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The Oregon Leadership Institute (OLI) was held on November 2-3 2014 in Bend, Oregon. This two day conference allowed FCCLA, FBLA, Skills USA, HOSA and DECA members from across the state of Oregon to network, attend workshops and learn more about their Career and Technical Student Organizations.

FCCLA members had the opportunity to come together twice to receive different updates and information on projects relating to Oregon FCCLA.  “Rounding the Bases with FCCLA” workshop covered information such as FCCLA at the Table, Mission Addition, and information about FCCLA’s national programs and Share Our Strength.

The State Officer Team encourages everyone to take the pledge to prepare a meal for your family with FCCLA at the Table. To find more information about FCCLA at the Table you can visit http://www.fcclainc.org/content/fccla-at-the-table/.

Mission Addition is this year’s new membership campaign to encourage chapters to increase our membership to over 220 members. There are three levels to this year’s campaign. The first level is to increase your chapter’s membership by one new member. All chapters that reach this goal will be recognized at SLC. To complete level two, chapters are challenged to increase chapter membership by 12 new members. If a chapter completes level two, they will be recognized at SLC and receive a complimentary SLC registration.  The top-level award will be given to the chapter with the largest percentage of increase. The chapter that has the largest percentage of increase will receive a popsicle party and reserved seating.

The final area that the State Officer Team covered was national programs and Share Our Strength. During this portion of the workshop, members learned that Oregon FCCLA is focusing on the Student Body national program. To continue on last year’s efforts, members will raise money for FCCLA’s National Outreach Project, Share Our Strength. State President, Raymond Seal, challenged each chapter to raise at least $1 per chapter member.

During the rest of the conference members attending various workshops, took part in an interactive opening session, etiquette dinner and heard from our closing keynote speaker, Kent Butler. FCCLA members also had the opportunity to compete in Creed Speaking and Impromptu Speaking. Every participant in the two events did an outstanding job representing Oregon FCCLA and are to be commended for their participation.

We hope everyone that attended OLI had a great experience and were able to find ways to grow as a leader and become more involved in FCCLA. We can’t wait until the State Leadership Conference, which, will be held April 15^th through 18^th in Portland.

In celebration of Career and Technical Education Month, the Oregon Career and Technical Student Organizations received a state proclamation. Join the State of Oregon in recognizing the value of Career and Technical Education and our student organizations this February 2015.

State Proclamation (PDF)

This year’s Oregon FCCLA state officer team is hard-working, dedicated, ambitious and fun! These three individuals are working very hard to meet their goal to make FCCLA the best organization. Here is a bit of information on your 2015-2016 state officers.

Mackenzie Gray is a senior at Enterprise High School, and she is currently serving as the 2015-2016 Oregon FCCLA State President. Mackenzie has served as her chapter’s Historian in the past, and is currently her chapter’s Senior Representative. Mackenzie has been a member of FCCLA for four years. She has been involved in many fundraisers and activities in her local chapter. Competing at the state level, she has received gold and qualified for Nationals for three years in a row.

Outside of FCCLA, she is active in many leadership roles in her community. She has been the President of her class and the school’s Yearbook Editor. She has also been the President of the local Mentor Match Youth Entrepreneurship Club, which has given her the opportunity to run and manage her own business. She is a cheerleader and a softball player. After high school, Mackenzie plans on attending the Oregon Institute of Technology or the University of California, Berkeley for premedical studies. After obtaining her bachelor’s degree, she plans on attending medical school to get her Doctorate of Medicine. She hopes to become an anesthesiologist.

For Mackenzie, FCCLA is one of the most important things in her life. It has given her so many amazing opportunities to advance her leadership skills, reach out and help others, and gain skills and experience that she will use later in life. Mackenzie is extremely happy and excited to be serving as a State Officer this year.

Isabelle Tingelstad, a junior at Joseph Charter School, is currently serving as the 2015-2016 Oregon FCCLA Vice President of Peer Education. Isabelle has served as her chapter’s Vice President in the past. She has been a member of FCCLA for two years, and has helped her community by doing different activities and fundraising events. Competing at the state level, she has received gold twice, qualifying her for nationals.

Outside of FCCLA, Isabelle is very active in cross country and track. She also has a love for outdoor activities, such as hiking, skiing, rock climbing, swimming, running, hunting, and kayaking.  After high school, Isabelle plans on attending a four year college, and continuing on to medical school after she receives her bachelor's degree. One day she hopes to pursue a job in the medical field.

Isabelle never expected to be a state officer for FCCLA, but is extremely glad she took on the responsibility.  Her experience in FCCLA has helped her to become involved in a new school, gain leadership skills, improve her speaking skills, expanded her knowledge, and make new friends. FCCLA has had a positive impact on her life, and she has made many memories.

Meet Johnelle’ Suto. She is currently a sophomore at Joseph Charter School and this year’s Oregon FCCLA Secretary. She serves as the Joseph Chapter’s Secretary as well. As a two-year member in FCCLA she has completed two STAR Event projects, receiving gold both years and qualifying for nationals twice. Johnelle’ is heavily involved in several extracurricular activities, including FFA, 4-H, Oregon Thespians, Natural Helpers, and, in addition, volunteers to do random acts of service in her community. She is also on her school’s varsity volleyball and varsity track/field teams; and during the winter enjoys skiing in her free time. After high school Johnelle’ plans on attending college to earn a bachelor’s degree majoring in Pre-Med. She then plans on earning a doctorate to pursue Podiatry or Dermatology.

This year's Oregon FCCLA state officer team is hard-working, dedicated, ambitious and fun! Please don’t hesitate to reach out to any one of them as they are here to help you! I hope you enjoyed a fun read about your 2015 - 2016 State Officers!

Hello FCCLA members! How many of you are excited for this school year, and to be involved with this amazing organization? Well, we are! This year we are going to try and increase FCCLA membership. This would be pretty hard to do alone, so we are asking for you guys to help us! Your mission, if you should choose to accept it, will be to increase your chapter's membership before the state conference in April.

We will be comparing your membership to the year before and the increase will be based on the percentage value. This way, bigger and smaller schools all compete on an even playing field. During the closing session we will announce the winner of this campaign. The winning chapter will receive a trophy. This trophy will stay at your school for the year, then the next year at SLC, your chapter will bring it back and it will be passed to the next years winner. We can’t wait to see who will increase their membership the most and bring home the trophy… let's make Oregon FCCLA the biggest it has ever been!

FCCLA stands for the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America. It is an organization that involves so many different things.  It is easy for everyone to find something to love about FCCLA. Most importantly, FCCLA is a family. FCCLA’s mission is to promote personal growth and leadership development through Family and Consumer Sciences education. Focusing on the multiple roles of family member, wage earner and community leader, members develop skills for life through character development; creative and critical thinking; interpersonal communications; practical knowledge; and career preparation.

I fell in love with FCCLA during my freshman year after joining just because I wanted something to do. It has been something that has completely changed my life in ways that I would have never expected, and taught me many important, useful skills. Before FCCLA, I was not someone that would put myself out there. I definitely was not a leader, and I had no idea what to do with my life. FCCLA has taught me purpose and leadership--two things that I value greatly. Without FCCLA, I wouldn’t be the person that I am today. I am now a confident leader with skills that will get me through important things in my life. FCCLA helped me break out of my shell and become a better version of myself, and it can do the same for you.

FCCLA is a great way to promote your own personal growth. Whether it is becoming more involved in your community or expanding your leadership skills, FCCLA can help you with it. With the many options that FCCLA provides, you can pick something that you love and do something with it. FCCLA not only helps the students that are involved, but it also helps schools. It helps to carry out the school’s purpose of preparing employable citizens, and also helps to gain community support. FCCLA is a positive, goal-oriented organization that provides many great opportunities for everyone involved. FCCLA is truly the ultimate leadership experience, and this is why you should join the amazing organization that is FCCLA.

The Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America is one of the coolest CTSO's you can join, but many would ask "why?". Here are "The Five Best Reasons to Join FCCLA…

1. Memories

No FCCLA member will ever tell you that they regret joining this organization. Memories that are made are never forgotten and with this group of fantastic students plenty of memories will be made. Maybe a few that are stressed out about an upcoming event or project, but many more about great times spent with friends.

2. The Skits!

After attending SLC any member will see the meaning of this reason. FCCLA skits are cheesy, corny, and hilarious wrapped into a couple fun little sessions. The state officers always take pride in their skits each year and show no shame in their presentation.

3. Leadership Experience

On a more serious note, FCCLA can present you with experiences that you will carry with you for a lifetime. FCCLA offers many opportunities where you are put into situations that require teamwork and collaboration. By competing in STAR Events you will be improving your personal confidence and public speaking skills as well.

4. New Friendships

By being in FCCLA you will have the opportunity to interact and mingle with other students with interests similar to yours. If you attend SLC or NLC you get the chance to make friends throughout your state and even from across the country. Meeting new people will definitely be one of your favorite FCCLA experiences.

5. Benefiting Yourself as well as the Community

This organization gives student the opportunity to better themselves while helping out fellow community members. By doing multiple national programs and STAR event projects students can express their love for their communities while learning more about them.

Do you eat right, stay fit, and make healthy choices?  All of these things are promoted by the National Program, Student Body.  Student Body is a national program in action that teaches students the importance of eating healthy, staying active, and having a good attitude. Teen years are the ideal time to establish healthy habits.  Many kids are not physically fit, have poor eating habits, and are often bothered by a lack of self-esteem.  Student Body helps teens to build a healthy body, for today and later in the future.

In 2012, more than one third of children and adolescents were overweight or obese.  By now, this statistic has probably increased.  By promoting healthy habits at a young age, we can hopefully decrease the number of obese students.  Develop healthy eating habits by making sure to not eat a lot of junk food. Instead of junk food, eat fruit or vegetables.  By eating fruit you get the healthy sugars instead of processed sugars, which are not good for you. When you are thirsty, drink water instead of juices and soda, which also have huge amounts of processed sugar.

Don’t sit inside all day. If it’s nice out, get outside and move around! Go for a bike ride or a run. By getting thirty minutes a day of exercise, you decrease your risk of becoming obese.  So don’t make poor choices, learn more about student body and become a fit, healthy student!

As State Leadership Conference approaches our members are starting to prepare for their competitive STAR Events. New members who don’t know; STAR Events stand for, Students Taking Action with Recognition. They are competitive events members participate in and are recognized for their proficiency and achievement in individual or group projects that improve leadership skills and promote career preparation. Participant will receive ranks based on a score rubric and then will either receive a gold, silver, or bronze medal. All gold recipients qualify and earn the chance to compete at National Leadership Conference this summer!

There are many categories of STAR Events including; career investigation, chapter service, culinary arts, early childhood education, entrepreneurship, food innovations, illustrated talk, interpersonal communication, job interview, national programs in action, nutrition and wellness, parliamentary procedure, sports nutrition and many more.

For more information you can visit: http://fcclainc.org/programs/star-event-descriptions.php - or talk to your adviser about different STAR Events and how you can get started on different projects and competitions.

A chapter visit is when the Oregon FCCLA State Officers come to your school to spend time with your local FCCLA chapter! It is a great thing to do for your chapter. Here are five reasons why you should have a State Officer visit your school.

1. It is a great way to spread the word about FCCLA.

Having the State Officers visit your school is a great way to let people know about FCCLA. People can meet the State Officers and learn a lot about FCCLA if they are interested in it.

2. It’s fun!

Chapter visits are always a good time, and a lot of fun for both members and the officers. We love meeting the members and interacting with them!

3. You can learn a lot.

Whether you have questions about running for a state office, participating in STAR Events, or just FCCLA in general, the State Officers are there to answer your questions.

4. It encourages people to join FCCLA.

When people see how much fun the State Officers and the chapter members are having together, they will want to join in on the fun too!

5. You will get to know the State Officers better.

Having a State Officer visit your school is a good way to get to know them better because you will be able to interact with them on a more personal level.

There are so many reasons as to why you should have a State Officer visit your school. These are just a few examples. If you are interested in this, please email president@oregonfccla.org. We hope to hear from you!

Oregon CTSO Chapter Grant Applications are Now Available! Please click here to download the grant information and instructions.  When you are ready to submit your grant application, the online application can be found here: http://bit.ly/22zj0FS Please note: applications must be complete and submitted before 5 p.m. Pacific Time on Wednesday, January 20. At that time the form will automatically close. Please contact grants@oregonctso.org for more information.

February is Career and Technical Education Month -- It’s time to broadcast the value of CTE statewide in a special Public Service Announcement…and YOU are the star! This year’s theme is Opportunities for Career Success! Students are encouraged to advocate, share stories, and raise awareness about how CTE is creating opportunities for your career success. To further promote the importance of Career and Technical Education, the Oregon CTE Student Leadership Foundation is hosting a Video Contest. Show your support and pride for CTE, and demonstrate how CTE is making an impact in the lives of many students by creating a Public Service Announcement video. There are cash prizes for the winning entries! The deadline is January 19, 2016 -- For more information, visitwww.oregonctso.org/videocontest

If I could describe being a State Officer with one word, it would be this: Awesome! But I need a lot more than one word to really tell you about the amazing experience that is being a State Officer. Running for a State Officer was nerve racking, but I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything in the world.

            One of the benefits of being a State Officer is the amazing leadership training that you receive. You get to work with Tri Leadership to learn how to be an effective leader. Expanding your leadership skills comes with endless benefits that can help you in so many ways. From learning how to advocate for your organization to improving your public speaking, you learn skills that you will use throughout your whole life.

            Another great thing about being a State Officer is that you get to meet so many amazing young student leaders! The State Officers from FCCLA, DECA, FBLA, HOSA, and Skills USA often work together. This means that you get to meet people from all around your state that have one thing in common with you: a passion for student leadership. The friendships that come from this can last a lifetime!

            Not only do you get to expand your leadership skills and meet new people, but you also get to advocate for your organization as a State Officer. FCCLA is a student-led organization. As a State Officer, you have a huge role when it comes to making things happen within your organization. Getting to advocate for something that you are passionate about is a great feeling.

            If you are considering running for a State Office, I would strongly encourage you to do so. The things that you learn and the experiences that you gain are irreplaceable! If you have any questions about running for a State Office, contact your State Officers today!