The Effingham County High School chapter of Future Business Leaders of America got an early start on National FBLA Week.

National FBLA Week is traditionally held the second week of February. However, since winter break for Effingham County Schools fell during that time, the ECHS chapter held its observance a week early.

On Feb. 4, the FBLA members and officers gathered in the front lobby of the school for the signing of the FBLA Week proclamation. Springfield Mayor Barton Alderman read and signed the proclamation to kick off the week’s activities.

A trivia question about FBLA was read during each morning’s announcements, and the first student to see FBLA advisor Karen Waltz with the correct answer won a gift card to a local business. On Tuesday, all FBLA members were treated to a donuts and juice/milk breakfast and students in a business class received a sweet treat for taking business classes and being involved in FBLA.

On Wednesday, each teacher at ECHS received a goody bag of chocolates from the FBLA members showing their appreciation of the support the teachers show them each and every day in class. On Thursday, all FBLA members were asked to dress professionally since it was Professional Dress Day.

To wrap up the week’s activities, several FBLA members and officers walked over to Effingham County Middle School and presented a program about FBLA to Sharon Palis’ eighth-grade computer class and to Dan Joyner’s eighth-grade career class.