Gallatin’s national FCCLA officer presides, nine gold medals earned

Gallatin national officer presides, nine gold medals earned

Over 5,000 Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) members, advisers, alumni, and guests from across the country gathered in Philadelphia, Penn., July 6-10 for the 2003 FCCLA National Leadership Meeting.

Gallatin FCCLA members attending were Jamie Lunsford, Katie Ward, Allison Lockridge, Danielle Critten, Katie Patton, Kinsey Batson, Ayrica Batson, Jonathan Arnold, Whitney Body, Emily Michener, Karly Goll, Melissa Craig, parents Allan and Dianna Lunsford and Wanda Batson, and chapter advisor Kathy Robertson.

The theme for this year’s National Leadership Meeting was “FCCLA Wants You: Accept the Challenge.” This theme encouraged members to “accept the challenge” of building a successful future by exploring career options, addressing community needs, and focusing on family relations.

During this five-day meeting, participants examined many of the issues and challenges facing youth and worked toward gaining the “life skills” they need to meet those challenges.

A number of relevant youth issues — future careers, youth violence prevention, family relations, traffic safety, community service, and the changing roles of men and women in the home and workplace were explored at the meting through presentations, hands-on workshops, and panel discussions.

Jamie Lunsford, national vice president of membership, helped preside at opening, business, STAR Event Recognition, and closing sessions for the delegation. Her duties included conducting workshops and luncheons for 2003-2004 National Officer candidates. Jamie worked with other FCCLA members and advisers to encourage others to discover their strengths, target career goals, and initiate a plan for achieving the lifestyle they desire.

Other meeting highlights included: STAR Events (Students Taking Action with Recognition), which are competitive events that build proficiency and achievement in leadership and job-related skills; Spotlight on Projects and National Program Showcase, where representatives from states share successful national, state, or chapter programs/projects; the election of the 2003-2004 National Executive Council, the 10 national student officers who will lead the organization in the coming year and help plan the focus and content of FCCLA’s 2004 National Leadership Meeting in Chicago, Ill. Of the 5,000 meeting attendees, over 2,200 participated in the national level STAR Events competition program in 14 categories. Danielle Critten received a gold medal in Junior Career Investigation. Also receiving gold medals were the Junior Parliamentary Procedure team.

Members include Katie Patton, Kinsey Batson, Ayrica Batson, Jonathan Arnold, Whitney Boyd, Emily Michener, Karly Goll and Melissa Craig. STAR Events of FCCLA is based on the belief that every student is a winner. Competition, evaluation and recognition all stress cooperation as the basis for success. Both youth and adults work together as managers of the events and as evaluators of the participants. Allison Lockridge, chapter delegate, served as a room consultant for the Illustrated Talk STAR Event.

Katie Ward, 2003-2004 Missouri State Vice President, was selected as a member of the National Program Team. Katie will lead the Missouri delegation in program and youth leadership development efforts during the upcoming year. Her selection as a 2003-2004 National Program Team member of the FCCLA Missouri delegation earns Katie a great honor in representing and teaching others in Missouri about the importance of national FCCLA program opportunities.

At the meeting, Katie was involved in a National Program Team training session that included information on all of the national programs and ways to lead program efforts within the states.

Katie will work with other state FCCLA youth leaders and advisers in Missouri to plan training seminars, leadership meeting, and program workshops to be attended by many of the states 13,000 members.

As part of the National Program Team, Katie had the opportunity to participate in a professional leadership training track, which address the fundamentals of leadership. This special leadership training included topics such as leadership styles, networking, accountability, public relations, fund-raising techniques, community outreach, and goal setting.