Feature Date:	4/15/2009
Feature State:
Feature Title:	Members Get the Edge at 2009 Oklahoma FBLA-PBL State Leadership Conference
Feature Summary:	Members and advisers of Eastern’s business organization, Phi Beta Lambda, “Got the Edge” at the 2009 Oklahoma FBLA–PBL State Leadership Conference March 26–28 at the Sheraton Reed Center in Midwest City, Oklahoma. Oklahoma Middle School, High School, and Post–secondary representatives from universities and community colleges participated in the annual event.
Leader Feature:	Activities began Thursday as McAlester sophomore Megan Carline met with the 2008–2009 state officers and state advisers for candidate screening. Friday morning was filled with activity as Eastern’s members joined with students from 15 schools across the state to compete for the opportunity to represent Oklahoma at the 2008 FBLA–PBL National Leadership Conferences in Anaheim this summer. Students competed in national competitive events and in state–only open events. Campaign booths were set up throughout the conference area as FBLA and PBL members vied to serve the state for the 2009–2010 year. Special guest during the conference was Jean Buckley, president and CEO of FBLA–PBL, Inc. The opening general session was held Friday evening with Toody Byrd. Byrd retired in 1991 as Director of Guidance and Student Services for the Eanes Independent School District in Austin, Texas, where she had worked as a counselor for 20 years, to pursue a post–retirement career of speaking and consulting work throughout the country. She has been a keynote speaker for statewide conventions in 35 states, is an active writer, and is a member of numerous professional organizations and councils. Her numerous awards include the American School Counselors Writing Award, the 1981 Outstanding Counselor of Texas, the 1983 Carl Brett Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Field of Education by the College of Education at the University of Texas at Austin, and the 1989 Presidential Award for the Texas Association of Counseling and Development. The 71st Legislature of the State of Texas designated Toody Byrd as a State Treasure. Conference attendees enjoyed her lively presentation. The annual awards breakfast was held Saturday morning. Kevin Danel, sophomore from Hartshorne, placed first in Computer Applications and Computer Concepts. Megan Carline, sophomore from McAlester, placed first in Microeconomics and Word Processing. Carline also placed second in the PBL Open Event, Grammar. Eastern received first place in the Local Chapter Annual Business Report event. “We are so proud of Megan and Kevin,” said PBL co–adviser Linda Morgan. “They both completed several practice tests in preparation for the competition. It’s evident their hard work paid off!” Carline was installed as the 2009–2010 Parliamentarian for the Oklahoma Chapter of Phi Beta Lambda. Additional recognitions for Eastern included first place in the Oklahoma PBL Public Relations award competition and second place for the Outstanding Chapter award. Danel was also named to Who’s Who in Oklahoma PBL. Advisers for the chapter are Linda Morgan and George Larson. Larson served as Oklahoma FBLA–PBL Computer Events Coordinator, and Morgan serves as the Oklahoma FBLA–PBL State Adviser. Future Business Leaders of America–Phi Beta Lambda, Inc., is a national student vocational education association that prepares students for careers in business and business education. Membership is over 260,000 in 11,000 chapters across the United States and abroad. Future Business Leaders of America is the middle and high school division and Phi Beta Lambda is the collegiate division.