MURFREESBORO — Some things are better learned through experience.

A few members of the Hertford County Middle School Chapter of Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) recently received a crash course in local government.

On Tuesday, FBLA members Jeletha Porter, Amber Privott, Ashley Morings, Rosalva Sanchez and Claudia Rowe, accompanied by FBLA Advisor Brunet Parker, attended a meeting of the Murfreesboro Town Council.

While the five young ladies got a chance to observe Murfreesboro’s leaders in action, council members also got the opportunity to learn about the chapter which was installed at Hertford County Middle School in 2008.

Before introducing the FBLA members to council, Mayor John Hinton said he had an opportunity of seeing the group at the Horizons in Business program several weeks ago at Chowan University.

“I was so glad to talk to Mayor Hinton to talk about our chapter, to talk about our kids,” said Parker. “You know there are so many times that you hear the negative things about our students here in Hertford County, but I’m here to tell you we have some good students, we have some positive students, we have the leaders of today and tomorrow.”

Rowe, Porter, Privott, Morings and Sanchez all stood before council members to give their own presentation about FBLA.

The mission of Hertford County Middle School FBLA, which boasts 32 students from 7^th and 8^th grades, is to help build and sustain Business Education programs in order to serve communities, the state and nation. It strives to help prepare the middle school students for high school and, more importantly, the real world. Students learn a variety of different aspects, including FBLA’s Creed, creating a resume, public speaking and how to be successful in a job interview.

“This is our third year and within two years we have received about 10 plaques; we go to state level (competitions), we compete at the regional level,” said Parker. “Normally our chapter comes out in first, second or third place and I think that is well to be commended.”

She asked council members to support the group in their work.

“We want everyone in Hertford County to support our kids, encourage them to do the best that they can do,” Parker concluded.

Councilwoman Gloria Odum asked if there was any specific way the council could assist the chapter.

Parker asked the board to encourage the members when they saw them. She added the group does take financial donations as the chapter often holds fundraisers and collects donations to attend state and regional competitions.