These last several months have been busy!  In addition to going to school and keeping up with homework, playing basketball and running track, and just being a fourteen-year-old, National Junior Beta Club Secretary Nick Frattarelli of Trenton has been putting in the miles representing Texas. 

As a national officer, Nick has an open invitation to give a speech at any Junior Beta State Convention he is able to attend – and since the school year began, he has given his speech to over 20,000 convention attendees in six states. 

National Secretary Nick Frattarelli speaks to the Illinois State Convention

Nick’s speeches have included conventions in Macon, Georgia in November, and Orlando, Florida in December.  This year’s conventions started with Springfield, Illinois in January and Nick was scheduled to attend the convention in Richmond, Virginia in February.  Unfortunately with all the traveling, and the ongoing basketball season, he ended up getting sick and was unable to travel to Richmond.  

March has been a whirlwind month for the National Secretary.  The week before spring break Nick traveled to Montgomery, Alabama.  The week of spring break Nick, his mom and his grandmother embarked on a 1900 mile road trip that took them to conventions in Tupelo, Mississippi and then Louisville, Kentucky.

Giving his speech is only a small part of what Nick gets involved with at each convention.  Any National Office that is attending a convention has many duties.  Nick works closely with National Junior Beta Sponsor Judy Cummings (“Miss Judy”) to ensure all aspects of the convention run as smoothly as possible. 

Nick helps Miss Judy set up the awards in Florida

Some days this could just be running paperwork from one event to another.  Other days have seen Nick helping to set up for competitions and displays, and even judging campaign skits!  Convention days are long and hard, but he really loves every minute of them.

Closer to home; Nick gave his speech to his fellow middle school classmates during an assembly and was later recognized for his service to the Beta Club at the half time of the Trenton High School Homecoming game.  He was presented with a Certificate of Service by Trenton Beta Club Sponsors Carolyn Lambert and Laura Thedford.  Trenton ISD was also very supportive as they sponsored Nick’s trip to the Alabama Convention.

To start off the New Year, Nick gave his speech ‘Facing Your Fears’ to the Sherman Rotary Club during their Tuesday lunch meeting on January 8.   The Sherman Rotary Club was very gracious to donate $200 toward Nick’s travel costs for the Illinois Convention.  He has also been asked to give his speech to the Sherman Toastmaster’s Club and the Hurricane Creek Rotary Club.

Nick has three conventions left to attend during his term as the National Secretary.  The Texas Convention will be held April 10 & 11 at the Adam’s Mark in Dallas.  Nick will be pulling double duty as he fulfills his responsibilities as the Texas Secretary along with his National Secretary duties. 

National Junior Officers with National Junior Sponsor

In May, he will attend the “Grand Daddy of all Junior Beta State Conventions” in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  It is expected that the Cajun Dome will be packed with a projected 12,000+ convention attendees!  The final convention will be the National Convention in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where the next National Secretary will be elected. 

For his ongoing service to the National Beta Club, Nick was a recipient of a John Harris Leadership Award which includes a scholarship to the Broyhill Leadership Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina this July.  The scholarship includes airfare and registrations costs to the highly acclaimed three day conference.