Author: Bruce Boncal

NLC Alerts for Pennsylvania FBLA Travelers Attending the National Leadership Conference

Competitor Help Session Recordings

• High School Competitive Events — Objective Testing (includes production tests)
• High School Competitive Events — Performance Events
• Middle School Competitive Events

NLC Alert #01:  Travel Information
NLC Alert #02:  4 Weeks to Departure/What You Can Expect

• NLC Alert #02a:  Specific Information Targeted to Those Traveling on the San Diego Educational Excursion (details for this event will not be posted here)
• NLC Alert #02b:  Specific Information Targeted to Those Going to the Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Game (details for this event will not be posted here)
• NLC Alert #02c:  Specific Information Targeted to Those Scheduled for the Whale Watching Excursion (details for this event will not be posted here)
• NLC Alert #02d:  Specific Information Targeted to Those Scheduled for the Surf City/Huntingdon Beach Excursion (details for this event will not be posted here)

NLC Alert #03:  Important Information for ALL, but IMPORTANT Information for Advisers & Parents/Chaperones/Guest Attending the FBLA NLC
NLC Alert #04:  Individual High School and Middle School Performance and Objective Test Times

• Individual High School Performance and Objective Test Schedules Link
• Individual Middle School Performance and Objective Test Schedules Link
  • General Conference Schedule Link
  • General High School Competitive Events Schedule Overview
  • General Middle School Competitive Events Schedule Overview

NLC Alert #05:  Pennsylvania FBLA NLC Alerts Published in NLC Section of the Website
NLC Alert #06:  Nearly All NLC Registration Paid on Time / PA FBLA Conference HQ and State Meeting Information
NLC Alert #07:  National FBLA Update on LA Protests and Travel to the NLC

NLC Alert #08:  National FBLA Update:  NLC Orientation Recording / Download the Attendee Guide
NLC Alert #09:  Review the NLC Orientation Video and Attendee Guide
NLC Alert #10:  Official NLC Dress Code

NLC Alert #11:  Hotel Confirmations and a PA FBLA “Know Before You Go”
NLC Alert #12:  Cash Accepted vs. Cashless Venues

Pennsylvania FBLA Blue Panda for NLC lodging and a la care items is now open as of 12:01 am, April 17.
National FBLA Blue Panda is open for NLC registration and placement in competitive events.

PA FBLA National Leadership Conference Travel Package with Pricing

2025 National Leadership Conference Orientation PowerPoint, April 16, 2025
2025 National Leadership Conference Zoom Recording, April 16, 2025
>>>Passcode:  9+&i&Kur

Click this link for a school/parent to request an invoice to pay by credit card (3.5% convenience fee applies)

All PA FBLA payments are mailed to:                       All National FBLA payments are mailed to:
PA FBLA                                                                                    FBLA, Inc.
PO Box 5085                                                                             PO Box 79063
Jersey Shore, PA 17740                                                          Baltimore, MD 21279
PA FBLA W-9                                                                        National FBLA W-9

Advisers/Parents/Chaperones, please complete this Summer Mailing Address Contact Form for items that need to be mailed prior to the NLC.

Information will be published as it is released by National FBLA.
click here to be redirected to National FBLA’s NLC page

2025 National Leadership Conference
Anaheim, California — Anaheim Convention Center
June 29-July 02 (does not include travel dates to and from Anaheim)
1.  TENTATIVE conference schedule
2.  TENTATIVE high school competitive events schedule
3.  TENTATIVE middle school competitive events schedule
The schedules listed above are subject to change and should not be considered final for travel purposes.  Final schedules will be announced in mid to late May after National FBLA reviews the number of competitors in each event.

Pennsylvania FBLA assigned lodging location (as announced by National FBLA):
Lodging is available for check-in beginning Friday, June 27; check-out is scheduled for July 03 (must include two nights’ lodging during that range) ; all lodging reservations MUST be made through Pennsylvania FBLA.  Budgeting rate:  $315 per night per room; 1-4 per room; taxes/fees included.  Lodging is NOT available prior to June 27.

Anaheim Marriott
700 West Convention Way
Anaheim, CA 92802

Important Dates and Responsibilities:
April 15, 2025:  NLC scholarship deadline for high school students and/or scholarship deadline for middle school students (apply for $695 in National FBLA grants) (responsibility:  student)
April 30, 2025:  $200 per traveler deposit paid to PA FBLA  (must be received by that date) (responsibility:  adviser/school and/or parent)
May 10, 2025:  balance due on PA FBLA package paid to PA FBLA (must be received by that day) (responsibility:  adviser/school and/or parent)
***PA FBLA must make final lodging arrangements/commitments no later than May 13, 2025.  Preliminary lodging holds are made based on the $200 per deposit (first come, first served); final lodging commitments are made based on full payments received by May 10.
May 13, 2025:  adviser must register all NLC conference participants and place them in National FBLA’s Blue Panda no later than this date; pre-judged assets must be uploaded no later than that date:  (1) American Enterprise Project (report), (2) Business Ethics (one-page executive summary), Business Plan (report), (3) Community Service Project (report), (4) Digital Animation (video url), (5) Digital Video Production (video url), (6) Future Business Educator (lesson plan pdf), (7) Future Business Leader (cover and resume pdf), (8) Job Interview (cover and resume pdf), (9) Local Chapter Annual Business Report (report), (10) Partnership with Business Project (report) (responsibility:  adviser).  Only the adviser can register competitors and upload these assets.
June 01, 2025:  NLC registration fees paid to National FBLA (postmark date; otherwise, there is be a $25 administration (late) fee if payment does not arrive by June 12).  Parents are not able to directly pay National FBLA by credit card. (responsibility:  adviser/school and/or parent)

Who’s eligible to attend?
Follow these guidelines regarding eligibility to compete and attend the 2025 National Leadership Conference:

• The Top 4 high school award winners automatically qualify to compete in the official high school competitive events
• The Top 4 middle school award winners automatically qualify to complete in the official middle school competitive events
• If a chapter’s Top 4 qualifier is not eligible to participate, chapter advisers need to contact the following:

• • high school competitive events:  Bruce Boncal, PA FBLA Executive Director, bboncal@pafbla.us
  • middle school competitive events:  Michele Sites, PA FBLA Middle School Coordinator, msites@pafbla.us
    • Offers to participate will be made to the 5th- through the 10th place winners should any in the Top 4 not be able to participate.

• For questions regarding high school scores and judging ratings from the State Leadership Conference and Middle School program scores and judging, contact:

• • Derek Selleck, PA FBLA Competitive Events Coordinator, dselleck@pafbla.us (high school program)
  • Michele Sites, PA FBLA Middle School Coordinator, msites@pafbla.us (middle school program)

Family members are welcome to attend the NLC and travel as part of the PA FBLA package.  If an adviser cannot attend the conference, a parent may serve as the student member’s chaperone.

FAQs (answers to your likely questions):

1. If my student is on a team of 1-3 students that placed at the state conference and one or more drop out, can my single student complete?  Answer:  yes, your single student may compete as the event can be 1-3 students (or 4-5 students in the case of Parliamentary Procedure).
2. Are the competitive events guidelines the same for the national conference as the state conference?  Answer:  no, you should be referring to the National FBLA guidelines for the national conference.  Although the guidelines might be similar, there are definitely some differences.  Click here for the high school competitive guidelines and/or the middle school competitive events guidelines.
3. Are the production tests administered at my home schools as they have been in prior years?  Answer, no.  Computer Applications, Exploring Computer Applications (middle school), Spreadsheet Applications, and Word Processing will be administered onsite in Anaheim this year.  Nothing will be administered at the home school.
4. May I make changes to the items I submit for NLC pre-judging that were submitted at the national conference?  Answer, yes. Competitors are strongly advised to review the SLC judges’ scoring sheets and feedback and make improvements, if appropriate.  The deadline for submission is May 13.
5. Do advisers need to inform the state office if my competitor will not attend?  Answer, yes.  Please contact Bruce Boncal, PA FBLA Executive Director, bboncal@pafbla.us, for high school students not able to attend OR Michele Sites, PA FBLA Middle School Coordinator, msites@pafbla.us, for middle school students not able to attend.  Please notify us as soon as possible so that offers can be made to the next eligible competitor.
6. Am I able to see my objective test scores and rating sheets for my events from the region conference and the state conference?  Answer, yes.  Advisers only must sign on to Blue Panda to download the scores and rating sheets.
7. Can substitutions be made if a student cannot participate at the national conference?  Answer, no.  If a student did not compete at the state level and qualify for the state conference, he/she may not be substituted to participate at the national conference.
8. Can an adviser/chaperone from one school serve as a chaperone for a student from another school?  Answer, yes.  Written agreements should be made between the school administrations of both schools.  Because a school’s adviser must enter an adviser/chaperone name for his/her school and another school’s adviser/chaperone is taking responsibility  for his/her students, the adviser will need to email nlc@fbla.org to make sure the chaperone is assigned to both chapters (only one registration fee will be charged).
9. Can I submit accommodations for a student for his/her competitive event based on his/her IEP/504 or medical issues?  Answer, yes.  Requests for accommodations are made through the National FBLA Blue Panda Special Needs Provision for an individual attendee.  All accommodations must be submitted by the May 13, 2025, registration deadline.
10. Do students need to bring their own laptops/tablets to complete their objective tests in Anaheim?  Answer, yes.  Students are to bring their own electronic devices.  Phones are not compatible with the testing systems.  Windows devices, Apple devices, Chromebooks — all are acceptable.  However, if the device is a school-issued device, the adviser and competitor should work with the school system’s technology staff to make sure security policies do not impede the ability to connect to WiFi outside the school system or access to Blue Panda.

• Pennsylvania will publish a travel package prior to the State Leadership Conference.  There will be the following options:
  • Plan A:  6- or 7-night package — all-inclusive package (excluding airfare), which includes lodging, tours, transfers, and more.  Plan A will include a full-day excursion to San Diego on Saturday, June 28, which will include the San Diego Zoo, hop on/hop off San Diego city trolley tour access, Old Towne San Diego
  • Plan B:  5-night package — includes lodging and possible transfers (depending on travel dates) and option to purchase a la carte items
  • Plan C:  a la carte package with minimum purchase of two-nights’ lodging at the required Pennsylvania FBLA assigned hotel
    • Each traveler incurs a mandatory $40 travel service fee for services provided by Pennsylvania FBLA pre-conference, at the conference, and post-conference
    • Each student must be chaperoned by an adult in compliance with National FBLA’s chaperone policy
• All lodging reservations must be made through Pennsylvania FBLA.
• Attendees must schedule a minimum of two-nights’ lodging at Pennsylvania FBLA’s assigned hotel (not known at this time).
• Chapters/travelers make their own air travel reservations to and from Anaheim.
• Pennsylvania FBLA is tentatively planning that there will be transfers to and from two Anaheim area airports only with reservations through PA FBLA.  The closest airport is John Wayne Airport/Orange County (SNA); the other location is Los Angeles International (LAX).
• Domestic airlines serving John Wayne Airport:  (1) Alaska Airlines, (2) Allegiant Airlines, (3) American Airlines, (4) Breeze Airways, (5) Delta Airlines, (6) Frontier Airlines, (7) Southwest Airlines, (8) Spirit Airlines, (9) United Airlines.    Most air travel from Pennsylvania will require connecting flights into John Wayne Airport.  The only direct flight from Pennsylvania is Breeze Airways from Pittsburgh; the other closest airport with direct flights to John Wayne Airport is United Airlines from Newark, New Jersey. 
• American Airlines offers direct flights from the following locations to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX):  (1) Pittsburgh, (2) Philadelphia.  United Airlines offers non-stop flights to LAX from:  (1) Washington Dulles, (2) Baltimore, (3) Newark.  Southwest Airlines offers non-stop flights to LAX from:  (1) Baltimore. 

Projected costs for planning are found below.  Actual costs will be unveiled at a Zoom meeting on Wednesday night, April 16, starting at 8:00 pm.   Invitations to the Zoom meeting will be issued next week.

Known costs:
Registration fees:  $195 per FBLA member / $125 per FBLA adviser or adult chaperone

READ ID Requirements
Air travelers 18 years of age and older must be REAL ID compliant starting May 7, 2025, to board domestic flights.  From the Department of Homeland Security page on REAL ID:  “Travelers who do not present a REAL ID-compliant license or acceptable alternative beginning May 7, 2025″ will not be permitted through the security checkpoint.”  “TSA does not require children under 18 to provide identification when traveling with a companion within the United States. The companion will need acceptable identification.”  Refer to the Department of Homeland Security page on READ ID FAQs for additional information.  A passport is an acceptable alternative to a REAL ID license.  More information on alternatives published by DHS can be found here.

2024-2025 PENN PAL
Chapter News Submission Form Link

Welcome back to another FBLA year! Once again, Pennsylvania FBLA will be publishing our Bimonthly newsletter, the Penn Pal.

The Penn Pal gives members and chapters the opportunity to share articles and pictures about the amazing things they have done for and through PA FBLA.

Important Submission & Penn Pal Publication Dates

Article submissions should be no less than 150 words; should focus on chapter activities (excluding participation at state workshops & conferences, as the state officers will write articles about these); and answer the following questions: Who, What, Where, When, Why/How, and How chapter was impacted.

With each submission, chapter news will also be highlighted on our social media accounts:

Chapters can also receive points towards Outstanding Chapter and members can receive points towards the Keystone Leadership Award.

The Pennsylvania FBLA Virtual Chapter offers two opportunities for members without active FBLA chapters at their schools to participate in our programs.

For students in Grades 9-12, students may complete the following online membership application to be a part of the PA FBLA Virtual Chapter–HS (high school level).  Complete the HS (grades 9-12) Virtual Chapter Application here.

• Once the application is submitted and received by the state office, an invoice will be sent to the student AND parent for dues payment.
• Complete this membership application ONLY if you meet the following requirements:
  • Your school does not have an active FBLA chapter, AND
  • You are:  (1) in grades 9-12, AND (2) home schooled, OR (3) enrolled in a cyber charter school, OR (4) enrolled in a brick-and-mortar charter school.
    • If you are enrolled in your own school system’s cyber program and your high school has an active FBLA chapter, you need to be a member of your school system’s FBLA chapter.
  • You are enrolled in/taking a business or business-related class, which could include classes such as English/language arts, social studies, math, etc.

For students in Grades 5-8, students may complete the following online membership application to be a part of the PA FBLA Virtual Chapter–MS (middle school level).  Complete the MS (grades 5-8) Virtual Chapter Application here.

Fast Facts About the Virtual Chapter:
High School Dues:  $16 total ($6 state, $10 national)
Middle School Dues:  $13 total ($3 state, $10 national)
Dues are paid to the PA FBLA state office.  Once dues are received, membership will be uploaded to the National FBLA office.

National FBLA High School Division Resources:

• High School FBLA Fact Sheet
• High School Competitive Events Poster
• Business Achievement Awards (BAAs)
• High School Champion Chapter Tracker

National FBLA Middle School Division Resources:

• Middle School FBLA Fact Sheet
• Middle School Competitive Events Poster (does not include Pennsylvania only events offered by the state organization)
• LEAD Awards
• Middle School Champion Chapter Tracker

Tomorrow’s Business Leader (national magazine/digital editions)

For more information about the Virtual Chapter, feel free to reach out to Mr. Jake Sarwar, PA FBLA Virtual Chapter Coordinator, jsarwar@pafbla.us.

Welcome to the Pennsylvania FBLA Middle School Information Center.
Membership is open to students in Grades 5-8.

For information, please contact:
Michele Sites, PA FBLA Middle School Coordinator
msites@pafbla.us

Organizing a Middle School Chapter

• National Middle School Chapter Management Handbook (accessed only through FBLA Connect login)
• Middle School FBLA Fact Sheet
• Middle School Competitive Events Poster (does not include Pennsylvania only events offered by the state organization)
• LEAD Awards
• Middle School Champion Chapter Tracker

PA FBLA Middle School Important Dates

PA FBLA Middle School Outstanding Chapter Criteria

PA FBLA Middle School Competitive Events

• PA FBLA Middle School Competitive Events/Policy Handbook
• PA FBLA Middle School Competitive Events Brochure

FBLA Connect Resource Files
Type of Resource Materials:

FBLA Connect Training Videos Created by National FBLA

1.  Adding Unpaid Members to Your Chapter’s Membership (video, 7.0 minutes) (advisers strongly encouraged to watch/excellent refresher)
   1. Learn how to use the “self-registration” form for new (never before) FBLA members.
      1. Previous members need to be added “manually” as their records already exist.
2. Purchasing Membership and Paying by Check or Credit Card/Generating an Invoice (Once All Unpaid Members Are Listed in the Unpaid Student Column) (vide0, 7.5 minutes) (excellent refresher)
   1. IMPORTANT:  entering members doesn’t mean they have membership benefits access or are imported into Blue Panda.  Advisers needs to choose one of the three payment options:  (1) payment will be coming by check; (2) payment made by credit card, or (3) purchase order upload.
      1. Caution:  Do not generate a invoice for each member unless you want to submit multiple invoices to be paid by the school system.
      2. Suggestion:  Transition multiple students from the unpaid (left column) to the “pending/paid” column and then generate an invoice for payment.
      3. Remember:  Members may be entered into FBLA Connect multiple times per year and paid multiple times during the year.  The critical deadline for your chapter:  members must be in the system by the time your RLC registration closes in order to participate in the RLC competitive events.  You can pay immediately by credit card; students are immediately marked paid.  You can can pay “by check” with 60 days to get the check to National FBLA
         1. NEW FOR 2024-2025:  Any members added January 1 or later will not have a 60-day grace period to send a check to National FBLA and be marked as pending with full membership rights.  Starting January 1, a student will no longer have membership benefits/rights until the payment has been received by National FBLA.  Translation:  after January 1, a student will no longer be imported into Blue Panda until the student is marked paid by National FBLA.
            1. Implication:  If you are entering students into FBLA Connect to meet an RLC deadline that may not occur until after December 31, you will need to pay by credit card in order for students to be imported into Blue Panda to be registered for competitive events.
            2. There is no convenience fee for paying by credit card with National FBLA.
3. Membership Benefits (Once Students are in FBLA Connect and are “Pending” or “Paid”) (video, 2.25 minutes)
   1. Watch this video is you want to monitor student progress in the Business Achievement Award Courses, among other items.
4. Important Tools for Advisers Once Members are “Pending” or “Paid” (video, 11.75 minutes) (excellent video for advisers)
   1. Great video to learn how to use:
      1. Your chapter’s dashboard
      2. Your chapter events calendar with access to the state and national calendars
      3. Your chapters FBLA Connect “internal” mailing system
      4. FBLA Connect “forms” and how to apply privileges based on a member’s status
      5. “Announcements”
      6. Creating “folders” with your chapter downloadable documents
      7. “Courses” to monitor student progress on their participation on the Business Achievement Awards (BAAs)
      8. “Minutes” to post meeting minutes and opt to share
5. Getting Help/how to open tickets (video, 1.25 minutes) (instructions how to open tickets with National FBLA)
   1. Advisers have the option to reach out to Bruce Boncal for support, 570.279.6998.  Bruce cannot help with invoice issues!
   2. FYI:  National FBLA tickets may not be answered immediately.
6. Comprehensive FBLA Connect Orientation From August 2023’s Launch (video, 1 hour, 40 minutes) 

FBLA Connect Print Materials

1. FBLA Connect Glossary
2. FBLA Connect:  Adding Members/Paying Dues
3. FBLA Connect:  Setting Up Your Chapter
4. FBLA Connect:  Exporting Members
5. FBLA Connect:  Form to Charter a New or Reactivate an Inactive Chapter

FBLA Help Center (FAQs on various FBLA areas)

1. To create an FBLA ticket:  https://zendesk.fbla.org
2. Topic areas also related to FBLA Connect:
   1. Membership
      1. How to Merge Open Invoices
      2. How to Remove a Graduation Cap from a Student
      3. How to Move Middle School Students to a High School Chapter
      4. Four Ways to Add New Members
      5. Create an Invoice (by transitioning members)
      6. Pay for Membership by Credit Card
      7. Pay for Membership by Check
      8. How to Graduate Students from the Unpaid List
      9. How to Create Membership Reports
      10. A Student with the Wrong Membership Status
      11. Duplicate Students on the Chapter’s Roster
      12. Adding Large Numbers of Students via Import
      13. I need a National FBLA W-9 Form for My School System to Pay Dues
3. Topics Related to FBLA Programs:
   1. Business Achievement Awards (high school)
      1. Overview of the BAAs — video
      2. Printing BAA Certificates
   2. LEAD Awards (middle school)
      1. Overview of LEAD Awards (middle school)
      2. Printing LEAD Award Certificates
4. FBLA Connect for Students:
   1. Completing a Module
   2. Completed Awards
   3. FBLA Connect Programs Grace Period
   4. Accessing Programs in the Learning Center
   5. My membership is paid, but I still cannot access programs.  What to do?

2024-2025 FBLA Year Adviser Forms

1.  Chapter Intent Form

• Please sign on to FBLA Connect to access the Chapter Intent Form, OR complete the online form linked aboe.

2.  New Chapter Adviser Registration Form

• Complete this form if you are a brand new FBLA chapter adviser or if you are returning as an adviser after an absence.

3.  Current Chapter Adviser Contact Information Update Form

• Complete this form if you are a current FBLA adviser and need to update any part of your contact information.

When would you use this contact information update form?  Here are some examples:
1.  your name changed
2.  your email address changed
3.  your cell phone changed
4.  your school’s address changed
5.  your school within the same school system changed (ex.  you transferred to a new school within the same system)

If you are now teaching at a new school system and are the new primary adviser or new co-adviser, please complete the New Chapter Adviser Registration Form.  That data is used to update your national and state records.

National FBLA Connect Membership System Resource Files (please use this helpful area for FBLA Connect support)

From National FBLA

The 2024-25 Middle School and High School Chapter Welcome Kits are in the mail! These kits include a QR Code to Download the Chapter Management Guide for your division; posters for your classroom with information about membership, 2024 fall conferences and the 2025 National Leadership Conference, and more.

Your kit will be sent to the address we had on file as of June 15.

Please allow 10 business days for the kit to reach you through USPS. If you do not receive your welcome kit by August 15, please submit a ticket to the FBLA Help Desk.