DECA's annual Membership Campaign is designed to encourage local chapters to demonstrate to the school and community the value of participation in DECA. By doing this, the chapter can create goodwill with community leaders, school staff and administrators and, in the process, recruit new members.

Achieving the top level of the Membership Campaign means that the chapter has made an impression on the community and it means special recognition for the chapter at the International Career Development Conference where representatives of the chapter are invited to appear on stage.

In order to achieve the Diamond Level, all Membership Campaign activities must be promotional in nature and therefore must include or be visible to people who are not current DECA members. Below is a list of standard activities that qualify for the Membership Campaign. You can choose to do some of these or think of your own activities. Following the standard activities list, you will find a few very creative ways that DECA chapters have participated in the campaign through the years.

Standard Activities

	Conduct teacher/staff/administrator appreciation activities. These might include a DECA-sponsored breakfast, or a goodie bag with DECA gifts.
	Broadcast announcements on the school intercom or in–house radio/TV program. These can focus on DECA events, be DECA trivia questions or be a DECA "thought of the day."
	Make a presentation on DECA to a civic organization using slides, video or PowerPoint. (Don't forget the DECA membership video.)
	Prepare a special DECA exhibit for fairs, shows, store windows, shopping malls, other (feeder) schools, lunch periods, libraries, airports, homecoming, etc.
	Sponsor a speaker for an assembly that is open to all or a large segment of the student population.
	Post an attention–getting poster or bulletin board in an area of high visibility.
	Conduct a fashion show for the school and invite members of the business community.
	Ask a local official to issue a DECA Week proclamation in October and publicize this in the local paper.
	Conduct a visible community service event. You may wish to use this as an opportunity to do a fundraiser for the Muscular Dystrophy Association and include information about how DECA raises near a half million dollars each year for MDA.
	Post a billboard in the community promoting DECA and Marketing Education.
	Have a DECA "dress" day where members wear either DECA polos/T-shirts or dress in professional attire to display their DECA pride. This activity is enhanced if the members wear "Ask me about DECA" buttons.
	Sponsor a "Miracle Minute" where everyone in the cafeteria is asked to contribute whatever they can from their pocket change in the space of 60 seconds. Whatever is collected is given to the pre–announced charity.
	Have artistic DECA members create DECA bookmarks, cafeteria tray liners or placemats for a local restaurant.
	Sponsor a raffle for a popular prize, like an IPOD, where the proceeds will go to a local or national charity.

The following activities are selected from previous Membership Campaign entries:

	Two DECA students spearheaded a community service project called LIPgloss: “Ladies in Progress: girls looking over social standards,” an organization geared towards young girls. DECA members held two assemblies at two local middle schools that focused on improving self-esteem. While it was a chapter project, local newspapers and media picked up the event, which provided community exposure to the chapter. Students who volunteered for the event primarily included DECA members, but others interested in giving back also came out and helped shape this event to a truly successful one. (Independence High School, TN ‘07)
	The DECA Ninja Program is just one of the ways that Mountain Range High School promotes DECA and marketing. In this program, students work towards a belt or a title. The belts are coordinated with the school colors. The first year students are a white belt and the are “grasshoppers.” The second year, students are blue belts are called the “apprentices.” These students help the first year students learn about DECA and all of the ways they can participate in DECA. The third year students are black belts and are called “DECA Ninjas.” These students are the leaders in the DECA organization. This program is promoted using posters throughout the school. In addition, the students promote this program through word of mouth. They address one another by their belts, which encourages students who are not in DECA to find out more about the program. (Mountain Range High School, CO ‘07)
	Fordson DECA participated in a “Lockup” for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Our members were inspired to participate when they discovered their school police liaison officer, Corp. Craig Vasileff, was going to be “locked up” until he raised his “bail.” When the students found out about the lockup, they set a goal of $1000 for Officer V’s bail. They exceeded their goal and ended up raising $1,640 for his bail in three days collecting only during the lunch periods. All contributions went towards the Muscular Dystrophy Association. (Fordson High School, MI ‘07)
	The DECA students at Edwin O. Smith High created a commercial to be aired on their local public access channel so parents and other community members could learn what DECA was all about. Their commercial, titled, “DECA Exists,” went beyond the norm by reaching out to people beyond the school walls. (Edwin O. Smith High School, CT ‘07)
	Cherry Creek DECA participated in a local Annual Fitness Festival. This event gave their chapter an opportunity to give back to the local community and promote goodwill. Monies for this event went to help develop skills for a “Healthier Lifestyle” and for youth development as a deterrent to negative behavior such as alcohol and other drug use. This activity also let teachers, counselors, administrators, and parents know that DECA is more than competitive events. (Cherry Creek High School, CO’ 07)
	The DECA chapter distributed poster hands to students who donated $1 dollar or more to announced charity project. The student decorated the hands in any reasonable fashion and then the chapter wallpapered the entire school store with the hands. (Casa Grande Union H.S.)
	DECA officers hid 100 DECA Diamonds throughout the school for all students to find and return. The student who retrieved the most diamonds was rewarded a prize. This was a great way to spread DECA awareness throughout the school. (Stuttgart H.S.)
	The DECA chapter sponsored "Duct Tape an Administrator to the Wall Day" with the HS principal who graciously volunteered. Students bought strips of duct tape for 50 cents and one $15 piece was purchased to cover the principal's mouth. All proceeds went to MDA. (Sierra H.S.)
	Spot the DECA Blazer" — Students were told to find the DECA member wearing a blazer and ask a question about DECA. They then received a DECA sticker that could be redeemed for candy in the cafeteria or DECA room. Over 100 students stopped the DECA member to ask questions. (Elmwood Park H.S.)
	On Saturday Helena, Montana DECA members sponsored a "Gas Pump for Tips" to help raise funds for a Louisiana school rebuild its DECA program after Katrina. Having advertised the event in the local paper, students pumped gas and washed windows for tips from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm at Friendly's, a local gas station. The event raised $500. (Helena H.S.)
	The DECA chapter hosted an outdoor movie night that all students could attend for a small donation. A giant screen was erected on the baseball field and students from all grade levels came with their own blankets and sleeping bags to watch the movie under the stars. The $600 collected was donated to the Katrina Relief Fund. (Eldorado H.S.)
	The local DECA chapter helped register voters during DECA Week. A booth was assembled at the nexus of the school and free breakfast was given out to all those who registered to vote. (Moore Norman Technology Center)
	JM DECA held a Job Interviewing Workshop for all interested students after school. Students received tips on resumes, the pre–interview, the interview, dressing for success, interview hygiene, and verbal and non-verbal communication. Snacks were provided for the workshop, which was led by the district DECA President. (James Monroe H.S.)
	On "Breakfast Day" each DECA member was allowed to invite one person, a potential member, to breakfast in the marketing classroom before the start of school. This allowed for non–members to learn more about DECA in a one-on-one setting. (Harrison H.S.)
	Random Giveaway, compliments of DECA — We taped Airhead candy under many random chairs at each lunch period. Midway through lunch, we announced, "Look under your chair to see if you have received a prize compliments of DECA!" Excitement and positive comments about DECA were generated. (West Fork H.S.)