Pennsylvania FBLA Update
Request Your FBLA Chapter's New Personalized Brand Logo
Online Application Open for Requests
Dear PA FBLA Advisers

National FBLA has announced that we all are transitioning to and must comply with the new FBLA Brand Guidelines and Assets no later than August 1, 2023. Now is the time to start planning that transition so that you and your chapter aren't "behind the eight ball" when you return to school in August and encounter communications from the "brand police" who tell your chapter that you are not in compliance. Right now, we are in transition to that August date, and you will see PA FBLA begin that transition in its logos on its website; in its e-signatures in our email; on our social media; and on the state conference plaques, among other things. For example, the Pennsylvania outline shown above with the new logo inside is a "transitional" graphic we are using; it must disappear before August 1.

If you paid attention to my "Welcome Back" email; if you attended the State Leadership Workshop adviser session at which we had an extensive discussion about the "brand"; and if you have been paying attention to National FBLA communications regarding the "rebranding," you know what is going on. If you haven't paid attention, it is time to do so -- and have a discussion with your chapter officers and/or members.

State Leadership Conference Brand Sessions
As part of the education process, I will be offering workshops on Sunday early evening; Monday; and Tuesday to help everyone understand the process; the requirements; and the assets chapters may use. Remember, this affects everything in print; on your website; on your social media sites; on your t-shirts; etc. Details will be announced as the SLC program is developed. Advisers (and chapter officers (at a minimum)), please plan to attend one of these brand sessions at the state conference in Hershey.

National FBLA has its "Brand Center" prominently located on the main page of its website at www.fbla.org. For those who are adventurous (advisers and members), you can print the entire brand document.

Here are some documents available in this area that advisers and members need to review:

In the FBLA Brand Guidebook and in the Brand Center, you will see your options regarding the new logos and how they may be customized. You do not have permission to change colors or alter the logo in any way other than what is stated in the brand guidebook. As Pennsylvania transitions, you will see examples that look like the following that will start to appear.

There are very specific guidelines for your chapter logo as shown by the "Acton-Boxborough Regional High School" horizontal and vertical logos.
Because of those specific requirements and if you have access to graphic designers in or out of your school, please let them develop your chapter logo according to the brand guidelines (make sure you follow the color requirements as they are very specific). It's a great learning experience for students in a graphics design/digital communications class so work with the class instructor if you have that option available to you. If you wish to show me a copy for a review to see if it meets the guidelines, I will happy to offer an opinion. If I have questions, I will ask someone higher than me to offer and opinion.

Requesting Your Own Chapter's Brand Logo From Pennsylvania FBLA
If you would like to have the graphic designer Pennsylvania FBLA is using design your chapter's official brand logo, advisers should make this request through this online form. We will fill requests in the order received, but it may take some time to fill all requests so don't expect instant gratification. We will provide each chapter with: (1) a personalized horizontal logo and (2) a personalized vertical logo.

What you need to know about the rebranding:
The organization's official name is Future Business Leaders of America, Inc., or FBLA, Inc.
Phi Beta Lambda is no longer part of the organization name.
There are three FBLA divisions:
  1. FBLA High School
  2. FBLA Middle School
  3. FBLA Collegiate
Members in all three divisions are "Future Business Leaders of America."

Do I have to throw away/stop wearing all t-shirts, hoodies, merchandise with the old logo?
Absolutely not. It is considered "legacy" merchandise. In fact, PA FBLA has made available for order our "very last" SLC keystone logo shirt/hoodie to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation. After this SLC, any new merchandise that we sell/distribute will bear the approved logos built on the branding guidelines. This year's logo is a "transition" and a bridge from old to new. There will also be "legacy" pins that we will be selling/distributing until they are gone. We have sold "legacy" pins that will now become "collector's items."

If you have questions, please feel free to reach out to Bruce Boncal, PA FBLA Executive Director, at bboncal@pafbla.us or call my cell at 570.279.6998.

Happy branding! Read, read, read . . . . the branding guidelines. Don't assume.
Sincerely,

Bruce E. Boncal
Pennsylvania FBLA Executive Director
bboncal@pafbla.us
570.279.6998 cell/texts
Pennsylvania FBLA | www.pafbla.org