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Overview
DECA, An Association of Marketing Students is a Career Technical Student Organization (CTSO) that is an integral component of the Business and Marketing Education instructional program. CTSOs are specifically created to provide teaching/learning experiences to be used both in and outside the classroom. Curriculum for these organizations is tailored to specific career goals of students and emphasizes strong academic, human relations, and employability skills.
Today's businesses require teamwork, consensus building, decision-making, interpersonal skills, and goal orientation. While business organizations value cooperative effort, they also demand independent thinking. DECA seeks to transform students into team workers who recognize that their own success depends on the success of others. At the same time, students learn that effective leadership is critical to successful group work.
Classroom projects, chapter activities, and competitive events all serve to assist students in becoming team workers and leaders. DECA students may choose to pursue leadership roles by running for local, state, and national offices. Learning the democratic process through participation is a hallmark of our organization.
Competition and recognition for achievement are fundamental parts of DECA's dynamic student-centered programs of leadership development. Business and industry representatives participate in competitive events by assessing student competence as exhibited in research-based projects, authentic performance-based demonstrations and role plays, case study analysis, and independent and group projects.
Businesses and corporations recognize DECA as vital links between the classroom and the business world. Through applied learning methodology, students are motivated to develop skills and apply them in school-to-work learning experiences. Local chapters work with the business community to develop mutually beneficial relationships by creating a strong, well-trained work force from which businesses can draw.
Picture, if you will the most prestigious professional organization within your industry. The spokes of this professional organization are many and go deep and wide to fulfill all the needs of its members. Its members know that if they want to get anywhere within their profession, they must join their professional organization to network and utilize all it has to offer. If a need arises that is not presently included, the organization will rise to the occasion and create another spoke to fulfill the need. DECA: An Association of Marketing Students (formerly known as Distributive Education Clubs of America) is just such a professional organization at the high school level!
DECA fulfills many needs in today's educational trends. Education today has its roots in teaching to standards and exit exams. DECA curriculum integrates the California Career Technical Education (CCTE) foundation standards, Marketing, Sales, and Service industry sector standards, Academic Content Standards, and the National Marketing Standards into project-based activities that validate the cross-training link to the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE). These co-curricular activities stimulate learning in a variety of ways, promoting success for multiple intelligences and learning styles within marketing, management, and entrepreneurship programs.
California Association of DECA, Inc. is a non-profit educational association and is affiliated with National DECA located in
Reston, Virginia . California DECA is supported by a project grant from the California Department of Education, High School Networks Division.
Organization
LEVEL I -- CHAPTER LEVEL
· Marketing students make up the local school chapter of DECA members
· School chapter elects/appoints leaders or officers
· Chapter members participate in school and/or community activities
LEVEL II--STATE ASSOCIATION LEVEL
· Chapters and chapter members join the California Association of DECA and National DECA.
· Representative of local chapters (student and advisors) provide advice/direction for the state association of DECA through the California DECA Board of Directors.
· State officers, chosen from local DECA chapters, provide leadership
· The state advisors provide leadership and coordinate activities for California DECA. The district leadership team provides leadership and coordinates district DECA activities
· Outstanding local chapter members represent their chapters in state-sponsored activities, as well as competition and career development events
LEVEL III--NATIONAL LEVEL
· Local chapter and state association members join National DECA
· The state advisor provides advice/leadership regarding National DECA activities
· The state advisor serves as a member of DECA, Inc. as the adult given the legal responsibility for the chapters and student members of DECA within the state association
· Members of the board of directors are elected from the DECA, Inc. membership for a three-year term. The board sets policies and/or guidelines and adopts a long range plan for DECA development and growth
· The executive director of DECA, Inc. receives direction from the board of directors
· All other national staff persons are employed by and responsible to the executive director
· Outstanding state members represent their state association during National Career Development Conferences held on an annual basis
· National student officers, chosen by the state association voting delegates, serve as the elected student leaders of National DECA
Divisions
DECA is divided into the following divisions:
HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION
DECA is a student-centered organization whose program of leadership and personal development is designed specifically for students enrolled in marketing education. Any student enrolled in a marketing education instructional program in the , its territorial entities and is eligible for membership in DECA at the local, state and national level. At the local classroom level, marketing education students form a DECA chapter and elect their own student chapter officers. The marketing education teacher-coordinator serves as the chapter advisor. A school with more than one teacher-coordinator may form more than one chapter, providing that each chapter has at least one advisor and each advisor oversees no more than one chapter.
DELTA EPSILON CHI
In 1958, several postsecondary institutions attempted to establish local chapters. In 1961, the Postsecondary Division of DECA, also known as the "Junior College" Division, was established and opened for membership to marketing education students who were enrolled in less than baccalaureate degree programs. In 1982, the name of the division was changed to "Delta Epsilon Chi." Membership was also extended to include students preparing for marketing, management, merchandising and entrepreneurial careers. Delta Epsilon Chi has also opened to four-year colleges and universities.
COLLEGIATE DIVISION
The Collegiate Division of DECA was formed in 1970. This division functions as a student/professional division. The Collegiate Division is directed toward future marketing education teacher-coordinators, encouraging them to become local DECA advisors and helping them prepare for this advisory role.
ALUMNI DIVISION
The Alumni Division of DECA serves DECA in a supporting role. Membership in the Alumni Division is available to any former high school, Delta Epsilon Chi, or collegiate DECA member or any member of these division who is completing his/her last semester prior to graduation. Members may join through their local chapter, state association or directly through National DECA. Alumni members may judge competitive events, assist their local chapter or state association with leadership, conference and professional activities, serve as guest speakers, or participate in DECA activities as a corporate representative.
PROFESSIONAL DIVISION
The Professional Division of DECA was established primarily to provide teachers of marketing education a means for identification with DECA in addition to serving as chapter advisors. Active members also include: local or state supervisory directors, teacher/educators and other professional marketing education personnel, cooperative employers, school administrators, board of education members, parents, advisory committee members and others who are helping to advance and support DECA on the local, state or national level.
Importance
STUDENT
Marketing education students have common objectives and interest in that each is studying for a specific career objective. DECA activities have a tremendous positive effect upon the attitudes of students. DECA members learn to serve as leaders and followers and have the opportunity for state and national recognition that would not otherwise be possible.
SCHOOL
DECA chapter activities are always school-centered, thus contributing to the school's purpose of preparing well-adjusted, employable citizens. Chapter activities serve the teacher/coordinator (the chapter advisor) as a teaching tool by creating interest in all phases of marketing and serve as an avenue of expression for individual talent The chapter is the "show window" for student achievement and progress. It attracts students to the marketing education program who are interested in careers in marketing, management and entrepreneurship and assists in subject matter presentation.
COMMUNITY
DECA members have conducted numerous studies and surveys to aid the economic development of their own community. Marketing projects continue to encourage this type of contribution. Many businesses favor employing marketing education students because of their interest in education, their attitude toward careers in business, and their related school study of that particular business. Many leaders in business and government have praised the DECA program for its civic-related activities.
NATION
Marketing education instruction and related DECA activities constantly emphasize 's system of competition and private enterprise. Self-help among students is the rule rather than the exception, and DECA leaders give constant encouragement to continuing education. As DECA attracts more of our nation's youth to study marketing, the total marketing education program becomes a vital necessity to our national economy and to the well-being of our society.
Mission & Goals
GOALS OF DECA
· To prepare marketing education students to take their proper places in the business world
· To develop leadership characteristics
· To develop self-confidence and self-acceptance
· To develop a greater understanding of our competitive, free enterprise system
· To further develop occupational competencies needed for careers in marketing, management and entrepreneurship
· To develop high ethical standards in personal and business relationships
· To develop effective international relationships
· To develop greater awareness of career opportunities in marketing
· To develop greater proficiency in communication
· To develop a healthy competitive spirit
· To develop social and business etiquette
DECA'S
MISSION
DECA's mission is to enhance the co-curricular education of students with interest in marketing, management and entrepreneurship.
DECA helps students develop skills and competence for marketing careers, build self-esteem, experience leadership and practice community experience.
DECA is committed to the advocacy of marketing education and the growth of business and education partnerships.
Creed
I believe in the future which I am planning for myself in the field of marketing and management, and in the opportunities which my vocation offers.
I believe in fulfilling the highest measure of service to my vocation, my fellow beings, my country and my God--that by so doing, I will be rewarded with personal satisfaction and material wealth.
I believe in the democratic philosophies of private enterprise and competition, and in the freedoms of this nation - that these philosophies allow for the fullest development of my individual abilities.
I believe that by doing my best to live according to these high principles, I will be of greater service both to myself and to mankind.
CA DECA History
California became an official State Association member of National DECA in 1951. From 1953 to 1958, the California Association of DECA became known as the Future Retailers of California. In 1958 the Future Retailers of California separated into two individual divisions. The high school division became the California Association of DECA and the junior college division became the Marketing Clubs of California. Both divisions continued to hold joint state leadership conferences until 1965.
In 1985 the California Advisory Board (CAB) for DECA was formed. Industry representatives and business leaders from all over
California are members of this active committee. In 1997 National DECA recognized the CAB as an official state business partnership. CAB business professionals provide direction, resources, and evaluation for marketing education/DECA, as well as lead and collaborate with local business and education partners on specific projects. This partnership links school and work with an integrated education effort to build a vital and responsive work force.
California DECA operated with two divisions, Northern and Southern, until 1988. At that time Southern California split into two divisions, Los Angeles and
San Diego . In 1993, the Los Angeles District split and formed the Inland Empire District. In 2000 Los Angeles and
San Diego united and became the Coastal District. Northern California has elected to remain one large district with three smaller districts in
Southern California .
The California DECA Inc, Board of Directors includes elected representatives from each of the three districts (numbers based on membership), a representative from industry, a representative from the CA Department of Education, the State President, and the State Advisor. The Board of Directors meets two-three times a year and is the policy-making body of California DECA. Each district may also elect a leadership team, made up of local advisors to assist with district conferences.
The State Officer Team for California DECA includes: State President, Vice President of Communications, Vice President of Civic Consciousness and a State Vice President from each of the three districts. The Vice Presidents are considered the President for each district. These students are elected at the State Career Development Conference each spring. Their term is for one year, running from state conference through June of the following year. The State Officer team attends the State Officer leadership academy at the National DECA Career Development Conference. DECA State Officers also attend the Western Region Officer Training Camp each year.
CA DECA is tracking its alumni and hopes to develop a strong partnership with our past students.
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