Member of the MonthThink you or one of the

members in your chapter is capable of being the CT DECA Member of the Month?!? Want

to be recognized at State Competition in February!

Contact your regional State Officer to learn more! Good Luck and STRIVE2THRIVE!

nnn

Welcome Back Connecticut DECA! My name is Nicholas DiNardo, your 2012-2013 State President, and I am looking forward to represent you this year! As you may know last year was the 60th Anniversary of Connecticut DECA, however while looking through some paperwork, it was apparent that Connecticut DECA was established in 1953, not 1952. So this year, we will being celebrating the REAL 60th Anniversary of Connecticut DECA! And we will be doing it right! With new awards, amazing entertainment, and

unforgettable memories. This year is going to be HUGE! I can not wait until I kick off the year with our annual Fall Leadership Conference in Southington, Connecticut! This year is going to be one to remember! And ending perfectly, when we meet in Anaheim in late April. Have a great month and always remember to STRIVE2THRIVE!

zWelcome Back!z

A MESSAGE FROM YOUR STATE PRESIDENT

P R E P A R I N G E M E R G I N G L E A D E R S A N D E N T R E P R E N E U R S

SEPTEMBER Newsletter

the

Membership! Up and Coming!

Page 2

Team 60...Again! Meet Your New State Officer Team!

Page 4

The Movement! Back & Ready for Action!

Page 3

Membership! Up and Coming!

“We want to see as many lives changed as possible.”

According to the National DECA President, Morgan

Thompson, DECA is a life-changing experience. She is absolutely right because DECA can provide many

opportunities beyond what you can imagine once you become involved. This

organization has changed its members; academically, mentally, spiritually and professionally.

Having a hard time reaching out to your chapter? As an experienced DECA member, share your stories with the

rest of the newcomers. This will help them see how DECA relates to them and encourage them to join you on your DECA journey! Once you’ve gotten their attention take ‘em out! Show them a good time, DECA style. Try a

state conference or one of your many chapter events! Then you’ll be able to pass the torch to that DECA member

who then will carry it to the next group of members with their own “I remember my first conference” story.

Once your chapter begins to get involved and unified as a whole, you will see growth! If the students in your

school see what a great time your having with your DECA team, they’ll want to know more about your chapter. Keep in mind, a DECA member starts with an interested student.

Do not become involved just because your advisor or chapter officers say you should. Get involved for you! You

could be the next chapter officer, state officer, or even national officer! But more importantly, you learn a lot about yourself in DECA. You may discover skills you never knew you had. You may develop skills you never thought you

could. You may even set different goals for yourself than you have had in mind for your entire life! No matter what your DECA experience brings you, I can promise you now that you will never regret it.

“Build your brand!” as Morgan accurately stated. Make sure your voice is heard in your school! DECA members

always have a lot to say for themselves but we aren’t all about the talk. Get out in your schools and communities and show them what you’ve got! Use DECA Month, social media, share your experiences and showcase all that

you’ve been doing. You’ll set the smoke alarm off and your presence will be known.

Be determined to involve not only your high school members but the alumni and professional members as well!

They could be parents, principals, teachers. Anyone can catch “the DECA bug” as your State Vice President

Madeline Huber calls it. As long as your members feel excited about DECA so will everyone they come in contact with.

Think of the professional and academic benefits of growing more and more involved with your chapter. (Hint, hint! ICDC=Future employers & State Conference=Qualifications!)

“It all starts with that initial leap and getting involved.”

-Morgan Thompson, International DECA President.

By Sydney KrewsonReporter

• • •

Fall Leadership Conference:

Changing CT Members to CT Leaders.

By Madeline HuberVice-President

• • •

This year’s Fall Leader Conference (FLC) is just around the corner! We will once again meet at the beautiful Aquaturf in Southington, on October 26th. DECA members from  across the state will join together to network, participate in workshops and have fun! This year we have a special opportunity to bring our DECA

members a completely new conference. Mr. Scott J. Farrell of Positively Speaking and your 2012-2013 State Officer Team will be running the conference.  Mr. Farrell is a retired National Guard Recruiter, who is passionate about the CT DECA organization and its members. He was the main presenter at this year's State Officer Training Conference this past summer and the entire team is proud and excited to have him lead our conference! He is bringing in a variety of speakers that are sure to impress. At this years'  Fall Leadership Conference,  as a CT

DECA member will be able to develop leadership skills, learn how motivation works , and set goals for yourself. We hope to see you there!

#CTDECAFLC

THE MOVEMENT: RAISING THE BAR FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE.

By Olivia CuccaroTreasurer

• • •

In the 2012-2013 Connecticut DECA year the charity the state officer team along with the State Advisor, Mr. Bill Leete, has chosen to sponsor is the Muscular Dystrophy Association, or commonly referred to as MDA. This is the same charity as the past year in which Connecticut DECA was able to donate $4,355. This year, we, as a united state chartered association are aiming to increase this donation with the activities of the various chapters and members across Connecticut.

The Muscular Dystrophy Association is known as the world's largest nongovernmental sponsored research center for finding the causes of, and effective treatments for, neuromuscular diseases. By supporting MDA, children across the nation are given hope for their future and the betterment of their lives. It is because of this that a wider range of exciting events are being held this year in order to raise money for MDA and get members involved.

The Movement itself is a part of Connecticut DECA’s Community Service Campaign which is one of five total campaigns. These campaigns are the goals of Connecticut DECA as a whole. The

five campaigns are; promotion, global entrepreneurship week, community service, membership, and advocacy. With these campaigns Connecticut DECA will Thrive like never before.

In the past year, Miracle Minutes have been used as a quick way to raise the money in a group setting. Miracle Minutes is an easy concept to comprehend. At the Fall Leadership Conference and also the State Competition the officer team walks around with collection buckets that anyone may donate to with any amount of money. This is a very quick fundraiser (only 60 seconds) but is highly effective and has lasting results.

A Bowling Night will also be open to any and all Connecticut DECA members during the second week of DECA month (November). Members will pay and fixed cost based on regional bowling alley prices along with a small donation to MDA. Such an event will include bowling games, food and refreshments. We look forward to seeing you there!

These events are only two of an exhilarating list of MDA charity events that will be revealed in later newsletters, as the date grows nearer. Help make a difference in the lives of those who are not as lucky as you may be. We, the Connecticut State Officer Team, look forward to seeing each of you at the various events that will be held this year!

#TheMovement

Fall Leadership

Conference

October 26th, 2012

Aquaturf

Team 60...Again!Meet Your 2012-2012 State Executive Council!

Nicholas DiNardoState President Danbury High School

Madeline HuberState Vice-President Danbury High School

HELLO CT DECA MEMBERS! My name is Madeline Huber and I am your State Vice-President for this school year. As well as being a State officer, I am a part of my local chapter in Danbury, serving as the school store manager for the second year in row. Besides DECA, I am actively involved in my church. Also, I enjoy singing and acting in various musicals in the community. And like most people, I love spending time with my friends. When we get together it usually revolves around what food we are going to eat and it's always lots of laughs with them. My future plans include moving out West to attend college while majoring  in Economics or some other related business major. I am super excited for the plans your State Officer Team has in store for Connecticut DECA. I can’t wait to meet all of you at our events and chapter visits throughout the year. PS. Feel free to FB message me or follow me on Twitter @maddyhuber

Teamwork Competence Integrity Innovation

Greetings Connecticut DECA Members! My name is Nicholas DiNardo, your 2012-2013 State President. I am both excited and ready to represent you this year as your president. In my high school I am known as the DECA guy. But when I am not working on DECA, I enjoy photography, sports and politics. I am a senior at Danbury High School, and have the privilege of being the Student Council Secretary for the my school. I love hanging out with my friends, and traveling to new places. In my life after high school, I plan to stay in the North Atlantic Region for college and double major in Business Administration and Political Science. I look forward to the connections I plan on making with each and everyone of the Connecticut DECA members, at our various conferences and on social media. Lets have a great year and represent CT DECA well! #Strive2Thrive Follow Me! @CTDECANick

Team 60...Again! Cont.Meet Your 2012-2012 State Executive Council!

Olivia CuccaroState TreasurerFrancis T. Maloney HS

Hunter Farber State Secretary RHAM High School

Hello everyone! My name is Hunter Farber and I am your 2012-2013 CT State Secretary. I first became interested in DECA when I was in eighth grade and I had heard about it from some of my older sisters’ friends. I knew from that point on that when I got into high school I would join DECA as soon as I was able to but I didn’t get a chance until my junior year. Since I have been a member I have been consistently involved in as much of my chapter’s activities as to I am able to be a part of. I have been active in running the school store along with assisting in some of our chapter’s holiday charity drives. Although it was only my first year in DECA, with the encouragement of my chapter advisor I ran for a state officer position and it is one of the best decisions I have made in my high school career. Outside of being a state officer I help run our schools annual power of words anti bullying assembly. I am also an active member of my schools Gay Straight Alliance, and Peer Helpers program which assist new students coming into the high school. Outside of school I spend a lot of time out with my friends and family just enjoying the time I have left before I go off to college. I am really looking forward to getting to know you all and working to make this year one of the best years CT DECA has ever seen!

Teamwork Competence Integrity Innovation

Hello everyone! My name is Olivia Cuccaro and I am your 2012-2013 Connecticut State Treasurer. I first became involved with DECA through the encouragement of my Chapter Advisor. Ever since my first experience with DECA I have been active in running the school store and working my way up to becoming a state officer. Outside of being a state officer, I play soccer and run track for my high school, Francis T. Maloney. I am a very active student within my school through DECA, sports, Student Improvement Committee, and also the Student Council. On a personal side, I enjoy being involved with art, both creating and viewing it. It has taught me to appreciate all the little things life has to offer. I like to have fun and make the most out of any situation. I look forward to working with you all this year to expand Connecticut DECA and make this a year not easily forgotten!

Team 60...Again! Final.Meet Your 2012-2012 State Executive Council!

Tucker LewisState Historian E.O. Smith High School

Sydney KrewsonState ReporterKennedy High School

Hi CT DECA Members, Advisors and Alumni,My name is Sydney Krewson, the 2012-2013 State Reporter! My favorite thing in the world is time! It's so limited, yet, its everything. Time is my most valuable asset, so I choose to spend it doing what I love. I'm an active member of Kennedy High School's DECA chapter, National Honor Society, P.A.S.S. Club, and Cross Country Team. I have a job at a department store and hope to start saving money for when I leave home to go to college. I have a German Shepherd sidekick named Buster. I just thought because we'll be spending the year together, we should get to know each other. So now it's your turn! Post on the Connecticut DECA Facebook page or tweet at us at, @ConnecticutDECA. I look forward to hearing from you and Strive2Thrive.

Teamwork Competence Integrity Innovation

Hello, I’m Tucker Lewis from E.O. Smith High School and serve as CT DECA State Historian for the 2012-2013 school year. I enjoy writing, kicking it with my bro’s and I’m an avid sports fan. I love to play baseball, basketball, football and golf. I am a big New York Giants fan, proudly rooting for my team deep in New England Patriot territory! In addition to being a big sports fan I am also an animal lover. I have two dogs, Woody, an English black lab, and Louie, a yellow lab. If I’m not off with friends or working, you can most likely catch me chilling with them. After college, I plan to be a professional sports agent. Together I think that we can accomplish a lot this year in DECA!

Connecticut DECA

@ConnecticutDECA

www.CTDECA.org

Areas of Responsibilities Your School and Representative State Officer

State Officer: Nicholas DiNardo

Greenwich High SchoolStamford High School

Fairfield Ludlowe High SchoolBassick High School

Trumbull High SchoolJoseph A. Foran High School

Shelton High SchoolAnsonia High SchoolBethel High School

State Officer: Madeline Huber

New Milford High SchoolNew Fairfield High School

Brookfield High SchoolRidgefield High SchoolNewtown High School

Masuk High SchoolNonnwwaug High SchoolWatertown High School

Danbury High School

State Officer: Sydney Krewson

Wolcott High SchoolCrosby High School

Kennedy High SchoolWilby High School

Naugatuck High SchoolSeymour High School

Career High SchoolWest Haven High SchoolNotre Dame High School

State Officer: Olivia Cuccaro

Maloney High SchoolLyman Hall High SchoolSouthington High School

Plainville High SchoolThe Gilbert School

Hamden High SchoolEli Whitney Tech. School

Platt High SchoolMiddletown High School

Xavier High School

State Officer: Hunter Farber

RHAM High SchoolBacon Academy

Glastonbury High SchoolWethersfield High School

East Hartford High SchoolSouth Windsor High School

Windsor High SchoolEnrico Fermi High School

Enfield High School

State Officer: Tucker Lewis

E.O. Smith High SchoolWindham High School

Norwich Free AcademyNorwich Technical School

Stonington High SchoolFitch High School

Waterford High SchoolOld Lyme High School

New London High School

#FOLLOW US!