Beginning of the MASS DECA Year!

Hello Mass DECA,

Wow, what a crazy few months since the State Conference in Boston. After being elected as a State Officer my life’s changed in many ways, even beyond DECA. Going to ICDC again in Louisville, Kentucky was an amazing experience. I still can’t believe placing in the top ten with my partner and have some of the best memories with my friends from that trip. Since then I have actually graduated high school, and moved into college at Bryant University in Smithfield, RI. From here I will be fulfilling my State Officer term for MASS DECA.

This month, I’ll be updating you all on Massachusetts DECA’s recent activities and events. First, I’ll start with our State Officer Training that occurred in June at Bunker Hill Community College in Boston. During this week Team 52 bonded, networked and planned out the MASS DECA year, all while having a blast! Also, we took our official state officer pictures and reviewed etiquette that will be vital for the upcoming year. However one of the most important items for the State Officer Training is picking a state wide theme for the year. Team 52 decided to go with the theme “MASS DECA, Do you Believe in Magic?” with the goal in mind being the ICDC in Orlando, Florida. Still after this rewarding, but stressful week, each state officer had several assignments to fulfill over the summer, such as planning a workshop for the Fall State Leadership Conference.

Speaking of Fall State Leadership, this year it will be held at Bentley University on October 19^th. All of us as a team has worked very hard in hopes to create a conference in which you all will learn some valuable leadership qualities, DECA information and have an overall fun day. This conference will truly kick off the DECA year. Beyond that, MASS DECA also has several events upcoming for our members. Look out for announcements on the annual DECA Celtics Day, and also the Ultimate Power Trip which will take place in Washington D.C. this year!

I’m very excited for the upcoming year and hope you all are as well. Feel free to contact me with any questions regarding the upcoming conferences, competing, being a state officer, or anything else you’d like to know.

Thanks guys, speak to you soon,

Michael Malenfant

Spring Teen Opinion Survey

Dear Association Advisors,

Thank you for your continuing support of our partnership with Piper Jaffray. Below you’ll see a tally of responses to the active Spring Teen Opinion Survey. Please take moment to encourage your Associations to LIVE LEARN and LEAD market research through this this important partnership opportunity! They can find the survey at, http://www.deca.org/nab_piperjaffray.html. The survey went live on March 1 and closes on March 31. The survey results and industry report will be available in early-April.

Sincerely,

JF

John Fistolera
Director of Development

DECA, Inc.
1908 Association Drive
Reston, VA  20191
(703) 860-5000 x229 phone
(703) 371-9264 cell
(703) 860-4013 fax
www.deca.org

PLEASE – Vote DECA Every Day!

Dear Association Advisors,

It’s time to Vote DECA Every Day!

DECA is competing for a $250,000 Pepsi Refresh Grant, www.refresheverything.com/decainspires. Voting starts on April 1st and runs through April 30. Grants are determined by popular vote, so we need you to Vote DECA Every Day! – and to encourage your local advisors, chapters, membership, friends, family classmates and colleagues to do the same.

I’m sure I don’t have to tell you how important this grant would be for our entire organization. If we’re successful in our campaign, DECA’s Pepsi Refresh Project will focus on 3 critical program areas:
·      Competitive Events – support the advancement of DECA’s Competitive Events Program and to the sponsor our International Business Plan Event.
·      Teacher Training – expand DECA’s professional development opportunities for Advisors.
·      Capacity Building – build new DECA Chapters and deliver services to greater numbers of members and advisors.

To vote for DECA’s Pepsi Refresh Project go to, www.refresheverything.com/decainspires. You’ll need to register through the Pepsi Refresh site to cast your vote. At the bottom, left hand corner of the page click “Sign In” and follow the prompts – you can either create an account through the Pepsi Refresh site or login through your Facebook account. Once you’re in, click on “Vote for this idea.” You can vote for DECA’s Pepsi Refresh Project one time every day.
Because this is a viral campaign we also need your help to spread the word -
·      Post a comment on DECA’s Project page after voting.
·      Post your vote on the status page of your Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, LinkedIn and/or other social media pages – click “Promote this idea” from the www.refresheverything.com/decainspires page.
·      Create a Widget for your web site – click on “Widgets” from the www.refresheverything.com/decainspires page.
·      Encourage your friends, family, classmates, students, colleagues, neighbors…. to Vote DECA Every Day! – and to spread the word through their networks.

While you can only vote for DECA one time every day, you can vote for up to 10 projects every day. Please do not vote for our competitors in the $250,000 category. Only one grant will be made in this category and we want it to be DECA! That said, we encourage you to look at other projects, in other grant levels, and cast your vote. In particular, we encourage your support of the Global Language Project in the $50,000 category. They have a great educational concept and project that we support.

Sincerely,

JF

John Fistolera
Director of Development

DECA, Inc.
1908 Association Drive
Reston, VA  20191
(703) 860-5000 x229 phone
(703) 371-9264 cell
(703) 860-4013 fax
www.deca.org

DECA ICDC

ICDC Advisors & attendees-

Misc. ICDC info:

Please note that our state photo is being taken after the Opening Session on Saturday at 11:15 pm…not after the Grand, as I mistakenly printed in one of my e-mails.

Shipping info (for shipping student projects, etc):

There is a $5 fee per package for the hotel to handle and store each package.  This fee is the responsibility of the chapter and will be applied to your room.

Include chapter Advisor’s name & school on first line and address as follows:

Chapter Advisor Name, Chapter and date of arrival

Fern Valley Hotel

2715 Fern Valley Road

Louisville, KY  40213

Optional tour info:

In addition to the tours offered by National DECA, I recommend seeing Churchill Downs especially since it is one week for the Kentucky Derby!  Contact Cheryl Whitehouse art 800-273-3729 or cwhitehouse@derbymuseum.org

Churchill Downs (several options)

“Dawn at the Downs” Traditional Southern style breakfast buffet in the luxury boxes with a commentator explaining as people are exercising the horses on the track. $20 for kids 17 and under, $30 over 18.

Backstretch Tours (6:45 am & 8 am)

Southern style breakfast, tram tour of stables, Derby Museum admittance & movie, tour of the front of Churchill Downs

Historic Walking tours of Churchill Downs $5 per person (about ½ hour in length)

Mon-Sat 8:30-4:30 Sun. 11:30-4:30

Behind the Scenes Walk & Tour of Churchill Downs  $10 per person, (about 1.5 hours)

Mon-Sat: 8 am, 10:30 am, 12 noon, 1:30 pm, 3 pm  Sun; 11:30 am, 1 pm, 2 pm

See the Jockey’s Quarters, Millionaire’s Row, Press Box

Barn & Backside Van Tour: 1 hour $10-$20

Mon-Sun: 7 am, 8:30 am, 10 am, 11:30 am, 1 pm, 2:30 pm,

Also, be sure to set time aside to go to the Slugger Museum, even if you aren’t a baseball fan!  They used to give out a souvenir mini wooden Slugger bat, not sure if they still do.  See the following website for operating hours and group discounts.

http://www.sluggermuseum.org/

Parking info if you are renting a car and want to drive it to the Expo Center:

Multi-day parking passes will be sold at the DECA convention.  Sale times have not been determined, but the location will be in the general vicinity of the registration area. The parking passes will allow unlimited in/out access to the facility.

4-day pass $36 (April 24-27)

3-day pass $27 (April 25-27)

2-day pass $18 (April 26-27)

1-day pass $9  (April 27)

Should you have additional parking questions, please contact:

Kim Blair, Event Coordinator

Kentucky Exposition Center

502-367-5121

kblair@ksfb.ky.gov

There is DECA free shuttle service going from our hotel to downtown, however, it is only running during the day on Saturday and in the evenings on Sunday & Monday.  See schedule in the flash report I e-mailed last week.

National DECA Scholarships

We show that you have DECA scholarship application(s) that have not been submitted at this point through our online system (www.deca.org/schol.html). Please make sure you submit your applications by Friday, February 12 for consideration in the review process.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email Kathy_Onion@deca.org or call us at 703.860.5000 and ask for the Scholarship Department.

Thanks
Cindy

DECA Adam Correnti scholarship

This is the last year that the $1,000 Adam Correnti Memorial Scholarship will be awarded.  Please note that the scholarship applications are due to Adam’s aunt, Sue Parr this year, not Rosie Walisever.  Her address is on the scholarship application and will be due on Feb. 25th.

DECA Day at Six Flags

I have attached an order form for DECA Day at Six Flags on Friday, June 11.  The deadline for us to get the discounted rate is Friday, Feb. 26, sorry it conflicts with State Conference deadlines!!  Because we need to do the field trip during Student Appreciation Days at the end of the school year, I know that some of you may not be able to obtain permission to attend due to end of year activities and regulations.  However, you may allow your DECA seniors who may be out of school to attend.

Six Flags Order Form

State Conference registration & housing

Just a few reminders-

Tomorrow is the due date for State Conference registration & housing forms at the PO Box and via e-mail to myself, Harry(registration) and Sharon Turner (Marriott housing). Please note that Sharon is out until Monday, so if you don’t hear from her until Monday, that is why!  Even though you are e-mailing registration forms, it is imperative that we have your registration summary form (pg 21) by tomorrow at the PO Box.  Several of you who just attended district conferences last Thursday & Friday have e-mailed me stating that it is difficult for you to get the actual hard copy of the purchase order…please note that you can usually call your business office and they will give you the PO # that you can write on that summary form.  Just send us the hard copy of the PO once it becomes available.

Written projects are due in the MASS-DECA office at Bunker Hill Community College by next Thursday, February 11, 5 pm the latest.  Please include a copy of the paper either in hard copy format or on a CD or floppy.  Do not worry if the format is not transferring over exactly as the entered manual….we need the copy for subject content only.  Be sure that all papers have anoriginal  student signature signed Statement of Assurances in the front of each manual (pg. 85 of DECA Guide).   Advisors should review papers and pay particular attention to the penalty point checklist on page 84 of the guide as well. All advisors are encouraged to participate in the penalty point assessment taking place on Saturday, Feb. 27^th at the home of our Written Event Coordinator, Cindy Sylvia in  Taunton, MA.  This is a great opportunity to see how the penalty point process works in as objective a manner as possible.  Lunch is provided.  E-mail Cindy atcsylvia@wareham.k12.ma.us if interested in participating.

At the Opening Session, all chapters are once again, invited to bring a banner, flag or poster that represents their chapter or school.  You will be able to send two reps on stage during the Opening Session during the Chapter Roll Call.  There will  be a rehearsal for all participants prior to the Opening Session.  I will e-mail you when I know the time.

Our DECA Spirit Night takes place on Friday Night during States.  Members may wear either formal business dress attire or they may wear a collared shirt with khakis and dress shoes.   This is typically the night that a lot of chapters will wear collared shirts with their Chapter name on the shirts, or simply matching shirts.   Chapters may also use spirit like items (pom poms, light sticks, etc) in the ballroom area ONLY.  No chanting, singing or shouting may take place in the public areas of the hotel, even if it is spirit night!  We only occupy half of the hotel and we can’t horrify the other guests with our excited behavior….they just wouldn’t get it!

We are planning on having a Fashion Show on Saturday prior to the Grand Awards Session starting.  Every Chapter will be allowed to send two members of your choice to walk the stage either wearing business attire or formal attire.  Students will ‘model’ their own clothing and will need to provide a brief script.  More details will be arriving in your e-mail shortly!!

That’s it for now!

Donna McFadden

State Advisor

Massachusetts DECA

ph: 617-228-2024

fax: 617-228-205

e-mail:  dmcfadden@bhcc.mass.edu

DECA Competitive Event Video Samples

Below are video samples of students participating in some of DECA’s competitive events. Beside the videos are corresponding role-play scenarios and/or event guidelines.

Sample Series Event Role-plays

Sample Principles of Business Administration Event Content Interview

Sample Chapter Team Event Presentation

Sample Marketing Representative Event Presentation

Videos can be viewed using Windows Media Player. If you do not have Windows Media Player, you can download it here.

Role-play scenarios, event guidelines and evaluation forms can be viewed using Adobe Reader. If you do not have Adobe Reader, you can download it here.

The Official Membership Magazine of DECA

Keep up to date on business trends, DECA highlights and chapter activities withDimensions. Delivered to the classroom four times during the academic year to DECA’s 185,000 members, this four–color publication features articles on career development in business management, entrepreneurship, finance, hospitality and marketing; leadership training; civic consciousness and professionalism.Dimensions is the perfect supplement to classroom instruction, and a teaching guide and worksheet are provided for each issue.

January/February 2010 Only The Best Will Gather! ICDC 2010: Only the best will gather in Louisville Possibility City: It’s possible here. 3-2-1… Live! We’re here! The Simpsons welcome thousands to Orlando Checking in with Marriott