RHS, RMS, and CHS Represented at FBLA National Leadership Conference

Four students from Polk County were among 7,000 that participated in the recent FBLA National Leadership Conference in Nashville, Tennessee.

Kelsey Campbell and Will Dover from Rockmart High School represented Georgia FBLA as members of the Georgia FBLA Parliamentary Procedures Team. Stephen Dean, Rockmart Middle School FBLA, competed in FBLA Facts. Kyle Roggow, Cedartown High School FBLA, represented Georgia FBLA as a competitor in FBLA Principles and Procedures. Will, Kelsey and Kyle had advanced to National Competition from State Competition last April.

For 2010-2011, Stephen Dean will be serving as a member of the Georgia FBLA Executive Council as the FBLA Middle Level Vice President and Will Dover will be serving his third term as FBLA Region 7 President.

At the beginning of the conference students participated in a Georgia State Meeting, where the State Adviser Monty Rhodes, discussed conference procedures. Students were then busy with competitive events, workshops, Regional Meetings, Campaign Rallies, and Opening and Closing Sessions.

Stephen Dean, RMS FBLA, participated in a special leadership workshop tract designed for middle school students. Middle school workshops included: Great Goals, Fun and Games with Personal Finance, Bank your Thanks!, Know the Rules and RULE, Muffin Man Membership, What is Everybody Saying (Body Language), Leadership Circus, Save Up!, Be our Guest! (Etiquette), Google Monster!, Invention Convention.

During the opening session of the conference, National FBLA officers were introduced and members running for National Offices for the coming year were introduced and gave short campaign speeches. Georgia FBLA was recognized once again for having the largest state chapter in the Nation.

The remainder of the week was dedicated to the Southern Campaign Rally, Southern Region Voting Session, and Awards Ceremony. During the campaign rally, candidates for the FBLA Southern Area Vice President gave speeches participated in a question and answer session. Members voted for the Southern Region Vice President during the Southern Region Voting Session. During the Awards Ceremony, Kyle Roggow, CHS, was presented with an award for 2nd place in FBLA Principles and Procedures. Georgia FBLA members won over 40 awards.

In addition to attending meetings the members from Polk County visited the Hermitage, the home of President Andrew Jackson, participated in the March of Dimes March around the Nashville Convention Center, participated in Georgia FBLA lunch activities at the Spaghetti Factory and Wild Horse Saloon and visited the mall in Franklin, TN. RHS FBLA also assisted with a community service project that benefited the flood victims of Nashville by donating canned food items.

The students were chaperoned by Andrea Sorrells, RMS Adviser and Janet Dover, RHS Adviser.