Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013, Santiago Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) hosted the 2013 Inland Section Leadership Conference. The Inland Section of FBLA encompasses schools from southern California with FBLA chapters. Members from all of the participating schools attended.
The conference commenced with an opening session in the gym. After the president of the Inland Section, Yvonne Lee of Ruben S. Ayala High School, called the meeting to order, senior and Santiago madrigal Danielle James led the 500 FBLA members in the national anthem. Following this, senior and FBLA Parliamentarian Vanessa Liu led the students in the Pledge of Allegiance and the FBLA pledge, during which the members pledge to uphold the rules and mission of FBLA and to embody the qualities necessary to becoming responsible business leaders.
Lee then gave a short speech in which she noted that this was the largest Inland Section Leadership Conference ever, and announced the schools that were joining the conference, Walnut High School and Hope Gardens High School. Lee then held a role call of the different high schools, during which each chapter’s members cheered as their school was called.
CNUSD Superintendent Dr. Michael Lin was then introduced and gave a speech. He commented that everyone looked so professional and that he couldn’t “tell the students from the young advisors.” He thanked all of the members for their hard work, and described how the business leaders of America would be the business leaders of the world.
Liu then recognized the work of Santiago FBLA in preparing for this conference, and James, who is also Santiago’s FBLA chapter president, received a Certificate of Appreciation.
Following this, the keynote speaker Margaret Schneider of the Riverside Chapter of the March of the Dimes was introduced. She commended FBLA for helping with the March of Dimes and helping premature babies for the past 40 years. FBLA has conducted several fundraisers over the years for the March of Dimes. She spoke of different types of fundraisers and their respective difficulties, and elaborated on how the March for Babies fundraiser is a great way for members of FBLA to connect with current business leaders.
After the keynote speech, candidates for next year’s FBLA Inland Section Executive Board were introduced, starting with the candidate for Parliamentarian, Zichong Peng of Los Osos High School, who was introduced by Liu. The candidate for Historian, Santiago’s Anthony Nguyen, then gave his speech. He said that he wants members who limit themselves to the conferences and taking tests to become more involved and participate in FBLA’s charities and other beneficial operations. Even though each of these positions only had one candidate, those candidates needed to earn the approval of their peers to be officially instated on the board. The candidates for Vice President of Communications, Vice President of Programs, and President gave their 3-minute spiels.
The speeches were followed up by announcements about the times and locations of the different competitions throughout the day and where to assemble. Students were also reminded that they needed to be in proper business attire throughout the day in order to be admitted into their respective tests and interviews. Lee adjourned the meeting, and the FBLA students filed out of the gym and to their Session 1 tests and interviews. There would be two sessions throughout the day, followed by an awards ceremony later in the night.
