Lexington Member Handbook

Lexington Member Handbook BPA Guidelines

What is Business Professionals of America?

The mission of BPA is to contribute to the preparation of a world-class workforce through the advancement of leadership, citizenship, academic, and technological skills. BPA is the leading Career Technical Student Organization (CTSO) for students pursuing careers in business management, office administration, information technology and other related career fields. BPA has 43,000 members in over 2,300 chapters in 23 states. BPA supports business and information technology educators by offering co-curricular exercises based on national standards.

The Workplace Skills assessment Program (WSAP) prepares students to succeed and assess real-world business skills and problem solving abilities in finance, business administration, management information systems, digital communication and design, and management, marketing and communication. It is BPA’s showcase program and facilitates students demonstrating their career skills at Regional, State, and National level conferences in 86 competitive events.

BPA offers additional leadership and educational based programs including the National Leadership Academy, National Intern Program, Torch Awards Program, BPA Cares Program, Officer Elections, National Partner opportunities, Certifications and Scholarships.

Dues are due by September 15.

Annual Membership Procedures, Dues and Deadlines

Local: BPA Dues $7 (goes toward club t-shirt)

State: BPA Dues $8

National: BPA Dues $15

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Total Dues: $30

Meetings and attendance:

1st and 3rd Thursday of each Month

Deadlines:

Event selection is due by Sep 30

Deposit for Region Leadership Conference: $20 Dec 7 with permission slip

Levels of Leadership and/or Competition:

Fall Leadership Conference - October-November

Region Leadership Conference - January

State Leadership Conference - First week in March

National Leadership Conference - Late April-Early May

Officer Positions Local, Region, State, National level

Involvement, Awards, and Graduation

The Torch Awards Program:

Business Professionals of America’s Torch Awards Program frames and guides a BPa member’s leadership and service to their chapter and community. Students complete activities in the seven Torch categories - Leadership; Service; Cooperation; Knowledge; Friendship; Love, Hope, Faith; and Patriotism. Students must enter all activities in the online system.

Each activity completed is worth 5, 10, 15, or 20 points. Achieving a certain number of points for each category, his/her Advisor or Local Reviewer can submit the resume online to be reviewed for recognition. All students completing a satisfactory resume will be awarded.

Members can achieve a Torch Award at four levels: Executive (at the local chapter), Diplomate (at the Region or State level), Statesman (at the State level) and Ambassador (at the National level). The Ambassador Torch Award, which requires 70 points of activities in each torch category, is the highest level and students achieving this award are recognized at the National Leadership Conference. For comprehensive information and instructions about the Torch Award Program, visit http://www.bpa.org/awards/torch.

BPA Week:

BPA Week takes place the second full week in February and coincides with Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month. BPA Week is a great opportunity to promote your chapter, have your students learn public relation skills, and take pride in their local chapter. Many chapters hold dinners, invite congressmen to their school, conduct local media interviews, and hold BPA membership drives. Locally we could set up a table at lunch for Junior High lunch and talk to students about CTE and BPA. We can make posters and hang them on the halls.

Scholarships:

Each year at the State and National Leadership Conference, BPA awards a variety of scholarships to Secondary and Postsecondary members. The application is published near the beginning of each calendar year and the application deadlines are posted online. Scholarships are available for Business Professionals of America members only. For more details on BPA scholarships, visit both www.texasbpa.com and www.bpa.org/service/scholarships.

Graduation Cord Requirements:

In order to wear the BPA Cord of Honor at graduation a student must meet one of the following:

Qualify to compete at State Leadership Conference two years
Qualify to compete at the National Leadership Conference
Be elected to a Region, State, or National Office