COMPETITIVE EVENTS Check out the changes for 2015-2016. PAGE 2
INDUSTRY CERTIFICATION
Learn how your ICDC competitors may be eligible for certification.
BE EPIC
Start planning for the upcoming epic year. PAGE 3
PAGE 2
THE “I AM DECA” YEAR
With record membership nearing 212,000 and record attendance of 18,300 at the DECA International Career Development Conference, this was the year to proclaim, “I am DECA!” DECA thanks our dedicated advisors for their enthusiasm and contributions toward building a strong organization that prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs. There are some fantastic opportunities this summer to reflect on a banner year while jump-starting what’s sure to be an epic adventure. ›› SHARE YOUR SUCCESS DECA has had an amazing “I am DECA” year, and there’s no doubt your chapter has too. Host an appreciation event for your chapter’s officers and supporters. Highlight all of your chapter’s successes. ›› ENHANCE YOUR SKILLS AS AN ADVISOR DECA AMPED June 29-July 2, 2015 | Charlotte, N.C. This conference is designed specifically with the DECA advisor in mind. DECA AMPED will feature a variety of learning formats including motivating keynote speakers, hands-on learning labs, express learning and deep dive sessions. ›› ELEVATE YOUR CHAPTER RETREAT DECA Emerging Leader Summit July 12-14, 2015 | McLean, Va. This conference is designed to equip DECA’s student leaders to serve in their roles at the chapter and association levels. During the Elevate track, DECA members will learn the ins and outs of being an effective and successful chapter officer, while the Empower track will enhance and improve the skills needed to be an epic association officer. ›› DO SOME EPIC PLANNING The EPIC feature in Insight gives you a preview of next year’s programs, including campaigns, conferences and competitive events. Make sure the dates are on your school’s calendar!
GET MORE WITH DECA DIRECT ONLINE EXPERIENCE #DECAICDC 2015 Stay up-to-date on everything happening in Orlando! http://bit.ly/decaicdc2015 MARK YOUR 2015-2016 CALENDAR Start planning your EPIC year with the calendar of important dates and deadlines. http://bit.ly/deca20152016 GET A GLIMPSE OF WHO’S PRESENTING AT DECA AMPED Check out some innovative sessions you can experience at DECA AMPED this summer! http://bit.ly/decaamped CONGRATS TO DECA ADVISOR SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS Advisor scholarships help fund professional development opportunities. http://bit.ly/scholar_advisor BUSINESS BOOT CAMP: HOW TO TRAIN WINNING COMPETITORS Find out how to host a summer boot camp to raise money and recruit members. http://bit.ly/mvdecacamp THE #SUMMEROFDECA READING LIST These books will keep your members in the DECA mindset during their summer vacation. http://bit.ly/decareadinglist
■ WWW.DECADIRECT.ORG
COMPETITIVE EVENTS
COMPETITIVE EVENTS
INDUSTRY CERTIFICATIONS NOW AVAILABLE
COMPETITIVE EVENTS UPDATE
BY SHANE THOMAS | DECA INC. STAFF
As a result of their participation in DECA’s Competitive Events Program at the International Career Development Conference in Orlando, Fla., DECA members may now have opportunities to earn recognized industry certifications in several areas. Financial Literacy Certification through a new partnership with Working in Support of Education (w!se). w!se’s Financial Literacy Certification Program was developed in 2003 and has expanded nationally and is widely recognized for its success, including the U.S. Treasury Department’s John Sherman Award for Excellence in Financial Education. DECA members taking the Financial Literacy Exam at ICDC who score at least 70% will be eligible for w!se’s Financial Literacy Certification. Learn more about w!se at www.wise-ny.org. Certified Guest Services Professional (CGSP) Certification through a new partnership with the American Hotel and Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI). DECA members taking the Hospitality and Tourism Cluster Exam at ICDC who score at least 70% will be eligible for AHLEI’s Certified Guest Services Professional Certification. Learn more about AHLEI at www. ahlei.org. DECA members will receive steeply discounted rates compared to the general public. Beginning in 2015-2016, certification opportunities will also exist at the chartered association testing level. For more details, visit www.decadirect.org.
PUBLISHER
Paul A. Wardinski
EDITOR
Christopher Young
THIS EDITION April/May 2015 No. 20
Published four times each year by DECA Inc. Sept./Oct. Nov./Dec. Jan./Feb. April/May Copyright ©2015 by DECA Inc.
EDITORIAL COMMITTEE Janelle Scudder Shane Thomas Michelle Walker
CORRESPONDENCE
DECA Insight 1908 Association Drive Reston, VA 20191-1594 (703) 860-5000 www.deca.org communications@deca.org
The DECA Inc. Board of Directors approved the following changes to DECA’s Competitive Events Program. Complete guidelines for 2015-2016 will be posted at www.deca.org by July 1, 2015. The following changes will be made to all written and prepared events (Business Operations Research Events, Chapter Team Events, Entrepreneurship Events, Marketing Representative Events, Professional Selling and Consulting Events and Stock Market Game) effective in the 2015-2016 school year. 1. For all 30-page written events, the executive summary may now be up to three pages, either single or double-spaced. 2. Presentation times will be 15 minutes, which will include the presentation and time for judges’ questions. The guidelines will no longer specify a certain number of minutes for each component. 3. The evaluation criteria for the oral presentations will be derived from performance indicators rather than questions. Beginning in the 2015-2016 school year, the Business Management and Entrepreneurship Events category will now simply be called Entrepreneurship Events. It will feature the following changes: 1. Entrepreneurship Innovation Plan will be the Innovation Plan and have new guidelines that follow a portion of the lean start-up model. 2. Entrepreneurship Participating – Creating an Independent Business will be the Start-Up Business Plan and will have new guidelines that follow the lean start-up model. 3. Entrepreneurship Written will be the Independent Business Plan and have new guidelines that follow the lean start-up model and require significant financial projections. 4. Entrepreneurship Participating – Franchising Business will be the Franchise Business Plan and have new guidelines that follow the Small Business Administration’s business plan model. 5. Entrepreneurship-Growing Your Business will be the Business Growth Plan and have modifications to the guidelines. 6. The International Business Plan will remain the same but the guidelines will be similar to the Independent Business Plan with a section to discuss the country the business is to be conduct within. Learn about the lean start-up model at http://bit.ly/leanmodelcanvas. Business Management and Entrepreneurship Events Business Management and Entrepreneurship Events Entrepreneurship Events Entrepreneurship Events 2015-2016 Entrepreneurship Innovation Plan ENI Innovation Plan EIP Entrepreneurship Innovation Plan ENI Innovation Plan EIP Entrepreneurship Participating-Creating an Independent Business ENPI Entrepreneurship Participating Start-Up Business Plan ESB Start-Up Business Plan ESB ENPI Creating an Independent Business Entrepreneurship Participating- Franchising Business ENPF Entrepreneurship Participating EFB Independent Business Plan ENPF EIB Franchise Business Plan Franchising Business Entrepreneurship Written ENW Franchise Business Plan EFB Entrepreneurship Written ENW Independent Business PlanGrowth EIB Entrepreneurship-Growing Your Business ENGB Business Plan Entrepreneurship ENGB Business Growth Plan EBG EBG Growing Your Business International Business Plan IBP International International Business Plan
IBP
International Business Plan
IBP
During the 2016-2017 school year, DECA will introduce two new entrepreneurship events – one Team Decision Making Event and one Individual Series Event. Both events will require DECA members to take an entrepreneurship exam that will also be introduced that year.
This is your year to go beyond the usual or ordinary. It’s your year to say, “I did it all.” It’s time to be epic. Here are some highlights of DECA’s Comprehensive Learning Program. There are so many ways you can be epic in DECA this year. Visit www.deca.org for updates and more information.
2015-2016
PREVIEW
EPIC
EPIC NETWORKING
Get connected with DECA through our social media and decadirect.org, your source for the latest DECA news. Sign up to be an official DECA social media correspondent.
[ WWW.DECADIRECT.ORG ]
EPIC INNOVATIONS
Make an epic concept in the DECA Idea Challenge 2015 during Global Entrepreneurship Week, November 16-22, 2015.
[ WWW.DECA.ORG/IDEACHALLENGE ]
EPIC ENTERPRISES Take your school-based enterprise to epic proportions. Start one. Apply for certification. Certify your members.
[ WWW.DECA.ORG/SBE ]
EPIC CHALLENGES
Don’t miss DECA’s corporate partner challenges, the perfect opportunity to pitch epic ideas to executives.
[ WWW.DECA.ORG/VIDEOCHALLENGES ]
EPIC SCHOLARSHIPS Earn your share of $300,000 in scholarships provided to DECA members by our corporate and college partners.
[ WWW.DECA.ORG/SCHOLARSHIPS ]
COMPETITIONS BUSINESS MANAGEMENT + ADMINISTRATION
Business Law and Ethics Team Decision Making Business Services Operations Research Human Resources Management Series International Business Plan Principles of Business Management and Administration
ENTREPRENEURSHIP Innovation Plan Start-Up Business Plan Independent Business Plan Franchise Business Plan International Business Plan Business Growth Plan Entrepreneurship Promotion Plan
FINANCE
Accounting Applications Series Business Finance Series Finance Operations Research Financial Consulting Financial Literacy Promotion Project Financial Services Team Decision Making Personal Financial Literacy Principles of Finance Stock Market Game Virtual Business Challenge Personal Finance
HOSPITALITY + TOURISM
Hospitality Services Team Decision Making Hospitality + Tourism Operations Research Hospitality + Tourism Professional Selling Hotel + Lodging Management Series Principles of Hospitality and Tourism Quick Serve Restaurant Management Series Restaurant + Food Service Management Series Travel + Tourism Team Decision Making Virtual Business Challenge Hotel Management Virtual Business Challenge Restaurant
MARKETING
Advertising Campaign Apparel + Accessories Marketing Series Automotive Services Marketing Series Business Services Marketing Series Buying + Merchandising Operations Research Buying + Merchandising Team Decision Making Community Service Project Creative Marketing Project Fashion Merchandising Promotion Plan Food Marketing Series Learn and Earn Project Marketing Communications Team Decision Making Marketing Management Series Principles of Marketing Professional Selling Public Relations Project Retail Merchandising Series Sports +Entertainment Marketing Operations Research Sports + Entertainment Marketing Series Sports + Entertainment Marketing Team Decision Making Sports + Entertainment Promotion Plan Virtual Business Challenge Retail Virtual Business Challenge Sports
EPIC
CAMPAIGNS
CELEBRATE DECA MONTH IN
NOVEMBER
www.deca.org/high-school-programs/high-school-chapter-campaigns
MEMBERSHIP
Guide your membership efforts by meeting these goals.
MORE STUDENTS THAN LAST YEAR
ALUMNI
DEADLINE 12.1.15
PROFESSIONALS
Earn ACHIEVEMENT LEVEL by meeting the requirements in any ONE of the categories (students, alumni and professionals) of the Membership Campaign and receive a pennant and certificate. Earn THRIVE LEVEL by meeting the requirements in any TWO of the categories of the Membership Campaign and receive a pennant, plaque, flag and three allocations to attend the THRIVE ACADEMY at ICDC!
GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP WEEK Activities must occur during November 16-23, 2015. Submit DECA Idea Challenge entries at www.deca.org/ideachallenge.
IDEA CHALLENGE ENTRIES
SUCCESS STORIES OF ALUMNI ENTREPRENEURS
SCHOOL/COMMUNITY OUTREACH ACTIVITIES
PROMOTIONAL
Conduct these activities from the beginning of your school year through DECA Month.
SCHOOL OUTREACH ACTIVITIES
SUCCESS STORIES OF ALUMNI
COMMUNITY OUTREACH ACTIVITIES
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Conduct a community service activity from the beginning of your school year through DECA Month.
Earn ACHIEVEMENT LEVEL by meeting the requirements in any ONE of the three DECA Month Chapter Campaigns (Global Entrepreneurship Week Campaign, Promotional Campaign, and Community Service Campaign) and receive a pennant and certificate. Earn THRIVE LEVEL by meeting the requirements in any TWO of the three DECA Month Chapter Campaigns (Global Entrepreneurship Week Campaign, Promotional Campaign, and Community Service Campaign) and receive a pennant, plaque, flag and three allocations to attend the THRIVE ACADEMY at ICDC!
DEADLINE 12.1.15 OR MORE COMMUNITY SERVICE ACTIVITIES
OR MORE PARTICIPATION OF YOUR DECA MEMBERS
ADVOCACY
Advocate during Career and Technical Education Month in February.
SCHOOL OUTREACH ACTIVITIES
PUBLIC POLICY MAKERS OUTREACH
FORM OF PUBLICITY OR PROMOTION
DEADLINE 3.1.16 Meet the requirements in the Advocacy Campaign during February and receive a pennant, special plaque from DECA’s Congressional Advisory Board and a letter of recognition sent to your school administrator and government officials.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH ACTIVITIES
EPIC
CONFERENCES #DECAIEC
INNOVATIONS AND
AUSTIN NOVEMBER 20-22, 2015
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
CONFERENCE
DECA.ORG/IEC
#DECACRLC NOVEMBER 20-22, 2015
#DECAPOWERTRIP
DECA.ORG/CRLC
AUSTIN
KANSAS CITY
THE NEW YORK
EXPERIENCE
NOVEMBER 20-22, 2015
DECA.ORG/POWER
#DECANYE
NEW YORK DEC. 2-6 AND DEC. 9-13, 2015
DECA.ORG/NYE
TWO TRACKS
SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
MARKETING CONFERENCE
INTERNATIONAL
CAREER DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE
#DECASEM
ORLANDO FEBRUARY 3-7, 2016
Learn the ins and outs of being an effective and successful chapter officer.
DECA.ORG/SEM
Enhance and improve the skills needed to be an association officer that makes an impact.
#DECAICDC
#DECAELS
MCLEAN JULY 12-14, 2015
NASHVILLE APRIL 23-26, 2016
DECA.ORG/ICDC
VIRGINIA
DECA.ORG/ELS
Prepare for DECA exams on your favorite hand-held device. NOW AVAILABLE
SHOP DECA IMAGES ONLINE
$3.99 EACH
Financial Literacy Now Available
Give us a call at 703.860.5006 or find us on the web at www.shopdeca.org.