The South Dakota Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) recently held the 2015 Fall Leadership Training at the Crossroads Hotel in Huron, South Dakota. The theme for the event was “FCCLA: EmPower – MePower.” The theme speaks to making the right choices and committing yourself to making a positive impact within your family, your school, FCCLA and your community. The logo shows the reverse “MePower” to illustrate that the power to affect this change lies within us all.
Students were challenged to improve their communication and leadership skills in today’s workforce arena. Two students from Winner High School FCCLA joined over 300 FCCLA members from across the state on October 4-5 to participate in Rookie Camp, Power Training, State Officer Training, or State Leadership Team Training. Rookie Training attendees learned about National Programs, Star Events and basic information about FCCLA. Power Training incorporated dynamic leadership activities, team building activities, Knowledge Bowl, and various National Program presentations that expanded students’ knowledge of FCCLA. State Leadership Team members were trained and identified the 2015-2016 State FCCLA service projects. The SD FCCLA Current Trends Leadership Team has chosen the national program, Student Body, as its current issue for the 2015-2016 school year. The Trends Team will use the Student Body National Program and focus on physical, mental, emotional, and social health of teenagers and their families.
The National Outreach Team chose to focus on a national focus, Lead2Feed. This service learning program nurtures a new generation of leaders while working to end local and global hunger. Abi Leyden, FCCLA State Officer, assisted with training for Rookie Training participants. Molly Connot attended State Leadership Team training and planning. They are members of the Winner FCCLA Chapter. Kris Brockhoft, local FCCLA adviser, attended the training and presented adviser workshops Rookie Training sessions.
FCCLA stands for Family, Career and Community Leaders of America and was first established in 1945 and in South Dakota in 1946. Family serves as the central focus of this organization. This career and technical student organization prepares youth to assume their adult roles in society as wage earners, community leaders, and caring family members by giving them important life skills needed to thrive in their families, careers and communities.