EMERGING BUSINESS ISSUES
 

This event provides recognition for FBLA members with an opportunity to develop and demonstrate skills in researching and presenting an emerging business issue.  The event is based on team rather than individual participation.  In addition to learning research skills, team participants develop speaking ability and poise through oral presentations.
 

COMPETENCIES
 

The topic to be debated during the State Leadership Conference will be listed in the Chapter Management Handbook that comes from the national office each year.  In addition it will be announced in the State Adviser Briefings throughout the year.  Participants will be expected to research the topic before the conference and to be prepared to present either an affirmative or negative argument, based on random selection at the SLC.
 

ELIGIBILITY
 

A team may be composed of 2 or 3 members.  No more than one member may have entered this event at a previous National Leadership Conference, have competed more than two (2) years at the national level, or placed 1st or 2nd at a previous State Leadership Conference.

 

Participants must have paid state and national dues postmarked by December 15 of the current school year.

 

District:        Number of participants governed by local FBLA District policy.

 

State:           Each district may be represented by participant(s) based on the Florida FBLA scaled quota system found in the Fact Finder.

 

National:     See publication:  National Chapter Management Handbook—current edition.

 

REGULATIONS
 

District:        Each district determines its own procedures for event registration.

 

State:           When it has been determined that a student will represent the district at state competition, the student's local adviser must send the appropriate entry form to the state adviser by first-class mail.  The entry form and the required postmark deadline are included in the SLC registration packet.

 

National:     See publication:  National Chapter Management Handbook—current edition.

 

REGULATIONS
 

• Participants failing to report on time for the event may be disqualified.
 

• Participants must adhere to the dress code established by the board of directors or they will not be permitted to compete in the event.
 

• Teams will be permitted to bring prepared materials written or printed on note cards to the preparation and presentation areas.  In addition, two (2) 4” x 6” blank note cards will also be provided for each team member and may be used during the preparation and performance of the presentation. Information may be written on both sides of the note cards.  Note cards will not be collected.
 

• No reference materials, visual aids, or electronic devices may be brought to or used during the preparation or performance.

 

PRELIMINARY ROUND
 

Each team will consist of two to three (2-3) members.  Presentations must be the result of the team’s own independent work.  Facts and working data may be secured from any source.
 

Participants will be divided into two or three groups, depending on the number of participants.  The order of performance will be drawn at random by an impartial person in the event office.
 

All teams will be sequestered until the time of their performance.  Any team not showing up to the holding room by the time designated in the State Leadership Conference program may be disqualified.
 

Five (5) minutes prior to the presentation time, team members will draw to determine whether they will present an affirmative or negative argument.  Teams will then have five (5) minutes to finalize their preparations.
 

Teams should introduce themselves, describe the situation, make their recommendations, and summarize their case.  All team members are expected to actively participate in the performance.

 

Each presentation may last no more than five (5) minutes.  A timekeeper will stand at four (4) minutes and again at five (5) minutes.  When the presentation is finished, the time used will be recorded, noting a deduction of five (5) points for any presentation, which exceeds five (5) minutes.

 

Following each oral presentation, the judges may conduct a three-minute question and answer period during which the presenters should be prepared to defend their affirmative and negative argument.
 

All performances are open to conference attendees, except performing participants of this event.
 

FINAL ROUND

The order of performance will be drawn at random by an impartial person in the event office.  Finalists will be sequestered.
All other procedures as outlined in the preliminary round will be followed for the final round.
 

JUDGING
 

The presentations will be evaluated by a panel of judges.  All decisions of the judges are final.
 

AWARDS

District:        The number of awards presented at the District Leadership Conference is determined by local FBLA District policy.
 

State:           State awards for the top five places are presented at the State Leadership Conference.
 

National:     The judges will determine the number of awards presented at the National Leadership Conference.  The maximum number will be ten (10).