member recognition programs

California FBLA is pleased to offer a comprehensive program of Member Recognition programs. Local chapters are encouraged to ensure that their members are familiar with these programs and are fully participating. Application forms and instructions for each of these programs can be found in the Document Library.

Business Achievement Awards - Individual. This program offers members a self-paced, activity-based leadership achievement program centered on the FBLA themes of Service, Education, and Progress. A total of four awards - Future, Business, Leader, and America - are available to members based on their personal level of activity and achievement. For a complete description, follow this link to the Business Achievement Awards interactive section of the national FBLA website. (Students use this link only after their adviser has set them up in the system; Advisers proceed to the "Adviser Area" of the national web site to begin using the system.) For details on completion, check out the Chapter Management Handbook section on FBLA Chapter and Member Recognition to find out more!

Internship Project. Investing time and energy in an internship is an excellent way to investigate where your career path may eventually lead. Find out more about how to participate in this state project for individuals!

FBLA Advocate Award. This new award recognizes representatives of local, state, and national governmental groups who support FBLA.

L. Byram Bates Memorial Scholarships. California FBLA typically awards several scholarships of $1,000 each to graduating members who exemplify the ideas and mission of FBLA. The scholarship program is named in memory of Byram Bates, who during his lifetime spent 30+ years as an educator, administrator, and business manager for the state association. Details are found in the California Awards Program.

chapter recognition programs

California FBLA is pleased to provide a comprehensive program of work and recognition for local chapters. This program helps ensure that local chapters offer a complete series of opportunities for members to fully explore business, leadership, and the FBLA program.

Business Achievement Awards - Chapter. The primary program for recognizing local chapters is the Business Achievement Awards. California's program incorporates the national recognition program, while providing a simple means for reporting chapter activity and needs to section and state leaders on a monthly basis. Chapters earn points towards recognition for the Chapter Achievement Award, the Chapter Excellence Award, or the Outstanding Chapter Award. Download the Program of Work progress worksheet and Guidelines (.doc) for your chapter and get started!

Gold Seal Chapter Award of Merit. The top 15 percent of local chapters in each state are eligible for this national recognition program. California FBLA also salutes its top chapters by designating them as Gold Seal Chapters. See the California Awards Program for more information.

state participation projects

Local chapters are encouraged to incorporate as many of these state projects into their local Program of Work as possible. In addition to providing the chapter with additional opportunities for recognition, these programs help ensure that the chapter offers its members a comprehensive, well-rounded leadership program. Download and print the paperwork for this year's state projects for your chapter!

Government Awareness Project (GAP). The Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act is one of the most important pieces of Federal legislation which helps career and technical education and FBLA chapters with funding.  Therefore, keeping our government officials informed about the mission and benefits of FBLA is an essential component of our organization’s public relations program.

Required:  Write five letters to your local and/or elected government officials to meet the requirements for the Chapter Business Achievement Awards and for the Gold Seal Chapter Award of Merit. (Sample letters are located in the Document Library on the website:  www.cafbla.org.)  Attach the letters together with the names and positions of the recipients and purpose of the letters.

In addition, your chapter must complete one of the following two options:

• Option 1:  Obtain an FBLA-PBL week proclamation from your city mayor or from your school district Board of Education.  (Attach a copy of the official proclamation) (Sample proclamation)

• Option 2:  Make a personal visit to an elected governmental official.  Type the official’s name, position, and purpose of the visit.  Dress in business attire and include a picture with the official.  (Attach a 100-word summary of what transpired during your visit and a thank-you letter to the official.)

March of Dimes Project (Mission LIFT).  The March of Dimes is the official service partner of FBLA.  For several decades, FBLA has been the largest youth partner of the March of Dimes and has brought in an excess of $15,000,000.  A chapter can earn credit for this project by completing one of the following options:

• Option 1:  A local chapter can plan and implement a March of Dimes project or participate in its local March of Dimes WalkAmerica.  To complete and show documentation for this project, turn in a copy of the check submitted to your local March of Dimes office or if chapter participated in the WalkAmerica, submit the team registration form and proof of contribution (i.e. copy of check or receipt).

• Option 2:  A local chapter can participate in its section’s March of Dimes project if applicable.  Upon completion of the project, the section director will submit the names of the chapters and the proceeds raised to the local March of Dimes office or to the National March of Dimes Headquarters and also send a list of chapters and individual amount raised to the State Officers’ Adviser for the chapters to earn credit for this state project.

Adopt-a-Chapter.  Support to chapters that need assistance is crucial to the success of California FBLA.  One of the two options must be completed:

• Option 1:  Recruitment of a new or reactivated chapter

• Option 2:  Assistance to any chapter in need (Chapter must receive prior approval from the Section Director in determining if the adopted chapter needs assistance.)

The active chapter must submit the required documentation by completing the Adopt-a-Chapter Log.  (Adopt-a-Chapter Log can be found on the website:  www.cafbla.org.)

California FBLA—Go For the Green! This can be an individual OR a chapter project to increase awareness and carbon reduction among the world’s upcoming business leaders—reducing our carbon footprint on the world, one step at a time.  Start improving tomorrow, today!

Individual Project Guidelines (advisers and members)

• Go over the FBLA Goes Green Individual Project Checklist of activities to determine how to complete a minimum of 50 points on the checklist.  (Form will be located in the Document Library on the website:  www.cafbla.org.

• Complete the items you choose to complete on the checklist and complete a Public Relations flyer to promote carbon reduction/Global Warming awareness.  Then, log in the necessary information and write the total points received from each activity.

• Write a 100-word summary of what you will do in the long run to continue to reduce your carbon output.

• If your project involves a need to recycle out-of-use electronics, check out this hassle-free program sponsored by Costco--Costco's Trade-In and Recycle Program. This program provides a web site where you can check for possible trade-in value and, even if there is no trade-in value--Costco provides a link to print a pre-paid UPS mailing label to use in mailing your items in. Once your items are received and verified, you will be sent a Costco Cash Card for the trade-in value! Click here to link to Costco's Electronics Recycling Program. Go Green!

Chapter Project Guidelines

• Select and/or organize activities from the FBLA Goes Green Chapter Project Activity Checklist.  Any combination of four activities must be completed.  Minimum of five (5) members must participate in each activity.  (Form will be located in the  Document Library on the website:  www.cafbla.org.

• Implement and complete the activities selected; provide lists of members who participated together with their assignments, hours worked, dates, and activities; provide picture of chapter members at activities.

• Write a 100-word summary of the effect each of the activities had on the chapter members and on the school/community.

Middle Level Chapter Project.  FBLA chapters that start and/or provide continued assistance to one or more Middle Level chapters will receive special recognition at the State Conference.  Attach to your chapter's State Project Recognition Form a one-page description of the work your chapter did to mentor a Middle Level chapter.

Professional Division Membership Project.  Professional members represent an important and special resource for California FBLA.  Professional members serve as local chapter volunteers, provide training and workshops, coach members in competitive events, and assist in many other ways that make our chapters function smoothly.  Additionally, a portion of their membership dues supports California FBLA’s scholarship program.  Chapters that recruit ten (10) or more professional members will automatically receive special recognition at the State Leadership Conference.  State chapter records will be audited to determine which chapters have met this threshold based on the number received by February 1.  Check the box if your chapter has submitted at least ten professional memberships by the February 1 deadline.

state program partnerships