By Annie Phan | @deca.annie | Decatur DECA, WA
The fun of DECA doesn’t just start at conferences.
It begins at the very first chapter meeting. If you’re a chapter officer, this is your chance to make the best first impression on prospective members. Show that DECA isn’t just blazers and talk.
Building up the excitement makes DECA seem less intimidating and chances are, they will want to come to the second meeting and the next and the next. And then they become the Next Big Thing.
Sure, sitting around in a classroom or auditorium can be kind of boring. Just hearing a few high schoolers go on and on about a business club is not very exciting. What if there was a different approach to this?
Celebrate EVERYTHING
When introducing the officer team, help the room get hype and clap and cheer for each person being introduced. Set an example by bringing excitement and your audience will follow. When you’re talking about achievements that your chapter has made, celebrate that as well. Project your voice and exude enthusiasm so that your audience also feels excited!
Use INCENTIVES
During those awkward moments where you open the floor to questions and no one raises their hands, use incentives to get them to engage in the conversation. Reward those who have asked questions with a prize. For example, a piece of candy, a blind box, or really any prize!
Engage your AUDIENCE
Instead of having your audience ask the questions, ask the questions yourself and see if they get the question right. This is an effective tactic that you can use to ENGAGE your audience. Ask them about what they’ve learned about DECA. For example, you could ask, “How many members are in DECA?” or “How many clusters are in DECA?”. Anything that you might’ve mentioned throughout the meeting is all fair game for a little pop quiz! If they answer correctly, they will get a prize.
Play GAMES
Start off with a game or play a game between informational parts of the meeting to get everyone comfortable. It can be an icebreaker, or even just rock paper scissors! Break up into groups so that attendees can get to know one another. Again, have a prize for the winner(s). Doing fun things at meetings will build connections and excitement. Eventually, you will have a supportive DECA family and conferences will be extra hype!
So, are you ready to have the NEXT BIG DECA MEETING? Use these tips for your next DECA meeting!
