Currently, FBLA Middle-Level conferences are held in conjunction with high school FBLA. However, maybe the National Office should hold a recruiting campaign to increase Middle-Level chapters, so that this can become a separate faction, much like PBL.
Comments (7)
I do not think that the conferences should be separate. FBLA-Middle Level falls under the same National Officers as FBLA. Being in Middle Level, living up to the same expectations, meeting and networking, and interacting with high school FBLA has been very challenging yet worth while. I do not think I would have decided to run for State Office next year, as a freshman, if it wasn't for being connected with FBLA.
I don't necessarily think that middle level should be a different event at the national level, but that they should have more competitive events at the national conference and more of them should be recognized at the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place level... even if that means having a separate smaller awards ceremony for just middle level. Also, at the NFLC there needs to be more workshops designated for middle level or a special leadership training session offered at more than one of the fall conferences. It makes it hard when middle level is at only one of the fall conferences, because people who live a greater distance away may not be able to attend.
Valid point. Maybe let the middle level compete in many of the same events at Nationals. I am sure some middle school students would fair well on tests like Word Processing and Business Math. But you could also have a few dedicated just to the middle level.
ML needs to always be a "preparatory" step to membership in FBLA. If it becomes too much like FBLA, students won't join in high school because it will be perceived as something they have already experienced.
Too many ML schools have restrictions on travel to ever make conferences a major emphasis of this division.
I agree that it is a "preparatory" step because if Middle level was to become independent like PBL then that would mean that Middle Level would elect Middle Level state officers and Middle Level National Officers. I don't believe that students in Middle school can handle all of the responsibility and work that goes with leading a National Organization which is why they should be preparatory for FBLA only.
I have personally been in Middle Level for 2 1/2 years now. I have served as my chapter president for 2 of them. I have attending the NLC in Orlando, 2 state conferences, and the NFLC in Philadelphia. All of these events are held in conjunction with high school FBLA. I have networked with high school students at these events. I will, no doubt, join FBLA in my high school years in the near future. FBLA will never be something I have already experienced because it always brings something new and a new experience. Running for state office, national office, national competition, voting at nationals, and several other opportunities are open only to high school students within FBLA. Therefor being in Middle Level you still have much more to look forward to. As of right now I would call Middle Level a "preparatory" step.
I didn't mean to say that FBLA Middle level should exactly be a separate faction--I agree that it is a preparatory step for FBLA. However, I do think something needs to be done in order to increase Middle-Level participation. Perhaps National FBLA should look into broadening the variety of events that are for FBLA Middle-Level members. Also, perhaps there should be a position on the National Committee specifically geared towards representing FBLA Middle-Level.