SCOTT CITY FBLA WINS TOP PRIZE WITH `BUY LOCAL'

SCOTT CITY -- A student campaign urging people to patronize businesses in their hometown won top statewide honors for Scott City High School's Future Business Leaders of America.

The "Buy Local" campaign developed by the FBLA won first place in the American Enterprise Project category at last week's FBLA State Leadership Conference.

The campaign was held in February. Pat Andrews, FBLA adviser, said sales tax revenue in the city was up $3,500 that month compared to February 1991.

"Our objective was not so much to be able to enter a contest and win, but to pay back the businesses that support us on other projects," she said.

To promote the campaign, students distributed flyers and coupon books offering discounts at Scott City businesses.

Andrews said the increase in sales tax is an example of how shopping at local businesses can give the city a boost.

"I think it was a real original way for the city and school to become involved in something together," she said. "And it helped educate the community about what the businesses here have to offer."

She said businesses in Scott City struggle to compete with larger stores in Cape Girardeau, and the success of the campaign underscores the benefits of supporting local stores.

FBLA member Sherri Warren wrote the report detailing the campaign. Andrews said the campaign will likely be repeated next year.

The FBLA chapter received three additional awards at the state level, including an award for its Christmas Toybox campaign, an award of merit given to just 10 percent of chapters statewide and an award for chapter recruitment.

Several members received individual honors. They are: Julie Mason and Lesli Shelton for Community Service Project; Christie Petitt and Jennifer Roth for Annual Business Report; Ralf Emerson, Amy Page, Roth, Jennifer Smith and Jennifer Bertrand for Parliamentary Procedure; Julie Gohn for shorthand; and Bertrand for Ms. FBLA and Who's Who in FBLA.