2020 NATIONAL LEADERSHIP ONLINE EXPERIENCE
Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q.)
On Friday, April 17, FBLA-PBL announced the decisions made by the Board of Directors as it relates to the 2020 National Leadership Conference (NLC): to cancel the in-person gathering in Salt Lake City, and to launch an online national leadership experience to include national officer elections, competitive events, and leadership development.
We understand that additional questions relating to logistics, timelines, and processes may emerge. As soon as official information is available, we will update the event website as well as communicate via email and social media.
This page will be updated in real-time with the most up-to-date information.
Candidates will need to fill out the National Officer Application, register for the online National Leadership Experience, and take an online parliamentary procedures test.
Yes. Interviews will begin at 1:00 p.m. on June 18 for FBLA and June 15 for PBL using Go-To-Meetings. Each interview will last approximately 15 minutes. Interview times will be sent to candidates at a later date. Local and state advisers of applicants are encouraged to attend. The screening committee will consist of members of the national board of directors and current national officers.
There will be a candidate area of the NLE website which will open for FBLA on June 29 and for PBL on June 24. Candidate campaign hours will be from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time. All materials for this area will be submitted through the Candidate form which is due on June 1. This information will be used to populate the candidate area. Each candidate will have the following which will be accessed through this area of the NLE website: Headshot, One-Page Campaign Flyer, Link to Campaign Speech, Link to Campaign website. Candidates may also use social media i.e. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, during these hours.
Yes, candidates may spend no more than $300.
All speeches are pre-recorded and 2 minutes in length. This is a straight speech. No skits, music, or graphics may be used. You must be dressed in business attire. Video speeches for all PBL National Officers for elected office will be played during the PBL Online Opening Session. Video speeches for the offices of President, Secretary, and Treasurer will be played during the FBLA Online Session. Videos of speeches for FBLA Region Vice President can be accessed on the National Officer Candidate page of the NLC website. Videos all of national officer candidate speeches may be accessed on this area.
Yes, national officers and candidates for elected office will pre-record the Q&A Sessions. The videos will be available for viewing on the candidate section of the NLE website.
No. A State can run more than two candidates, but only one can be elected. If a State would run more than two candidates and both receive the most votes, the candidate with the lower office would be dropped. In PBL, this does not affect unopposed positions. A state may have one elected officer and a national parliamentarian since that office is appointed, not elected.
A plurality vote determines the winners for elected office. The person filing an application and scoring the highest of the parliamentary procedures exam determines that national parliamentarian position.
Yes, all local and state chapter voting delegates must be registered and paid for the NLE in order to vote.
Each local chapter in good standing shall be entitled to send from its active membership, two to four local voting delegates and one alternate for each voting delegate to the National Leadership Experience in accordance with the following:
- Under 50 members—two voting delegates.
- 50–100 members—three voting delegates.
- Over 100 members—four voting delegates.
In FBLA, these delegates vote for their Regional Vice President. In PBL, these delegates vote for all officers for elected positions. These are determined from those members that are registered and paid for the National Leadership Experience. Each local adviser will be sent a form to register their voting delegates. The FBLA Local Chapter Voting Delegation Registration Deadline is June 9, 11:59 p.m. ET and the PBL Local Chapter Voting Delegate Registration deadline is June 4, 11:59 p.m. ET.
Each state chapter in good standing shall be entitled to send two voting delegates its active membership. These State Voting Delegates vote on the election of the National President, National Secretary, National Treasurer and any bylaw amendments. State Key Contacts will determine each of their two State Voting Delegates based on a form which is due by May 29. These State Voting Delegates must be registered and paid for the NLC.
Student registrants for the National Leadership Experience (NLE) may request a refund by sending an email to Robert Smothers, Meetings Manger at rsmothers@fbla.org documenting the reason as to why they require a refund. Refunds are not guaranteed and will be made on a case by case basis with preference given to illness and extenuating personal/family circumstances. Refunds may take up to 30 days to process and be received. Students who request a refund may not attend/participate in online sessions, activities or be eligible for competitive events.
The official dates will be June 24 – 26, 2020 (PBL) and June 29 – July 1, 2020 (FBLA-Middle Level and FBLA). These dates were selected because they fall within the original NLC schedule.
Competitive events will take place during a timeline that stretches throughout some of May and most of June, with competitive event winners to be announced in July, following the online event.
All key dates and deadlines are available on our PBL Conference and FBLA-ML and FBLA Conference schedules. All times listed are Eastern Time Zone (ET).
Since we do not have an in-person NLC this year, recognition pins for these awards will be sent to the attention of the local adviser at the school address. All winners will receive recognition in the special NLE edition Tomorrow’s Business Leader (TBL).
All winners will receive recognition in the special NLE edition of Tomorrow’s Business Leader (TBL).
The online conference will be facilitated on a digital platform. More specific details will follow.
We also encourage FBLA-PBL members to follow the conversation via social media by following our National Center Twitter (PBL, FBLA), Facebook, and Instagram accounts. Join the conversation by using the hashtags #NLC20, #WeAreFBLAPBL, and #NLEOnline
Registration is $65/member. This includes access to competitive events, voting (for delegates), opening sessions with keynote presentations, leadership content programming, and closing celebration.
Advisers and chapter/state-affiliated guests are welcome to attend the opening and closing celebrations free of cost; registration required.
No. While we do hope the online experience will provide value to the members and advisers, we understand that each family has different priorities and concerns. Participation is completely optional and always at the discretion of the member and their parent or guardian.
No. Due to the current situation, the 2020 NLC in Salt Lake City will not be rescheduled. We plan to gather again at the 2020 National Fall Leadership Conferences (Omaha, Nebraska, November 6-7, 2020; Dallas, Texas, November 13-14, 2020; Daytona Beach, Florida, November 20-21, 2020), PBL Career Connections Event, and 2021 NLC in Anaheim. We will continue to consider Salt Lake City as a destination for future conferences.
For a full list of all competitive events, with modified guidelines, please visit our Competitive Events page.
Please contact your local and state advisers on their determined processes for identifying qualifying competitors for events.
Yes. For information about the process for the 2020-21 National Officer Elections, please visit our Campaigns & Voting page.
Yes. Leadership programming for FBLA-Middle Level, FBLA, and PBL will be included. Check back for more information as it becomes available.
The Board of Directors made the decision on April 15, 2020 with feedback provided by state leaders, local advisers, students, and parents with the safety of our members and advisers at the forefront. There are many students and advisers that are eager to stay engaged and as such we are offering an online experience to facilitate that momentum.
Data gathered included information about each state’s current education realities, accessibility, and feasibility as impacted by COVID-19. Several models for an online event were considered and ultimately the Board opted to have an online experience designed for member engagement to include elements of competitive events, national officer elections, and leadership programming.
Due to the need to practice proper social distancing, students may not be able to get together in-person to record their presentation. There are various web-based meeting software available that can allow students to record a presentation without being together in the same room. Please refer to our digital submission guidelines for the 2020 NLE which include information related to teams submitting their presentations.
Students that win events will receive award medals and a congratulatory letter by mail. Cash awards, made possible by the support by our event sponsors, will be awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners.
Thank you for your interest! Please visit our judging page for more information about registering as a judge.