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Future CEO Stars Magazine - January 2008 By Tasha Breker, Luke Steckler, and Alex Windjue  Are you searching for a perfect gift for the game addict you know or would you just love to own a piece of your town? West Fargo DECA is offering just what you need - Packeropoly. This real estate trading game is modeled after the well-known Monopoly board game but is designed after businesses within the West Fargo, North Dakota community. Authentic-looking game pieces are sealed in a plastic bag. Rubber bands secure West Fargo Chest and Chance cards as well as the bundle of unique property cards. Stacks of money printed with a local bank logo and the Packer mascot tempt any budding capitalist to try their luck at the game. However, this is more than just a game for the West Fargo community; it is a tool for spreading the importance of entrepreneurship to the entire city.The Packeropoly concept began in late August when our teacher, Mr. De Vries, shared an idea that he had seen at a state teacher conference. But we knew we could make it even better. We decided not to make only a fundraiser for our DECA chapter, but instead, our goal was to develop a tool for gathering money for a very worth charitable cause while sharing the importance of entrepreneurship in the development of a community. We decided to team up with Kiva, an international non-profit organization that sets up small business loans to low-income entrepreneurs in impoverished nations. Five dollars of every game sale is directed to sponsoring a business start-up and entrepreneur in need. There was very little awareness of Kiva and what they do in the community before we started. Now the entire town has heard the Kiva name and knows that it has a direct impact on improving both individual lives and entire areas where people live and work. We have been fortunate enough to take our student-developed board game to Chamber of Commerce functions, area elementary classrooms, and conventions. Second-year Marketing students in West Fargo's DECA program were solely responsible for all stages of game development - finances, product design and development, promotion and publicity to name a few. All spaces on the board, money rights, and Chance and West Fargo Chest cards were sold by the 12 students within two weeks. Then the complete design was sent off to the printing company for production of 1,000 units. Games were received the Monday after Thanksgiving (after student assembly) and were ready for sale by the peak of the Christmas season. We are expecting to earn $20,000 for West Fargo DECA and $5,000 for Kiva, to be used for small business loans within the third world. After this entire experience, we feel that we have started a business, seen its up and downs, experienced the hard work that is required, and been able to make an impact on the community and the world. What started out being an entrepreneurship lesson has become a life experience. As a group, West Fargo DECA students have been involved with Marketplace for Kids in North Dakota for many years as role models, ushers, guides, and hosts for the Education Day. This experience adds to our overall career development as leaders and team members and encourages us to become community minded through volunteerism. |