Mrs. Maryann Ragno and Mrs. Donna Hutson, Co-Advisors
 

BIMONTHLY REPORT
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER, 2000

FBLA began holding weekly meetings for the 2000/2001 school year on October 3.   We welcome Mrs. Donna Hutson who will be co-advising this year with Mrs. Ragno.  We are also happy to welcome our veteran members as well as several new members to our organization.

Our first order of business for the new year was to elect chapter officers.  We wish to congratulate this year’s leadership team.

Co-Presidents       Katy K. and Kim L.
 Vice President     Donna P.
 Secretary            Megan M.
 Treasurer            Ron K.i
 Historian             Melissa B.
 Parliamentarian    Jacob F.
 Reporter             Heather B.

Plans are underway to conduct fundraising activities.  Candy sales are planned for December and April.  We are also investigating other fundraising options to supplement our treasury including Yankee Candles and a Karoke night.

Community service is a primary goal of FBLA.  We are planning to work again this year with St. Anthony House in Providence.  St. Anthony House is a day shelter for the homeless.  Each holiday season they hold a Christmas party and provide gifts to poor and homeless families.   They report to us that they have many generous donors who provide gifts year after year for the small children they serve.  Unfortunately, many times the older children in a family may go without a gift because no appropriate gifts have been donated.  Scituate FBLA has attempted to fill this gap for the past three years by concentrating our efforts on gifts which are appropriate for children 10 years of age and older.  The response we have received from St. Anthony’s has been very positive and appreciative, and FBLA members have developed a real feeling of responsibility and belonging to this very worthwhile project.  We have been fortunate that the Village IGA has allowed us to place a Giving Tree in the store each holiday season, and we sincerely appreciate their commitment and involvement.

On Friday, October 20, Mrs. Hutson accompanied FBLA members to the state Fall Leadership Conference at the Johnson and Wales Inn in Seekonk.  The conference began with a presentation by Kyla Bernard, the State FBLA President.  Elections of new State Officers followed, with M. Bessette and J. Flug serving as the voting delegates for Scituate High School.  Following the elections, the students split into three groups.  Each group participated in three workshops.  These workshops were on interesting topics such as team building skills and leadership qualities.  One workshop, which was presented by representatives from the March of Dimes, discussed how involved FBLA has been with their organization for the past thirty years.  Last year alone, FBLA on a national basis raised over $100,000 to benefit the March of Dimes.  Walk America, which takes place in the spring, is a worthy effort for FBLA to participate in as a community service project.

A representative from Johnson & Wales University also addressed the conference.  Barbara DiSaia discussed the Entrepreneurial Scholarship Fund.  Last year, Johnson & Wales University awarded FBLA scholarships totaling more than 1.6 million dollars.  To be eligible for this scholarship, students who are members of FBLA must submit their scholarship applications by March 1 of their senior year.