DECA (organization)
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DECA (formerly the Distributive Education Clubs of America, and also known as Delta Epsilon Chi on the college level) is an international association of students and teachers ofmarketing, management and entrepreneurship.
DECA is a business marketing, management, and entrepreneurship club that strives to educate its members about general marketing, entrepreneruship, and general business strategies and decisions. DECA aims to prepare members for future careers in general marketing and business.
Four points (part of the DECA diamond) express the core values of members:
- Social Responsibility
- Civic Consciousness
- Leadership Development
- Vocational Understanding
The organization's official colors are blue and gold.
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[edit] History
Between 1937 and 1946 local clubs of distributive education students were formed to fulfill the need of cooperative education students to belong, to develop socially, and to be a part of a group. In 1944 the state clubs in the area then designated as the Southern Region, announced that they had joined together under the common name of the Distributors' Club. This association was announced at that year's American Vocational Association convention.
In February 1946, a national planning committee was appointed to develop a tentative plan for the organization of a distributive education club on a national level. The official birth of the national organization occurred during the first Interstate Conference of Distributive Education Clubs held in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 17-19, 1947. More than 100 students and sponsors, representing 22 states, participated in this conference.
In 1948 the organization's name was changed to The Distributive Education Clubs of America and a constitution, emblem, creed, colors, and national dues structure were approved. Seventeen states were accepted as charter members. The DECA Foundation was legally incorporated in 1959.
In spring of 1953 the DECA staff moved into the building housing the American Vocational Association headquarters in Washington, D.C.
The first DECA theme was chosen for use during the 1959-60 school year (DE-Gateway to Success).
By 1969, every state in the U.S. was operating a state association of DECA.
Competitive events were refined and stabilized during the 1960s. After a study conducted during 1973-74, a Competitive Events Reorganization task force proposed a new competency-based approach to competitive events designed to integrate the DECA organization within the instructional program of distributive education.
During the early 1970s, the DECA Board of Directors and national staff prepared plans to build a National DECA Center in Reston, Virginia. The building was dedicated in September 1976.
The Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education, William Bennett, in 1988 endorsed DECA and the other vocational student organizations.
In 1989 DECA approved their mission statement of "The mission of DECA is to enhance the education of students with interests in marketing, management, and entrepreneurship".
A name change occurred in 1991 when the Board of Directors decided that the acronym, DECA, would be used in conjunction with the words, "An Association of Marketing Students." New logos were designed to reflect this change.
The current Executive Director, Dr. Ed Davis, assumed the position in 1992. DECA celebrated its 50th year of operation during the 1995-96 school year.
DECA's programs are growing and expanding their involvement in competitive events, community activities, and leadership opportunities.
DECA's scholarship program, founded in 1962, has grown from the $4,750 awarded that first year, to well over $42,000 awarded during the 1995-96 school year.
Today DECA can be found in every state of the United States, in four U.S. territories, in several provinces of Canada and in some regions of Germany. Chapters exist in high schools, career centers, community colleges, technical colleges, four-year colleges and universities, and private and parochial schools. More than 6,000 chapters involve 180,000 members in the many varied activities sponsored by DECA.
[edit] Conferences
The following conferences are available to all DECA members:
- International Career Development Conference (ICDC)
Competition Hierarchy: Regional, State (SCC), International (ICDC)
Other conferences at the High School level include:
- State and Regional Leadership Conferences
- The New York Experience
- Disctrict Competitive Event Conferences
- State Competitive Conferences (SCC)
- The Sports and Enetertainment Marketing Conference [1]
[edit] Competitive Events
Members participate in the following inidividual competitions:
- Accounting Applications
- Apparel and Accessories Marketing Series
- Automotive Services Marketing Series (previously Vehicles and Petroleum)
- Business Services Marketing
- Food Marketing
- Marketing Management
- Quick Serve Restaurant Management
- Restaurant and Food Service Management
- Retail Merchandising
- Sports and Entertainment Marketing Series
- Hotel and Lodging Management (Added in 2006-2007)
The following team events are also available:
- Advertising Campaign
- Business Law and Ethics
- Buying and Merchandising
- E-commerce
- Financial Analysis
- Hospitality Services
- Sports and Entertainment Marketing
- Travel and Tourism Marketing
- Public Relations Project
- Community Service Project
- DECA Quiz Bowl
[edit] Theme
Each year a new theme is selected. The yearly national Fall Leadership conferences, and the ICDC follow the theme that is set at the beginning of the year. Each state will have a their own theme. A state's theme can use part of the national theme, or be totally original. Like the national theme, states will plan their FLCs and State CDCs with their theme in mind.
'07-'08-Find The Hero In You
'06-'07-Let the Adventure Begin
'05-'06-Explore New Frontiers
'04-'05-Worlds of Opportunity
'02-'03-The Magic of Marketing
'01-'02-Climb to New Heights
'00-'01-A Step Ahead
'99-'00-The Winning Edge
'98-'99-No Limits
[edit] Structure
DECA is divided into five divisions: High School, Collegiate, DEX, Alumni, and Professional.
The High School Division is composed of individual chapters (DECA organizations within one school), several of which comprise an Area or District (depending on each state). Areas and Districts are grouped under a state association. State associations are grouped together as regions.
Delta Epsilon Chi, is organized in much the same way as High School DECA, except that chapters are by college, not high school. The DEX membership is also much smaller than high school.
The Collegiate Division of DECA called DEX was formed in 1970. This division functions as a student/professional division. The Collegiate Division is directed toward future marketing professionals.
The Alumni division is for former DECA members, giving them a way to participate in DECA and give back to the organization after high school or college.
The Professional Division is made up of individuals who have become business or marketing professionals and are interested in helping develop the next generation of business and marketing leaders.
[edit] Sources
- History of DECA (from the Virginia DECA website)
- Competitive Event Listing (from the official DECA.org website)
[edit] References
- Conferences. Retrieved on 2007-03-27.
