Practical lessons: DECA students gain skills

By Mary Owen

Jason Kendrick likes helping with his high school business club’s annual craft sale.

“I love meeting new people, and seeing the smiles on people’s faces when you help them load and unload their products in and out of their vehicles,” said Kendrick, a Cascade High School junior and three-year DECA member.

For Kendrick, DECA, a national association of marketing students with local chapters, has been his overall favorite high school experience.

“The friends I made, the places I have been, and the things I have learned will stick with me the rest of my life,” he said. “I’m so glad I joined my freshman year.”

Bob Reinhardt, Cascade’s business education and marketing instructor, serves as advisor to the high school’s DECA chapter.

“DECA is a professional-technical student organization whose mission statement is: ‘DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality and management,’” Reinhardt said.

“This sale gets our members involved with crafters, and all the preparation that goes into the sale really helps members now and for the future.”

Reinhardt said the sale allows students to work hand-in-hand with entrepreneurs in the local business community, helping to meet DECA’s goal for its members to develop a “career success kit” to carry into their professional and personal lives after graduation, including: occupational skills needed for careers in marketing, management and entrepreneurship; leadership skills and an understanding and appreciation of civic responsibility.

To accomplish this, DECA uses on-the-job experience, a competency-based competitive events program, and chapter projects such as the upcoming sale, he said.

“Years ago, a DECA state officer had a relative in Doernbecher and the state fundraiser organization that year was them,” Reinhardt said. “I have kept that the same all these years. It is a great organization that really helps a ton of people.”

The idea for Cascade High’s sale came from a student of Reinhardt’s who had transferred from Pennsylvania about a decade ago, he said.

“She had organized a sale at her old school,” he added. “She became a DECA member, and we decided to go for having a sale at Cascade.”

Reinhardt said he has never had trouble getting students to run the event, which usually draws people from all over the area. To make it a success, he invites “all different types of homemade crafters to sell.” Sorry, but no independent consultant businesses can participate, he added.

Vendor spaces are $30 for an 8-foot-by-8-foot and $35 for a 10-foot-by-10-foot, and tables are $5 each. To reserve a spot, call 503-749-8268 or e-mail Reinhardt at breinhardt@cascade.k12.or.us.

“This is our 10th year, and each year we do get a good amount of people to come and sell and a good amount of people to come on the sale day and buy,” Reinhardt said. “We welcome everyone!”