By Alan Van Ormer
Tribune editor

Students who participate in Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) will tell you it has helped them immensely as they make their way through high school.
For Dell Rapids junior, Whitney Rowe, it helped get over her shyness, helped her speak in front of people and helped her gain some confidence.
For Baltic senior, Maggan Froseth, FCCLA helped her gain leadership skills.
“I never expected to have a leadership position,” Froseth said. “Looking back, I would have never had the guts to be a leader.”
The girls are two of four district leaders in charge of Monday’s District FCCLA Rally at the Dell Rapids School Commons Area. Froseth is the chairperson of District 3, while Rowe is the vice president of District 3.
District 3 member schools are Baltic, Canistota, Colman-Egan, Dell Rapids, Flandreau, Madison Central, Tri-Valley and West Central. The FCCLA Rally will start at 4 p.m. It is not open to the public.
FCCLA is a student-led organization that provides students leadership skills for life including organization, decision making, being able to speak in front of crowds and participating in community service projects.
“FCCLA creates interest and inspires students to do projects and activities,” said Bev Rieck, who teaches Family and Consumer Science classes at Dell Rapids High School and is also the advisor for FCCLA.
Monday’s FCCLA Rally also leads up to the FCCLA District Meeting scheduled for January. “The district rally gets them fired up to compete,” Rieck said. “The rally is creating interest and the students are getting to know people from other chapters.”
Rowe said the rally helps new members and involves activities to help students learn more about each other and FCCLA.
The rally includes four different workshops, which are organized and presented by each of the four different district officers.
Rowe’s workshop involves FCCLA Facts and will include a scavenger hunt. Another workshop is entitled “Walk the Line.”
“It is how alcohol messes up your mind and shows people that you can make wise choices,” Rowe said.
A third workshop involves food and nutrition and the final one is associated with community service.
“Last year we had so much fun,” Froseth said. “You came back with new friends and it gives kids an opportunity to meet others in FCCLA.”