The Johnny Files
4/29/2011
Greetings, Western Region DECA members! I hope you are enjoying the new
Western Region website. This page provides an opportunity for us to connect with one
another and share information pertinent to our greatest passion...I'm talking about
DECA, of course!
I like to think of DECA as a kind of family unit. Your chapter is like your
immediate family. Your fellow members are your brothers and sisters...your advisor, a
loving parent (who does't think of their advisor as "mom" or "dad" from time to time).
These are the individuals with whom you spend most of your time during DECA
activities and conferences. However, you also have an extended family that includes
your district, state, and regional communities. (I suppose that would make me some
kind of patriarchal father figure...blessed be all my children!) Even though we may not
know every single member in our state or region on a personal level (as much as I wish
that were possible), we still share a few things in common; we all strive to become
Academically Prepared, Community Oriented, Professionally Responsible, Experienced
Leaders.
When you attend a conference like ICDC, sometimes it can feel like a giant
family reunion. For example, you can strike up a conversation with any random DECA
member and immediately feel a sense of closeness and camaraderie. When we talk
about Expanding Your Network, we are encouraging you to reach out and make those
connections. By associating closely with other emerging leaders and entrepreneurs, you are creating a reliable support system that will motivate you to continue your pursuit of greatness. After all, someone like Bill Gates doesn't hang out with high school dropouts. He spends his time with people who are similarly successful and influential. So if YOU want to be a successful and influential leader, spend time with your fellow DECA
members who share your ambitions!
Make the connections. Establish the relationships. Expand Your Network!
4/30/2011
Hello again, Western Region! I have some great news! As of three o'clock this
afternoon, I have officially been nominated as a candidate for your next International
DECA Western Region Vice President! I am both honored and humbled by this
experience. Becoming a National Officer has been a dream of mine since I started my
journey in DECA several years ago.
I remember attending ICDC in Anaheim during my sophomore year; this was my
very first International Conference and I couldn't wait to get out and network with DECA members from all around the world. It was during this conference that I had my very first opportunity to speak to a future National Officer. John Stiles, a candidate from Montana running for WRVP, was at his booth just as I was passing by. I looked at his campaign materials with great interest. The idea of this organization to which I was becoming more and more devoted being operated by its own student leaders was very inspiring to me.
Mr. Stiles approached me and began to answer my questions about his
campaign and about what it means to be a leader in DECA. Even though I was not a
voting delegate, he still took the time to engage with someone who could potentially
become part of his future constituency. He explained how being a State Officer for
Montana DECA helped him mature as a leader and motivated him to run for WRVP. At
this time, I was only the Chapter President of my local high school's DECA program, but I'd already begun to consider running for a position on the Arizona DECA State Action Team.
The following year I was elected as Arizona DECA's State President. I
completely devoted my time and energy to this position of leadership, striving to
improve the CTSO experience for members of my state association. DECA became my
number one priority, a spot which it still maintains to this day.
Throughout the year, I was able to encourage and support our members while
continuing to expand my network throughout the Western Region. Opportunities such
as the Western Region Officer Training Conference and the Ultimate DECA Power Trip
allowed me to interact with other State Officer teams and share a synergy of ideas that
helped us promote mutually beneficial endeavors. Hearing of the outstanding
community service program coordinated by Washington DECA, for example,
encouraged me to look into developing more effective civic consciousness activities
within our own state. Witnessing and being a part of this type of interaction is one of
many experiences that has inspired me to run for Western Region Vice President; I
have made it one of my goals to increase synergy in our region by promoting
attendance at our Western Region Conferences.
In my next blog, I will expand upon the attainable and measurable goals around
which I've developed my campaign platform. For now, I'd like to conclude this entry by
thanking all of you for visiting this page and expressing an interest in my candidacy. I
look forward to meeting as many of you as possible during the next few days and
sharing with you my enthusiasm for DECA and its mission to prepare the next generation of emerging leaders and entrepreneurs. Go Western Region go! =]
