Hello fellow BPA members! Every year new and veteran members come together for regional, state, and national competitions and meetings. New friendships, experiences, and memories are made, all of which have helped Business Professionals of America flourish and become the organization that it is today. Being a part of BPA has given me all of these, and I would like to suggest ways to promote participation in BPA as a way of giving back to the association that has done so much not only for me, but for many others as well.

One of the main ways to promote participation and get more people involved in Business Professionals of America is to talk. Communication skills are the key to BPA success. Not only will spreading the word about BPA help others to catch the BPA vision, it will help you too. The more one talks to people, the more confident he or she becomes in conversation techniques. In the past, I’ve been a shy and laid-back girl. But, by talking about causes important to me, I’ve developed the courage to talk to anyone about anything without feeling self-conscious. If you feel passionate about BPA, I encourage you to speak out!

            Friendships are also important to the involvement ratio of BPA. By talking to your friends, teachers, and family, you can spread the word about BPA and all it has to offer to its members. Friends can tell other friends, teachers can talk to students, and family members can tell their comrades as well. Speaking at a school board or faculty meeting is a great way to make your community aware of the opportunities BPA provides it members. I’m sure your peers and educators will enjoy listening to you talk about something important to you academically, and they will most likely be supportive. If more students become associated with BPA, they can achieve new friendships and create tighter bonds with existing friends and colleagues.

            Although talking is important, there are also ways to spread the word about BPA to others that do not always require dialogue. Flyers and articles help share news about Business Professionals of America through the written word. Flyers and articles can include the pros of BPA, what the association is about, how one can become involved, and any other details about the program. Flyers can be distributed anywhere from classrooms to the community, and articles can be placed in newspapers or school websites. One can make scrapbooks, collages, or many other multimedia projects that describe the merits of BPA participation. Applying creativity to your BPA promotional efforts can inspire resourcefulness in fellow members. Begin to explore new ways promote our association.

            I sincerely hope these tips will encourage all members to talk about BPA to others and to advocate support and recognition for the association.