The History of National
DECA
Between 1937 and 1946 local clubs of distributive education
students were formed to fulfill the need of cooperative education
students to belong, to develop socially, and to be a part of a group.
In 1944 the state clubs in the area then designated as the Southern
Region, announced that they had joined together under the common name
of the Distributors' Club. This association was announced at that
year's American Vocational Association convention. In February
1946 a national planning committee appointed to develop a tentative
plan for the organization of a distributive education club on a national
level.
The official birth of the national organization occurred
during the first Interstate Conference of Distributive Education Clubs
held in Memphis, TN, on April 17-19, 1947. Among those in attendance
was the Louisiana delegation. More than 100 students and sponsors,
representing 22 states, participated in this conference. In
1948 the organization's name was changed to The Distributive Education
Clubs of America and a constitution, emblem, creed, colors, and national
dues structure were approved. Seventeen states were accepted as charter
members.
The DECA Foundation was legally incorporated in 1959-60.
In spring of 1953 the DECA staff moved into the building housing the
AVA headquarters in Washington, D.C. The first DECA theme was chosen
for use during the 1959-60 school year (DE-Gateway to Success). By
1969, every state in the U.S. was operating a state association of
DECA.
Competitive events were refined and stabilized during
the 1960s. After a study conducted during 1973-74, a Competitive Events
Reorganization task force proposed a new competence-based approach
to competitive events designed to integrate the DECA organization
within the instructional program of distributive education.
During
the early 1970s, the DECA Board of Directors and national staff prepared
plans to build a National DECA Center in Reston, VA. The building
was dedicated in September 1976. Secretary of the U.S. Department
of Education, William Bennett, in 1988 endorsed DECA and the other
vocational student organizations.
In 1989 DECA approved their
mission statement of "The mission of DECA is to enhance the education
of students with interests in marketing, management, and entrepreneurship.” A name change occurred in 1991 when the Board of Directors decided
that the acronym, DECA, would be used in conjunction with the words,
"An Association of Marketing Students." New logos were designed to
reflect this change.
Current Executive Director, Dr. Ed Davis, assumed the position in 1992. Today, DECA's programs are growing and expanding their involvement in competitive events, community activities, professional development, and leadership opportunities. DECA's scholarship program, founded in 1962, has grown from the $4,750 awarded that first year, to well over $250,000 that are available today. The Muscular Dystrophy Association is the national charity that DECA members work closely with to help find a cure for neuromuscular diseases. DECA can be found in every state of the United States, in four U.S. territories, in Canada, and in Europe. Chapters exist in high schools, career centers, community colleges, technical colleges, four-year colleges and universities, and private and parochial schools. More than 6,000 chapters involve over 170,000 members in the many varied activities sponsored by DECA.
