Hey California DECA! As we swing into the New Year, Team 73 would like to take a moment and reflect on the amazing memories CA DECA made in 2023!
We rang in 2023 with our annual District Conferences in SoCal, Silicon Valley, and Northern California! This was a lot of our members’ first conference and we loved seeing everyone Get the Edge! The conferences were filled with activities including Game Nights, Chapter Trivia, and the NorCal DECA Dance!
In March, over two thousand members gathered in Anaheim for the State Career Development Conference. This four-day conference was an event to remember! Members excelled in their competitive events, networked with peers all over the state, and explored Anaheim! From workshops led by TEAMTRI during the day to having fun in Disneyland and Downtown Disney at night, our members had a blast! The conference concluded with the installation of Team 73.
In April, hundreds of California DECA members attended the International Career Development Conference in Orlando! The grand Opening Session set the tone for the rest of the conference, with the upbeat and energized atmosphere! Many members participated in pin trading, a special tradition at ICDC! An incredible aspect of this conference was that our members got to meet DECA members from all over the world! The exclusive DECA Night in Universal Studios was a thrilling experience and a great way to unwind as the conference came to an end. Our members Experienced the Difference in their competitive events and leadership academies. We had many finalists and ICDC Glass Winners and are proud of each and every one of our members.
Throughout May and early June, chapters celebrated their accomplishments in the 2022-2023 DECA season at Chapter Banquets. We were grateful to have had the opportunity to share these special moments with chapters including Foothill High School, Irvington High School, Washington High School, and Quarry Lane. Many other schools including Harker, Castro Valley, and Amador Valley held banquets as well!
In July, Team 73 had the opportunity to attend the Emerging Leaders Summit in Washington, DC! This was a truly enriching experience for all of us, and we loved getting to meet so many leaders from across the country!
In August, chapters began recruiting members for the 2023-2024 DECA season, spreading their passion for the organization in their communities. We are excited to welcome dozens of chapters, both new and seasoned, to the California DECS community! It was amazing to see chapters recruit members in unique ways, from Club Fairs and school events to Instagram reels and flyers!
Starting in October, our California DECA chapters began planning and hosting Minicons to prepare their members for the upcoming conferences. Many chapters collaborated with nearby schools to host large and exciting minicons, strengthening the sense of community in our organization. These mock conferences were an amazing way for members to practice for competition and explore DECA as a whole!
Finally, in November, dozens of California DECA members joined over 2000 DECA students in Austin, Texas for the annual Ultimate DECA Power Trip! This was an experience of a lifetime and every moment of this conference was action-packed! Many of our members participated in the Competitive Experience and were recognized for their excellence at the closing session! Power Trip was an amazing experience to learn and grow as leaders! From learning from keynote speakers David Garibaldi and Clint Pulver, both America’s Got Talent performers, to attending workshops led by State Officer Teams, the Executive Officer Team, and business professionals, our members truly experienced the difference.
2023 was an exciting year for California DECA, and we can’t wait to see what the new year has in store! See you soon, California DECA!
