National Leadership Meeting Tips

So you’re off to the National Leadership Meeting in Orlando this year? Well, you’re in for one of the most exciting and fun-filled weeks that you will ever have! FCCLA’s National Leadership meeting is the ultimate FCCLA experience, and there is nothing like being surrounded by more than 7,000 other FCCLA members from around the country. It’s not only a way to compete with your STAR Events projects, but the National Leadership Meeting is also a phenomenal opportunity for you to meet new people, participate in workshops, listen to guest speakers, and soak in Florida’s sunny rays with your friends from your chapter! Although the National Leadership Meeting is a ton of fun, there are certainly some worries that you might have, especially if this will be your first time going. Here’s a list of tips and tricks to make your time at this year’s National Leadership Meeting this year a blast!
 

  • Be prepared! If you are competing in a STAR event, make sure you practice! Hold a demonstration night in your chapter so you can go through your presentation with your friends and family to ease up your nerves. Have your adviser and a few parents of chapter members serve as judges and give you their opinion about your presentation so you can take those comments and use them to make your presentation even better!

  • Pack right! You certainly don’t want to show up at the National Leadership Meeting’s opening session in a tank top, shorts and flip flops, so make sure you follow the dress code and pack accordingly. The attire is pretty much the same as at the State Leadership Meeting, but make sure you check what kind of clothes are allowed and where so you can avoid trouble. Create a packing list ahead of time so you know exactly what to bring. Also, don’t over-pack. It’s a hassle to haul your luggage to and from the hotel, so make it easy on yourself and only pack what you need.

  • Be friendly! In order to have a great time at the National Leadership meeting, you’ve got to step out of your comfort zone a little bit and get to know some people! It’s not unlikely that other people will come up to you throughout the conference and introduce themselves, so don’t be shy. Start up a conversation and see what other FCCLA members are doing in their chapters. It’s a great way to get new ideas to bring back home and make new friends.

  • Bring business cards. If you want to be able to keep in touch with the new friends you make at the National Leadership Meeting throughout the year and exchange some project or membership recruitment ideas, it’s great to have your information easily accessible.

  • Fundraise! Going to the National Leadership Meeting is oftentimes very expensive, even if your chapter or school kicks in some money to help get you there. To make it easy on yourself and your parents, work with other members of your chapter to make money through a fundraiser. Check out the Michigan FCCLA webpage to see what other chapters around the state are doing to raise money.

  • Have fun! Like I said before, let loose and have a great time at the conference. But remember to make smart decisions and represent the Michigan delegation well. Be polite and courteous to others at the conference as well as everyone you meet along the way including bus drivers, flight attendants, hotel workers, and waiters at restaurants. Don’t worry – there will be plenty of opportunities to go wild and show your Michigan FCCLA spirit!

Hope these tips help out! If you have any questions about the National Leadership Meeting, please don’t hesitate to contact me because I’d be happy to help you out. Hope you have a great time in Orlando and I’ll see you there!