportation or activities at the conference.

Adviser Information Forms
I just sent the second request for Adviser Information Forms.  Please take a minute to verify the information and fax it back.  If you've already sent one and received a second one, I apologize.  Please fax it back with a note so I'm sure to not send a third request. 

Adviser Code of Ethics
Michigan FCCLA must have a completed "Adviser Code of Ethics" on file for each academic year.  Please take a minute to complete this form and send it prior to the Fall Leadership Workshops.  (The need for this form became apparent at a conference I was at with another group when the adviser fell ill and had to be taken to the emergency room.  Without the information on the form, we would have been unable to reach an administrator to arrange for another chaperone for the students).  The form is in the Michigan Link, and available for download at http://www.mifccla.org/advisers/link0708/meetings/04ethics.pdf

Chapter Officer Reporting Forms
The State Officers have made it a priority to keep in touch with as many chapters as possible, and the best way to do that is by going through your chapter officers.  Please take a minute to complete the Chapter Officer Reporting form so I can send their contact information to the State Officers.  If your chapter doesn't have elected officers, even just a few students that stand out to you as leaders would be great.  The form is online at http://www.mifccla.org/advisers/link0708/general/11chapter_officers.pdf.

New Website!
Michigan FCCLA launched a new website at the beginning of the school year.  I'm adding resources to the site frequently, so check back often for updates.  If you find any quirks or bugs, please let me know so we can get it taken care of.  Theoretically I found them all...but there's always something.