When Project Plans Change...

This post was submitted by Sherise Coffey, Region 5 State Vice President.


Have you ever had the best idea seem to unravel in front of you?





As the Hermann High FCCLA chapter started the year we were excited to join in the effort of our regional outreach project for the American Cancer Society. But as we began plans for a community-involved luminary ceremony at our Homecoming football game, we quickly developed great concern about how the community would receive this project.

As a community, Hermann had decided to start their own charity campaign called "Crusade Against Cancer." By starting "Crusade Against Cancer" the proceeds were guaranteed to go back to helping the people in our community.

After gathering more information on both causes, we felt that it would be inappropriate to hold a community fundraiser that would not fully be supported by the community. So, we decided to contribute our efforts to both causes. As a chapter, we decided to have the community events contribute to Crusade Against Cancer, but we came up with several other school-based charity projects, such as a hat day, with proceeds to be donated to the American Cancer Society.

For our chapter this was a learning opportunity and problem solving practice. What started as a bump in the road, ended being twice the charitable effort for two very worthy causes. So as your chapters run into set backs or problems, challenge yourself to work together and determine how it can become a positive attribute to your project!