4.03 Role of the Adviser

7/15 Change:

Role of the Adviser

Each local chapter shall is required to have an primary adviser and may have one or more co-advisers.  An adviser can be a school administrator, teacher, or any faculty member.  Parents may not serve as the chapter’s primary adviser.  who shall be a faculty member who is teaching a business or business-related course. For example, English is a business-related course. All members of the business, computer, and information technology staff should become involved in making FBLA part of the business, computer, and information technology program. One teacher could serve as chapter adviser, two or more as co-advisers, and other members of the staff should be considered as assistant advisers. The success of an FBLA chapter is dependent on the student members with the guidance of the FBLA chapter adviser(s), who organizes and promotes the chapter’s growth. The responsibilities can be demanding, but the adviser who retains a deep concern for members will receive satisfaction for the time and effort put forth.

The roles of the FBLA adviser can be:  

• leader
• marketer
• fundraiser
• travel agent
• coach
• role model
• networker

The responsibilities of the local FBLA adviser are to:

• Understand the history, bylaws, and programs of the state and national organizations — and the local school system policies — necessary for the action operation of the local chapter.
• Direct, chaperone, and coordinate supervision of chapter activities.
• Register members and pay membership dues invoices based on published state and national timelines in FBLA Connect, the national membership system.
• Organize the selection process for chapter officers and provide officer training.
• Encourage civic responsibility.
• Maintain chapter records in accordance with state, national, and local school system policies.
• Establish rules and guidelines to help students lead themselves while remaining consistent with school policies and state and national bylaws.
• Hold regular chapter meetings and ensure that they are conducted in a business-like manner.
• Assist members and officers in developing and annual program of work, which includes a calendar, committee assignments, and a budget.
• 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 the chapter’s activities and achievements.
• Be knowledgeable  about the guidelines for region, state, and national competitive events and activities.
• Oversee financial development projects and oversee /supervise the receipt, recording, depositing, and expenditure of chapter funds in accordance with local school system policies.
• Develop a working relationship with the school board, school administrators, support staff, parents or guardians, and community groups.
• Attend as many FBLA workshops/conferences as possible. This would include the Regional Leadership Workshop (RLW), Regional Leadership Conference (RLC), State Leadership Workshop (SLW), State Leadership Conference (SLC), National Fall Leadership Conference(NFLC), and National Leadership Conference (NLC).
• Encourage capable members to seek local, regional, state, and/or national office and support those elected to serve in those in those roles.

In addition, the following suggestions may help the adviser:

• Encourage businesslike actions and dress while participating in activities sponsored by the organization.
• Integrate FBLA into the classroom as a teaching tool.
• Volunteer on the regional, state, and national levels, such as assisting in the plans for the SLW.
• Arrange to have an FBLA homeroom or an FBLA leadership class.–the extra time will enable better communication.
• Encourage members to apply for FBLA scholarships.
• Participate in the FBLA state project.
• Join professional organizations and promote FBLA at these meetings.
• Host an RLW or RLC.
• Keep informed of developments and changes in FBLA through memorandums/e-mails from the state office, communications from the national office, and correspondence from regional officers and advisers.

Each local chapter shall have an adviser who shall be a faculty member who is teaching a business or business-related course. For example, English is a business-related course. All members of the business, computer, and information technology staff should become involved in making FBLA part of the business, computer, and information technology program. One teacher could serve as chapter adviser, two or more as co-advisers, and other members of the staff should be considered as assistant advisers. The success of an FBLA chapter is dependent on the adviser. The responsibilities can be demanding, but the adviser who retains a deep concern for members will receive satisfaction for the time and effort put forth. The responsibilities of the local adviser are to:

1. Guide the officers as they lead the chapter. It is also the adviser’s responsibility to share all mailings with the chapter’s officers.
2. Attend chapter functions.
3. Develop a working relationship with the school board, school administrators, support staff, parents or guardians, and community groups.
4. Attend as many FBLA workshops/conferences as possible. This would include the Regional Leadership Workshop (RLW), Regional Leadership Conference (RLC), State Leadership Workshop (SLW), State Leadership Conference (SLC), National Fall Leadership Conference(NFLC), and National Leadership Conference (NLC).
5. Encourage capable members to seek local, regional, state, and/or national office.

In addition to the information concerning the local chapter adviser in the National Chapter Management Handbook, the following suggestions may help the adviser:

1. Encourage businesslike actions and dress while participating in activities sponsored by the organization.
2. Integrate FBLA into the classroom as a teaching tool. Refer to the National Chapter Management Handbook.
3. Volunteer ideas and time on the regional, state, and national levels, such as assisting in the plans for the SLW.
4. Arrange to have an FBLA homeroom–the extra time will enable better communication.
5. Encourage members to apply for FBLA scholarships.
6. Participate in the FBLA state project.
7. Join professional organizations and promote FBLA at these meetings.
8. Host an RLW or RLC.
9. Keep informed of developments and changes in FBLA through memorandums/e-mails from the state office, communications from the national office, and correspondence from regional officers and adviser. An effective method for sharing this information with the officers is to attach a routing slip similar to the following, or establish email accounts for chapter officers and forward the information. Information could also be posted on a chapter web site.
   

   FBLA Circulation Sheet
   Adviser	Treasurer
   President	Parliamentarian
   Vice President	Other
   Secretary

10. Involve junior high school and/or middle level students and teachers in FBLA activities. This will help to make activities successful and provide interest for prospective members.
11. To make the business, computer, and information technology program come alive with the excitement of practical experience, friendly competition, and active participation in projects and activities which contribute to individual growth and instill a sense of civic responsibility is probably every teacher’s dream. Getting involved in an FBLA program can help to make it happen.