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“Today public education takes much criticism that the schools are not
preparing the students properly to face the real world. FBLA is one tool
that can prepare our future leaders for whatever career they choose.”
Julie and Greg Hart, Parents of Connell; FBLA Members, Brian, Eric,
and Emily Hart
Washington State Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) is a state
affiliate of Future Business Leaders of America-Phi Beta Lambda located
in Reston, Virginia. FBLA-PBL, Inc. is an international professional
association for students with career interests in the field of business.
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1937
Hamden L. Forkner of Teachers College at Columbia University
in New York City proposed to business teachers that a national organization
was needed for the thousands of business clubs in the nation’s high
schools and colleges. As a result of his efforts, the first local
chapter was formed in Johnson City, Tennessee, on February 3, 1940.
Two days later a second chapter was chartered in St. Albans, West
Virginia. Before the year’s end, another thirty-nine chapters were
added.
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1940
The National Council for Business Education sponsored a student organization
named “Future Business Leaders of America.”Over the next three years, promotion
of new chapter development was discontinued during World War II. Even so,
thirty-eight new chapters were chartered during this time.
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1942
Elma High School FBLA became the sixth local chapter in the nation and the
first chapter in the state of Washington.
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1946
The United Business Education Association (UBEA) was formed by the merging
of the National Council for Business Education (NCBE) and the Department
of Business Education of the National Education Association (NEA). UBEA assumed
the sponsorship of FBLA and established headquarters at the National Education
Association Center in Washington DC.
The first state chapter was established in Iowa in 1947, quickly followed
by Indiana and Ohio. Over the next three years, California, Georgia, Illinois,
Louisiana, New Mexico, Oregon, South Carolina, and Virginia followed.
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1949
A professor at Central Washington University, Dr. Eugene Kosy was convinced
by Fay Smith, FBLA adviser at Chehalis High School, that FBLA was an important
component of the Business and Office Education curriculum being taught at
the university. During the 1950s, Dr. Kosy conducted an aggressive campaign
to generate interest among high school teachers, vocational directors, school
district administrators, and students in FBLA. He continued his efforts until
1964 when five local chapters applied for a state charter.
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1965
Washington State FBLA held its first State Leadership Conference at Central
Washington University with ten chapters represented. Dr. Kosy’s vision of
student leadership as part of the high school curriculum is enjoyed to the
present day, and each year a $1,000 Eugene Kosy college scholarship is awarded
to an FBLA member by the Washington State Business Education Association.
Dr. Kosy turned the administration of Washington State FBLA over to the Business
and Office Education section at the Office of the Superintendent of Public
Instruction in Olympia in 1965, where it became an “integral part of the business
education curriculum” in the secondary schools of the state.
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1969
Washington State FBLA conducted a successful campaign for the office of
National FBLA President. Steve Taylor from Richland High School was Washington
State’s first national officer and the first national president from the Western
Region of the United States. It wasn’t until 1998 that Washington enjoyed
another National Preside
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December 31, 1985
Dr. Mari Shaw, Business and Office Supervisor from the Office of Superintendent
of Public Instruction (OSPI), and State President Kory Floyd, filed Articles
of Incorporation with the Office of the Secretary of State, establishing
Washington State FBLA Inc. as a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation. This was
a time of budget cutbacks within the state, and the Office of Superintendent
of Public Instruction ceased to fund staff positions for the statewide coordination
of FBLA. The State Adviser position for FBLA and two secretarial positions
were eliminated. Coordination of FBLA programs became contracted, and student
fees became the main source of funding. Under FBLA’s Articles of Incorporation
and Bylaws, the Chairman of the Board of Directors would continue to be the
Business and Office Supervisor at OSPI. Although FBLA remained “integral”
to Business Education, according to OSPI and the U.S. Department of Education,
statewide coordination became the responsibility of the State Adviser, who
reported to a volunteer Board of Directors. This action caused immediate
strict budgetary constraints, and continuation was questionable. It was only
through dedication and belief in student leadership of members and teacher
advisers that increased fees to members carried the program for the years
ahead.
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1985-1986
During this academic year, membership in Washington State FBLA grew to 4,895
members in 168 high school chapters. The FBLA State Office was moved to New
Market Vocational Skills Center in Tumwater, where it remained until the
spring of 1992.
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1992
The state FBLA office was relocated back in the Old Capitol Building with
OSPI, though still no funding was provided for the State Adviser from state
sources other than the provision of office space.; Geri Modrell, a business
education teacher at Marysville-Pilchuck High School, became Business Education
Program Supervisor at the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction
and also State Chairman of FBLA. Ms. Modrell, with the assistance of a statewide
committee of business education teachers, began a successful program for
teaching teachers integration of student leadership through FBLA into daily
classroom instruction.
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1996
The Board of Directors gave the State Adviser the title of Executive Director,
to be used when communicating with the business world. It was the opinion
of that board that the new title would assist the State Adviser in securing
appointments and funding from sources other than education. The Executive
Director was given the added responsibility of raising moneys for the future
of Washington State FBLA.
From 1996 to 1998, Washington State FBLA enjoyed a federal grant allocation
of $25,000, which was part of Carl Perkins Vocational Funds administered by
the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. During the 1999 legislative
session, Washington State FBLA was awarded a $10,000 allocation from the state
legislature. During these years, Washington State FBLA established business
partnerships with Cavanaughs Hotels, Fisher Radio, Continental Airlines, and
Washington Financial Officers Association, all who assisted the organization
with in-kind donations and some monetary contributions.
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1999
It was determined by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction
that all vocational student organizations would be removed from the Old Capitol
Building. Federal funding guidelines were amended to make student leadership
a “permissible” funding category rather than “integral” as was previously
stated, and funding at all levels was questioned. In June the FBLA State
Office moved to the Security Building in downtown Olympia. For the first
time in the history of Washington State FBLA it would be necessary to rent
office space, as well as fund other operating expenses for a state-level
operation. FBLA became more of a business than an education entity, although
the interface with business education would remain a necessity to the structure
of the program.
At the same time as the FBLA office moved to rented space, it was determined
that the Carl Perkins allocation would be cut; back, with the $10,000
legislative allocation supporting the cutback. In addition, OSPI would no longer
support substitute teacher reimbursement for business teachers who serve on
the FBLA Board of Directors and Executive Committee, which would cost the organization
an estimated $12,000 if teachers are to continue volunteering their expertise,
unless districts agree to pay for subs. As Washington State FBLA operates at
a bare bones annual budget of approximately $200,000, the lost funds would
definitely curtail activities if not replaced. Student fees were increased
as well as the search for corporate and private funding to support the office
and the position of Executive Director and one half-time support staff.
Interest in leadership through FBLA continues to grow each year, and at the
end of the 1998-99 academic year, the state enjoyed a membership of 5,614 in
183 public and private junior high and high schools.
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2000-2001
Washington State FBLA celebrated 35 years of excellence in providing leadership
development to students with career interests in business. An aggressive
chapter/member recruitment campaign entitled “Ready? Set. Recruit!” was held
with prizes for individuals who recruited the most new members. Adopt-a-Chapter
was designed to provide incentives to chapters that recruited and supported
new chapters, and dues and fees were paid for the first 5 members of new
chapters. An E-mail List-serv was enacted for chapter advisers to increase
adviser involvement throughout the state. The state officer roles were expanded
to include preparation of chapter officers through workshops and school visitations.
After a 7.5 earthquake shaking up the Security Building where the FBLA office
was housed, a move was made to a newer and more secure building in Lacey.
With increased awareness and ongoing business support, Washington State FBLA
enjoyed over 5,800 members in 186 chapters.
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2002-2003
Washington State FBLA’s Professional Division was incorporated as an affiliate
of the student organization. The purpose of this group of business professionals
is to support and further promote WA FBLA and its goals with two types of
membership – adult professionals and members who have completed high school
but are under 25 years of age or currently enrolled in post-secondary education.
A bylaw amendment added the president of the Professional Division to the
FBLA Board of Directors.
Executive Director Judy Reynolds was elected to the National FBLA-PBL Board
of Directors for a three-year term.
Business support increased with contributions from such organizations as Seattle
Sonics, IBM, Microsoft, West Coast Hospitality/Red Lion Hotels, Doubletree
Hotels, and many more. With increased business support through monetary and
in-kind donations, Washington State FBLA continues to thrive and grow, while
enjoying curriculum support from the Business and Marketing Pathway at the
Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. New and creative funding strategies
are continually being explored, and FBLA’s direction is innovating and exciting.
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2004-2005
Washington State FBLA has 5,067 members in 173 chapters, and has expanded
to include two full time staff members, the Executive Director and the Program
Specialist, and one part-time staff member, an Office Assistant. FBLA continues
to move into the future with increased business support and innovative programs.
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2007-2008
Washington State FBLA’s Board of Directors has completed a restructure that
includes 19 members. Membership consists of two Regional Advisers, State
President, State Secretary, nine business representatives, one Career and
Technical Education Director, President of the Professional Division, Business/Marketing
Pathways Supervisor from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction,
Certified Public Accountant, Legal Counsel, and the Executive Director. Business
positions are represented by companies such as Red Lion Hospitality, Fisher
Broadcasting, KPMG, Boeing, Booz Allen Hamilton, Altig International, The
Jaffa Company, Intel, and Winshuttle.
Membership totaled 4,767 in 168 chapters, and 89 professional members. National
Leadership Conference this year is in Atlanta, Georgia, and 150 competitors
will represent Washington State in competition.
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