May-June POW Report 2011

State Action Team Report
May/June 2011

Quote of the Month: “The more difficulties one has to encounter, within and without, the more significant and the higher in inspiration his life will be.” –Horace Bushnell (Given by Deborah)

Taylor Wingard, President:

• I will be traveling to Lee County High School’s Summer Officer Training. I am a guest speaker and I plan to talk about my journey with DECA as well as provide tips on competitive events, community service, and leadership. I also plan to discuss the upcoming year and receive feedback on some on our POW and other plans.
• I have spread the word about The Make A Wish Foundation project at GHP (Governor’s Honors Program) with fellow DECA members from around the state. Sabine and I plan to have lunch together in early August to discuss the Superman Scholarship.
• I have been preparing for applying for college and attending the Governor’s Honors Program at Valdosta State University.
• Considering running for national office.
• I won Advanced Marketing Student of the Year award!
•  I have also looked into an internship with the Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce.

KayLynn Samples, Executive Vice President:

• She plans to reach out more to school chapters so I will be more involved.
• She has been doing some research on the make a wish foundation so she can have knowledge about our project, which will allow her to be more involved with it.
• She knows here hard work will definitely pay off one day!
• She has missed all of the officers and hopes we can all get together soon!
• She is also very excited for this upcoming year!

Desteni Barnett, Executive Secretary:

• Desteni just recently started work at Vector Marketing. She mentioned her role in DECA. Mr. Hogan (manager) wanted to know more about DECA and asked if she could write an essay about the history and goals of DECA, because it seemed like something the company would be intersected in.
• She plans on finishing up her officer video blog, continuing to spread the word about DECA, and to continue to gain as a leader.
• She has found so many fun new ice breakers; she also went out and bought cool prizes to give out!
• She found sponsors who are willing to donate prizes to the winners.
• She recently attended a leadership conference "Why Lead?" hosted "Spring Hill Baptist Church".
• During the leadership conference they talked about how sometimes as humans we do things to get rewarded, but as leaders it's not always about what one does in public or for recognition. Sometimes it's simply about doing what has to be done and not waiting for applause at the end of the task. Leaders have to put in hard work even when it seems as if no one cares.

Sabine Jean-Baptiste, VP of Civic Consciousness:

• Started creating fliers for the fall community service project for the website.
• Plans to meet with me (Taylor) to create a proposal for the “Superman Scholarship”
• Working together at CTSO Training taught herthat it is okay to depend on other people when you are struggling in a situation.
• Attended NCCC in Atlanta.

Teara Mayfield, VP of Public Relations:

• She will be publicizing DECA to the best of her ability. Her target audience for new members will be freshmen since they usually tend to join the club that provides the greatest amount of hospitality.
• She is going to begin working on a newsletter that is targeted towards our alumni DECA members.
• This summer she attended a pre-college program dedicated to mathematics, science, and engineering at Howard University in Washington, DC.
• Being at this program has allowed her to deal with some difficult people. She has seen firsthand that everyone is not always going to get along, but you must set aside your differences in order to achieve your goals.
• She’s sure we’ll be faced with some difficulties this year, but we’ll be able to overcome them as long as we keep our goals in sight.

Lauren Calvert, VP of Chapter Development:

• Increase local chapter awareness of “12,000 in 2012” and inform them about professional and alumni memberships.
• Attending Governors Honors Program in Valdosta for Executive Management.
• Attended basketball camp at University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and Florida State University.
• She learned many valuable leadership lessons, as well as, new knowledge on business and the economy.
• Lauren and I (Taylor) attended the governors honors program this summer which has been a very rewarding experience so far. I can’t even describe all the leadership experience I’ve received!

Deborah Howard, VP of Competitive Events:

• Attending GACTE, and creating the newsletter for that.
• She is working with Ellie on ideas for the workshop training in August.
• She is working on Competition Tips and how they will be distributed.
• She plans to create a survey for chapter members and advisors to vote on what they would like to see throughout the year in the way of competition tips and strategies.
• Attended NCCC in Atlanta.
• Brainstorming ideas of ways to raise $21,000.
• Working on the information board for GACTE.
• Brainstorming ideas for “How-To” Videos for competitors.
• Learned professionalism and teamwork are important.

Hunter Gibbs, VP of Business Partnerships:

• Continuing to work on and improve her POW actions
• Encourage potential DECA members for State Action Team candidacy
• Helps run a child care facility for parents who will be attending the ETC program at LCCA.
• Contacted local businesses and informed them about DECA and trying to keep them up to date on the organization so that they will be willing to become a partner.
• Learned not to lean on your own understanding but to listen and use everyone’s thoughts and opinions in some way.
• Believes if we increase partnerships then we should offer more scholarships state wide for DECA winners.

Ellie Forrester, VP of Finance:

• Will represent GA DECA at the GACTE Conference
• Provided KayLynn Samples transportation to NCCC in Atlanta
• Working at the Hilton Garden Inn in Gainesville, where she is now certified to work in any Hilton property in the world.
• Played softball in a college showcase in Alabama with coaches from colleges and universities across the Southeast in attendance.
• Has learned to always have appropriate timing and to keep your commitments.

Lizzie Smith, Officer Assistant:

• She talked to Marketing majors of Lipscomb University, Josh and Ashley, who knew about DECA.
• She researched Eternal threads; a nonprofit organization that helps women in third world countries and prevents them from being sex trafficked. They sell bracelets at a reasonable price and all the proceeds go to the women. She discussed DECA's community service and thought this could be an extended community service project.