Recruitment Resources
We know how hard it can be to get people excited for a school-related group. That’s why we decided to offer some resources to help you excite people to the opportunity we can provide, and as a bonus, you grow your chapter too!
Berrien Springs High School chapter members and advisors in attendance at the 2023 State Leadership Conference
Photo credit: Michael Croff
Activity Ideas
Meet with incoming classes: Put on a presentation, talk with classmates, or share information with 8th grade classes to help gain excitement for the start of 9th grade.
Put on an event: Provide a fun activity (bowling, movie night, game night) and use it to share information about BPA and as a networking opportunity.
Engage on social media: Social media is one of the most successful tools you can use to spread information and gain new members. Just be sure to use #MIBPA when you post!
Use school resources: Your school has a variety of great ways to help you spread information about your chapter. Whether through school announcements or posters in the hallway, you can easily get the word out!
Answer student questions: Be sure to stay engaged with your community and answer any questions that arise. You can do this through social media, videos, booths, or even orientation events.
Resources
Membership Recruitment/Promotional Flyer 2024-2025 (PDF)
How to Join
INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP
Business Professionals of America is open to any business student at the high school or college level. However, individual members join through a local chapter. Many schools throughout the state have BPA chapters. If your school has a chapter, contact the local BPA advisor for instructions on how you can join the chapter. If your school does not have a BPA chapter, follow the steps indicated below to form a new chapter.
NEW CHAPTERS
Starting a new chapter may seem overwhelming, but it actually does not require as much work as you think. This page demonstrates the step by step process of starting a new chapter, which can be broken down into four major steps.
Review the Local Chapter Handbook available for download by clicking here: Local Chapter Handbook 2024-2025 (PDF). Please review Appendix I-New Chapter Checklist, which is included in the handbook.
Complete a New Chapter Request form online at register.bpa.org. A BPA staff member will review the application and contact you upon review.
A national staff member will provide a username and a password for the Membership Registration System (MRS), BPA Member Gateway, and Conference Registration System (CRS). The Membership Registration System is used to register chapter members as dues-paying members every year.
Each chapter advisor must download, complete, save and send an Advisor Information Form (DOCX) and send it to maurice.henderson@emich.edu.
Each chapter advisor must complete and sign the Advisor Code of Ethics form (PDF) and have it signed by your school’s principal. If there is more than one advisor in the chapter, multiple advisors may sign the second page of the form. Submit this form by following the instructions at the bottom of the form.
The Michigan BPA State Office and your regional advisor will then send you additional information.
Completing the steps above will register your chapter. However, “starting a chapter” does not end there. After officially registering your chapter, there are other inner-chapter activities you should partake in. Below are some basic activities BPA chapters complete.
Register the chapter as a school club if necessary
Recruit members
Assign or elect officers
Create a calendar of events
Make a list of goals for the year
Fundraise for scholarships or bonding events
Plan for various conferences: fall, regional, state, and national
DUES AND DEADLINES
Business Professionals of America strives to make every experience students have truly the best. In order to do this, there are certain costs we must request from students to participate and attend any conference.
2024-2025 Dues
National Dues for Secondary and Postsecondary Divisions: $14.00
State Dues for Secondary and Postsecondary Divisions: $12.50
(NOTE: Registration fees for various conferences must also be paid in order to attend the fall, regional, state, and national conferences.)
2024-2025 Deadlines
November 1, 2024: Membership processed by November 1 will allow your chapter to:
Continue to receive all communication from BPA
Ensure participation eligibility for all regional and state competitions
November 1, 2024: New Secondary/High School chapter charter deadline
November 8, 2024 (Secondary/High School Division): Members who join by this date will be allowed to participate in any competitive event at the regional level.
December 1, 2024 (Secondary/High School Division): Members will be allowed to participate in BPA; but in terms of competitions they will be allowed to compete in Open Events only at the regional level.
January 8, 2025: New Postsecondary chapter charter deadline
January 22, 2025 (Postsecondary Division): Members will be allowed to participate in all aspects of BPA.