1943
Tennessee DECA dates its founding to November 18, 1943 from the adoption of a state constitution as an Association of Local Distributor's Clubs and was named the Associated Distributor's Clubs of Tennessee.
1947
The national organization was formed at the first Interstate Conference of Distributive Education in Memphis at the Peabody Hotel in April 1947. At that meeting, delegates from 12 states unanimously adopted a resolution to form a national organization. Memphis, Tennessee is known as the birthplace of DECA.
It maintained the name until the 1950-51 Annual State Convention at which time its name was officially changed to the Tennessee Association of the Distributive Education Clubs of America, to conform in name to that of the national organization which Tennessee is a charter member.
The second National Leadership Conference held in St. Louis, Missouri in 1948, saw the adoption of the Constitution and the official name, The Distributive Education Clubs of America. These charter states were: Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Washington.
It maintained the name until the 1950-51 Annual State Convention at which time its name was officially changed to the Tennessee Association of the Distributive Education Clubs of America, to conform in name to that of the national organization which Tennessee is a charter member.
The second National Leadership Conference held in St. Louis, Missouri in 1948, saw the adoption of the Constitution and the official name, The Distributive Education Clubs of America. These charter states were: Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Washington.
2000
Membership in the local chapter is purely voluntary. Still, since the training phase is an integral part of the instructional program, over 97 percent of membership has been a matter of record for years. Local Chapters are entirely autonomous and operate under a charter issued by the state association and a local constitution restricted only to the extent that its provisions do not conflict with the State and National Constitution.
Tennessee has been represented at every National Leadership Conference. Its entries consistently rank in the top ten (10) percent in the Awards Competition. In addition, Tennessee has had numerous national officers. Claire Coker from West High School in Knoxville, Tennessee, served as the 2011-2012 DECA Inc. National President. We are proud to have Hadley Brown from Beech High School represent us as the Southern Region Vice President for the 2022-2023 school year.
Tennessee has been represented at every National Leadership Conference. Its entries consistently rank in the top ten (10) percent in the Awards Competition. In addition, Tennessee has had numerous national officers. Claire Coker from West High School in Knoxville, Tennessee, served as the 2011-2012 DECA Inc. National President. We are proud to have Hadley Brown from Beech High School represent us as the Southern Region Vice President for the 2022-2023 school year.
