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A number of members of the College’s American Marketing Association (AMA) chapter were on hand to learn that the chapter had been named “Collegiate Chapter of the Year.” The award was made at the 28th Annual International Collegiate Conference in Orlando, FL.

When the 29th Annual International Collegiate Conference of the American Marketing Association gets underway in New Orleans in March, 2007, the college’s chapter will hold a special place, having been declared the 2006 Collegiate Chapter of the Year.

According to the program, “Students from the 2005-06 Chapter of the Year, Florida International University, are graciously serving as the ‘hosts’ of the 2007 Collegiate Conference and have planned this event to start the conference off with a fun and interactive event”—a networking session on the first day.

And knowing the value of marketing, the students who will be attending—numbering about 25—plan to tout their current stature by wearing t-shirts with their titles emblazoned on them.

The students also plan to participate in a sales contest on the last day.

“We select a product, do research, and present to a panel of judges,” said Maria Glenny, current president. “We will tie in the conference theme—“Destinations Marketing”—to the school, New Orleans, and to the conference.”

The conference closes with the 29th Annual AMA Collegiate Chapter Awards Banquet, at which the college’s chapter hopes to retain its title as Collegiate Chapter of the Year, competing against about 300 other chapters nationwide. Judges look at activities spanning professional development programs, community service projects, and fundraising as well as student membership numbers and efforts to increase chapter awareness.

“We’re going back to win again,” Glenny said.

AMA is more than an annual conference to its members.

As important as the conference is—for networking and career development—AMA members are busy all year implementing innovative programs, holding regular meetings with recruiters or industry leaders as speakers, and conducting community service projects. These efforts are valuable in and of themselves in addition to helping position the chapter for recognition. Plus, members participate in many events to raise money to help them afford the trip to the conference.

In February, 2007, chapter members cooked at a Ronald McDonald event and worked at the Miami Boat Show, planning to use their earnings to help defray the costs of traveling to the conference. At the Calle Ocho festival, the culmination of Carnival Miami in March, they’ll be selling Budweiser, also to raise travel funds.

In the works is a peer-to-peer mentoring project targeting freshmen and sophomores, offering help with books and advice or sending them to advisors for more information. Plus, members continue to do community service, including raising money for the American Cancer Society, among other efforts.

And though the award wasn’t of national proportions, AMA was proud to win the table decorations competition at the college’s recent BizFest for their homage to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Tim Dugan Birrittella, lecturer in the Marketing Department, serves as the chapter’s faculty advisor.

“Our AMA chapter has achieved something unheard of,” he said. “In five short years, our chapter won the national title, which proves that our university’s AMA is one of the leaders within the International Collegiate Division—providing valuable experiences to our members.” 

For information about joining AMA, check the student events calendar for meeting information and plan to attend.  You also can visit its web site.

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© 2007 FIU College of Business Administration