BPA SCRIPT

 Editor's Note: 
This script is designed as a practice script for Business Professionals of America competition teams.  You may download it and use it with our permission as long as you give us source credit.

PRESIDENT: "This meeting will come to order" (one rap of the gavel) We are now holding a meeting of Business Professionals of America. Mr./ Madam Vice-President, what are the major purposes of our professional organization?

(President either sits down or stands back from the lectern while the Vice President has the floor.)

VICE-PRESIDENT: "We recognize the importance and understand the contributions that have been made to our country by business professionals. We are preparing to take our place in these challenging situations. We work together in Business Professionals of America to develop essential competencies in leadership, scholarship, character and citizenship so that we may share in the improvement of our economy and the advancement of our nation.

(Vice President sits down and president takes his/her place at the lectern.)

PRESIDENT: "May we accomplish these objectives. Mr./Madam Vice President, will you please present the other officers.

(President steps back or sits down while Vice President introduces the officers.)

VICE PRESIDENT: With pleasure, I introduce: (Introduce in order the Historian, Secretary, Treasurer, Parliamentarian, and Regional Vice Presidents.) Mr./Madam President, all officers are at their stations.

PRESIDENT: (comes to the lectern) Will the members and friends please rise and joining me in stating why we are here. (raps three times with the gavel. The audience should rise on the third rap of the gavel)

EVERYONE: (Pledge)

"We are met in a spirit of friendship and goodwill as we prepare for productive lives in business and office careers. We work together to develop professionalism and leadership through Business Professionals of America and pledge our loyalty to our nation."

 THE PLEDGE TO THE FLAG IS USUALLY DONE BEFORE ADJOURNEMENT AT COMPETITION -- SEE YOUR GUIDLINES

PRESIDENT: Let us remain standing and repeat the pledge of allegiance: "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

Please be seated.

PRESIDENT: If there is no objection, we will dispense with the reading of the minutes. (Pause - Look around.) Since there is no objection, the minutes are dispensed with.....

The first order of business is unfinished business; the only unfinished business is the motion that was pending at the last meeting to take a field trip to the Science Museum. Will the secretary read the motion.....

SECRETARY: (rises and comes to the lectern, president steps aside while secretary reads the motion) The motion is to take a field trip on March 21st to the Science Museum. (sits down and president returns to the lectern)

PRESIDENT: The question is on the adoption of the motion to take a field trip on March 21st to the Science Museum. Is there any discussion?

MEMBER: (rise and addresses the chair) Mr. President....

PRESIDENT: (states member's name)

MEMBER: The closest Science Museum is several hundred miles away. I move to amend the motion by striking out Science Museum and inserting "Historical Center." (sits down)

SECRETARY: (seated) SECOND.

PRESIDENT: It is moved and seconded to amend the motion by striking out "Science Museum" and inserting "Historical Center." If adopted the motion would read "to take a field trip on March 21st to the Historical Center. Is there any discussion on the proposed amendment?

MEMBER : (rises and addresses the chair) Mr. President

PRESIDENT: (states member's name)

MEMBER: The Historical Center is much closer. It won't take as much time to go there or cost as much as it would to go the Science Museum.(sits down)

MEMBER 2: (rises and addresses chair) Mr. President,

PRESIDENT: (states member's name)

MEMBER 2: I speak against the amendment because we have the money set aside for this trip and we will gain a great deal by going to this Science Museum. (sits down)

SECRETARY: (rise and addresses the chair) Mr. President.

PRESIDENT: (states Secretary’s name)

SECRETARY: I move that we refer the motion to the Finance Committee to investigate how much funds we have set aside for our spring field trip and report back to us at the next meeting. (sits down)

MEMBER: (seated) I second it.

PRESIDENT: It is moved and seconded to refer the motion to the Finance Committee to investigate how much funds we have set aside for our spring field trip and report back to us at the next meeting. Is there any discussion on referring the motion to the Finance Committee?

SECRETARY: (rises and address the chair) Mr. President,

PRESIDENT: (states member's name)

SECRETARY: By referring this to the Finance Committee we can be more informed about how much it would cost and what we have set aside for this event.(sits down)

PRESIDENT: Is there further discussion on referring the motion to the Finance Committee? (pause) All those in favor say "aye".

EVERYONE: Aye.

PRESIDENT: Those opposed say no. (silence) The ayes have it and the motion is carried. The Finance Committee will investigate how much funds we have set aside for our spring field trip and report back at our next meeting.

The next business in order is New Business. The first item is to decide the cost of the tickets for the spring fundraiser -- the Spring Fling. What are the members wishes?

MEMBER 3: (rises and addresses the chair) Mr. President.

PRESIDENT: (states member's name)

MEMBER 3: I move that the price of the tickets for the Spring Fling be five dollars. (sits down)

MEMBER: (seated) I second it.

PRESIDENT: It is moved and seconded that the price of the tickets for the Spring Fling be five dollars. Is there any discussion?

MEMBER 3: (rises and addresses the chair) Mr. President,

PRESIDENT: states member's name

 MEMBER 3: I think this is an affordable price and we can still raise money. (sits down)

MEMBER 4: (rises) Mr. President, I rise to a point of information.

PRESIDENT: Please state your point.

MEMBER 4: What did we charge last year and how much money did we make off the event? (sits down)

PRESIDENT: Will the treasurer please answer the question?

TREASURER: (rises) Mr. President, I would need a few minutes to look through my file to find the answer.

MEMBER 5: (rising) Mr. President.

PRESIDENT: (states member's name)

MEMBER 5: I move to recess until called to order by the chair.(sits down)

MEMBER: (seated) I second it.

PRESIDENT: It is moved and seconded to recess until called to order by the chair. All those in favor say "aye".

EVERYONE: Aye.

PRESIDENT: Those opposed say no. (silence) The ayes have it. The motion is carried. This meeting stands in recess until called to order by the chair. (one rap of the gavel. Members casually talk while treasurer looks through papers).

(Treasurer goes to the lectern where president is and lets president know he/she has found the figures.)

PRESIDENT: The meeting will come to order. (one rap of the gavel).

The treasurer will tell us what we charged last year and how much money we made.

TREASURER: We charged five dollars last year and made a ten dollar profit.

PRESIDENT: Is there further discussion?

MEMBER 6: (rising) Mr. President.

PRESIDENT: (nods)

MEMBER 6: I think we need to make a higher profit and need more time to think about this. I move to Postpone the motion to the next meeting and make it a special order for 2 pm.

MEMBER: I second it.

PRESIDENT: It is moved and seconded to postpone the motion to the next meeting and make it a special order for 2 pm. Is there any discussion on postponing the motion? (no one rises to discuss it) This motion takes a two thirds vote to adopt. All those in favor, please rise. (everyone rises) Be seated. Those oppose please rise. (no one rises) The affirmative has it and the motion is carried. The motion will be postponed to the next meeting and made a special order for 2 pm.

The next item of business is Awards Banquet which is traditionally held May 1st. What are the member's wishes?

MEMBER 7: (rises and addresses the chair) Mr. President.

PRESIDENT: (states member's name)

MEMBER 7: I move to Postpone the Awards Banquet to May 30th. (sits down)

MEMBER: (seated) I second it.

PRESIDENT: It is moved and seconded to Postpone the Awards Banquet to May 30th. Is there any discussion?

MEMBER 7: (rises and address the chair) Mr. President.

PRESIDENT: (states member's name)

MEMBER 7: I think a later date in May is better because not all the awards that we have received are in by May 1st. (sits down)

MEMBER 8: (rises and address the chair) Mr. President,

PRESIDENT: (states member's name)

MEMBER 8: I move that we adjourn. (sits down)

SECRETARY: (seated) I second it.

PRESIDENT: It is moved and seconded that the meeting adjourn. All those in favor say "aye".

EVERYONE: Aye.

PRESIDENT: Those opposed say "no". (silence) The ayes have it, and the meeting is adjourned. (one rap of the gavel)

END

 CHARACTERS

President__________

Vice-President__________

Secretary__________

Treasurer__________

Regional Vice Presidents________________________________________________

Parliamentarian__________

Historian__________

Member 1__________

Member 2__________

Member 3__________

Member 4__________

Member 5__________

Member 6__________

Member 7__________