• 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 has already proved 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 George Barany, Consumer Federation of America Director of Financial Education at gbarany@sbcglobal.net or 216.375.3255.

The Association for Financial Professionals
AFP is providing their new AFP Women in Finance e-newsletter at no cost for PBL members and advisers. The Women in Finance newsletter addresses issues about the professional development of female professionals in the treasury and finance field and is published quarterly. To subscribe go to http://www.afponline.org/wif, click on Subscribe, then Register Now. Sign up as a finance instructor or student. For more information e-mail Elizabeth Johns at ejohns@afponline.org.

Brainbench
Brainbench offers over 400 online technical and career certification tests. PBL members and their advisers are able to take one free test as a special arrangement with FBLA-PBL.

To take advantage of this special offer, follow these simple instructions:

• Register for a free Brainbench account at http://www.brainbench.com/
• From home page, click "Individual Certification"
• Click the link in the top menu bar entitled "Register/Logon"
• Once you register, you are already logged on to your account. If you come back you can enter your logon id and password at the homepage to log on
• Click "Test Center" in the upper left side of the screen, then find the test you want to take, and click the "Get Test" link
• In the space labeled "Enter your promo code (optional)," enter the following code: fbla2008 (for FBLA), pbl2008 (for PBL), or pd2008 (for Professional Division)
• Click "Get Test" to begin your test

Once you've taken your test, you will receive immediate feedback on your results, including your strengths and weaknesses. This information is stored in an online transcript, which you manage. You can decide whether you want to make your test results/certifications viewable to the public. If you have questions or experience problems, contact Brainbench customersupport.

Certified Internet Web Professional (CIW)
The CIW Program and FBLA-PBL have partnered to provide many benefits around the CIW Certification Program. CIW is widely recognized as vendor-neutral curriculum and certifications that focus on Internet job skills, such as Web site design, development, administration, and security. CIW certifications map to the Information Technology Career Clusters and provide a clear career and educational path for your students.
 
CIW is a comprehensive program that includes professional development, curriculum crosswalk and integration, and the ability to do high stakes certification testing in the classroom. Teachers in more than 15 states are using the CIW program to create local and statewide articulation agreements by using the CIW certifications to validate programs and the students’ abilities. Learn more about how to integrate CIW into your existing courses.

The CIW Program is offering FBLA-PBL members reduced fees to set up your own CIW Certified Testing Center, which offers extreme discounting on all CIW certification exams. To learn more about this exciting program, please contact Stephen Schneiter at 866.860.8559 or sschneiter@certification-partners.com, or by visiting their Web site at http://www.ciwcertified.com/

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.

JobTarget
JobTarget is the leading provider of Internet job boards and is the technology provider of choice when it comes to recruitment and career solutions. They host a job board on our Web site where students may post their resume for free. Please click here to complete your free resume and learn about additional benefits.

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 http://www.juniortours.com or call 800.631.2241 to start planning a great experience.

Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions
Are you ready for business school? When it comes to getting into business school, more people trust Kaplan to prep for the GMAT. They have been the premium name in test preparation for more than 70 years, helping students prep smarter, score higher, and gain admission to their target MBA programs. So how would you score on the GMAT if today were Test Day? Students at top-ranked business schools have average scores above 700. Make sure you have the score you need to get into the school of your choice. Start with a free GMAT practice test—preparation and practice will help you get that high score, and knowing your score will help you plan your prep. All of Kaplan’s GMAT options are taught by expertly trained teachers who will encourage and guide you every step of the way. Visit www.kaptest.com/fbla-pbl to learn more about Kaplan. PBL members get $100.00 off Kaplan GMAT programs.  Just reference discount code “PBL100” when ordering.

Mission LIFT Grants
The Mission LIFT grants are designed to reward members and chapters for their support of the March of Dimes Mission LIFT partnership; and to identify and support innovative ideas and projects that enhance the growth, recognition, and support of PBL and the Mission LIFT partnership. Local and state chapters that participate in Mission LIFT are eligible to submit grant requests. Grants may not be used for equipment purchases, but are designed to support programming or activities. Grant proposals submitted for consideration must be designed to be accomplished within a period of no more than 18 months. Grant recipients will be expected to report the outcome of their project in the form of a workshop, article, or project that can be reproduced and shared with other chapters, states, and the March of Dimes. Local chapters may receive grants up to $1,000. State chapters may apply for grants up to $2,500. Applications will be evaluated by a panel of judges and announced at the National Leadership Conference. Grants must be postmarked by January 15.

March of Dimes Mission LIFT Grant Application Form

National Association of Parliamentarians
The National Association of Parliamentarians offers its national membership test to FBLA members and advisers during the National Leadership Conference (NLC) each year. Members and advisers can register for this event on-site during the NLC. Details are found in the NLC Guide mailed to local chapter advisers each spring. It is also available on our Web site at www.fbla-pbl.org.

National Technical Honor Society
The National Technical Honor Society (NTHS) is available for our students and it’s easy to make it happen in your school! The NTHS can provide you with everything necessary to get your NTHS chapter up and running, from recommended standards to an induction script. Minimum standards must be met, but you and your administration select the specific criteria for your chapter.

There is no charter fee for setting up your chapter and individual membership is only $25 per member. Members will receive an NTHS membership certificate, pin, card, graduation tassel, window decal, and official NTHS seal to be applied to the member’s diploma or training certificate, as well as personal recommendations for employment, college admission, and scholarships. Each year NTHS gives tens of thousands of dollars in scholarships through the Jon H. Poteat Scholarship Fund.

There is a $7 membership processing fee so please be sure to enter as many members as possible at one time. This charge is a per invoice fee, not a per member fee.

Go to http://www.nths.org/JoinUs/CTSOWelcomePages/FBLAPBL.aspx to complete your chapter application.

NLC Internship
Each year PBL members can work as a National Leadership Conference (NLC) intern. Interns help national staff with conference logistics and headquarters office management on site. Interested applicants must be available to attend the NLC. All interns receive a $100.00 stipend plus complimentary NLC registration. More details and an application form can be found on this Web site under Conferences.

The Princeton Review — Prep with Us and Save 10%
If you’re thinking about graduate school, you’re probably also thinking about admissions tests such as the GMAT or GRE.  The Princeton Review is a market leader in test preparation and has been helping students get into their top choice schools since 1981.  Their classroom and online courses as well as private and small group tutoring services have earned a reputation for taking the tedium out of, and putting the results into, test preparation.  

As a special promotion, PBL members, plus family and friends, are entitled to 10% off classroom and online courses for the GMAT, GRE, LSAT, MCAT, USMLE, SAT, ACT and PSAT. Just use the promotional codes found on www.PrincetonReview.com/FBLA when you register online or when you call 800-2Review (800-273-8439).  

The Princeton Review Approach
•    Years of experience perfecting a focused methodology and strategies that work
•    Score improvements and guaranteed satisfaction
•    Passionate, engaging, top-scoring and highly-trained instructors
•    Extensive materials including full-length practice exams with score analysis
•    Small classes for personalized instruction

Local Opportunities
Successfully collaborate with a local Princeton Review office to raise your chapter’s profile on campus. Take advantage of a practice test fundraiser where you collect a fee from testers and they’ll deliver a practice test or set up an expert speaker series covering topics such as financial aid, testing strategies or the ins and outs of the GMAT (at no charge to you of course).  Contact AnthonyR@review.com to receive your local Princeton Review office contact details.

Looking for a Flexible, part-time job?
The Princeton Review is recruiting instructors for their SAT and ACT courses. They invite PBL members to find out more about this rewarding opportunity. Visit Teach For Us!

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 thought 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:

• Volunteers: How to Make a Big Impact
• Marketing Your Event: Maximizing your Mission
• Selling: Getting Results
• Public Relations: Getting the Word Out
• Selling and Organizing Your Event

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. New curriculum materials are also available on the March of Dimes Web site at www.marchofdimes.com/youth.

Society for Financial Education and Professional Development
The Society for Financial Education and Professional Development, Inc. (SFEPD) is a leading financial education organization. SFEPD develops and presents face-to-face personal financial education seminars and workshops for education institutions, corporate, government and community-based organizations. The organization has partnered with numerous organizations to enhance the financial literacy of Americans at all socio-economic levels. SFEPD has also provided financial education training through interactive virtual learning courses (IVLCs). The IVLCs deliver no-travel-required learning opportunities that help individuals acquire financial knowledge and skills.
 
Each year SFEPD holds its Annual Financial Literacy Leadership Conference. The conference will bring together leaders in the field of financial literacy to develop effective strategies and create partnerships to address the issues that have been broadly discussed in various forums.

The primary goal of the conference is to create a forum for leaders of Federal, state, local, corporate, consumer groups, community-based organizations, schools, colleges/universities, financial institutions, and other interested organizations and individuals to  "roll-up" their sleeves to expand the process to enhance the level of financial literacy at all levels of the American society. If you are interested in learning more about SFEPD’s educational programs or attending their future conferences, please visit www.sfepd.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 8 to December 18, 2009 (registration deadline September 22) and January 11 to April 23, 2010 (registration deadline January 25). Participants will be ranked and winners will be publicized through FBLA-PBL.

VISA ®—Practical Money Skills for Life
Practical Money Skills for Life is a free, award-winning, teacher-tested and teacher-approved financial education program that is available in English, Spanish, and Chinese. The Web site is divided into three comprehensive sections, complete with money management resources and lesson plans tailored for use at home, in the classroom, or at work. It also contains an array of tips to help people prepare for life changing financial events, from planning a baby to saving for college and retirement, as well as numerous interactive tools, calculators, and games. Visa also runs What's My Score (www.whatsmyscore.org), a leading higher education consumer awareness program. The Web site guides college students through the ABC's of a FICO credit score, from factors that can lower a score to ways on improving it, at no charge. To learn more about Visa’s innovative financial literacy programs, visit www.practicalmoneyskills.com.

WeSeed
FBLA-PBL has partnered with WeSeed to provide a fun, free, risk-free way for students to learn about the stock market. And best of all, by developing an innovative, creative lesson plan for teaching this program and describing recruiting efforts to involve students, your chapter through our new WeSeed Stock Market Challenge has the opportunity to win:
GRAND PRIZE (one will be awarded)
•    $5,000 for the chapter
•    Laptop computer for the adviser
•    All expenses paid trip to the Chicago Board of Trade for the adviser and chapter president (airfare and one night lodging for two)

FIRST PRIZE (two will be awarded)
•    $1,000 for the chapter
•    Laptop computer for the adviser

HONORABLE MENTION (10 will be awarded)
•    $100 for the chapter

Contest starts August, 2009 and concludes on April 30, 2010. For full details go to www.weseed.com/fbla-pbl.