The Future Business Leaders of America is a group of students that strive to become leaders in the business aspect of the job market.

Julie Chadd, one of the advisers for the Eastern chapter, said the group is open to any major.

“The group helps students get a better understanding of the business world because typically, no matter what career you choose, you’re going to be impacted by business aspects of what goes on within the company you work for,” she said.

Chadd said the focus of the activities that take place within the group’s meetings include various guest speakers such as representatives from the military to talk about business careers.

“We’ve also had a representative from Eastern’s Career Services come talk to us about LinkedIn and other forms of social networking,” she said.

Eastern’s chapter stems from the nationwide organization, Future Business Leaders of America-Phi Beta Lambda.

Eastern’s chapter provides students with the opportunity to network with students at local, state and national levels, Chadd said.

Eastern participates in a competitive program called the Career and Membership Achievement Program sponsored by the nationwide chapter, and that will be the focus of the group’s meeting on Wednesday, Chadd said.

“The Career and Membership Achievement Program encourages different activities to take place within the organization that focus on different business concepts,” she said. “In the spring, there is a state conference held in Effingham where the chapters from around the state come together and compete in a variety of business-related events and can also network with other members.”

If a chapter does well at the state conference, there are opportunities for the group to move up and compete in the national conference, Chadd said.

Chadd said the group currently has about 20 members and the general member meetings occur every other week.

There are leadership opportunities both in the group as an executive board member and also at conferences.

“Within the organization, there are regular officer positions but the members are also broken up into subcommittees so students can serve as the chair of a subcommittee and gain leadership that way as well,” she said.

Eastern’s chapter of the Future Business Leaders of America will meet at 5 p.m. Wednesday in Room 2011 of Lumpkin Hall.

Robyn Dexter can be reached at 581-2812 or redexter@eiu.edu.