Until Next Time, Union County!

It's the last day of FELC! Well wishes to you, Wingate! See you next time. Today is sad day for most of our students because for some companies, they finally started getting their companies in the groove. I think they have all agreed that is a lot of fun making money!

This morning we presented our Virtual Trade Missions. Each company came up with a product to send to a foreign country in order to make a profit. Talk about creative! Some students chose to send textbooks to Australia, one team sent pencils to Africa, and another sent fertilizer to Brazil! After brainstorming ideas, the students calculated and analyzed their purchase costs, transportation expenses, storage costs, sales prices, etc. Of course, it was all "virtual" so no real transactions were made. However, great business ideas were born! It all starts with an idea.

Next, it was time to present the Founding Fathers Principles project! Each team was assigned a founding principle (including free trade, constitutionalism, equality of opportunity, the right to bear arms, etc.) and it was the team's job to educate their peers on what it means and why it's important to free enterprise! Teams could perform a skit, sing a song, write a poem, or create a video! The options are limitless! The most important requirement was the presentation MUST be between 5 and 8 minutes in length. It turns out sometimes that's harder to manage than imagined!

The president, vice president, and chief financial officer of each company will meet with the company store manager (AKA Brian, our program director) for "Company Close Out." During close out, each team will count out their profits and analyze their earnings. The company's will have THREE options for what to do with their profits:

1. Keep it. It's a free enterprise system, after all! These students worked HARD for this money! The students have the absolute freedom to distribute their profits equally between their teammates or in any way they choose. However, if the company does decide to keep it, their will be a tax imposed by the government on the businesses income. The FELC government will impose a 20% income tax on the gross earnings - not the profit!
2. Donate it to Kiva.org. Kiva is a non-profit organization with a mission to connect people through
   
   lending to alleviate poverty. Kiva works with microfinance institutions on five continents to provide loans to people without access to traditional banking systems. Since 2008, FELC students have been contributing their profits to the online micro-finance lender Kiva.org. Through FELC staff, money is loaned to entrepreneurs in developing countries, and when loans are repaid the funds are reinvested in different entrepreneurs. This allows the network of giving to continue years after students complete FELC and helps reinforce the positive message of personal responsibility and hard work.Watch the short video below to see exactly how Kiva works!
   
3. Last but certainly not least, there has been a new addition to our FELC close-out options this year. Companies have the option to donate their money to the Reagan Hartley Memorial Scholarship fund. Let me begin with talking a little bit about Miss Reagan.
   
   Many of our graduates of the FELC program knew Reagan. She was a senior college student,

   

   Reagan loved President
   Ronald Reagan!

    age 22, studying elementary education at Western Carolina University, excited to graduate in May 2014. She had been a counselor with FELC since 2011 and was very well-known for her beautiful and hilarious quirks. She had an unwavering love for Taylor Swift and she could talk all day about her cats like they were a person. She believed every lady should own a good set of pearls and wear them for every occasion possible.
   
   On April 3, 2014, Reagan Hartley was killed by a drunk driver who was in a high-speed police chase over 90 mph. She was such a special girl who loved the students of FELC and she was supposed to be here with us this week. At the family's request, memorials may be made to our program's scholarship fund in her name. We are touched to be able to honor her legacy with pride. The funds donated in her name will be directly deposited in our FELC scholarship fund that helps students, just like the students we have this week, be able to afford and attend the FELC program. Though it may be hard to believe, there are several eager and talented students who want to come and learn from our program, but do not have the funds. The Reagan Hartley Memorial fund makes it possible for those students. You can click here to view Reagan Hartley's obituary and view her tribute video.

FINALLY, the time we've been waiting for - let's send out a big CONGRATULATIONS to TEAM VIRTUE for winning this week's competition! Team Virtue was a publications company and that sold picture/video slideshow DVD at the end of the program. They also sold advertising for other companies and hosted a photo booth! They excelled in the essay contest and the commercial contest and had a really talented group of students who worked hard it all paid off! We are so proud of every one of our FELC students and applaud their determination to succeed and push through their personal and business struggles.

Next stop...West Palm Beach Atlantic University in Florida! See ya in a few weeks wearing shorts and sunshades! Until next time, peace and blessings!

Wingate University (Day 4)

We kick-started the day off today with the presentation of the company commercials. The first chance for the students to get to show off their technological skills!

Before moving on, each of the companies took 20 seconds to step up on stage and make a few announcements. Whether it was about an event they were hosting or a product they were selling, it was their time to advertise to the whole camp about what they were doing. Along with that, the Justice team took that time to announce their beauty pageant winners! (Drumroll please!) The Mr. and Mrs. FELC crown went to Rachel and Charlie! Between striving for world peace and utilizing their amazing talents, these two will make very successful leaders.

Today, we wrapped up the debate contest. Again, four representatives from each company (who had NOT participated the day before) stood up in front of the audience to debate their opinion on a topic they had only 5 minutes to prepare for! That's difficult in itself...imagine having to openly justify an opinion that's against your own personal belief? It takes a lot of public speaking skills and confidence to pull that off!

Pastor Karen Woods

The students of FELC were in for a real treat as Pastor Karen Woods, the founding Pastor of New Creation Christian Church and former owner of Karen Woods Insurance Agency, Inc., took the stage to speak to the students today. Within 30 seconds, it was easy to see why each and every person in the audience was so easily captivated. Pastor Woods is a very animated and motivation speaker - often interacting with the audience. The topic of her speech today was about "choices" and how each and every person has a choice to judge others by their character and not by their race, gender or any other differences. She spoke of how "we are the world changers and every one of us is unique." Pastor Woods is the first African American to receive the US Senator Jesse Helms Citizen of the Year Award for her contributions to the community and to her faith.

The FELC speech contest is one of the only two individual competitions in the program. Two representatives from each company is chosen (or elected) to write and present a unique and original speech in response to one question: "Does capitalism encourage (or foster) greed?" Some of our presenters said "yes" and some said "no." In the end, it wasn't about the "yes" or "no" answer...it was about how they delivered the message. How was the speaker's public speaking skills? Did he or she sufficiently support his or her answer? Did he or she seem confident? Nervous? All of these factors are important when making a good speech!

T.J. (Ace & T.J.)

Tonight was a special night. Tonight was the E.A. Morris Banquet Dinner where we honored our FELC donors and had a wonderful speaker, TJ from the Ace and TJ Show. TJ spoke to the students about where he came from how he came to own his own radio show.

What really made this night very special was the honoring of a young, beautiful lady named Reagan Hartley. A former student of FELC and counselor of 3 years, Reagan made a special impact on everyone she met. This past April, Reagan passed away due to a vehicle accident caused by a drunk driver. At the banquet dinner, Brian Rogers, the COO of the Jesse Helms Center, presented a flag that flew over the U.S. Capitol to Reagan's mother, Christy Dawson. Congressman Richard Hudson R-Concord provided the flag.

Dec. 19, 1991 - Apr. 3, 2014

We love and miss you, Reagan Lee Hartley.

FELC isn't the same without you.

If you would like to view her obituary, click here or on her photo.

Wingate University (Day 3)

Overwhelmed yet? The goal of FELC is to push students to the limit! It's our goal to give students an opportunity to see what they can really do in a time of need. We strive to bring out the leadership, the skills and the moral characteristics in FELC students. In the beginning, the work load seems quite heavy and there seems to not be enough time or people and then at the end of the program...wow! These students really surprise themselves! It's amazing what we can do when we are put to the test. That being said, ready for more projects?

This morning, we have two more assignments announced:

1. The Virtual Trade Mission: This project places the companies in the position of "International Development Manager" in an American company seeking to expand it's exports to the next big emerging market! Each company will virtually (theoretically) export a product to a foreign country!
2. The Laws of Life Essay Contest: This individual contest is an opportunity to express each student's values through writing and reflection. The "laws of life" are the rules, ideals and moral principles by which we live. Each student will write an essay discussing one law of life that means the most to him or her.

We're taking a field trip today! The entire FELC group took a trip to the Jesse Helms Center right beside Wingate University. The students had a chance to explore the center and get to know more about Senator Jesse Helms. Our guest speaker there was Derrick Nantz, an economics professor at Wake Tech who also studied philosophy. His message to the students was about how to think critically, and then how to think about your "thinking!" He taught the students how to "fix glitches" in our thinking so that we can process information clearly and objectively. (His lesson fit very well with Pearce Godwin's teaching about listening first!)

After lunch, the students had their first round of "Emerging Issues Debate." Each company will be assigned one "negative" position and one "positive" position for two different issues! However, the companies do NOT know the issue until three minutes before their presentation! Two companies will be called (one in the affirmative and one in the negative) and each will be given three minutes to prepare an argument with their entire company. Only THREE members from each team will be representing their company per turn. As the opposing team is giving their points, hopefully the other team is taking notes! Because after both teams have gone - they will each have a chance to rebuttle!

This evening is another chance to make some money! There's a basketball tournament , counselors vs. students and even a beauty pageant contest. The style industry is furiously tie-dying t-shirts and publications is "snapping" away with their cameras for their memories DVD!

Wingate University (Day 2)

As the saying goes...work hard, play hard!

Today is our first full day of FELC and the students are ready to put their companies into a test drive! Brian introduced several projects today and it's easy to see that the stress is real. Many of the students are asking "how in the world can we accomplish all of this in such a short amount of time?" By the end of the week, they will be amazed at how much they can do!

On top of making profit for their companies during the week, FELC students are assigned SEVERAL projects! Below is a list and description of all the tasks the students were assigned today:

1. Company Business Plan & Marketing Strategies: Every company needs a business plan! It's the road map to success. Each company will create and write-out a business plan as if a formal request to a banking institution.
2. The Commercial project: Advertising is key to creating good business. Each group will film (or act out) a proposed commercial for their company.
3. The Founding Father Principles project: The project will help each group explore a "founding father" principle (the values that George Washington and John Adams championed) that support entrepreneurship in this country.
4. Speech Contest: Two representatives from each company will get a chance to shine! Each person will have 3-5 minutes to give a well-developed speech on a specific topic with logical thoughts and arguments.

The students and staff of FELC got a real treat today. Dennis W. Moser, of The Moser Group, Inc., came to speak and tell his story about the beauty of a "Delayed Gratification Lifestyle." Dennis taught the students about how to achieve personal success - though it doesn't happen overnight. Dennis found his passion for real estate very early in his life and he used that passion to work hard and reach for his dreams of financial peace.

"Money is not what you're after, it's the peace and the time and the tools it offers," said Dennis.

One of the most notable aspects of Dennis' speech was the adorable companion, Tex, he brought with him to help in his demonstrations.

Before introducing the "Founding Principles" project, the students watched an inspirational video called "We Still Hold These Truths" put together by the Heritage Foundation. You can watch the video below:

The students also got the chance to play a fun game with our program director, Brian, called "Ask the Expert." Brian selected one student at a time to come up on stage and they would then become an "expert" in a specific subject! The catch? They have no idea what that subject is until Brian tells them! Our very own counselor, Zach, was a very convincing professional ballet dancer! At the end of the game, the students analyzed the public speaking skills of each player. It turns out that confidence and body language says a LOT when it comes to speaking in public!

The second speaker to talk to FELC students today was the president and founder of the Listen First Project, Pearce Godwin. The Listen First project is a nonprofit advocacy group who believes in the power of listening to transform our discourse and change the world. Pearce gave the students invaluable advice on how to learn simply listening rather than talking. In the midst of trying to cooperate, coordinate, and communicate within the student's newly created companies, I'd say learning to LISTEN to our fellow peers is a lesson critically needed!

After dinner, the students were released to compete, participate, play, socialize and get to work! Tonight was our very first "activity time" and the student's first opportunity to make some money! The concessions groups were selling every type of snack and candy imaginable, the style group was advertising their monogrammed t-shirts, the entertainment groups were hosting two different movie films and the publications group was already taking pre-orders for their end-of-camp picture DVDs! Whew! Every group is off to a great start and it's time to see what these students are made of.

Welcome to Wingate!

Today is the day! The FIRST day of the FIRST Free Enterprise Leadership Challenge in 2014. I look forward to coming back every summer and spending time high school students eager to learn and grow.

FELC is in full swing and our students and staff have officially survived our first day of the program. All of the students are energetic and eager to get started socializing and working together in teams!

Once everyone was checked in, moved in and settled, the students gathered for orientation at the George A. Batte, Jr. Fine Arts Center to hear from the director of the Free Enterprise Leadership Challenge, Brian Rogers. Brian is also the chief operating officer at the Jesse Helms Center. Parents and students were briefed on expectations for the week and then the fun really began! Each of our awesome FELC counselors introduced themselves and the students split into their groups which would become their co-workers, their peers, their teammates and their partners for the rest of the program. These student groups aren't just fellow campers - they're business associates! Time to see these bright students step out of their box.

This week, we have four different business industries:

1. Entertainment
2. Publications
3. Concessions
4. Style

Here's the kicker! We have SIX companies! One company will be publications and one will be style while TWO of them are entertainment and TWO are concessions - let the competition begin! The free enterprise system is built on healthy, creative competition and I'm excited to see what these students bring to the table to be successful.

Just like any company in society today, the students elected their leaders, their decision makers. Each company is required to elect a president, a vice president, a chief financial officer and a purchaser. After that, many groups create other offices for their teammates to specialize in with their unique talents! Some companies elect a public relations officer or a secretary. After that, many of the groups chose to divide their teams into committees or subgroups. Bottom line...these companies operate however they may choose! It's all up to them to decide how they want to lead their team and succeed.

After they have their team leaders, it's time to decide what products or services each company wants to provide. The students spent 4 hours brainstorming, developing a game plan, and putting together their business until it was time for lights out!

These students are offering REAL products or services to generate a REAL profit! It's a real competition - with both a winner and a loser and everything in between. These students are our future! This entire program is designed to teach students what it takes to be a leader in the free enterprise business world.

The FELC teams this week have ALREADY come so far just in one night! We have events scheduled including movie nights, water-balloon dodgeball, video game tournaments and many, many more! Concessions is in full-force planning food and beverage snacks, publications is hard at work selling advertisements and style has got some amazing ideas to sell personalized t-shirts!

Welcome to the FELC blog!

Welcome to the FELC blog! This is where we will keep our followers informed and updated about what our students are doing in the FELC program. Check back daily for new and exciting information!

The Free Enterprise Leadership Challenge (FELC) is a five-day summer program that teaches rising high school sophomores, juniors and seniors about entrepreneurship, principled leadership and why the free enterprise system is truly the "miracle of America!"

Throughout the week, students will engage in fun, interactive YET challenging sessions including:

• create and operate a company to provide ACTUAL services and products and turn a REAL profit
• engage in a variety of team-building activities and group projects to accomplish a goal
• experience exclusive opportunities to hear first-hand advice and ask questions about business and leadership from honored guests and speakers
• strengthen his or her knowledge about free market economics
• recognize the personal morals and characteristics that it takes to become a principled and philanthropic leader

This year, FELC will be hosting four sessions in four different cities in three different states! Check out our schedule below:

1. June 15-19: Wingate University (Wingate, NC)
2. July 6-10: Palm Beach Atlantic University (West Palm Beach, FL)
3. July 13-17: Hillsdale College (Hillsdale, MI)
4. July 20-24: Campbell University (Buies Creek, NC)

To get more information about the program or register for FELC at one of our locations, visit us at our website at www.felcexperience.org!

FELC is a program of the Jesse Helms Center, a non-profit organization based in Wingate, North Carolina. Get more info at their website, Facebook, or twitter page!

Keep coming back for more updates about what our awesome students are doing each day of each week in FELC! Each year we get very creative and bright students and we can't wait to share their accomplishments each week with you!