AMERICUS — The Sumter County Middle School (SCMS) Future Business Leaders of Americus chapter has really been busy since the school term began in 2008, and the projects aren’t stopping.

In July, officers attended the Summer Leadership Officer Training in Cordele. According to reports, the SCMS chapter is part of the 50-member club due to the increase in membership from last year. The Chapter has 72 active members, and meets the first Monday of each month.

In the fall, members attended the State Fall Motivational Rally in Macon. During this rally, students entered events. A number of SCMS’ students placed in the business related events. Brianna Simpson and Byneisha Prince placed 3rd in business spelling; Carmen Carter and Kashayla Snipes placed 2nd in business spelling; De’Ondria Hudson placed 5th in business concepts; Tamara Carter placed 4th in business concepts; Chris Thomas placed 3rd in business concepts; Mykel Jackson placed 2nd in career exploration, and Jerhovan Pearman placed 5th in business computations. The chapter also entered into the Spirit t-shirt contest and placed in the Blue and Gold Going Green Project.

During the first part of the school term, the SCMS FBLA Chapter took part in a number of community service projects, including visiting residents in the Magnolia Manor Nursing Center.

In November, they attended the Fall Leadership Conference in Athens. The received honors: Shenequa Hall placed as a National Recognition winner and the Chapter received honors for 50 members Club, (SLOT) Summer Leadership Officer Training participants, scholarship basket, membership achievement, the Gold Seal Chapter of the Year, and a ribbon for the support of the March of Dimes. The chapter was also awarded an $80 Georgia FBLA Bucks certificate.

The chapter planned the following activities for December: a recycling campaign for the school; toys and clothing drive for Sumter County Department of Family and Children Services; distributed fruit baskets for the nursing homes (Sumter Retirement Village in Plains and Magnolia Manor in Americus).

A Spring Break trip in 2009 was planned for New York City.

Ernestine Carter is the Sumter County Middle School FBLA advisor.