Step #1: Complete the following online chapter interest form to start or reactivate a chapter. This information will be routed to the National Office and the Pennsylvania FBLA State Office. You will receive an acknowledgement of your submission. When approved, your chapter will receive a confirmation that the chapter record is created.
Step #2: Make sure you have received all necessary approvals to continue the activation or reactivation of your FBLA chapter.
- Speak to staff members who might be willing to serve as a chapter adviser. Each local chapter is required to have an adviser. An adviser can be a school administrator, a teacher, or any faculty member.
- Schedule to meet with the school principal about your desire to start an FBLA chapter.
- Be ready to meet with the school superintendent and possibly the School Board.
- Prepare a packet of materials about FBLA for the principal, superintendent, and School Board (if necessary); be prepared to make a presentation about FBLA to each.
Step #3: Recruit at Least 5 Chapter Members / Elect Officers or Establish an Executive Board
The following data will needed for each potential member for the membership system:
- First Name
- Last Name
- Grade Level
- Gender
- Email Address (use a personal email address, please, as the new chapter’s school may block outside email from a student’s school email inbox)
Step #4: Complete the sample chapter bylaws found below:
- Sample Local Chapter Bylaws in PDF Format.
- Sample Local Chapter Bylaws in Word Format.
Step #6: Process one check for membership dues (PA FBLA pays the $20 reactivation fee):
- Make the check payable to: Pennsylvania FBLA.
- Dues are $16 per student ($6 state dues and $10 national dues) for students in Grades 9-12.
- Dues are $13 per student ($3 state dues and $10 national dues) for students in Grades 5-8.
- Dues are unified. A member must pay both state and national dues.
- Dues are not refundable or transferable to another student once they are processed at the national office.
Step #7: To process additional memberships after you submit your initial application forms:
- Advisers will receive a username and password to enter members online through the National FBLA membership system, FBLA Connect.
- Enter members; generate an invoice.
- Mail all dues payments (state and national) to the national office lockbox.
Step #7: Once your new chapter is registered with the national FBLA office:
- Advisers will receive a welcome message from the national office and related correspondence from Pennsylvania FBLA.
The Role of an Adviser
The success of FBLA-PBL rests on the shoulders of student members. However, without the guidance of the local chapter advisers, no success would be possible. The adviser is instrumental in organizing and stimulating chapter development. They gain the support of the school administration and community. The local chapter adviser should:
- Be knowledgeable about the history, bylaws and programs of the national organization for active operation of the local chapter.
- Direct, chaperone, and coordinate supervision of chapter activities.
- Organize the selection process for chapter officers and provide officer training.
- Encourage civic responsibility.
- Assist in the maintenance of necessary chapter records.
- Establish rules and guidelines that will help students lead themselves while remaining consistent with school policies and state and national bylaws.
- Hold regular chapter meetings and see that they are conducted in a business-like manner.
- Assist members and officers in developing an annual program of work, which includes a budget, calendar, and committee assignments.
- Assist members in planning, collecting, preparing, and arranging materials to promote the chapter and its activities.
- Ensure school administrators, faculty, students, and the public are informed of chapter activities and outstanding student achievements.
- Be knowledgeable of the guidelines for district/regional, state, and national competitive events and activities and coordinate participation at all levels.
- Oversee financial development projects and supervise the receipt, recording, depositing, and expenditure of chapter funds.
Why Recruit Chapter Members?
The most important resource any organization has is its membership. The more dependable, enthusiastic members you attract—the more you can accomplish. Make your chapter stronger by keeping these points in mind.
- A large and diverse membership makes for rich brainstorming sessions, unique projects, and lightened individual workloads.
- Bigger is better—when it means that you have resources to dedicate to many worthy activities.
- FBLA-PBL’s recognition and influence are assured when a larger portion of your student body and, by extension, your community is involved in your activities.
- Your members enhance the chapter as a whole—while the chapter enriches your members.
- FBLA offers students the following benefits and advantages:
- Possible internship opportunities
- Putting your skills to the test with 60 + competitive events
- Rewards, scholarships, and recognition opportunities
- Networking
- Travel opportunities
Chapter Officers/Executive Board
It is suggested that each executive board includes the following offices:
- President
- Vice President
- Secretary
- Treasurer
- Reporter
- Historian
- Parliamentarian
Why Bylaws?
Bylaws are the rules by which a chapter regulates its affairs and the behavior of its members. FBLA-PBL strongly recommends that each local chapter creates bylaws for its chapter to abide by.
Create a Program of Work
The Program of Work is the action plan of a chapter. Strong Programs of Work include well-defined goals and objectives, deadlines, and assigned tasks. The Program of Work is important because it ensures careful planning and a detailed layout for the fiscal year.
Schedule Chapter Meetings/Establish Agendas
Many successful chapters layout dates and locations of each other their meetings in the beginning of the year. This ensures the chapter has a meeting place and the dates and locations can be published and publicized to members and prospective members. In addition, they create agendas that layout exactly what is to be discussed at each meeting.
Recruitment/Promotional Materials:
01. 2020-21 PA FBLA Fact Sheet
02. 2020-21 Competitive Events Brochure
03. 2020-21 National FBLA Fact Sheet
04. 2020-21 National FBLA Promotional Brochure #1
05. 2020-21 National FBLA Promotional Brochure #2
06. 2020-21 FBLA Action Packet
07. 2020-21 PA FBLA List of Important Dates
08. 2020-21 FBLA Logos/Graphics
09. 2020-21 FBLA Color Membership Promotion Poster (2nd item on list)
10. Recruitment Strategies from National FBLA
11. FBLA Marketplace — Online Source for Official FBLA Merchandise
Membership Recruitment
01. New Member Recruitment Letter
————→Sample FBLA Membership Application
————→What FBLA Offers Students
02. New Member Installation Ceremony
03. Sample Chapter Point System for Members
03. FBLA-PBL Scavenger Hunt
04. FBLA Emblem Ceremony
05. Top 10 Recruitment Ideas
06. FBLA Recruitment Video
Local Chapter Organization, Officers, and Meeting Management
01. Chapter Building Basics
————→Your Chapter’s Bylaws
————→New Chapter Installation Ceremony
02. Chapter Management 101
03. Start and FBLA Chapter in 5 Easy Steps
04. Adviser Responsibilities
————→Adviser Resource Guide
————→PA FBLA Policy/Leadership Handbook
05. Electing Officers and Their Duties
————→Sample Local Chapter Officer Candidate Application
————→Chapter Officer Installation Ceremony
06. Creating a Chapter Program of Work
————→Program of Work Progress/Evaluation Sheet
07. Sample Meeting Agenda
08. Sample Meeting Minutes
09. Sample Chapter Budget
10. Sample Treasurer’s Financial Report
11. Meeting Icebreakers
12. Leadership Activities
13. Chapter Activity Ideas
Chapter Fundraising
01. Fundraising Timeline and Planning Sheet (completed sample)
02. Fundraising Timeline and Planning Sheet (blank)
03. National Fundraising Partners
04. Detailed Information on National Fundraising Partners and Products Offered
05. Sample Donation Solicitation Letter
PA FBLA Chapter and Membership Programs
01. State Project Information
02. William Selden Outstanding Chapter (use to guide the development of a program of work)
03. Who’s Who in PA FBLA
04. Big 33 Community Service Program
05. National Business Honor Society
06. Keystone Leadership Award
07. State Leadership Workshop (see main page of PA FBLA web site)
09. State Leadership Conference
National Chapter and Membership Programs
01. Business Achievement Awards (BAA)
————→How to Participate in the BAA
02. Community Service Awards (CSA)
03. Good Neighbor Award
04. FBLA Chapter Challenge
————→Super Sweeps
————→Non-stop November
————→Action Awareness
05. Diamond Chapter
06. Membership Mania
07. Membership Madness
08. Middle-level Achievement Program (MAP)
Education and Curriculum
01. March of Dimes Service Learning Curriculum
02. School Store Operating Manual
03. AICPA Start Here, Go Places Curriculum
04. AMA Operation Enterprise Program
05. Brainbench Certifications (one free certification exam for FBLA members)
————→Go to FBLA Advisers area for instructions and promotional codes; will need “chapter # and password, which is “service”
06. CareerSafe — Cyber Safety Program
07. Certiport Certifications
08. H & R Block Dollars and Sense Program
09. KeyboardingOnline.com
10. Lead2Feed
11. Men’s Wearhouse “How to Dress for Success; First Impressions Matter” — contact specialevents@tmw.com
12. MyCollegeOptions
13. MyPath
14. Social Assurity
Co-curricular Programs
01. Virtual Business Challenge–Finance
02. Virtual Business Challenge–Management
03. LifeSmarts
04. The Stock Market Game
————→Go to FBLA Advisers area for instructions
05. Visa Practical Money Skills for Life
Promotional Resources
01. FBLA-PBL YouTube Channel
Celebrations and Supporting Materials
01. American Enterprise Day — November 15 (from national web site)
02. FBLA-PBL Week — February 14-20, 2021 (from national web site)
————→Planning Kit
————→Sample Proclamation for FBLA Week — Use Locally or at State Level
National FBLA Chapter Management Handbook
01. http://go.fbla.org/CMH
————→latest and most up-to-date version
————→About FBLA-PBL
————→Building a Chapter
————→Recruitment, Retention, and Recognition
————→Fundraising
————→Competitive Events
————→Appendices
————→Full Chapter Management Handbook
