Submitted by Hailey Bixler, Vice-President of Programs
The school year has come to an end, which means that all classes, activities, and organizations related to school are now just memories stored in a very distant corner of our minds. But just because school has ended doesn’t mean that FCCLA has, and there are plenty of things to do in the summer with FCCLA to give you a head start!
Prepare for the National Leadership Conference. Do you have your schedule planned out for NLC? Have you created a packing list yet? What about arrangements for transportation? The conference will be here before you know it, so if you are going it is time to start making preparations. If you are competing in STAR, it would be a good idea to go over your speech or practice your presentation. Can you improve anything before Nationals? If so, now is the time. Go over the rubrics from SLC and see if there is anything you can tweak, or talk to your adviser about any last-minute changes you want to make.
Start thinking about next year’s STAR project. If you aren’t competing in STAR at the National level, it’s a good idea to start thinking about what event you want to do for this coming year. Keep in mind that while you can’t work on anything for next year’s project until July 1st, you can start figuring out what event you want to do. Find a list of national STAR events here, as well as a quiz you can take to find out what STAR events would fit you!
Work on the State Degree Program. The Nebraska FCCLA State Degree Program is a multi-year journey that basically records the different parts of FCCLA you have participated in. You can find more information including the exact criteria to be met here, but generally if you have been at least semi-active in FCCLA this past year, you can fill out something for the State Degree Program. If you haven’t looked at the program yet, now would be a great time to give it a look and see what you have already done and what you need to do. Otherwise you can use this time to fill out reports for any conferences you have attended, leadership positions you have held, or programs you have participated in this year. If you are new to FCCLA, you can still look at the State Degree Program to see what you should be doing this upcoming year and write some of the required short essays.
Search for volunteer opportunities. Does your chapter do any volunteer work in the summer? If not, maybe it’s time for your chapter to look into the many opportunities that arise during the summertime. Many special events are hosted in the summer such as fairs or festivals. Be on the lookout for events hosted by local organizations like the library or animal shelter. Nearby businesses may also provide opportunities to volunteer if they have any special sales events. Ways to help can include overseeing different games and activities or running a concession stand during the event. Most of these organizations or businesses would be glad for some help, and it doesn’t hurt to ask!
Summer may mean that school is over, but there are still plenty of opportunities to get involved in FCCLA! If you are busy during the school year with classes, sports, and other organizations, the summer is also a great time to get ahead with STAR projects or the State Degree Program. By taking part in the multiple opportunities FCCLA provides, this summer you can help Nebraska FCCLA break barriers!