As the end of the school year approaches, California DECA encourages chapters to connect with middle schools and promote DECA opportunities. Created by: California DECA State Officer Team 63 (2013)

1. Middle School Outreach
Five Great Ideas

2. W H Y OU TR EAC H TO MID D LE SC H OOLS?
• INCREASE AWARENESS OF DECA AM ONG M IDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS
• CREATE BRAND FAM ILIARITY, SO WHEN STUDENTS ENTER HIGH
SCHOOL, THEY RECOGNIZE DECA
• RECEIVE CREDIT FOR YOUR PROM OTIONAL/ADVOCACY CHAPTER
CAM PAIGNS
• THIS CAM PAIGN WILL HELP INCREASE M EMBERSHIP, WHICH WILL
HELP WITH YOUR M EMBERSHIP CHAPTER CAM PAIGN

3. FIVE GREAT IDEAS FOR MIDDLE
SCHOOL OUTREACH
• SPEAK AT AN ASSEMBLY
• VISIT DURING LUNCH
• ATTEND THEIR PROMOTION CEREMONY
• SPEAK AT A HIGH SCHOOL INFORMATION
EVENT
• CREATE A VIDEO FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL DAILY
BULLETIN

4. ID EA #1: SPEAK AT AN ASSEMBLY
STEP #1: APPROACH THE MIDDLE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR TO SEE IF
SPEAKING AT AN ASSEMBLY IS ALLOWED. IF SO, SCHEDULE A DATE, TIME AND
LOCATION OF THE ASSEMBLY.
STEP #2: INFORM YOUR ADVISOR AND CHAPTER OFFICERS ABOUT THE
EVENT, AND SELECT A FEW REPRESENTATIVES TO SPEAK.
STEP #3: MAKE SURE YOU HAVE REVIEWED THE PRESENTATION SEVERAL
TIMES WITH YOUR ADVISOR SO THAT YOU CAN PRESENT WITH CONFIDENCE
AND ENTHUSIASM AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

5. ID EA #1: SPEAK AT AN ASSEMBLY C ON T.
STEP #4: ATTEND THE EVENT FIFTEEN MINUTES EARLY IN FULL PROFESSIONAL
DRESS AND REMEMBER TO BRING FLYERS/HANDOUTS TO DISTRIBUTE TO THE
AUDIENCE.
STEP #5: THANK THE AUDIENCE AND BRING A SIGNUP SHEET TO PASS AROUND
AFTER THE PRESENTATION.
STEP #6: WRITE A THANK-YOU NOTE TO THE ADMINISTRATORS AND FOLLOW UP
WITH ANYONE THAT WAS INTERESTED!

6. IDEA #2: VISIT DURING LUNCH
STEP #1: APPROACH A MIDDLE SCHOOL
ADMINISTRATOR TO SCHEDULE A TIME TO
VISIT DURING LUNCH. MAKE SURE YOU
FOLLOW ANY DISTRICT FIELD TRIP/VISITOR
PROCEDURES AND INFORM YOUR ADVISOR
AND SCHOOL.
STEP #2: INFORM YOUR CHAPTER ADVISOR
AND OFFICER TEAM ABOUT THE VISIT, AND
SELECT A FEW REPRESENTATIVES TO ATTEND.

7. ID EA #2: VISIT D U R IN G LU N C H C ON T.
STEP #3: PRACTICE A SHORT PITCH ABOUT DECA AND YOUR CHAPTER
SPECIFICALLY W ITH YOUR ADVISOR AND HAVE YOUR FELLOW
MEMBERS ASK POSSIBLE QUESTIONS.
STEP #4: ATTEND IN FULL PROFESSIONAL DRESS, W ITH FLYERS AND
HANDOUTS IN HAND.
STEP #5: REMEMBER TO BE CONFIDENT AND ENTHUSIASTIC!
STEP #6: W RITE A THANK -YOU NOTE TO THE ADMINISTRATOR W HO
ALLOWED YOU TO COME, AND FOLLOW UP W ITH ANY STUDENT THAT
SEEMED INTERESTED

8. ID EA #3: ATTEN D TH EIR PR OMOTION C ER EMON Y
STEP #1: MEET W ITH YOUR ADVISOR AND CHAPTER OFFICER TEAM TO
DISCUSS W HO W ILL REPRESENT YOUR CHAPTER AT THIS EVENT.
STEP #2: SINCE THIS IDEA IS GEARED TOWARDS GETTING PARENTS
INTERESTED IN DECA, YOUR PITCH SHOULD BE MORE FORMAL AND
INFORMATIVE. (SAMPLE PITCH PROVIDED) PRACTICE THIS PITCH
SEVERAL TIMES IN FRONT OF YOUR ADVISOR.
STEP #3: MAKE SURE YOU ARE IN FULL PROFESSIONAL DRESS!

9. ID EA #3: ATTEN D TH EIR PR OMOTION C ER EMON Y
C ON T.
STEP #4: ARRIVE 30-45 MINUTES BEFORE THE CEREMONY STARTS
TO PROVIDE TIME FOR NETWORKING. DON'T FORGET TO BRING
FLYERS/HANDOUTS AND A SIGN-UP SHEET!
STEP #5: REMEMBER TO BE CONFIDENT AND ENTHUSIASTIC. SINCE
YOU ARE A GUEST AT THIS EVENT, IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMAIN
POLITE AND STOP NETWORKING WHEN THE CEREMONY BEGINS.
STEP #6: FOLLOW-UP WITH ANY PARENTS THAT SIGNED UP OR
SEEMED INTERESTED. A SAMPLE EMAIL CAN BE SEEN IN THE NEXT
SLIDES!

10. SAMPLE PITC H SC R IPT FOR
PR OMOTION AL C ER EMON Y
INTRODUCTION: HELLO, MY NAME IS {INSERT NAME}, AND I AM A DECA MEMBER AT {NAME OF
SCHOOL}. DECA IS AN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION WITH OVER 185,000 MEMBERS IN SEVEN
DIFFERENT COUNTRIES! DECA PREPARES EMERGING LEADERS AND ENTREPRE NEURS IN MARKETING,
HOSPITALITY, FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT IN HIGH SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES ACROSS THE GLOBE.
BODY: DECA PROVIDES STUDENTS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO
• MAKE NEW FRIENDS
• MEET INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS
• NETWORK AROUND THE WORLD
• TRAVEL ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO COMPETE IN CASE STUDIES AND PRESENT WRITTEN PROJECTS
• GAIN VALUABLE KNOWLEDGE THAT WILL PREPARE FOR COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS
DECA STUDENTS ARE ACADEMICALLY PREPARED AND LEARN TO DEVELOP A S TRONG WORK ETHIC.
• 86% OF DECA STUDENTS REPORT AND A OR B AVERAGE IN THEIR CLASSES
DECA IMPROVES PUBLIC SPEAKING SKILLS, BUSINESS KNOWLEDGE AND DEV ELOPS INDUSTRY
CONNECTIONS
SHARE YOUR PERSONAL STORY OR RECENT CHAPTER ACCOMPLISHMENTS
CONCLUSION: HERE’S A DECA FLYER FOR MORE INFORMATION! WOULD YOUR CHILD BE INTERESTED
IN SIGNING UP FOR {CHAPTER NAME} DECA?

11. ID EA #4: ATTEN D A H IGH SC H OOL
IN FOR MATION EVEN T
STEP #1: DETERMINE THE DATE, TIME, AND LOCATION OF YOUR MIDDLE
SCHOOL'S NEX T HIGH SCHOOL INFORMATION NIGHT.
STEP #2: CONNECT W ITH THE MIDDLE SCHOOL'S ADMINISTRATION TO
OBTAIN PERMISSION TO ATTEND.
STEP #3: DETERMINE W HO W ILL BE SPEAKING AT THE EVENT. HAVE THIS
PERSON PRACTICE SPEAKING AS W ELL AS ANSW ERING POTENTIAL
QUESTIONS.

12. IDEA #4: ATTEND A HIGH SCHOOL
INFORMATION EVENT CONT.
STEP #4: EXECUTE! ARRIVE 15 MINUTES EARLY TO THE EVENT IN
FULL PROFESSIONAL DRESS! TALK WITH CONFIDENCE AND
EXPLAIN HOW STUDENTS AND PARENTS CAN GET MORE
INFORMATION! ALSO, BRING A "SIGN UP FOR MORE INFO SHEET”.
STEP #5: FOLLOW UP WITH ANYONE WHO HAS REQUESTED
MORE INFORMATION AND WRITE A THANK YOU NOTE TO MIDDLE
SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS TO THANK THEM FOR ALLOWING YOU
TO SPEAK.

13. IDEA #5: CREATE A VIDEO FOR A MIDDLE
SC H OOL D AILY BU LLETIN
NOTE: THIS IDEA WILL ONLY WORK AT SCHOOLS WHO HAVE A DAILY OR
WEEKLY BULLETIN THAT IS PRESENTED TO STUDENTS VIA VIDEO. IF YOUR
MIDDLE SCHOOL DOES NOT, YOU CAN FOLLOW THESE STEPS TO ADVERTISE
IN YOUR MIDDLE SCHOOLS PAPER BULLETIN.
STEP #1: APPROACH YOUR MIDDLE SCHOOL'S ADMINISTRATION AND MEDIA
PRODUCTION CLASS AND INQUIRE IF YOU CAN PLAY A SHORT VIDEO
COMMERCIAL DURING THEIR WEEKLY ANNOUNCEMENTS.
STEP #2: DETERMINE THE CONTENT OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT. IT SHOULD
EXPLAIN WHY STUDENTS SHOULD JOIN DECA AND EXPLAIN HOW STUDENTS
CAN OBTAIN MORE INFORMATION.

14. ID EA #5: C R EATE A VID EO FOR A MID D LE
SC H OOL D AILY BU LLETIN C ON T.
STEP #3: FILM THE ANNOUNCEMENT. FOR THE MOST IMPACT, FILM W HILE
YOU ARE IN PROFESSIONAL DRESS .
STEP #4: SUBMIT THE VIDEO TO THE MEDIA CLASS BEFORE THE
DEADLINE.
STEP #5: FOLLOW UP W ITH ANYONE W HO HAS REQUESTED MORE
INFORMATION AND W RITE A THANK YOU NOTE TO MIDDLE SCHOOL
ADMINISTRATORS AND THE MEDIA CLASS TO THANK THEM FOR ALLOWING
YOU TO AIR YOUR ADVERTISEMENT.

15. A FEW LAST TIPS
• MAKE SURE YOU ARE ABIDING BY ALL OF YOUR SCHOOL'S POLICIES
• TAKE NOTE OF WHAT WORKED AND WHAT DIDN'T FOR NEXT YEAR'S CHAPTER
OFFICERS
• INFORM THE REST OF CALIFORNIA DECA ABOUT YOUR SUCCESS BY
PUBLICIZING YOUR EFFORTS ON TWITTER, FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM. TAG
US @CALIFORNIADECA OR #CADECA
• THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE COUNTLESS WAYS TO REACH OUT TO YOUR
LOCAL MIDDLE SCHOOL(S). WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO TAILOR YOUR PLAN FOR
MIDDLE SCHOOL OUTREACH TO YOUR LOCAL MIDDLE SCHOOL’S PROGRAMS!