America Saves
America Saves is a program of the Consumer Federation of America (CFA) centered around America Saves Week February 20 – 27, 2011, and is a national effort aimed at teaching and motivating students to save money through financial action—making a commitment that:

• They will spend less than they make and save the difference.
  
  
• They will save the difference by making a plan as to where they will save (bank, credit union, U.S. Savings Bonds), how they will do it (direct deposit, walking into the bank, sending in money to their account), when they will do it (the beginning of every month, the 15th of the month) and have in mind what they will save for (car, house, events, emergency fund, college, dates).
  
  
• They will make it automatic—get it out of their hand or pocket by direct deposits into their account or by having their parents make the deposits.
  

This online enrollment program is successful with over 5,000 youth who are saving between $16.00–$19.00 a month and is a perfect compliment or testimony to the effectiveness of financial education.

CFA provides training to advisers and students, materials and resources and most importantly online enrollment to automate the process. This can be organized as a chapter project or broadened to the entire school population including teachers, staff and parents. To take advantage of this exciting and simple initiative contact the Consumer Federation of America, George Barany, Director of Financial Education at gbarany@consumerfed.org or 216.375.3255.

---

Disney Youth Education Series
Disney Youth Education Series takes students inside the Disney Parks to showcase textbook principles with real life applications.  Disney Youth Education Series field studies allow students to see how principles they’re learning in the classroom are making exciting things happen everyday in Disney Parks. 
 
Educators can choose from 20 two-to-three hour programs taught by professionals at various Walt Disney World Resort locations in Florida and five programs at the Disneyland Resort in California.  Programs are taught daily with curriculum covering Arts and Humanities, Leadership, Career Development, Natural Science, and Physical Science.
 
For more information on these amazing programs visit www.disneyyes.com or call 866-672-2363. 

---

i-SAFE
i-SAFE, a non-profit organization and worldwide leader in internet safety education whose mission is to educate and empower students to be safe and responsible on the Internet, has partnered with FBLA-PBL in order for all members to learn how to be safe and responsible online. FBLA-PBL members are introduced and instructed on ways to extend the knowledge beyond the classroom by becoming Certified i-MENTORS.  To become certified today go to http://xblock.isafe.org
 
FBLA-PBL members can get involved with i-SAFE through various service learning opportunities. These can range from conducting student assemblies to speaking to parent groups. In fact, you and your FBLA-PBL chapter can bridge that gap between students and community by reaching out and teaching the i-SAFE curriculum right in the classroom of younger students. To learn more about this great opportunity, sign up today and become an i-MENTOR by going to http://xblock.isafe.org. There you will find online training videos and information to help you get started.  If you have questions email us at mentors@isafe.org.

---

Junior Tours
Junior Tours, the leader in student travel, provides quality educational tours at affordable prices. They make it both fun and easy for advisers to sponsor a class or chapter trip. Whether it be a trip to Wall Street in New York City, a trip to Washington, D.C. to take in all of the history or several other places including Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, or Orlando, this program has something to offer every local chapter. Advisers travel for free in a ratio of 1 to 20 paying participants. Explore their NEW Web site at  www.juniortours.com or call 800.631.2241 to start planning a great experience.

---

People to People Leadership Programs
People to People Leadership Programs host promising students in grades 5-12 from over 90 countries. Students may join leadership programs in Washington, D.C. or choose from a number of prestigious American university locations. Participating students will hone their leadership skills, explore careers and prepare for college.  Change the life of a student today, nominate a promising young leader to People to People Leadership Programs. Learn more at www.peopletopeople.com/leadership.

---

              

School Store Manual
Do you run a school store or would you like to start one? Through a partnership with the Raymond Geddes Company, FBLA-PBL has developed a school store manual complete with tips, do’s and don’ts, and the necessary forms to make your business venture a success. Download a copy of the School Store Manual. 

---

Service Learning Curriculum

The March of Dimes and FBLA-PBL has teamed up to become involved in the service learning movement that is sweeping the nation. This movement integrates classroom learning with community service, a process that career and technical education has traditionally developed and supported through its local and nationwide community service programs. Student achievement is assessed on related projects as an integral part of the curriculum.
    This service learning curriculum was designed to be cocurricular—implemented within the classroom or in a chapter workshop and extended into the FBLA-PBL chapter.
    This curriculum has five modules:
1) Volunteers: How to Make a Big Impact
2) Marketing Your Event: Maximizing your Mission
3) Selling: Getting Results
4) Public Relations: Getting the Word Out
5) Selling and Organizing Your Event
    Each module is aligned to the National Standards for Business Education and contains goals, a teaching outline, overheads, student reading, tests, portfolio assignments, and individual and group activities. There is a strong emphasis not only on service learning, but also on school-to-work and leadership training. If you would like a printed binder of the materials, it is available for free by contacting communications@fbla.org.

---

Stock Market Game
Students in The Stock Market Game work in teams to invest a hypothetical $100,000 in stocks and funds to build a virtual investment portfolio. They track and manage their investments over the course of 15 weeks. Students participating in The Stock Market Game are provided with valuable opportunities to practice core skills in math, Social Studies, English Language Arts, Business, Economics, and other subjects in a real world scenario. For details on the game go to the Adviser Section on the national Web site at www.fbla-pbl.org and click on The Stock Market Game.

Game dates are September 7 to December 17, 2010 (registration deadline September 22) and January 10 to April 21, 2011 (registration deadline January 25). Participants will be ranked and winners will be publicized through FBLA-PBL.

---

Visa®—Practical Money Skills
Practical Money Skills is a free, award-winning, teacher-tested and educator-approved financial education program available in English and Spanish. The Practical Money Skills Web site features complete money management resources and lesson plans tailored to use at home, in the classroom or in the workplace. Consumer resources include downloadable Practical Money Guides covering everything from credit cards and budget basics to the ins and outs of credit history. The program features a free monthly e-newsletter offering the latest on financial education and personal finance tips and trends.

Practical Money Skills helps people prepare for life changing financial events, from planning for a baby to saving for college and retirement. The Web site provides numerous interactive tools, including a new suite of financial calculators and games like Financial Soccer and Financial Football.

Follow Practical Money Skills on its social media channels at Facebook (facebook.com/practicalmoneyskills), Twitter (twitter.com/practicalmoney) and YouTube (youtube.com/pmsfl). To learn more about Visa’s innovative financial literacy programs, visit www.practicalmoneyskills.com.