Future Business Leaders of America-Phi Beta Lambda is a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) education association of students preparing for careers in business and business-related fields. The Association has four divisions:
- FBLA for high school students
- FBLA Middle Level for junior high, middle and intermediate school students
- PBL for post secondary students
- Professional Alumni Division for business people, educators and parents, who support the goals of the Association.
The FBLA-PBL Mission is to bring business and education together in a positive working relationship through innovative leadership and career development programs.
FBLA-PBL is headquartered in Reston, Virginia, and organized on local, state and national levels. Business teachers/advisers and advisory councils (including school officials, business people and community representatives) guide local chapters. State advisers and committee members coordinate chapter activities for the national organization.
FBLA members participate in a broad range of projects and ventures both on and off campus. They:
- initiate business ventures
- support school activities
- organize community service projects
- attend state and national leadership conferences
- participate in fund-raisers
Members gain a competitive advantage in the business world by interacting with local companies and their executives. Students win accolades on the state and national levels.
Conferences
On the NJ state level, FBLA officially sponsors three conferences. The Fall Leadership Conference (FLC), the Regional Competitive Events (RCE), and the State Leadership Conference (SLC).
FLC is a state wide conference where students get the opportunity to network with other members across the state, meet the new state officer team, and take a variety of workshops. This is a great conference to kick off the year.
The regional competitive events (RCE) are where you can come to try your skills against New Jersey’s best for a chance to proceed. NJ has four regions; Northern, North central, Central, and Southern. They all offer exciting business related competitive events, with the chance to win awards. It is a great opportunity for practice and to see how you match up against the other members in your region. For more information on this year’s events when it becomes available, check the 2008 RCE page.
SLC is the state conference. Members from all over the state gather to compete for those top positions and qualify to attend Nationals, take informative workshops, listen to excellent keynote speakers, and network with peers. For more information on this year’s SLC when it becomes available, check the 2008 SLC page.
On the national level, there are two major conferences: National Fall Leadership Conference (NFLC) and National Leadership Conference (NLC). NFLC is similar to our state’s FLC, except on a national level. NLC is the national conference where students across the nation compete for the top national titles. In order to attend NLC, a student must qualify by placing at the New Jersey State Leadership Conference in an event and obtaining one of the open slots to compete and represent the state.
Executive Council
Each state in FBLA is governed by an executive council. In New Jersey, the council is made up of state officers, their advisers, and the state FBLA director. The executive council is in charge of planning all of the conferences, raising the organizations funds, and promoting new chapters. If you are a member of the high school level of FBLA, and your adviser supports you, you are eligible to undergo the process for running for state office. Ask your adviser for more information.
Local Chapter
Even though there is a state and national executive team to set policies and manage FBLA, the core of the organization is the local chapters. Your chapter is responsible for keeping your FBLA experience active when you are not engaged in conferences. We urge local chapters to organize community service projects as well as business, or American enterprise, projects. We also promote the election of local chapter officers to give members a chance to experience an officer position, and maybe eventually run for a state or even national office.
So what now?
Find the events that suit you best and study, go participate in community service projects, run for a local, state, or national office. Make the most of your FBLA experience.
