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August 12, 2015

DECA Emerging Leaders Summit Epic #MOments in Washington, D.C.

Author: California DECA

By: California DECA Vice President of Communications Moksh Jawa

This summer your state officers attended the DECA Emerging Leaders Summit (ELS) in Tysons, Virginia from July 12th – 14th. There were 180 association and chapter officers in attendance. Team 65 attended workshops led by Ryan Underwood and Amy Gallimore of TRI Leadership, Lieutenant J. Lyons, DECA Inc.’s Communications Manager Janelle Scudder, and the Executive Officer team.

All attendees returned to their respective chapters and associations with new and innovative ideas for leadership, internal communications, and workshop ideas. In addition, attendees received a Washington D.C. Night Tour sponsored by the US Army.

Along with touring D.C., Team 65 also visited the nation’s Capitol multiple times for meetings scheduled with various legislators including Congressman Eric Swalwell and Congressman Mike Honda. Your state officers requested legislators to support Carl D. Perkins funding, join the DECA Congressional Advisory Board, and attend DECA conferences during the year. The legislators were very supportive of DECA and Congressman Eric Swalwell even agreed to become a member of the Congressional Advisory Board.

Honda

In addition to meeting with legislators, many attendees were able to network with like-minded emerging leaders and entrepreneurs. Overall, DECA ELS prepared officers for a #DECAEPIC year and to lead their chapters and associations to great heights.
Bonus Section: #MoMeets
A compilation of lessons and quotes received at DECA ELS by your VP of Communications, Moksh “Mo” Jawa.
Moksh1
 
#MoMeetsMitch: “Met SO MANY great members from all the regions [at DECA ELS] but I still think West is best!” -Marizza “Mitch” Mitchell, Western Region VP.
DECA ELS offered a tremendous networking opportunity and every attendee had a special #IamDECA story. And, yes, West is best!
MoMLK
 
#MoMeetsMLK: “We may have all come on different ships, but we’re in the same boat now.” – Martin Luther King Jr.
Everyone at DECA ELS was from a different chapter or association but we all came together for 3 days to become better leaders and take DECA to the next level.
MO4
 
#MoMeetsMike: Congressman Mike Honda of the 17th district, Silicon Valley, has always been a huge advocate of Career and Technical Education and DECA and hopes to be able to attend Silicon Valley LACE this year.

About California DECA
California DECA is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) Career and Technical Student Organization, endorsed by the California Department of Education. With over 4,500 members in 59 schools throughout California, California DECA works to prepare emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in four fields of business: marketing, finance, hospitality, and management. For more information about California DECA, visit www.californiadeca.org.

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Contact Information
To learn more about this story, please contact:
California DECA
info@californiadeca.org
1-888-605-DECA