Starting a Phi Beta Lambda (PBL) is easy and rewarding if you follow these simple steps. This Quick Reference Guide gives you tips on recruiting members, promoting PBL benefits, and running your first meeting.

2. Step 1: Get to Know your PBL
Team - DeVry
Nate Johns, MBA, Student
Services Operations Analyst
njohns@devry.edu
630-353-9029
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3. Step 1: Get to Know your Team PBL State Adviser
The PBL State Adviser is your
contact for state-level assistance
conference dates & locations, local
recruitment materials, & key deadlines
for your state events
Email Tom Payne,
tpayne@fbla.org, to find out who
your contact is
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4. Step 1: Get to Know your PBL
Team - FBLA-PBL National Center
Tom Payne, Director of College
Relations
tpayne@fbla.org
1-800-325-2946 x132
Questions regarding membership, dues
payment, national conference registration
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5. Step 1: Get to Know your PBL Team
Get Social
/FutureBusinessLeaders
@PBL_National
FBLAPBLInc
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6. Step 2: Know your Deadlines
View the National PBL Calendar
Located in your Chapter Management
Handbook and online
Important: Contact your state adviser to
find out about state-specific deadlines and
events
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7. Step 3: Recruit Students
Schedule an Informational Meeting
Bring Pizza!
Tip: If you already have a group of
interested students, turn your first formal
meeting into a recruitment event by inviting
new candidates.
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8. Step 3: Recruit Students (cont.)
Get the Word Out
Email an invitation to all students at
your school, preferably from your
dean or department chair
Tip: If they can’t attend the
meeting, add them to an interest list and
contact them about future events
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9. Step 3: Recruit Students (cont.)
Get the Word Out (cont.)
Distribute flyers and posters around
campus
Scrolls on the bottom of the television
monitor and social media posts also
work well
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10. Step 3: Recruit Students (cont.)
Get the Word Out (cont.)
Announce the meeting at the beginning
of your classes
Tip: Ask other professors to announce the
meeting in their classes
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11. Step 3: Recruit Students (cont.)
Get the Word Out (cont.)
Do you already know some of your
campus student leaders? Approach these
high-quality students and ask them to get
involved
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12. Step 3: Recruit Students (cont.)
At the Informational Meeting…
Introduce Phi Beta Lambda as the
largest collegiate business student
organization in the U.S. with 550
chapters
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13. Step 3: Recruit Students (cont.)
At the Informational Meeting…
What’s in it for the students?
Over 55 competitive academic events
Cash prizes and national recognition
Networking opportunities
Leadership
Travel
Scholarships
Fun!
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14. Step 3: Recruit Students (cont.)
At the Informational Meeting…
Explain the Time Commitment
PBL is not time consuming for advisers or
students. It depends on how active and
involved your students want to be
Tip: There will be times, like in the spring,
when you will devote more time to
competitive events
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15. Step 3: Recruit Students (cont.)
At the Informational Meeting…
Explain the Benefits of
Leadership, Conferences, and Academic
Competitions
Leadership is an important part of
PBL, especially holding a chapter office
position
Competitive events and conferences are
popular activities. Promote the opportunities to
travel, network, and compete
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16. Step 3: Recruit Students (cont.)
At the Informational Meeting…
Show the PBL Recruitment Video
http://go.fbla.org/pblmembershipvideo
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17. Step 3: Recruit Students (cont.)
At the Informational Meeting…
Reinforce the Benefits of Academic
Competitions
PBL’s competitive events provide a link
between the classroom and the business world.
Your students will test their knowledge with
online exams and live presentations against the
top students from around the country
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18. Step 3: Recruit Students (cont.)
At the Informational Meeting…
Reinforce the Benefits of Academic
Competitions
There are over 55 individual and team events.
State competition are usually held February
through April, with the top winners advancing
to the national conference. National
competitions are in June
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19. Step 3: Recruit Students (cont.)
At the Informational Meeting…
Sign up students at the meeting
Email the names to Tom Payne,
tpayne@fbla.org
National dues are $10. Find your state dues at
http://go.fbla.org/membershipdues
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20. Step 4: Schedule your first
Formal Meeting
Summarize the information meeting
for new attendees
Elect Officers
Only paid members should be allowed
to vote on officers. Your officer team
will be a key component to your
chapter’s success
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21. Step 4: Schedule your first
Formal Meeting (cont.)
Collect dues from new members
Recruit a Rookie Challenge
Ask your PBL members to bring one
friend to the next PBL meeting - it’s a
good way to double your chapter’s size
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22. Step 4: Schedule your first
Formal Meeting (cont.)
Induction Ceremony
The Induction Ceremony is a celebratory
event for your new officer team - and for
you. View Induction Ceremony details at
http://go.fbla.org/recruitmenttools, under
“Chapter Ceremonies”
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23. Step 5: What’s In It for Me?
As PBL members, your DeVry
students will increase leadership,
networking, communications, and
team-work skills, working as both
individuals and team members
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