The Be Part of It! Membership Kit! is your guide to kicking off your year with a bang! The 2008-2009 Be Part of It! membership campaign is now in a content-rich, easy-to use, CD format! (This is a Winzip executable file, and it is quite large. Download times may vary.) The CD is filled with all of the resources, project ideas, and tools necessary to start or maintain your FCCLA chapter. Packaging will include the Be Part of It! poster and the At-A-Glance poster. To request this kit please email Kenatu Muleta, Marketing & Membership Development Coordinator or contact her at 1-800-234-4425.
Any student who has taken a course in Family and Consumer Sciences through grade 12 is eligible for active membership in an organized chapter within their school. Once the state and national dues are paid, the student will be an official affiliated member. Teachers can be a part of it, too! Teachers certified to teach Family and Consumer Sciences education can serve as the FCCLA chapter adviser.
Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America provides a wealth of benefits for your students, Family and Consumer Sciences program, school, community, and your own professional development. New advisers find that FCCLA offers a broad spectrum of program choices. The word “choices” is the key to survival and success.
Remember: you don’t have to do it all! FCCLA offers a variety of national programs and events to help increase the effectiveness of your Family and Consumer Sciences program and motivates students. During your chapter’s first years, guide members toward the programs that seem to best serve your local community needs. As members gain experience and build a tradition of chapter success, they will be ready to branch out into additional programs and events.
Where Do I Start?
The first step for a new adviser is to establish and affiliate a FCCLA chapter. Follow the Chapter Checklist(.pdf) for basic guidelines on establishing a chapter. National and state affiliation is required to use the “FCCLA” name and gives you and your members access to the FCCLA “world” and its many avenues for information, support, and help. Make sure your administration understands the benefits of having an FCCLA chapter.
Many advisers find that the second step is to involve students right away in a hands-on project that are both fun and meaningful. Whether through an official FCCLA national program or a simple local effort, give members a chance to make a difference and take the lead.
Invite a state or district officer or the adviser and officers from a nearby chapter to speak to members about what young people can do in FCCLA. Attend an FCCLA district/regional meeting or a national meeting.
Have members check out the FCCLA Web site (www.fcclainc.org) and report at the next FCCLA meeting, what they have learned about national programs and opportunities. Use the Step One(.pdf) activity to help members learn more about FCCLA.
Ask your state adviser to explain how FCCLA is organized in your state and to find an experienced adviser to be your mentor and sounding board. Obtain, review, and use FCCLA publications and audiovisual resources. Make plans to participate in the next FCCLA district, regional or state meeting, where members catch other chapters enthusiasm and ideas while you ask questions from experienced colleagues. Perhaps, most of all, enjoy your students and your FCCLA chapter experiences.
Do you aim to instill students with a love of learning? Now FCCLA can help you achieve that. Advising an FCCLA chapter can be an excellent adventure with rich rewards, a stronger FACS program, closer relationships with students, and personal and professional recognition. Keep your eye on the prize, relax, and rely on your students creativity and enthusiasm. Soon enough, you’ll be the one with ideas and insights to share with new advisers.
Things to keep in mind during your first year:
Start small.
Take one step at a time.
There are many ways to start a chapter. The important thing is to get started. Contact your state adviser who can connect you with an experienced mentor in your area or purchase a copy of the FCCLA Chapter Handbook, the ultimate guide for chapter management.
2009
Family, Career and Community Leaders of America, Inc.
1910 Association Drive, Reston Va. 20191-1584 • 703-476-4900 • Fax1 703-860-2713 • Fax2 703-476-7157
The Be Part of It! Membership Kit! is your guide to kicking off your year with a bang! The 2008-2009 Be Part of It! membership campaign is now in a content-rich, easy-to use, 
Get it here!