History of Virginia FBLA
Virginia Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) began in 1942 when a local chapter was chartered at Spotsylvania High School. In 1950, Virginia was chartered as the 11th State Chapter of the Future Business Leaders of America. Virginia FBLA is part of the national structure of Future Business Leaders of America.
State Structure
FBLA is supported by the Virginia Department of Education. The state chapter is headed by the state chairman* and the FBLA specialist.
The state Executive Board governs Virginia FBLA and includes the state chairman, the FBLA specialist, the state officers, one adviser of each state officer, and the regional directors. The director of the Virginia Department of Education's Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education is an ex officio member of the Executive Board.
*According to the guidelines of the National Association of Parliamentarians and FBLA Inc., the term chairman is used as a generic term.
Regional Structure
When the state chapter was established, it was organized into four nearly equal geographic regions, each centered around a state college or university. The tremendous growth of Virginia FBLA resulted in the formation of additional regions. The most recent, the 11th region, was formed in 1980. The purposes of the state’s regional structure is to provide opportunities for leadership development and participation in FBLA activities beyond the local chapter level to provide an orderly and approved selection of participants in competitive events at the state level.
Each region has its own bylaws, officers, adviser, and director. The regional adviser is the adviser of the regional president’s chapter, and the director is appointed by the state chairman. Each regional president serves as a vice-president of the Virginia State Chapter.
Local Chapter Structure
A local chapter of Future Business Leaders of America may be established in any school with a Business and Information Technology program. The teachers in the Business and Information Technology department serve as chapter advisers. FBLA is a co-curricular organization, and its activities are an integral part of the instructional program.
The local chapter, operating under a charter granted by FBLA Inc. conducts activities within the framework of the state and national organizations. To ensure that all students benefit from FBLA activities, a local chapter may be organized into mini- or subchapters. These mini-chapters may be organized by special interest groups or by periods of the school day.
Contacts
FBLA State Office and State Specialist
SANDY MILLS
Virginia FBLA Inc.
111 Hodges Cove Road
Yorktown, VA 23692
540.686.1105
smills@vafbla.org
State Chairman and
Business & Information Technology and Related Clusters Specialist
JUDITH SAMS
Virginia Department of Education
P.O. Box 2120
Richmond, VA 23218-2120
Telephone 804/371-0196
Fax: 804/371-2456
judith.sams@doe.virginia.gov
FBLA Products
Order apparel, "lifestyle" items, and uniform essentials at https://fbla.mybrightsites.com/.
Membership Lockbox (FBLA state and national dues):
FBLA Membership Lockbox
P.O. Box 79063
Baltimore, MD 21279-0063