If you want to be a state officer, you have to pass the test! Everything you need to know is right here in these guidelines.  Simply download the guide, then start studying.  You must receive 70% correct in order to continue with your campaign. In addition to this study guide, you'll need a copy of the Chapter Management Guide which you can either get from your teacher or you can download it from the advisor's forms page.  If you have any questions, your chapter advisor can help you.  If they get stuck, you are welcome to direct your question to mkoslosk@odu.edu.  Happy studying! State Officer Candidate Study Guide (MS Word format) VIRGINIA DECA - MARKETING AND DECA FACTS Abbreviations and Definitions ICDC - International Career Development Conference SLC - Virginia State Leadership Conference; State winners in competitive events are determined; state officers are elected DLC - District Leadership Conference; Election of district officers; competitors for state competition determined OTC - Officer Training Conference; Provides leadership development for newly-elected chapter officers LDI - Leadership Development Institute Provides leadership development for newly-elected district and state officers MAP - Merit Awards Program; Gives each DECA member an opportunity to work on self-improvement activities- bronze, silver, and gold levels awarded. CBCE - Competency Based Competitive Events VAME - Virginia Association of Marketing Educators VRMA - Virginia Retail Merchant’s Association SMEI - Sales and Marketing Executives International CAB - Congressional Advisory Board NAB -  National Advisory Board (representatives from organizations contributing financial support to DECA) Dates/Locations/ Themes See the Chapter Management Guide for relevant dates/locations and themes Facts and Specifications Name of our organization -  DECA- An Association of Marketing Students DECA Colors – Blue stands for sincerity, gold for success DECA Emblem – Diamond, its four points symbolizing:  civic consciousness, social intelligence, vocational understanding, and leadership development International DECA publication –DECA Dimensions Virginia DECA Newsletter – The DECA Distributor DECA Board of Trustees – Assists with the development of operating policies and procedures.  Names of members can be found in the Chapter Management Guide. The International DECA Tagline – “Developing Leaders in Marketing, Management and Entrepreneurship.” The four divisions of DECA – High School, Delta Epsilon Chi, Alumni, and Professional  State DECA Regions – Eastern, Northern, and Western; the number of districts comprising VA DECA – 26 International DECA Regions – Southern (VA is a member), Western, North Atlantic, Central CBCE Occupational Areas   Apparel and Accessories   Business Services Marketing   Food Marketing   Full Service Restaurant Management   Marketing Management   Quick-Service Restaurant Management   Retail Merchandising   Vehicles and Petroleum Instructional Areas of CBCE   Economic Foundations    Basic and Social Skills-Human Relations   Purchasing    Pricing   Marketing Foundations    Distribution   Promotion    Risk Management   Selling    Support Activities MARKETING FACTS As well as basic understanding of Marketing, Economics and Parliamentary Procedures, candidates must be prepared to answer the following questions: 1.  What is Marketing? Marketing is a people-oriented field; it is the process of determining consumer needs and then directing products and services to meet those needs.  If includes such activities as market research, product design and packaging, buying and pricing, selling, transportation/storage, promoting and advertising, servicing, financing, and insuring.  It represents over one-third of the jobs in today’s economy. Marketing is the instructional program designed to prepare motivated people for marketing careers.  Marketing provides students a way to secure entry-level, mid-management, or entrepreneurial positions in marketing, keeping with their individual goals. 2.  How can one participate in the Marketing program? Marketing is offered in many forms for various ages/experiences levels: Middle schools and junior highs offer orientation or career exploration courses to introduce students to career opportunities. High schools offer the most active Marketing centers, which have cooperative and laboratory programs. Community and junior colleges, technical institutes, colleges and universities offer a variety of marketing courses based on laboratory and theory systems.  Many included an internship working in a marketing business. 3.  Does Marketing take the place of college? Rather than replace college, marketing gives student exposure to a career area, which can allow them a more positive selection of vocation.  Many marketing students attend institutions of higher learning and find that their involvement made them better prepared for college entrance.  However, all marketing graduates can expect to acquire job skills, which will help them obtain work directly out of high school, on a full, or part-time basis, is they so choose. 4.  How does Marketing improve marketing in the United States? Employers can hire a marketing trainee or graduate, knowing the employee has received the best, most relevant education for the assignment. Adults can receive instruction, which supplements their present jobs and leads to improved performance and advancement. People with a wide range of ability levels and socio-economic backgrounds- including the handicapped, the exceptional, the disadvantaged – are all helped in their pursuit of marketing careers. 5.  Is there more to Marketing than school and work? Participation in DECA provides students with the opportunity to become involved in many exciting activities related to their marketing curriculum.  Involvement in DECA offers students leadership training and a chance to compete in local, state, and international events in many career areas – all designated to stimulate and motivate classroom interest and workforce development competence.  Through DECA, students also have the opportunity to participate in social functions, meet many business leaders in the community, and to apply for scholarships and loans, which may be used to further their education for marketing careers.  6.  Do students who complete the Marketing program really get better jobs? The success of each program has been measured by follow-up studies of graduates.  These studies show that the Marketing programs have a high degree of success in maintaining employees in marketing. Marketing graduates are in high demand by employers.  It makes sense: employers want to hire people who have already learned effective marketing.  This is the very marketable service Marketing provides. PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE STUDY GUIDE   The presiding officer calls the meeting to order, maintains order, and adjourns the meeting. The presiding officer must relinquish the chair to make a motion The presiding officer must relinquish the chair to enter in a discussion on the motion. The presiding officer may vote when voting is done by ballot. The minimum number of members who must be present for legal action to be taken is a quorum. The largest number of votes cast for a single person, place, or thing when three or more are voted upon is the plurality vote. More than one half of the votes cast for a person are called the majority vote. To propose an action to the membership is to make a motion. The basic operating rules of the organization are the by-laws. The order of business for a meeting is an agenda. An affirmative vote to a motion is “aye.” The opening ceremonies can include an invocation, Pledge of Allegiance, and/or song. The proper way to make a motion is to state, “ I move that”. The function of the nominating committee is to secure nominations for office. The president does not select the members of the nominating committee. Because it comes from a committee, nominations from the nominating committee do not require a second. A motion is not required to approve minutes.  However, minutes can be corrected. Business left over from the previous meeting is called unfinished business. The proper way to answer the roll call is “present”. Motions made from the floor need a second.  Motions made from a committee do not need a second. The name of person making the motion is recorded in the minutes. The name of a person seconding the motion is not recorded in the minutes. The maker of the motion may vote against the motion. Only the maker of the motion can withdraw the motion. To “call for the question” means to ask for a vote on the motion. The presiding officer is not necessarily the president of the organization. To recess means to take a break from the meeting The last order of business is to adjourn the meeting. The secretary reads the minutes from the previous meeting. PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE TERMS TO KNOW     chair  nominating committee present quorum parliamentary procedure  majority vote constitution Robert’s Rules of Order adjournment nomination unfinished business  committee recommendation standing rules minutes recess rules of order vote by-laws call to order  agenda board new business ballot question plurality vote second motion standing committee  presiding “aye”  seconding a motion invocation making a motion approval of minutes State Officer Exam Study Guide – DECA Section (Much of this information is available on the Virginia DECA Web Site and in the Chapter Management Guide)  The VA Association Name  VA DECA Theme  DECA Inc. Theme  DECA Tagline  DECA Colors  4 points of the DECA Diamond  Current International DECA officers  Duties of officers   Members of VA DECA State Action Team  Qualifications of VA DECA State Action Team members  VA State Advisor  DECA Specialist  DECA Board of Trustees members  DECA Publications – state and international  DECA State Scholarships and Awards  VA DECA Day (current school year)  International DECA Day (current school year)  International DECA Regions  VA DECA Regions  Number of VA DECA Districts  Annual Report DECA Abbreviations ICDC  SONAR  CAB  NAB SLC  CBCE  MAP  SMEI DLC  OTC  VAME  VRMA  State and International conference locations for current school year  DECA is co-curricular organization.  VA DECA History including prominent dates and names  Write and/or recite the DECA Creed

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