Marketing HOSA
Stephanie Pigg, Region II Vice-Presdient

Imagine yourself in an elevator on your way to a HOSA event. You are sporting your oh-so fashionable navy blazer, when a well-dressed businessperson turns to you and asks, "What is HOSA?" How would you reply to this distinguished looking person?

HOSA may be one of the best-kept secrets in America. However, it does not have to be! All it takes is a little time and a little courage to get the word out about this wonderful student-led organization. Use these tips to market HOSA:

Be Helpful - Offer to volunteer at local hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes in your hometown. Remember that HOSA is a nonprofit organization is committed to helping others.

Advertise - Write an article on your local HOSA chapter activities. Send the article to a local newspaper. Be sure to inform the newspaper about any fundraisers you conduct to help others. (Hint- Make-A- Wish Foundation © )

Organize - Organize a fundraiser to help the less fortunate.

Participate - Participate in local events such as March of Dimes, Relay for Life, or other walks that benefit others.

Be Enthusiastic - Let everyone at your school know that HOSA is fun. Share stories about the various conferences and competitions you have attended.

Approach - Present a program about HOSA to local businesses, healthcare facilities, and hospitals. Adults are pleased to hear about students helping the community. Offer your services to them; help in any way you can. You never know what valuable resources these contacts can hold. If you show them how effective HOSA is at preparing students for future careers in the medical field, companies will be happy to "adopt" your local HOSA chapter to help you travel to competitions and conferences.

Do you feel more prepared to face that businessperson now? These are just a few of the many ideas to market HOSA. So get out there and show the world what HOSA members can do!

HOSA Week, An Opportunity of a Lifetime

Are you looking for a way to effectively market your HOSA chapter to your student body and surrounding community? Does your chapter want to increase membership? Would you like a valuable, refreshing idea to introduce to your advisory council? Well, look no further! The National Executive Council is proud to introduce National HOSA Week, to be held February 13-19, 2000. Endorsed by the American Careers and Technology Education Association, HOSA Week promises to be an event complete with education, professionalism, and FUN!

HOSA Week gives your chapter the opportunity to develop a project to promote HOSA using local activities. These activities could include, but are not limited to, the following: campaigning for HOSA membership, providing a theme for each day, sponsoring speech contests on a HOSA Competitive Event (Prepared Speaking, Extemporaneous Speaking, etc.), set up HOSA Bowl Competitions for your lunch hour, inviting guest speakers, organizing job shadowing opportunities for your membership, and scheduling social activities such as dances, talent shows, and carnivals. Plan a week full of educational symposiums on current health issues, career seminars, and workshops on effective leadership and parliamentary procedure. Schedule events that will insure immediate membership for your local chapter.

HOSA Week is not only a vital tool for increasing membership and acquiring popularity in your school, it can be used as a service project designed to raise community awareness of HOSA. Move beyond the walls of your school and let the benefits of joining HOSA saturate the community. Don t forget that persons not enrolled in health science courses can still be a part of HOSA s Associate Division.

Organize a team of two to six members, assigned with the duty of marketing HOSA to at least four local community organizations and businesses (school board, Rotary Club, County Commission, hospitals, etc.). Use this opportunity to gain the attention that every existing HOSA chapter deserves from its surrounding community. Establish partnerships with these companies, possibly insuring the availability of competent jobs for your members as early as graduation.

All of the above ideas are appropriate for a memorable, rewarding HOSA Week. However, no matter what your chapter decides to schedule for its HOSA Week, keep these principles in mind. First, involve your chapter members in all activities. People are excited about what they help create. Second, use your HOSA Handbook and become familiar with the structure and function of the national organization; Section C gives valuable lessons on how to manage a successful HOSA chapter. Last, set specific, realistic, and measurable goals for your HOSA Week. Fill an itinerary with worthwhile activities and events, but don t over-exaggerate your of capabilities.

The National Officers are dedicated to overseeing a successful HOSA Week. We look forward to seeing the national membership come together to promote the organization that it truly loves. If there is anything we can do for you, please let us know. Each state will have the opportunity to nominate a chapter to be recognized at the 2000 NLC for their effort in making HOSA Week a success for their chapter. View HOSA Week as an opportunity of a lifetime for you and your chapter!