Darryl, In response to your request I must begin by saying that I am a proud product of DECA. As a student in my senior year of high school (1969-70) I participated in the Pueblo, Colorado DECA Chapter at Central High School. I never thought then that I would ever be in the position I currently hold. After graduation from high school I attended the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colorado. During my sophomore year I began to question why I was even in college and what was I going to do with my life. I thought about all the things I participated in during my high school years and DECA came to the front. DECA offered everything. The skills, knowledge and attitudes necessary to be successful. I wanted to share my experiences with others. Fortunately for me, the university just happened to have a major in Distributive Education (now Marketing Education). I entered the teaching field of Marketing Education in 1974 and have never looked back. I have taught 33+ years as a Marketing Educator and am currently the Interim Colorado Assistant Program Director for Marketing\DECA. Remember, In life we may not all do great things, but we can alldo things in a great way. Ev Vaughan Good Afternoon Darryl Bellamy, My Name is Frances Bailey, I am the State President for Texas 07-08 and go to Cy-Fair College where I was State VP for the past two years. I received your email and spent the afternoon thinking about how Dex/DECA has helped me and the benefits of it. One of the best parts is all the networking and the connections you make. Also, it helps you by putting you out in the world even though it is a mock type of setting but you get to see first hand on how certain things are ran and you can fix those mistakes that you have done. So when you go in front of a team to present and your idea in the real world you already have the experience, knowledge and practice for all the years you are in DEX/DECA. Good luck with your project. It sounds like a great idea!Frances BaileyCy-Fair CollegeTx St. President 07-80 DECA has definitely helped me in college with being able to think quickly to solve a problem. It also has given me presentation and interview skills. By participating in team and individual events, I know how to effectively work together with a partner to achieve a shared goal. I know how to take ideas and convey them in a clear fashion to another individual within a time limit. I learned how to work under pressure - completing a task within a certain time period. I also learned tools that will help me in my career search such as proper attire and behavior for the business world. The skills I've acquired through DECA, I'll remember and use for the rest of my life. Bettina Umstead My name is Terrell Crudup and i was in DECA for myjunior and senior years. i was also Co-President ofour chapter at my school. McNeil High School. DECA was the best club i have ever joined simplybecause i met people all over the world who had thesame drive that i did. It taught me how to be timelyto everything and i learned how to balance work withplay. i learned valuable lessons on presentation,quick thinking, creativity, knowlege retention,puntuation, business do's and dont's and many otherthings. i've built long lasting realationships withpeople in my chapter and a few from different statesplus i became some what of a legend in my state(texas) for having so much fun. if you ever go to aDECA internationals and you run into a texas DECAteacher, ask them if they remember an African Americanstudent that got hipmotized. and see if they remember was in DECA for three years in High school. 99-02. I was Seargent at Arms for the State of Texas, and I did two Civic Consciousness projects. First one was for MDA and I raised over 8k. Second year I did a fundraiser for a charity for a group in Brazil that helps educate young women on how to stay off the street and have a good job. I think it was close to 4k. After that I was elected State Seargeant at Arms and I was able to travel all over the entire country. Throughout these experiences I was able to develop the organizational skills, leadership skills and communication skills that helped me get through college and into medical school. Not to mention some priceless friends. It was an opportunity that I would recommend to everyone, but it would have been impossible without the help of my advisors and family. If there are any specific questions you have about what I learned from DECA I would be glad to elaborate. Hope my ramblings helped out -- M. Ryan Odom Dear Mr. Bellamy, I never had the opportunity to belong to a DECA chapter being from a small town, but I have reaped the benefits of a Delta Epsilon Chi membership, the collegiate level of DECA. Being a former local, state, and recently, the Central Region Vice President, opened more doors for me then just a normal college student. The most valuable benefit I took away from a DEX membership was the network of friends, resources, and employers that I’ve used to land my current job as a manager in a small, but growing, grocery chain in Wisconsin. This position has offered me a chance to utilize my past experiences of competition, classroom work and DEX teachings to make my associates better, not only at their jobs, but also as a person. Without my DEX experience, I don’t think that I would’ve been able to find such a stable, well paying, and fun position. I attribute my DEX with my recent success in my life, but I’m also taking that a step further. I was offered a speaking/voice over position with a production company out of Knoxville, Tennessee because they liked what they heard while they worked with the National Officer Team at ICDC in Orlando, in May. Also, I’m currently training to help the state of Wisconsin colleges by taking the Career Technical Student Organizations, Leadership Coordinator position where I’ll be able to pass on my knowledge and help new state officers from around the state, become better in speaking, teaching, and most importantly, leading. Lastly, I’m still very much involved by being a member of the Wisconsin DEX alumni organization. I will be holding workshops at local and state conferences and I’ll be again, passing on my knowledge to members from around the state. I wouldn’t have my job, my positions, or my opportunities, both now and in the future, without DEX. The friends I’ve made and the adventures I’ve gone through have prepared me for what life has before me. Remember, DECA isn’t just in high school, it continues with Delta Epsilon Chi in colleges throughout the country. The biggest difference between the two is that in DECA you feel out where you want to be in life and DEX helps you pinpoint your profession and helps you to get the job. I think your project is a GREAT idea and I wish you luck, not only on this paper, but in anything you put your mind too! Thank you for reaching out around the country to hear everyone, who knows, you might be emailing your future employer! Warmest Regards, Nick Bretl My name is Laura Lee Lotto - I live in Wrightstown, WI and attend Northeast WI Technical College. I unfortunately did not have the benefit of having DECA in my high school. I wish I would have as I see now how wonderful it is and what a confidance builder it is. I have been in DEX (College devision of DECA) for two semesters now and wish I could put into words how it really has impacted my life.... It is hard to explain to people a dream you have that you know will be a HUGE success and you know will be your ultimate passion in life. Most family members don't listen to you fully (even at 25 years of age) and most friends don't care enough to really listen, nor do they know how to support you. When I joined Wisconsin Management and Marketing Association (WMMA - our DEX) I found people who not only understood my drive and passion for my future plans, but supported me with other ideas of how to achieve it. I was giving the opportunity to go to seminars just for Entrapenures, I met other prominent business people who would say "follow it, if you want it, go get it". No one ever laughed at me like my family did or said things like, just get a "real job" and quit dreaming. I personally have been touched so deeply by the support and understanding and the passion others have in DEX to follow their dreams that I really can't explain how it has affected me yet. I can tell you that if I had somehow missed this opportunity to join, I would be lost right now. I really would without the positive support I've gotten for persuing my dreams. I hope that helps! Hope to see you at future National DEX events!!! Take care Laura Lee Lotto Wrightstown, WI DECA was one of the most rewarding experiences I had in high school, more so than National Honor Society, Key Club, or Newspaper. DECA has given me many experiences that I carry with me today from the confidence to approach interview situations extending to the ability to set high goals and know that those goals are attainable. DECA pushed me to become a stronger leader and I have continued what DECA started with me to the Collegiate level in Delta Epsilon Chi. Bianca M. Wahe Hey there...I am a chapter advisor at West Brunswick High School in Shallotte, NC. DECA his a very beneficial program. It prepares students for corporate America and teaches them how to speak in front of other people while building their business vocabulary. When students graduate high school, they are more advanced and ready to take on the "real world." Good luck with everything!!! Stephanie Beach Marketing Education DECA provides opportunities for students to explore the field of Business and Marketing and become actively involved within the community. DECA offers the chance for any student to excel and benefit off of their knowledge and performance inside and outside of the classroom. With DECA being a co-curricular student organization, DECA offers various opportunities for students to compete academically through competitive events and engage in real-life activities. Students are able to become involved within the community by volunteering, job shadowing in the community, charity fundraising, etc. As a result of such activities, students can gain from using DECA on applications for employment and in obtaining scholarships for college. Through the involvement and participation in such an organization, a student can further their membership through college and use the networking available in order to begin their journey towards their desired career in the field of Marketing... Heather Haymer Hello Darryl, I think your picked a wonderful topic to do your project on, not only will it be nice for you, but it will also create recogniton for DECA and show many people its true benefits from all over. First I want to make sure you emailed the other Natioanl Officers and your State Officers, Next I want you to know I will forward this to all the member in my Central Region Facebook Group, my old High school Chapter, my college roomate, as well as the state officers throughout my region. I feel that this is a ver ambitous task and I would like to help you out as much as I can. I will relay the messages to you as soon as I get them. Do you have a deadline on to which you would like them? Finally, if you did not mind I would I would love to read the finsih project some day. If that is ok with you. Now to answer the question you asked me... DECA has many unmentioned benefits. Not only do you develop leadership skills, aquire knowledge of the business and marketing world, and develop networking and public speaking skills (socail skills), you gain things necessary to live what I feel is a full life. A rather large one is the gain of self confidence. I could not tell you how many people tell me how much confidence they have gained from being in DECA. It has changed many of my friends personalities and out looks on life, even my own. DECA has also given me a greater sense of self worth, and accomplishment through my three years of being in the Marketing Education Program. It gave me a place to put my extra energies into, and made me feel I was able to make a difference in not only my own life, but in other peoples to. By working as a youth staff leader at the Ohio DECA Summer Leadership Retreat, and hleping in Community Service Activities including raising money for the MDA foundation is how I was able to make those changes. DECA has turned me into a young confident leader with determination, dedication, and drive worked and now imbedded into my heart and soul. I would honestly reccomend that everyone spend at least one year in the Marketing Education Program and DECA. I Hope this is good enough, please let me know if you need anything else, and feel free to edit my entry, I have terrible Sentence Structure Skills, and I always type to fast. Good Luck! Sincerly, Ashley Wade DECA helps you decide what you want and what kind of person you want to be. Megan Sutherland Dear Darryl Bellamy, This is for your project, GOOD LUCK! My name's Rachael Pickerel, and I'm the Nebraska DECA State Secretary. I've grown to love this organizatino so much! Ever since I was a little curious freshman I wanted to be involved in marketing and I found my niche with DECA. These past four years have grown to be some of the best and I'll have memories that I'll always remember. To anyone that's considering joining the club, stop thinking and do it! There's nothing you'll regret. There you go! I hope that I see you at Nationals :) RachaelRachael Pickerel Nebraska DECA Secretary "Without DECA I'd be ... well... average."

Ryan Manning

DECA has been such an amazing part of my life, and completely changedthe person who I was in the summer of 2004 into the person I am today.I am more outgoing, confident, and have leadership skills I could have never imagined. Not only did I grow personally, but professionally aswell. I am a better public speaker, writer, and intervier...allbecause of DECA. However, the one thing I will take away from DECAmore than anything else were the great times I had and countlessfriends I've made. I have met some of my best friends from being astate officer and a Youth Staffer at the Summer Leadership Retreat(DECA Camp). All of this from participating in just one studentorganization for only 2 years of my life (although I haven't been ableto pull myself away from DECA since I graduated high school). Being inDECA is truly a life-changing experience.

--Johnathan Arnold,Cincinatti, Ohio

For me, DECA was a wonderful door placed in my path. I felt like i wasnot good at anything in life and I couldn't find what interested me,until DECA. Becoming a state officer helped me to show myself morethan anyone else that I could succeed and have fun and make a difference.-Dylan Roberts -Omaha Nebraska

DECA has helped me in my communication skills greatly. After doing roleplays and interacting with people at competitive events I am much more confident in the way I speak. I have made lots of new friends not just at my school but across the state. I also have learned lots of new things in marketing and business because DECA has influenced me to take more marketing classes and now I am a fourth year marketing student. Without DECA I beleive I wouldnt be as good of a person as I am now, it has helped me obtain the knowledge and skills that will greatly help me throughout my life in the business world as well as the personal world. I am extremely thankful for DECA and hope it continues to help others down the road.

Joseph-

DECA is beneficial because it prepared today's youth for business-type situations that they will more than likely happen in their life. I have personally been taught things such as how to actually shake a hand that may have been the icing that got me hired on the spot at my current job. DECA helps today's youth to excell in business and develops the future leaders of America. -- Adam YoungDistrict 3/6 President

My name is Drew Hammond. The most obvious benefit of DECA is all the friends I have made. From a marketing standpoint, I have learned a lot of new and interesting information concerning advertising, promotions, etc. I have also been able to go on several out-of-school trips with my DECA Chapter, which is always a fun experience. DECA has had an impact on me in that I am now looking to major in marketing or at least take a number of marketing classes next year in college. I hope that everything I have learned will help me be successful in life.
I hope this answers your question, and good luck with everything!
Drew Hammond

What an interesting project!
On all my college applications I've listed DECA as the most important club to me. Though I've been in other clubs longer, I honestly feel that DECA has had the greatest influence on my high school career, and will influence my future the most. Unlike other clubs, DECA makes a competition directly applicable to the real world. Its a social, competitive, and fun way to learn new things, meet new people, and achieve at something you've worked hard at. I find DECA incredibly rewarding because you are rewarded for your work ethic and natural skills. I'm now Co-President of my DECA chapter because I wanted to give back to the club that has given so much to me. I love DECA and would reccommend it to anyone.
Kilby Elkins
Myers Park High School DECA Chapter, Co-President