Preparing for an Epic DECA Month by President Wesley

​Preparing for an EPIC DECA Month
 
            Chapter Officers, this blog is for you! At the time of publication, we are officially in October. Which, weather wise, for us in Florida that basically means nothing. But, in DECA world it means that next month, November, is DECA month! Which, is definitely my favorite month out of the year. (Yes, I know. I am a nerd!)
 
            So, with DECA month being only a few weeks away, I thought it would be nice to talk a little about the things your chapter can do to prepare for DECA month and to share some tips for making it as much fun as it possibly can be.
 
            So first, lets start with a basic questions: What is DECA month? The answer: DECA month occurs in November and gives the members of this amazing organization an opportunity to showcase their experiences, engage each other, and advocate for their chapters and the organization as a whole. In essence, November is basically a whole month where we get to showcase our love for DECA. So, from a chapter perspective, this is a great time to host events or socials that will not only encourage members to join, but also provide resources to the members that you currently have.
 
            Also, your participation in DECA Month activities may satisfy some requirements for the Chapter Campaigns and/or the Florida DECA Annual Business Plan. A per the Florida DECA Annual Business plan, your chapters participation in three activities for DECA month can satisfy the “DECA Month” category under the Experienced Leaders section. Likewise, certain activities may also qualify for Chapter Campaigns completion. See the links below for additional details.
 
            Here are my tips for getting started with the planning process for DECA month:

1. Start Early! - Get your chapter officers together with your advisor(s) and talk about how you can make this DECA month special. What activities will you members want to see? What can your chapter feasibly implement? How will these efforts be received by the student body? Ultimately, will the attendees have an interactions that will encourage them to continue their involvement in the future?
2. Evaluate what your members want. - Start with a survey. With Google Forms or Survey Monkey, there are plenty of free and accessible options out there for chapters to utilize. Find out what your members want to do.
3. Think about the end result. - What are the intended results of these events? Is having a booth open to talk about DECA at lunch as impactful as having an ice cream social and inviting anyone interested? What will your audience be looking for or intrigued by? Overall, how can you qualitatively measure the results of your efforts? These are the questions you will want to ask yourself when it comes to planning for DECA month.
    
   In the past, I have heard of chapters having dress up themed days, social media challenges and chapter social events to get their members engaged.
    
   These are a few suggestions for your officer teams as your prepare for DECA month. Though, it is important to make the distinction that not every chapter is the same. Each and every chapter has a different take on DECA month, some go to amazing heights to pull off extensive and elaborate events and others are more about the individual impact. Also, DECA month starts with the individual members. Always keep in mind your members will forever be top priority.
    
   If you chapter has a particular DECA month idea that they would like to share with the world, let us know in the comments. We love to hear ideas that can inspire others!
    
   Some Resources:
   DECA Month 2014 DECA Direct Article: http://www.decadirect.org/September-2014/Everything-You-Need-for-DECA-Month-2014/
    
   Chapter Campaigns: http://www.deca.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/hs_chapter_campaigns.pdf
    
   Florida DECA Annual Business Plan: http://www.fldeca.org/uploads/1/1/2/3/11231496/annual_business_plan_presentation.pptx
    
   Pennsylvania DECA -  DECA Month Impact Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEXSpIGOJ7U