Illinois Voice. A Message from our President

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1 P H I B E T A L A M B D A Igniting Innovation Spring 2013 IL PBL Newsletter Inside this issue: Shawnee Reflects on WSS SIUC Update 3 ISU s Meet and Greet with Santa Shawnee CC helps out at Southern Area FBLA Conference Passion for PBL 6 So You re Considering a Competitive Event Lessons Learned from PBL SWIC PBL Update A Message from our President Hello PBL members! I hope you are all getting back into the swing of classes and PBL (not to mention everything else in your life). Some of you attended the Winter Seminar Series on January 26, We were so glad to have you and we hope you had a great time attending the workshops and getting to see each other again! For those of you who announced that you will be running for a state or national office, remember only verbal campaigning is allowed at this time. That means no Facebook or Twitter. For everyone else, don t forget about State around the corner. Now is the time to choose and prepare for your events. You can perform in up to three performance events, but you can perform in up to five events total. I would perform in as many competitive events as possible so you can better your chances of going to Nationals in Anaheim, California! Just a reminder, if you would like to compete in state competitive events, you need to have your dues paid by March 1, I would suggest getting those paid as early as possible. If you don t pay, you won t be able to compete. Looking forward to seeing you at state and good luck in those competitive events! Heather Borowiak Illinois PBL State President

2 Page 2 By: Richard Tucker Shawnee Reflection On WSS from Shawnee Community College Shawnee Community College PBL had 2 ambassadors attend the Winter Seminar Series at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois. One of the highlights of the conference for the SCC PBL members was the ability to schedule a state officer to attend one of our local chapter meetings. Among the highlights of the conference was to learn about a mock run for office and to polish up and develop a state officer campaign. Another thing at the conference we found helpful were the additional workshops, and the Keynote speaker, who instructed and informed the members in attendance on the proper way to prepare for state and national competitions. Another highlight included the ability to have a mock run for office, to polish up and develop their state officer campaigns. - Richard Tucker

3 Spring 2013 Page 3 By: Lloyd Fox SIUC SIUC Update On behalf of Southern Illinois University Carbondale, our chapter is well pumped for the new 2013 academic year. After coming back from a most exciting Winter Seminar Series full of great, motivating and educational workshops, our chapter is now back to the drawing board preparing for the best state conference yet. We have several new members to participate at state this year, and truly look forward to the experience they are going to get from the state conference. Let alone if they place at state, they get to go to Nationals and compete, that is an experience of a lifetime no one will ever forget. We continue to host great speakers at our meetings to help us succeed in the business world, like building a resume, elevator conversation starters about the greatness of PBL, soft skills, and keeping a positive attitude where ever we are representing our chapter. Our chapter at SIUC has many great ideas in store for a successful spring semester. We are planning more fundraisers like hosting an event at McAlister s Deli, more social nights so we as a chapter will learn to get to know one another on a more personal level, and have fun while doing something together as a chapter. Most importantly we plan on hosting a FBLA-PBL March of Dimes mini walk on campus. At this walk our chapter will be getting in touch with the FBLA chapters in our area to participate in this great community service event. FBLA-PBL will not only be doing something together as a whole, but also be spreading the word and great miracles that the March of Dimes have fulfilled in seeing premature babies become healthy all over campus. FBLA-PBL will not only be doing something together as a whole, but also be spreading the word and great miracles that the March of Dimes have fulfilled in seeing premature babies become healthy all over campus. - Lloyd Fox

4 Page 4 By: Nick Hostetler ISU ISU Hosts Meet and Greet with Santa Claus Phi Beta Lambda at Illinois State University hosted a Meet and Greet with Santa Claus for the children around the community. The event was held on December 2, 2012, at ISU s Bone Student Center. Area kids got to meet a professionally hired Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, and elves. Pictures were taken for the families free of charge. After meeting Santa, all kids received a gift bag filled with stocking stuffers. Refreshments were also provided in the form of cookies, treats, and hot chocolate. Plenty of help for the event was provided by the majority of the ISU PBL chapter. Tables were set up to help the kids make Christmas cards to send to the U.S. troops overseas and the children s families. A raffle was held to raise money for the March of Dimes and One Heart for Congo. The raffle was by far the biggest held by ISU PBL thanks to a majority of prizes donated from businesses around Central Illinois. Different prize packages included prizes related to the Chicago Bears, Chicago Blackhawks, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, local Bloomington/Normal businesses, and a snow cone maker. The value of all of the prize packages combined exceeded $1000. The event was a success with a little over seventy kids in attendance. ISU PBL plans to make the Meet and Greet with Santa Claus an annual event. A raffle was held to raise money for the March of Dimes and One Heart for Congo. The raffle was by far the biggest held by ISU PBL thanks to a majority of prizes donated from businesses around Central Illinois, - Nick Hostetler

5 Spring 2013 Page 5 By: Amy O Kelly Shawnee Shawnee CC PBL Members Help Out At Southern Area FBLA Conference Six Shawnee College PBL members assisted with proctoring and evaluating computer competitions on Wednesday, January 9 at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. Upon arrival, SCC PBL members prepared computer systems for login by competitors and organized computer labs to host the following events: Computer Applications, Desktop Publishing, Electronic Spreadsheets, Word Processing I, and Word Processing II. After the students completed the one hour exams, the real time crunch began with the closing ceremony beginning in 45 minutes. SCC PBL members meticulously reviewed the FBLA-PBL format guide and keys to evaluate the output from the individual FBLA members competing in each event, making sure to provide comments on each person s review rubric. Even though the day was hectic, it was still productive with the opportunity to meet prospective members for our organization in addition to meeting other professionals interested in forging partnerships with FBLA-PBL. Even though the day was hectic, it was still productive with the opportunity to meet prospective members for our organization in addition to meeting other professionals interested in forging partnerships with FBLA-PBL. -Amy O Kelly

6 Page 6 By: Ashley Crain SIUC My Passion for SIUC PBL My passion for FBLA-PBL was first ignited when I was in FBLA and became one of the first students in the history of my high school to become a National Qualifier. Immediately upon attending Southern Illinois University Carbondale, I sought out PBL, which at the time was a very small group of 3-5 members. I made a lot of memories my first few years in PBL; however I will never forget the feeling when, at the end of my junior year I was the only returning member of my PBL chapter. Because of my passion for this organization, I made it a personal goal to keep SIUC PBL going, and to grow its numbers and make it a thriving chapter. Two years later, I am proud to boast that the SIUC PBL chapter is an ambitious and passionate group and on the local level we have 12 paid members, a very active officer team who is involved at the State and National levels, 3 very active committees who are spearheading projects for our chapter, and a growing group of members who is willing to get involved and always eager to learn more. Beyond the local level, we had 6 members attend Fall Seminar Series, we have 6 members registered for National Fall Leadership Conference, have 8 Illinois Ambassadors, we are the home of the Illinois PBL State Vice President, a North Central Region Action Council Member, and the Illinois PBL Professional Division President. I m very proud of my SIUC PBL Chapter and the plans we have to make our organization better than it s ever been at SIUC. I m so proud of how far our chapter has come, and I see so much potential for our chapter to grow and become bigger and better than it is now. Because of my passion for this organization, I made it a personal goal to keep SIUC PBL going, and to grow its numbers and make it a thriving chapter. - Ashley Crain

7 Spring 2013 Page 7 By: Jennilee Benda IL PBL State Secretary So You re Considering a Competitive Event... Participating in a competitive event can be a thrilling and rewarding experience. There are many different events to choose from in a variety of areas to suit many different majors. I personally recommend that everyone take part in at least one event during your time spent in PBL. There are a lot of things to consider when choosing your competitive event. Here are some questions I commonly hear when speaking about this to PBL members. Why should I compete? One of the major benefits of competing is of course, the possibility that you win! If you place high enough at the State Leadership Conference, (up to second or third place depending on the event) you get to go on to compete at the National Leadership Conference. First place winners win prizes in sponsored events at the state level and high placing contestants at the National level often get monetary prizes as well. Another benefit is the ability to test your skills in a specific area. For example, if you love public speaking consider participating in the public speaking or impromptu speaking events. your skills When I competed in Computer Concepts last year, I took the topics list for the test and found all kinds of references for the topics and made note cards for myself to study from. -Jennilee Benda You can test and learn more about yourself and how you prepare for speeches and how to write a better speech. Lastly, if you place in an event that is related to a job or internship you wish to get, you can include the award on your resume. It gets you noticed! I can speak from experience there, as my award I won in Computer Concepts last year has helped me to get internship interviews with two major companies. How do I prepare for a competitive event? Depending on the type of event you are participating in, you will need to one of three things: take a test, prepare a deliverable, or do a presentation. Some events, such as Web Site Design have more than one component (a deliverable and a presentation). Make sure you have all the information about your event and start preparing early! If you are studying for a test for example, find references to study the topics related to the test. When I competed in Computer Concepts last year, I took the topics list for the test and found all kinds of references for the topics and made note cards for myself to study from. Everyone studies and prepares differently, but hard work and preparation can mean the difference between placing and not placing! If you are presenting, make sure you are dressed properly, and try to find a way to relax your nerves. Be prepared for questions and make sure you practice your presentation in front of others. If you know someone who has competed in your event in the past, ask them about their experience. They may have valuable insight that can help you. Where do I find more information on these events? The best place to look is the national FBLA-PBL website at sectionid/57/module/ce/pbl.asp the listing of events, information about the events, sample test questions, and many other references are found here.

8 Page 8 By: Cortney McGowan SWIC Lessons PBL Has Taught Me I was a shy sixteen-year-old with no intentions of continuing my education sitting in a classroom dreading the next fifty minutes of the instructor speaking gibberish. I was known to be insecure about every attribute of myself and only found security in working a 24-hour weekend shift. It was my last semester as a junior when a teacher inspired me to pursue a higher education. Phi Beta Lambda today makes me enjoy every second of the instruction I receive. Hello Future Business Leaders of America-Phi Beta Lambda. My name is Cortney McGowan, I am a recent graduate of Southwestern Illinois College, in Texas just kidding, Illinois. I have been an active member in Phi Beta Lambda for the past three years and do not intend on stopping yet! Life is not long enough to learn all the lessons yourself. I had the opportunity to hold local office positions as well as assisting both State and National Officers in the best student organization. Again, I am sharing my lessons I learned with YOU! I don t have one story teaching me all of the skills I mention, these lessons were learned with time and was only recognized when I was at my lowest moment. Hope you enjoy!! Brand yourself. WOAH! Do not grab the lighter, this branding is in terms of creating the best you and make it known. The pictures we post, the videos we share, and the friends we add make an impression. Take the incentive to filter your Facebook weekly. Take the time to branch out to other social networks: Google +, LinkedIn, Twitter, Stumble Upon, Word Press and Pinterest. This creates a benefit for you and the person viewing the site. You have an opportunity to find different interests when you meet different people. A viewer, looking at all the different sites with your name, will find a common interest since you have multiple ones. Brand yourself. After all, everyone else will. Make the brand be true. Say This stretches me. Life deals you a series of cards. I am twenty-two and I am still unsure on how many cards are dealt to each player. I do know I pick the game to play in my life and I was dealt a draw two card. My birth parents have chosen not to play a role in my life after high school. When I saw this card in my hand, I stretched across the table to draw two more cards. Those two cards included: a sense of humor and great work ethic. Situations do not suck, its stretches a person. Why should we have choices, if everything was given to us? Stretch across the table and draw two more cards when something is not acceptable to you. Get out, what you put in. Think of all the hours of supervised driving needed for you to earn a driver s license. Okay, not a good example. Natural talent does not exist. Practice makes no one perfect. Put your heart and soul into anything and you will get more. This is not a selfish act. Once you invest emotionally, you unconsciously surrender. When you show pride in the work you create, you learn something about yourself and others learn by following you. They learn about you on a much deeper surreal level. Volunteer yourself to host a workshop for members, offer to help a teacher file papers, or arrange a day for members to attend a networking event in the busy city. Communicate. Communicate. Communicate. A foundation to every relationship is communication. An organization is a network of relationships; don t let one relationship suffer from you not speaking up. Questions to ask to ensure communication include: Do you understand? What part was unclear? We each know what we want explain what you want. I have shared just a few lessons through my experience in Phi Beta Lambda. Please now accept the challenge to allow this organization be foundation of all you acquire in your academic, professional, and personal life. Make every shortcom- Life is not long enough to learn all the lessons yourself. - Cortney McGowan

9 Spring 2013 Page 9 Thank you from your officer team: State President: Heather Borowiak State Vice President: Nick Gregory State Secretary: Jennilee Benda State Treasurer: Candi Pucek State Adviser: Tina Dierkes State Liaison: Kevin Hoffman FBLA-PBL State Chair: Darlene Shannon Igniting Innovation Upcoming Events: SLC Registration Due March 1 IL PBL State Leadership Conference: April 5 & 6, 2013 in Effingham, Illinois PBL National Leadership Conference & Institute for Leaders: Anaheim, California IFL: June 21-22, 2013 NLC: June 22-25, 2013 By: Eric Lassman SWIC SWIC PBL Update This semester SWIC PBL has several innovative projects to help raise funds for the State Leadership Conference and the National Leadership Conference! One of the projects, which I am looking forward to working with will be the Business Etiquette Dinner. At the etiquette dinner we are planning on having a speaker, and they will teach us about proper table manners and other advice for proper dinner etiquette. As of right now, this event is still in the planning stage of the process, but we are really hoping to have a great turnout and get to network with other students. SWIC PBL is also currently working on hosting either a basket raffle or a money raffle. Last semester, another organization on campus hosted a basket raffle, and they were able to make a profit of $2,500. This would be a really good fundraiser, and it would really help with the funding of our trip to Anaheim. As for FBLA-PBL Week, we have chosen different themes for each day of the week; one of the highlights of our week will be on Wednesday, February 13, when we will have a table in the hallway and raise awareness for March of Dimes. In addition to the March of Dimes, we will be wearing business attire for a day and also we will have a day to support local businesses in the area. We are looking forward to this semester and hope to see everyone again at State Leadership Conference in April!