Phi Beta Lambda members attend Leadership Conference

On November 18-19, 2011 Trinidad State Junior College Valley Campus in Alamosa sent three members of their Phi Beta Lambda chapter to the National Fall Leadership Conference in Little Rock, Arkansas.

This year’s theme was Gateway to Greatness, inspiring all levels of the FBLA-PBL organization to reach their fullest potential. The officers that attended were President, Christopher Dickerson; Treasurer, Jeff Jackson; and Vice-President, Christine Strawn. They attended workshops that included Dressing for Success, how to use social media to find employment, becoming a good leader and setting both personal and career goals.

Between workshops the members had the opportunity to meet and speak with other Phi Beta Lambda members from the following states: Arkansas, Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Missouri, and Kansas.

The highlights of the conference included Keynote speakers Derek Clark and Jerry Ackerman who encouraged the participants to “Never-Give-Up”. The members also toured some of the historical sites which included the Clinton Library, the Arkansas Capital, and the Old State House Museum.

After an amazing leadership building experience, members of the TSJC Phi Beta Lambda chapter are eagerly awaiting and working towards the National Fall Leadership Conference in San Antonio, Texas in June of 2012. Members will prove their competence by competing in over 55 business events thus demonstrating that community colleges can successfully compete against four-year colleges. Last year, Chris Dickerson earned a national third place web site design award thus placing Trinidad State Junior College Valley Campus on the map.

The three students mentioned above are participating in leadership roles at the National PBL (Phi Beta Lambda) as they serve on National PBL councils and committees. The Trinidad State Junior College Valley Campus is the only school in the nation with three students participating nationally! All three of these students are hoping to win Regional and National Offices next summer when the positions open.

“In an organization that has over a quarter of a million members from high school (FBLA), four-year and two-year colleges (PBL), our students are standing out!” said PBL past advisor, Donna Theimer, “They are representing not only themselves to the National Organization, but they represent Trinidad State Junior College, Colorado, the Western states, and the Community Colleges. They have a real chance of winning the Outstanding PBL Club at the National Convention next summer in San Antonio TX.”

This year’s busy calendar for this ambitious club includes a March of Dimes community service project, adopting Centauri High School’s FBLA chapter, professional development for college PBL members and money making projects to promote their cause.

The chapter is actively seeking sponsorships to help send members to upcoming conferences, which, for the members, is an amazing opportunity to bring leadership skills back to the San Luis Valley.

The PBL officers would like to congratulate and thank Bubba Hyde's Pit BBQ & Catering on becoming the first official sponsor of the chapter year.

If you have any questions or comments, please contact Lisa Garvin, PBL advisor, at 589-7051, or Chris Dickerson, chapter president, at 298-1994.