Leaders to Watch

This year’s Missouri FCCLA has introduced a new program for up and coming leaders and members who have had leadership positions in the past. The program was adopted from the national level and has been brought to the state level. Missouri State President, Caleb Hearon says that the qualities that makeup a suitable leader to watch would be professionalism and knowing when to lead and knowing when to step down. He says, “Even if you are national president or state president, or even just a chapter president, sometimes it isn’t your time to shine. Sometimes it’s someone else’s time to shine…you have to know how to follow to be a good leader.”

Three high school members and three middle school members will be honored with the title of Leader to Watch. FCCLA members can vote on three students in which they would like to be selected. Hearon encourages members to apply for the program again next year and he says this is one of the additions that has made this year’s State Leadership Conference the best one yet. Winners will be recognized at the Closing Session on Tuesday.

Contributed by Alyssa Glasgow, Media Team Member

Getting Involved with Alumni and Associates

Everyone says high school doesn’t last forever, but with Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America, it can. Alumni and Associates is an organization that keeps you involved with FCCLA even after you graduate. Be a part of one of the best organizations around throughout college!

Alumni and Associates members run the FCCLA store you see at STATE conference and also the one at the Fall Leadership Conference. However, they are better known for fundraising and awarding scholarships to students furthering their education in Family and Consumer Sciences at the collegiate level. Former FCCLA members are always hard at work keeping the FCCLA spark lit around the great state of Missouri.
Getting involved with this dynamic organization is easy. Ask your advisor or check them out on Facebook for more information. There are dues to pay at the National level but none at the State level. Therefore, the broke college student excuse just won’t work for this one! Just remember, even though you are graduating doesn’t mean you have to stop daring to be different.

Contributed by Audrey Shuler, Former State Officer and Media Team Member

F-O-C-U-S

Speaker Thomas Dismukes has spoken to many different FCCLA members. Here at the Missouri FCCLA State Leadership Conference Thomas says that he loves interacting with the Missouri FCCLA members. “They are high-quality, top notch students with great attitudes.” Dismukes said while he was preparing for his leadership session on Monday morning.

Thomas was the Opening General Session Keynote speaker for the 2012 State Leadership Conference. During the Keynote he told the members to use the word “Focus” as an acronym. F stands for putting “First Things First”. O stands for “Others”, where he meant to put others before yourself. C stands for character, communication, and consumption. The letter U stands for understanding and that you are never too old to learn or understand something new. The letter S stood for source, consider the source, smile, and self. Dismukes advice to all the FCCLA members is to “Hang on. Just hang on.” and to focus.

Contributed by Katie Danforth, Media Team Member

Welcome to the 2012 State Leadership Conference

On Sunday more than 1800 hundred FCCLA members flooded Columbia, MO for the annual State Leadership Conference. Chapters checked in, picked up their t-shirts, name tags, and their STAR Events competition information. The 2011-2012 State Executive Council continued their long rehearsals, and the incoming Council members were meeting each other, attending workshops, and getting to know more about their new jobs.

This year keynote speaker, Thomas Dismukes, helped students develop a FOCUS on what makes them different. The theme for the conference, Dare 2B Different: Not Just Another Teen Conference is proving how FCCLA members are making a mark all over the state. Finally, at 7:00 PM, the doors opened to the Opening General Session. Members danced, yelled, and even sung a few songs. Caleb Hearon, the State President, opened the meeting and ensured that the rest of the Conference would be one to never forget.

Good luck to the STAR Events participants and the screening of 2012-2013 State Officers later today. Show Columbia how you Dare 2B Different!

Joplin Tornado Disaster Relief Fund

Helping people that are in need in our communities is a part of what FCCLA stands for. When an EF-4 tornado hit Joplin, MO on May 23, 2011 it was one of the deadliest tornadoes in over 60 years for Missouri. Almost everything was destroyed. After that day many different people from around the United States wanted to help out with the cleanup and to help rebuild. FCCLA is now a part of that.

Missouri FCCLA State President Caleb Hearon states that here at the State Leadership Conference you too can be a part of the Joplin Disaster Relief Fund. In the FCCLA Store you can purchase a Joplin t-shirt and 100% of the proceeds go toward the organization we are partnering with, Community Foundation of the Ozarks. Also another way you can contribute to the fund is by donating at the dance. At the dance the State Officers will be walking around with buckets, and you can drop your money in the bucket. So go ahead and buy a t-shirt to promote FCCLA and more importantly contribute to the Joplin Tornado Disaster Relief Fund. Together we all can make a difference in our communities.

Contributed by Katie Danforth, Media Team Member