Contributed by the 2024-2025 Collegiate DECA Executive Officer Team
As we continue our exploration of non-competitive membership, we have to ask: “How can non-competitive members benefit the Collegiate division?”
We all know that members who choose to compete can bring back hardware from competitions, international accolades and more. Non-competitive members can bring back just as much from their local chapter meetings, regardless of whether they collect physical rewards.
Event and Meeting Logistics Planning
Sometimes, things fall through the cracks as you are working on planning a DECA chapter meeting. Meeting rooms fill up early in the semester, multiple clubs want to meet simultaneously or maybe your executive team can’t quite get their schedules to align. Someone who isn’t focused on competing would greatly help in this role.
Your chapter could also be missing out on someone with contacts within your school and community who could help make meetings more exciting or interactive. Students who want to join clubs or chapters and don’t have the time to compete may have the time to simply plan activities or meetings between their busy schedules.
As a non-competitive member in this role, they can also serve as a “go-to” for making meetings and the Collegiate DECA experience more beneficial for fellow non-competitive members. Continuing to market meetings as a way for all members to come together and learn something new is a great starting point.
Community Engagement
Taking charge of community engagement and volunteering can be a task that takes a lot of time. Meetings with local businesses and non-profits, government entities and stakeholders should be as much of a commitment as competition is. By having someone who is a non-competitive member take on these tasks, they are building their relationships with these groups and the chapter’s relationship in the process.
For example, on many campuses, there are volunteer-based clubs that already work in their local communities. Reach out to an executive member or a general student in the club and ask about their interest in taking on a community engagement role in your chapter. To create those connections, offer them to serve on your board or as a member without competing. Not only will you have someone with experience, but you will also be creating a new collaboration and connection with other clubs on campus.
Sponsorships and Fundraising
Managing the money in your student organization account can be challenging. Bringing a member on board who can develop a sponsorship plan, donation guide and more can benefit the entire chapter. More money equals exciting opportunities to make your chapter more vibrant! Plus, who doesn’t love cheaper travel costs to events?
A non-competitive member (or members) who can take on the financial task of supporting the chapter will help everyone. In terms of workload, taking on the fundraising task in itself feels like a competitive event where the rubric is basically made up of your financial goals for the year. Certainly, a hard job, but a non-competitive member with the right skills and expertise could be the way to move forward financially as a chapter.
Chapter Growth and Diversity
If Collegiate chapters were only made of competitive members, we could miss out on some diversity as a division.
Think about it—the more diverse your chapter is, the better the networking and connection opportunities for your members. What makes Collegiate DECA unique is that the organization is for EVERYONE—not just business majors. No matter what industry students want to enter, knowing the language of business, how to market ourselves as leaders and how to connect and grow as professionals is essential. Bringing in members from numerous majors and backgrounds will allow our members to have a better perspective on not only their own careers but others as well.
Non-competitive membership can breathe life into your chapter if you’re struggling with recruitment. For those chapters going strong, it can provide a fresh perspective for both your members and your chapter officer team. Utilize your contacts. Find friends outside of the business school. Forge ahead and “Be the One” to recruit everyone you know to join our division—the possibilities and opportunities are endless for competitive and non-competitive members alike!
