Category: Featured

THE BIG 33 COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT
The Goal:  33,000 Community Service Hours Each Year

Community service is one of the core goals of FBLA, and it should be a focus of all chapters and all members.  PA FBLA’s Big 33 program is designed to recognize chapters and members for the volunteer hours they have committed in school and in the community.

Guidelines

01.  Community service hours are to be recorded and claimed monthly.
02.  Only hours for which the volunteer is unpaid may be claimed.
03.  Volunteer hours may be claimed for service performed in the schools and in the community.
04.  The maximum number of hours able to be claimed in one day is 24. No longer will generic items such as “Summer of 2022” be acceptable.
05.  All hours must be recorded monthly on the online form found at one of the links shown below:

• High School FBLA Grades 9-12:  https://pafbla.wufoo.com/forms/p764ccg0honpdq/
• Middle School FBLA Grades 5-8:  https://pafbla.wufoo.com/forms/zfkgu8h1n7w6qw/

Levels of Chapter Recognition
There are two levels of recognition that will be available:
01.  Certificates will be presented to the Top 10 chapters with the most community service hours during the business session at the State Leadership Conference.
02.  Each member attending the SLC from a chapter that participated in the Big 33 Project with receive a “Big 33 Chapter” ribbon.

Levels of Member Recognition
PA FBLA will recognize all members who complete at least three hours of community service during the period of March 1 through February 20.  The recognition members receive will be:
01.  All participating members will be awarded a certificate of recognition and a letter of commendation.
02.  Members who achieve top 10 status will be recognized at the Business Session at the State Leadership Conference, but it will not automatically entitle a member to qualify to attend the State Leadership Conference.
03.  Participants attending the State Leadership Conference will receive a special Big 33 “individual” ribbon to wear on the name badge.

EXAMPLES OF ACCEPTABLE FORMS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE

The following are examples of community service that would be acceptable to claim as part of the Big 33 Club.  Hours may be claimed for both FBLA and non-FBLA related activities.  Examples:  members may claim community service hours performed while members of organizations such as Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Student Council, Key Club, church youth groups, etc.

Community service hours are unpaid activities—time given freely of one’s own will and not because the member is required to do so.  Community service is designed to improve the quality of life for community residents or schools.  Community service can occur in such fields as health care, child care, literacy training, education (including tutorial services), welfare, social services, transportation, housing and neighborhood improvement, public safety, crime prevention and control, recreation, rural development, and community improvement.

This list is not all-inclusive.  These are examples only.

Church-related Activities

1. participating in a dunking booth for a church
2. working as a meal volunteer for senior citizens
3. babysitting during church services (unpaid)
4. serving as a Sunday School teacher/assistant
5. providing rides to services for those without vehicles
6. participated in a Bowl-a-Thon for a cause
7. Easter Egg hunts
8. altar server/acolyte
9. church lector
10. vacation Bible school volunteer
11. mission trips

Community-based Activities

1. working as an auction volunteer for a community-service organization such as Lions, Lioness, Ducks Unlimited.
2. working as a blood drive volunteer at a Red Cross Bloodmobile
3. participating in a Relay for Life activity
4. serving as a volunteer at the local hospital
5. serving as a Big Brother/Big Sister
6. becoming Red Cross safety certified
7. participating in a March of Dimes activity
8. Christmas caroling at the senior citizen home
9. adopt-a-highway clean-up days
10. serving as an EMT/volunteer fireman
11. bell ringer for Salvation Army
12. coaching Little League/other unpaid activities
13. any FBLA/school activity that ultimately benefits outside groups such as Special Olympics, Habitat for Humanity
14. public library volunteer
15. counting coins for disaster relief
16. telephone operator for a telethon

School Activities

1. open house volunteer
2. working at a FBLA or school-group concession stand
3. gathering and sorting items for a food drive
4. working at a elementary school fair or book fair
5. working at a Basket Bingo to raise funds for a charitable organization
6. serving as a math, science, English, etc., tutor
7. guiding freshmen tours
8. volunteering at a school-based sports tournament
9. reading to elementary students on Dr. Seuss days
10. gift wrapping for need families
11. working at the school store (unpaid)
12. served as volunteer assisting teachers with clerical-related activities (unpaid)
13. assisting/participating in the school play/musical
14. lab assistant
15. pit orchestra
16. school announcements
17. assisting with kindergarten orientation
18. collecting recyclable materials
19. tech team member
20. volunteer clerical activities

Miscellaneous Activities

1. stuffing envelopes for a school-based or community organization
2. assisting senior citizens with painting house, cleaning yards, clearing snow
3. collected coins at local banks for a charitable organization
4. collected Toys for Tots

Workplace Activities

1. volunteering to work in an office (unpaid)
2. babysitting (unpaid)
3. summer camp counselor (unpaid)
4. volunteer clerical activities

The PA FBLA Keystone Leadership Award recognizes successful members for their continued commitment, involvement, and dedication to FBLA. This award certifies a complete FBLA education, guided by the three foundational pillars of the organization: service, education, and progress. This award is designed to acknowledge those who participate in the promotion of the 2024-2025 State Goals, Program of Work, and State Project.

Keystone Leadership Award Flyer (with details)
Keystone Leadership Award Submission Link

Who Is Eligible?

• An active FBLA member for at least two consecutive years, including the 2024-2025 application cycle.
• Successful completion of the requirements listed.
• Members who have not received this award before.

What is Awarded?

• Certificate of Achievement and a small gift.
• If in attendance, recognition on stage at the State Leadership Conference.
• Recognition on the Keystone Leadership Award Honor Roll published on the Pennsylvania FBLA website and in one edition of The Penn Pal (Pennsylvania FBLA’s digital newsletter).

How to Apply?

• Complete at least 12 of the 24 items.  The first item in each pillar is required.
• Submit the required Wufoo form with documentation found at the following link:  https://pafbla.wufoo.com/forms/zoj2ax61pj353d/
• It is IMPERATIVE that you collect ALL information before uploading it into the WuFoo form, as you cannot save it and come back to it!

MAKE SURE YOU UPLOAD ALL THE REQUIRED FILES!  Submission deadline date:  March 1, 2025

Members will be notified at the State Leadership Conference if they have won this award. If not in attendance, the award will be given to their adviser or will be mailed to their school.

Questions? Email Hayden Schwabe, PA FBLA President – president@pafbla.net

Keystone Leadership Award Flyer (click this link to download a full copy of the document)

We are honored that you are interested in becoming an FBLA adviser and starting or reactivating an FBLA chapter at your school.  Here are the suggested steps to follow to activate your chapter.

Step #1:  Reach out to the state office/national office and let us know you are interested in becoming part of FBLA

• Please complete this online form and let us know that you are interested.  We’ll help guide you through the process and keep things moving.  Please complete this New or Reactivated Chapter Form.
  • Once your form is received, you will hear from PA FBLA Executive Director, Bruce Boncal, who will create your chapter record AND will send you a welcome email.  Once your chapter record is created, you will receive an email to activate your individual adviser/co-adviser account, which will give you access to multiple resources to secure approve and recruit members.
  • National FBLA will send you a Chapter Welcome Kit.

Step #2:  Make sure you have received all necessary approvals to start an FBLA chapter

• Speak to staff members who might be willing to serve as a chapter adviser.  Each local chapter is required to have an adviser.  An adviser can be a school administrator, a teacher, or any faculty member. The primary adviser may not be a parent unless he/she is a school staff member.
• Schedule to meet with the school principal about your desire to start an FBLA chapter.
• Be ready to meet with the school superintendent and possibly the School Board.
• Prepare a packet of materials about FBLA for the principal, superintendent, and School Board (if necessary); be prepared to make a presentation about FBLA to each.

Step #3:  Recruit at Least 5 Chapter Members / Elect Officers or Establish an Executive Board

Step #4:  Gather necessary student demographic information  for entry into the membership system

• Create an online form (such as a Google form) to collect the following required student information:  (1) first name, (2) last name, (3) gender, (4) grade level, (5) email address (a unique email address is REQUIRED for each student; it is suggested that it be a personal email address rather than a school email address as experience has shown us that many school systems will block email from National FBLA and PA FBLA).
• Using your National FBLA login credentials, enter names into the National FBLA Connect membership system; generate an invoice; and pay for the dues by (1) credit card (no convenience fee; (2) purchase order, (3) check.  More information about where to send the check is in Step #7.

 Step #5:  Complete the sample chapter bylaws found below

• Sample Local Chapter Bylaws in PDF Format.
• Sample Local Chapter Bylaws in Word Format.

 Step #6:  Process payment for membership dues

• Make the check payable to:  FBLA Inc. (do not mail any dues to PA FBLA)
• Mail the dues check to the National FBLA lockbox:
  • FBLA, Inc. (make the check payable to FBLA)
    PO Box 79063
    Baltimore, MD 21279
• Dues are $16 per student ($6 state dues and $10 national dues) for students in Grades 9-12.
• Dues are $13 per student ($3 state dues and $10 national dues) for students in Grades 5-8.
• Dues are unified.  A member must pay both state and national dues.
• Dues are not refundable or transferable to another student once they are processed at the national office.
• If you need a W-9 for National FBLA to present to your school business office, click this link.

Step #7:  Process additional memberships after you submit your initial membership

• Logon to the FBLA Connect to add additional members.
• You may add new members at any time AND as many times as you would like during the year.

Step #8:  For all questions regarding Pennsylvania FBLA and for support, contact:

State Office Mailing Address:
Mr. Bruce E. Boncal
PA FBLA Executive Director
PO Box 5085
Jersey Shore, PA 17740
bboncal@pafbla.us
570.279.6998 cell/texts

For Middle-Level Support:
Mrs. Michele Sites
PA FBLA Middle School Coordinator
234 Village Drive
Canonsburg, PA 15317
msites@pafbla.us
412.417.3543 cell/texts

The Role of an Adviser
The success of FBLA rests on the shoulders of student members. However, without the guidance of the local chapter advisers, no success would be possible. The adviser is instrumental in organizing and stimulating chapter development. They gain the support of the school administration and community.  

Here are items to help you in managing your chapter:

• Once you receive your FBLA Connect login credentials, download the High School or Middle School Chapter Management Handbook, which can only be accessed through the membership system.
• Look at the National FBLA website (www.fbla.org) and FBLA Connect for important information.
• Regularly refer to the PA FBLA website (www.pafbla.org) and any PA FBLA direct emails for regular information about competitive events, programs, and events occurring in Pennsylvania.
• Establish a date for your first organizational meeting.
  • Advertise your meeting.
  • Promote FBLA and the meeting in classes.
• Hold the first meeting; elect chapter officers.
• Login to FBLA Connect and add new members (or have them complete an online membership form which you can approve).
• Create the necessary invoices in FBLA Connect for new members.
• Pay invoice by credit card (no convenience fee); upload a purchase order; or print a copy of the invoice and send it with your check.
• Paid members will receive a digital membership card at the email address you provide.
• Establish regular meeting dates (usually monthly).
• Create a Program of Work to help establish a schedule of activities and goals for your chapter and its members.
  • Encourage members to participate in the high school or middle school competitive events program during the year.
  • Facilitate members’ participation in the National FBLA Business High School Achievement Awards program and the National FBLA Middle School LEAD Awards program.
  • Participate in Pennsylvania’s Big 33 Community Service Program; support the state project (Pennsylvania’s chosen state charity); complete some of the items in the William Selden Outstanding Chapter Program; and have individuals complete the Keystone Leadership Award.
  • Attend any and all of the following Pennsylvania FBLA events during the year; seek the necessary school approvals based on school policies and schedule support services (example: transportation) to attend.
    • State Leadership Workshop (usually last Sunday/Monday in October at the Kalahari Poconos Resort) (1 or 2 nights’ lodging)
    • Region Leadership Conference (either December or January/competitive events program at a high school/post-secondary institution in your regional area) (no overnight lodging)
    • State Leadership Conference (held in April in Hershey) (2 or 3 nights’ lodging OR commuter status)
  • If your members qualify, plan to attend the National Leadership Conference (held in a major city at the end of June). (5-6 nights’ lodging plus travel)

The local chapter adviser should:

• Be knowledgeable about the history, bylaws and programs of the national and state chapters for active operation of the local chapter.
• Direct, chaperone, and coordinate supervision of chapter activities.
• Organize the selection process for chapter officers and provide officer training.
• Encourage civic responsibility.
• Assist in the maintenance of necessary chapter records.
• Establish rules and guidelines that will help students lead themselves while remaining consistent with school policies and state and national bylaws.
• Hold regular chapter meetings and see that they are conducted in a business-like manner.
• Assist members and officers in developing an annual program of work, which includes a budget, calendar, and committee assignments.
• 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 chapter activities and outstanding student achievements.
• Be knowledgeable of the guidelines for district/regional, state, and national competitive events and activities and coordinate participation at all levels.
• Oversee financial development projects and supervise the receipt, recording, depositing, and expenditure of chapter funds.

The adviser’s roles are:  (1) leader, (2) marketer, (3) fundraiser, (4) travel agent, (5) coach, (6) role model, and (7) networker.

Why Recruit Chapter Members?
The most important resource any organization has is its membership. The more dependable, enthusiastic members you attract—the more you can accomplish. Make your chapter stronger by keeping these points in mind.

• A large and diverse membership makes for rich brainstorming sessions, unique projects, and lightened individual workloads.
• Bigger is better—when it means that you have resources to dedicate to many worthy activities.
• FBLA’s recognition and influence are assured when a larger portion of your student body and, by extension, your community is involved in your activities.
• Your members enhance the chapter as a whole—while the chapter enriches your members.
• FBLA offers students the following benefits and advantages:
  • Possible internship opportunities
  • Putting your skills to the test with 60 + competitive events
  • Rewards, scholarships, and recognition opportunities
  • Networking
  • Travel opportunities

Chapter Officers/Executive Board
It is suggested that each executive board includes the following offices:

• President
• Vice President
• Secretary
• Treasurer
• Reporter
• Historian
• Parliamentarian
• Social Media Officers
• Others as defined by your chapter’s bylaws

Why Bylaws?
Bylaws are the rules by which a chapter regulates its affairs and the behavior of its members. FBLA strongly recommends that each local chapter creates bylaws for its chapter to abide by.

Create a Program of Work
The Program of Work is the action plan of a chapter. Strong Programs of Work include well-defined goals and objectives, deadlines, and assigned tasks. The Program of Work is important because it ensures careful planning and a detailed layout for the fiscal year.  Get involved in state and national individual and chapter programs.

Schedule Chapter Meetings/Establish Agendas
Many successful chapters layout dates and locations of each other their meetings in the beginning of the year. This ensures the chapter has a meeting place and the dates and locations can be published and publicized to members and prospective members. In addition, they create agendas that layout exactly what is to be discussed at each meeting.

Establish Chapter Committees
Committees help with the day-to-day tasks that will make your chapter a success.  They also help increase member involvement in your chapter’s activities.  Suggested committees include:  (1) professional development, (2) recruitment/membership, (3) community service, (4) fundraising, (5) social, (6) publicity, (7) competitive events, and (8) awards.

Having up-to-date contact information for advisers is essential to sharing information about FBLA and FBLA-ML programs, events, and deadlines.

New Chapter Advisers

If you are a New Chapter Adviser for which PA FBLA has no contact information, please complete this online form.  Once the information is received, your information will also be uploaded to the National FBLA my.fbla-pbl.org membership system.

If you are a New Chapter Adviser at a different school (even though you may have been at another school), please fill out this form.  It will be used to update your information with the national office.

Click here for the New Chapter Adviser Registration Form.

Advisers Changing Contact Information

If you were previously registered as chapter adviser AND remain at a school where you were registered BUT need to update your contact information, please complete the following online form.  ONLY COMPLETE the areas that changed.

If you are aware that an adviser previously registered at your school is no longer serving as a chapter adviser, please place that information in the appropriate space on the form.

Click here to Update Your FBLA Adviser Contact Information
or identify any advisers that are no longer with your chapter