Members of W-WCHS and W-WMS Future Business Leaders of America attended the Georgia Fall Rally on October 13 at the Georgia National Fairgrounds in Perry. There were 9,500 FBLA students attending from all over the state.
“The purpose of the rally is to give the students the experience of a convention setting and to motivate the members to achieve their chapter goals,” said Lise Kalla, a business teacher at W-WCHS and a co-adviser for FBLA.
The rally began with a presentation by the high school and Middle Level Georgia FBLA officers.
Emily E., in the eighth grade at W-WMS, is the Georgia Middle Level FBLA State Secretary. Her speech encouraged chapters to increase their membership.
Emily and her chapter adviser, Dena Jenkins, who teaches business classes at W-WMS, arrived at Perry the evening before the rally so that the officers could practice their presentations. The officers remained together throughout the two rally sessions. “It was definitely a learning experience. I have spoken to audiences before, but getting to know the other officers was really great,” Eligio said.
The motivational speaker at the rally was Alex Sheen, a professional speaker, leadership trainer, and founder of Because I Said I Would, a social movement and nonprofit organization that encourages and supports making and keeping promises to end suffering, establish peace, and build happiness.
The organization gives out promise cards to help hold people accountable to their commitments and encourages participants to upload their experiences to its website. “I enjoyed hearing the different stories shared by people who made and kept promises,” said W-WCHS sophomore Johnathan R. “Through these promises, people worked together to achieve common goals.”
At the rally, the students took preview tests for competitive events in a variety of business topics, for which they will prepare and compete in November. Afterward, the students enjoyed the fair rides and activities.
According its website, Georgia FBLA is an affiliate of Future Business Leaders of America-Phi Beta Lambda, Inc., the largest student business organization in the world with more than 250,000 members. Georgia is also the largest FBLA chapter in the nation with over 25,000 members.
