By Bretton Lam, @deca.bretton | Basis Independent Silicon Valley, CA
Walking into Starbucks on an early Saturday morning, I didn’t know what to expect. Weeks earlier, I had received an Instagram DM from an old friend requesting my advice and guidance on DECA. But as we sipped our lattes while recounting old middle school memories, I was shocked to learn that his high school’s new DECA chapter was threatened with closure before it even started.
Learning about their situation, I acknowledged that small DECA chapters often face problems with low membership, overwhelmed advisors and pressure to compete against larger, established schools. After some conversations, I recognized that although these obstacles often felt insurmountable, every successful chapter begins in the same position.
Here is a quick guide to help your DECA chapter prepare for future success!
1. Assembling a Leadership Team
Even if your chapter only has a few members, your priority should be building a core leadership team. Start by identifying students who have had prior business experience, show enthusiasm and have a strong work ethic.
Additionally, students who demonstrate leadership show their commitment and willingness to take on responsibility, envisioning how to drive their DECA chapter forward. By breaking tasks into roles such as president, director of role-plays, and marketing manager, chapters can operate more efficiently.
2. Creating Goals and Recruitment Strategies
Before any DECA meeting, the leadership team should first create achievable short-term objectives and goals. Define your chapter's identity and culture by establishing activities or traditions that foster a welcoming community where members genuinely want to stay involved.
Then, find opportunities within your school to promote your chapter and attract potential members. Club fairs, flyers posted on billboards, morning announcements and social media are all great ways to encourage others to sign up!
Focusing recruitment efforts on students within business, economics and entrepreneurship courses can strengthen membership numbers, as these individuals have already shown interest in the skills and concepts DECA develops.
3. Competition Preparation
Competing against larger chapters can feel both challenging and intimidating, but success in competition is built on preparation and strategy. Start by helping members select events based on their interests and strengths.
Through resources available on DECA Direct Online, deca.org and other online platforms, chapters can organize regular practice sessions and teach essential business concepts needed for competitive success. Schedule recurring practice role-plays, test-taking Kahoots and group case scenario studies, encouraging new members to grow through experiential learning.
Additionally, consider getting DECA+. DECA+ is an online platform providing members with interactive courses, practice exams and content to help prepare students for competitions while developing their business skills.
4. Compete and Learn
Once your members are ready to compete, approach conferences with an open mindset and a willingness to learn. Competing members should not only focus on winning, but also on how they can improve based on judge feedback and comments. By learning from their mistakes and identifying areas for growth, existing members can better prepare for future conferences and develop experiences they can share with others to help future students in the coming years.
Remember, DECA may emphasize the competitions, but our community is rooted in togetherness and helping each member grow. All small chapters initially face obstacles, but a structured approach will help prepare students to succeed in the years to come.
