Saturday, April 11, 2009

ICDC.... 11 Days and Counting

The culminating event of the Delta Epsilon Chi membership year is our International Career Development Conference(ICDC)!
ICDC offers you the chance to engage in challenging learning activities, receive recognition for your competitive achievements, and expand your peer and business networks.
Make plans to join us for the 2009 conference in Southern California April 22-25, 2009.
Updated Agenda! now available. Just click here.

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Hot Wheels & ICDC Funding


Hot Wheels & ICDC Funding

My brother called about a month ago to tell me that he was coming to town for a work trip – exhibiting and vending at a National Hot Wheels Convention – and that he needed day labor to help with selling. So, knowing that ICDC isn’t exactly a cheap adventure, I contacted the local Delta Epsilon Chi chapters and offered them an opportunity to earn cash for a few days of work! Last night, when I went to meet my brother for a late dinner, there at the cash register sat one of Northern Virginia Community College’s (NOVA) Delta Epsilon Chi leaders!

NOVA is a new chapter this year and I’ve worked with them a number of times to develop a program of work, to prepare for competition and participate in the small-but-great Virginia Career Development Conference, and now get ready for ICDC. It is exciting to see them having such success and the even better part is learning of their efforts to prepare for more growth in the coming years.

Fundraising is such a key to having the flexibility to participate in community, social and competitive events. What this Hot Wheels Convention reminded me of is that there are lots of conferences that come through local convention centers that need workers. See what kind of opportunity exists in your area – visit the convention center and try to get your chapter listed on the short “call list” for when conventions are coming to town and need to hire help. It could be a quick and easy way to earn some chapter funds!

Good luck fundraising and we’ll see you in California!

Kyle Walton
Assistant Director, Delta Epsilon Chi

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Music Marketing Challenge: Win a FREE Concert on Your Campus!



Working with our business partners brings exciting educational opportunities and rewards in the form of student scholarships, cash prizes, special events and international awards recognition. To keep these opportunities and rewards coming, however, we need your active support and involvement. One of our newest ICDC business partners, Rocket Science & Park-the-Van, have sponsored a Music Marketing Challenge. This creative new competition allows you to:
· Apply your academic prowess to a real-world challenge!· Develop a creative plan for a creative industry - the music industry!· Compete and win - the winning campus gets a free concert in the Spring or Fall! We've heard that many of you love the project, but want to devote more time than is available this year. We appreciate your devotion, but ask that you try to participate - if even minimally. We'd hate to loose this partner for lack of participation - especially when it's a program in which you've identified value and expressed interest. Don't miss out on the fun, the value and the reward! The competition has begun!

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

2009 Culinary Management Institute


Will your team be crowned the Delta Epsilon Chi, Culinary ManagementInstitute "Safeway Tailgating Titans"?



Join us for a fun, challenging, and educationalhands-on culinary contest that combines not onlyyour prowess in the art of outdoor grilling, but also your skills at marketingyour creation to the customers of one of the world's largest supermarketchains. Competition will be at the impressive Anaheim Hilton in SouthernCalifornia as part of the Delta Epsilon Chi International Career DevelopmentConference.



Your team of 3 contestants will not only need to be great on the grill whereyou will earn 50% of your score, but also adept with pricing / costingstrategies and marketing concepts to earn the other half. Thanks to thegenerous sponsorship of Safeway the first place team will walk away with$1,000 to share! The second place team takes $750 and the third place teamwill share $500. Thanks Safeway!



The following will give you some details to think about and perhaps some tipsfor practicing:
* Create and prepare a recipe that will feed 4 adults at a tailgating event* Develop a new twist on an old favorite or something completely new* Each team will get to spend $30 at the local Vons (Safeway) grocery store* Create a name for your team without using the word "Titans"* Create a name for your recipe without using the word "Titans"* Winning recipes will be posted online at http://www.deltaepsilonchi.org/


Hint: you may not know the type of protein you are using until the morning ofthe contest - your team might be assigned chicken, pork, beef, or seafood -all teams might have the same protein or each team might be given theirprotein from a random drawing.
Space is limited so be sure to sign up by March 26!If you have any questions about your eligibility or have concerns about thedue date, contact Jeff Collins (Jeff_Collins@deca.org) for assistance.



Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Get ready for ICDC and the competitive events



Get Ready for ICDC and the competitive events


The competitive events of Delta Epsilon Chi are part of a foundation of marketing education that, Delta Epsilon Chi gives to us the student participants. The competitive events are set up in three main sections. The first section is Business Simulations, second is Case Studies, and third is Pre-prepared Events. These events are designed to give members real life business experience, and prepare us for the competitive world of commerce that we are living in today.
No matter what events you are competing in competition will give you the edge in the business world. With ICDC just around the corner we encourage everyone to take some additional time to prepare for their competitive event.

Preparation Ideas-

1. Get together with a friend; look up old events, and role play. There is nothing better than preparing for competition with past cases. Click here to get past events
Remember that competition is a lot like rock climbing, it can be a lot of fun if you are willing to prepare, but if you don’t… you may fall. Be prepare, and reach the top of the competition Mountain.

2. If you can use books and materials on your event, than dig into the books that relate to your topic and review that information. When you are in the competition you will have a fresh outlook. You will also know right were to turn for additional insight as you will have just went through the topic sections a few weeks prior.

3. Professionalism is performance, if you show up and you have prepared how you want to act and the way you want to look you will have success. Make sure that your clothing is pressed and the colors match… it really is a big deal. Make sure that you are polished, no gum, hair neat, and clean breath. These are simple things but when all the scores are tallied and his breath was bad and yours was fresh you may be the winner.

4. Last but not least remember that you have the power to Make Your Mark this year, and ICDC is one of the best places to do that.
Post by: Steve Hanson
Delta Epsilon Chi, President

Saturday, February 28, 2009

Get Ready....It's Crunch Time !!!!

What have you done THIS WEEK to Recruit a New Member to join you at the 2009 International Career Development Conference?
The higher the membership numbers we have, the more people benefit from the fun, excitement and experience that we know as Delta Epsilon Chi!The membership deadline has come and gone, but you should still encourage friends and classmates to join Delta Epsilon Chi. Listed below are the many different ways that you and your friends can still benefit from membership in Delta Epsilon Chi this year:
Take the Management Challenge at this year's National Management Institute! Become a Tailgating Titan as part of the Culinary Management Institute! Participate in the Entrepreneurship Challenge! Visit Universal Studios Hollywood as part of our Opening Session Event! Haven't been able to find an advisor? Dealing with an odd situation? Just want to go and don't know how to make it happen? Contact us and we will try to work something out. Remember the only person that can Make their Mark is you... let's see you make it happen! Delta Epsilon Chi's International Career Development Conference
Bring Your Competition Team!
How do you showcase more of your school's programs and students on an international stage? Download and share this competition team document with friends in other academic programs on your campus and bring more competitors to the International Career Development Conference as part of your competition team! Have you ever considered what it takes to move from success in the classroom to success in the real world? Put your experience and knowledge to the test! The Competitive Events Program includes nearly 20 career areas that break down into four focused teams: bring teams to compete in Business Management & Administration; Marketing; Hospitality, Travel & Tourism; and Integrated Marketing Communications. You get the chance to compete against your peers for top international honors and participate in industry seminars, hear from industry professionals, and network for career success in our career fair. There are few hands-on learning experiences that can touch the quality and education that Delta Epsilon Chi brings to attendees at this International Career Development Conference, bring your competition team and earn accolades for your school. Conference details available here. We'll see you in Anaheim, California April 22-25, 2009.
Professional Development Academies Connecting the Classroom to the Boardroom You have the opportunity to interact with Corporate Representatives in your chosen industries/career path and really learn from these industry professionals! From a panel of successful business men and women to an interactive seminar speaking directly to the opportunities and challenges facing each industry, there is no better place for you to ask the tough questions and get answers that give you a competitive advantage in today's marketplace. Marketing Academy Business Management & Administration Academy Hospitality, Travel & Tourism Academy Integrated Marketing Communications Academy Each Academy will have a featured presenter, career panel and employers looking to hire from our Career Fair. Come and gain the edge that connects you from the Classroom to the Boardroom.
Have You Submitted for Awards & Recognition? Due dates are approaching fast for award recognition at this year's ICDC. Let potential employers know how involved and successful you have been this year by being recognized through Delta Epsilon Chi's awards program. All applications are available in your Guide to Conferences and Programs.

Award:
Due Date:Chapter Leadership Award March 1
State Leadership Award March 1
Community Service Award March 1
Passport Award March 1

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Inauguration Day


- January 20, 2009 (Inauguration Day)


Sunday I returned from Los Angeles having finished an ICDC planning and membership development trip and as the very full plane touched down in Washington D.C. there was a huge cheer and boisterous clapping from all of its occupants. On the eve of Martin Luther King Jr. Day and this history making Inauguration Day, the crowd, the energy and the excitement was palpable. Regardless of your politics, it is new energy in the people that this change is inspiring that inspires me to find new ways of contributing to the drive, the purpose and the vision of our collective future.

There are moments when I am coaching start-up chapters and answering questions from would-be new members that I become crest-fallen by what seems to be an attitude of, “if it exists I’ll join… if it doesn’t then its not going to happen for me.” Is it a generation who’s attitude is controlled by a need for instant gratification and a sense of entitlement? Somehow, I don’t think that can be the pervasive expression of the generation but it certainly is a prominent message that I hear. Personally, I was raised believing that anything worth having is worth working for and that it is my own responsibility to create a future worth having. The idea of instant gratification is a farce; delayed and earned gratification however, the reward that follows the sometimes-tedious labor, is truly what living a life of purpose, ambition and success is all about.

There are also moments however when I hear from start-up chapters asking very specific questions because they’ve already done the hard work to get started. These are stories like Indiana University that grew in its first semester of existence from a single individual’s desire to continue his DECA experience to a chapter of 35 members. Which brought a large group to the Collegiate Leadership Academy and just today called to ask for help connecting with DECA alumni on each of the “Big 10” campuses for their newly conceived idea of hosting a “Big 10 Delta Epsilon Chi Competition” in preparation for the international conference. Other stories like the University of New Haven also a brand new chapter that already has 28 members and is taking on the task of working with Connecticut DECA to bring in the future generations to their emerging chapter.

It is in these moments that I am inspired by what should define the next generation of business leaders and visionaries. These are individuals who embrace hard work as a necessary and valuable motivator for accomplishing their goals. These are individuals who ask, “how do I overcome?” instead of reaching a barrier and stopping in their tracks.

It is individuals like these that shape stories of a new generation who understand that they must work and contribute in order to receive personal reward. These people inspire me and give me hope that what little I do to support their efforts, to answer their questions, and to continue to create Delta Epsilon Chi programming that may teach them new lessons and connect them with other soon-to-be business leaders, brings value to the community that I care so much about.

Whether you work to serve your own chapter, your own campus, your own community, or reach higher and perhaps taken on the mantle of state or national leader, I hope that you are also inspired by the actions of your peers to come away from an attitude that expects instant gratification and move instead towards the understanding that you alone are in control of your destiny and that you alone can make a difference by serving the needs of your Delta Epsilon Chi community through hard work, dedication and steadfastness.

Today, be inspired. Today, build on the energy of those around you. Today, embrace a new beginning, a new attitude, and work hard and long to achieve a new purpose. You alone can turn vision into reality by embracing the opportunities afforded to you through your education and your membership in organizations like ours.

Kyle Walton
Assistant Director, Delta Epsilon Chi