Strengthen Your JCI Local Organization With JCI Tools

This week's blog is from JCI.  Visit JCI's website at www.jci.cc.

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The 2012 JCI Local Organization Toolkit provides every resource you will need to manage and grow your organization while bringing active citizenship to your community.

Global change starts with local action. JCI Local Organizations are the driving force creating collective change around the world. JCI local members are the masterminds behind grassroots projects that analyze the needs of a community and establish innovative, sustainable solutions. As a local member, it is your duty to answer the call to action. And JCI World Headquarters is here to help.

Build a great new Local Organization or improve your existing one with the JCI Local Organization toolkit. The materials included range from guides on how to administer your JCI Local Organization to inspiring videos that can spread the message of active citizenship to your existing members, partners and community stakeholders. Take a look at some of the new tools provided this year.

Local Resources

Leadership and administration are two vital aspects of a successful Local Organization. They provide direction and structure for JCI members and help align local projects with the JCI Mission and Vision. Highlights of this section include the JCI Active Citizen Framework infographics and information sheet. Provide job descriptions and guidance to your Local Board members with the new and improved Local Action Guides. Be sure to check the new JCI National and Local Organization Website Management Guide to find out more about the new website format and how to best use it for your Organization.

JCI Documents

This section consists of many official JCI publications intended to serve as references for JCI members and officers. Use the JCI Style Guide. Use this guide to ensure professional and consistent writing and editing in all of your communications. Also check out the JCI Sales Merchandise list. With the 2012 JCI Area Conferences starting, see what’s available so you can make your shopping list for the JCI Store!

JCI Programs

The documents in this section provide guides for running JCI Programs in your Local Organization. Whether you use these materials to develop your own JCI Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World program or host a local JCI Debating Championship, JCI programs provide members an opportunity to learn, achieve, be recognized and inspire active citizenship. This year, look for updates to the JCI Awards toolkit with the new system and categories launching at the Area Conferences.

Videos

JCI has created a number of videos for both internal and external audiences. New videos in this section include the JCI Active Citizen Framework video in English, Spanish, French and Japanese, and the video documenting the JCI Nothing But Nets Cameroon Observation Trip.

Marketing and Communications

Establishing a professional look for a Local Organization is easy using the templates in this section of the toolkit. These materials will help align your marketing and communications efforts to the global brand and promote JCI initiatives. New materials include the UN Millennium Development Goals posters and bookmark as well as the JCI Operation Hope poster.

The Local Organization toolkit will save you time and money, utilize JCI’s international partnerships, support the JCI global image, run JCI Programs and plan for future success by engaging your community. Our strength at the local level allows us to increase our global impact.

Pick up your copy of the Local Organization Toolkit at your JCI Area Conference or download the new Local Organization Toolkit now.

Seeing How Advanced Leadership Works

This week we have the honor of having a guest blogger who is currently serving as our wonderful U.S. Jaycees National Vice President Stan Fichtman (Hawai’i)!

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Once in a while, experiencing the leadership qualities of another organization makes me realize that what we do in the Jaycees is not only necessary, but critically needed in today’s world.

Let me explain through an experience I had recently.

I had the honor of attending a local civic organization’s annual meeting here in Honolulu. To give you a picture of this organization: they do a lot of community outreach, and have a dedicated core of members – from young to retired. Their statewide leadership is made up of a small group of individuals who are in their late 20s or early 30’s that was recently put in charge to both turn the organization around and, more important, promote local culture values in the community.

At a weekend meeting, the organization held their annual elections for officers. One of the offices was being contested by members who were both seasoned and well respected. Support from both was widespread and the campaign was intense. Supporters for both wore buttons promoting one or the other and campaign volunteers for both sides buzzed around looking for more support as the conference went on through the morning.

In the afternoon the elections were held. Each candidate was given 12 minutes to speak to the delegates. The first candidate, after being introduced by a seasoned member, went on stage to speak. He was surrounded by at least 20 to 30 supporters. All they did was listen as the candidate gave his campaign speech. Upon completion, the supporters enthusiastically applauded and got the crowd to “whoop it up”. A positive attitude pervaded the room, even for those who would not vote for that candidate.

The second candidate had a series of speakers go to a remote microphone and speak. Again, selected members with pull in the organization were chosen to speak. Each spoke about the merits of the candidate. The third speaker, a younger woman who had been tapped to be part of the leadership, went to the microphone to talk about the candidate. Her speech, initially, was positive in nature.

But then, as if another person took over, she started talking down to the other candidate. In one sentence, she went from positive to negative, verbally accusing the other candidate of defaming the character of the organizations chairman (an appointed position). She then started to cry as she continued the accusations, finally uttering that she was upset that the candidate was saying hurtful things about her boyfriend, who was the Chairman no less.

She then sat down, and the silence in the room was palatable.

It took me a couple of seconds for the message to sink in….that, in very short order, a perceived young leader of this organization basically broke down because someone else “dissed” her boyfriend who happened to be the head honcho.

It was then I shook my head and quietly asked my neighbor “what the hell was that?” He didn’t have an answer for me.

After the results were announced, in which the one candidate with all the people surrounding him lost to the candidate whose supporter cried on stage, I started to think long and hard about what the current state of community leaders are these days. What I realized is that the quality of leadership development these days is much to be desired.

It then dawned on me that the leadership development that we provide in the Jaycees is now needed more desperately than ever. Our role in the community – in creating leaders today for them to be our community leaders of tomorrow – is something not being taught by anyone else besides us. By demonstrating, literally that there is no escalator to the top, that instead you have to take the stairs, the patience to become a proper leader is something that we need to get out and promote to every young person looking to get a leg up in society.

That is why the mission of our organization, from that of the new member all the way up to our national president, needs to be focused on developing our members in close concert with the lesson plans we have created over the past 92 years – The Book, mastering the Chairman’s Planning Guide, encouraging higher participation in our promising young people to take leadership roles and allowing for them to be properly mentored and developed by our more seasoned members and members of the Senate.

I know that the mission of the Texas Jaycees is just that, and it shows in both the recruitment of new members and the quality of those members to become effective leaders in the organization. Your example continues to prove that the system created by Hy Gissenbier, our founder, is still relevant in this day. Because the message, unfortunately, is now needed more than ever, especially to our up and coming community leaders that we are asked to support.

I am proud to be assigned the Texas Jaycees as your National Vice President, and even more so, proud to be a Jaycee By Choice (JBC)! Aloha!

Fully Invested

This week we have the absolute pleasure of having a guest blogger who is currently serving as U.S. Jaycees State Presidents' Coach, is a candidate for U.S. Jaycees President, and is an all-around amazing individual Chrystal Ramsay! 
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I had the amazing pleasure of visiting the Texas Jaycees at their FOYT convention in Houston. At lunch I addressed the group about being fully invested. Sometimes it is easy to think we are fully invested because we are working so hard, we come to all the meetings, we attend the trainings, we work the projects, but are we fully invested? Are we asking other people to join the most amazing group of individuals our chapter? Are we inviting people to come to conference and get the full experience of being a Jaycee? Are we sharing with everyone we know and even people we don’t know how the Jaycees are the premiere organization for young people? Are we investing in other people and allowing them to become leaders in our chapters? So then they too can become fully invested and want to share this organization with others?

If these things are not happening we need to change. It is so easy to get the “I will just do it” attitude. It is easier if I do it. I don’t have time to teach someone how I do it. I am not sure if they will deliver on their promises. I don’t want to have to come back and do it later. All excuses we fill our brains with so we don’t feel bad for just doing something and not delegating and allowing others to lead. My favorite that I have heard all too much lately in this organization is no one is ready. If you step into a leadership position and feel that you are ready to take it, then you have been sitting in a holding pattern preparing yourself for too long.

We are all nervous when we are looked at as the leader. Whether it be a project chairman or officer, when we are in charge the ultimate responsibility falls back on us. And I can assure you from someone who has served in several leadership positions I look back at the end of every year and go I could have done this and this different if I would have known this and this. But the reality is we all feel if we would have had more time or more resources we could have done things differently. But I can almost 100% assure that if given another year to do the same position you would say it again at the end of that year also. However, the reality is as long as you tried and led with the best interest of the chapter/state/nation at the forefront and you learned and grew, you did a great job.

Remember this is a learning organization and everyone needs a chance to learn and grow in the organization. A chance for them too, to become fully invested. Besides more than likely there is another position waiting for you on the horizon.

So make me this promise today. Work really hard to see how you can become FULLY invested in the Jaycees. Whether it be asking more people to come out and join you for projects or socials. Whether it be stepping up and letting someone lead. Whether it be stepping out of your comfort zone and leading. Because by doing this you will see all the amazing things that will happen to you as an individual and your chapter as a whole. It is awesome.

Thanks as always for welcoming me as you always do. I am certain I am half Texan. I love all of you and believe in what you are doing. You are making a huge IMPACT and leading the organization. Great work this year. Keep it up and as always I am here if you need anything.

Chrystal Ramsay
State Presidents’ Coach
United States Jaycees
(352) 502-0535
CRamsay@USJaycees.org
“MAKE iT HAPPEN”

Texas Jaycees Summer Shape Up Challenge

The Texas Jaycees are excited to announce a new state-wide health initiative.  As part of the 2012 State Plan, State President Stephanie Traugott identified key areas that she wanted to focus her efforts on in 2012.  One of these areas is to develop a state-wide health initiative targeted at getting Jaycees, Chapters, and their communities out and active!  Not only does this Challenge promote wellness in local communities, but we are also promoting the United National Millennium Development Goals (UNMDG).  UNMDG is a initiative of JCI that is directly related to the health and well-being of everyone world-wide.   

Texas Jaycees Summer Shape Up Challenge is a great way for not only your members and your Chapter to kick-start their health but it is also designed for you to ignite a fire in your community to promote health and wellness.  Beginning on June 1^st and ending on August 31^st, your Chapter will have numerous ways to earn points for your chance to win the summer challenge. 

Here are ten great ways for your members to earn points for your Chapter: 

Chapter Points:

3	Sign Texas Jaycees Shape Up Challenge Pledge (Members)
3	Health Screening (i.e. Blood Pressure, Heart, etc.) – Individual
3	Participate in an organized walk or run (March of Dimes, etc) – Individual
3	Complete Physical (points per family member, including pets) – Individual
3	Health Club Membership (points per member / per month) – Individual
3	Weight Management Program Membership (points per member /  per month) – Individual
2	ID Health Project (i.e. Cooking Class for Members, Zumba, Dance, etc.) – Hands On Classes (points per person in attendance)  - Chapter
1	ID Health Talk for Chapter Members (points per person in attendance) - Chapter
2	Organize Chapter walk or run (points per person in attendance) - Chapter
1	Participation in any other health related activity (receipt, or other proof required)

Here are ten great ways for your Chapter to earn points by being active in your community this summer:

Community Points:

1	Sign Texas Jaycees Shape Up Challenge Pledge (Non-Members)
#	Organize Community Walk or Run
#	Organize Community Health Screening
#	Organize Family Night Out (healthy activities for families)
#	Organize Healthy Cooking Class
#	Organize Health Talk (UNMDG 1 – 8)
#	Fundraiser for Nothing But Nets (UNMDG 6)
#	Organize Food Drive (UNMDG 1)
#	Organize Summer Lunch Event (UNMDG 1 and 4)
#	Organize Any Other Event within UNMDG (prior approval needed from State)

# 5points for hosting event.  5 points per 25 participants at event (verified by sign-in sheets). 

We want Chapters to be creative and develop their own ideas for projects.  If you have any idea, please contact texasjuniorchamberparade@gmail.com and they will let you know if your idea is approved. 

In addition to the above mentioned ways to earn points, we are also throwing out monthly challenges.  During the months of June and August we are challenging each Chapter in the following way: 

June:    

Organize Chapter Walk/Run (minimum 1 mile). 

 5 points per person (sign-in sheet required). 

                (Maximum of 1 event)

August: 

Organize Chapter ID Health Project. 

5 points per person (sign-in sheet required). 

                (Maximum of 1 event) 

During the month of July we would like to promote one day of wellness.  On July 28, 2012 we want all Chapters from across the state to conduct a project.  By having all Chapters conduct a project on the same day we are encouraging the media to cover the great things the Jaycees are doing not only on July 28^th but year-round. 

July 28:  State-wide Community Project –

Select any of the above ‘Community Projects’ and complete on July 28, 2012. 

100 points for hosting event. 

10 points per 25 participants at event (verified by sign-in sheets). 

20 points per new member recruited on July 28. 

**All sign-in sheets must have Chapter President signature verifying attendance**

Please email us at texasjuniorchamberparade@gmail.com to receive a copy of the pledge. 

All documentation must be emailed to texasjuniorchamberparade@gmail.com no later than September 7^th, 2012.  All projects must take place between June 1, 2012 and August, 31, 2012 to be counted. 

If you have any questions at all, please do not hesitate to contact us at texasjuniorchamberparade@gmail.com or via our Google Voice Account at 972.863.2569. 

Are You Connected 2.0

As I previously wrote in our first blog ‘Are you Connected’ the Texas Jaycees are making every effort to ensure that local chapters and their members are staying connected.  Since the first blog, we have taken additional steps to ensure we are staying connected!  In addition to the ways we previously discussed (Facebook Group, Facebook Page, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube Channel, and Blog) we have a few new ways! 

1.  Google+ - Texas Junior Chamber (Jaycees / JCI):  The State's Group on Google+ is where members (and non-members) can share their views on topics and let everyone know about upcoming projects in their Chapters! 
2. Voicemail – Texas Jaycees now have a phone number and voicemail that you can call any time of the day or night and leave a message for State Board Members!  Call 972.863.2569.  This is a free service through Google Voice that your local Chapter can also take advantage of to ensure a consistent phone number is passed on year after year. 
3. Email – Texas Jaycees now have TWO new email addresses that Chapters and Members can contact the state and submit paperwork directly to.  For general inquiries, individuals can email texasjuniorchamber@gmail.com and for Parade submissions you can email texasjuniorchamberparade@gmail.com. 
4. Twellow – Texas Jaycees are now registered on Twellow, which is the ‘yellow pages’ of Twitter.  Individuals can search for Texas Jaycees Twitter name to learn more about the organization and contact the state directly. 
5. Website – Now for the most exciting news!  Texas Jaycees just launched a brand new website!  Check it out at www.texasjaycees.org.  It is our hope to have an up-to-date, interactive website that will be used as a resource for both members and non-members.  We are working towards updating information for all Local Chapters on the website, so please email us your logo and contact information (texasjuniorchamber@gmail.com).  As we work to get all of the bugs out of the website, please let us know what information you would like posted!  We are also working towards having Local Chapters piggy-back off the State website so you can create your own local website!  Please email us if your Chapter is interested in a new website.

Five more ways the Texas Jaycees are committed to ensuring prompt and valuable communication to our members!  Did you know by being a member of the United States Jaycees you are also eligible for a discount for Constant Contact?  The US Jaycees have teamed with Constant Contact, a leader in email newsletters, marketing, and online surveys, to provide our members and their chapters these valuable solutions for personal, professional, and Jaycees use.

So now you know just how committed we are to enhancing communication.  If you see other ways we can improve communication please don’t hesitate to contact us at texasjuniorchamber@gmail.com, or better yet Facebook us! 

Activate Your Members

How many of you have utilized the Passport to Leadership program?  Passport to Leadership is an excellent tool provided by the United States Junior Chamber to help activate your members!  In the 10 Degrees of becoming a Jaycee it walks you through all phases to ensure everyone is getting a well-rounded Jaycee experience. 

The first step in Passport to Leadership is activating your new members within the first six months of joining the Jaycees.  After completing these eight items, a new member will springboard up to being a 3^rd Degree Jaycee!  The items the new member must complete are:

1.      Attend 50% of meetings and/or projects conducted during the first six months of membership.

2.      Recite Jaycee Creed.

3.      Participate in competition or competition training program.

4.      Recruit at least one new member.

5.      Serves as an active member on a project.

6.      Attend a new member orientation.

7.      Lead Chapter in Pledge of Allegiance or Jaycee Creed.

8.      Write a CPG on a new project. 

 The Passport to Leadership form that both the new member and Chapter President must sign and date can be found at:  http://www.jci.cc/controlpanel/documents/P2L%20New%20Member%20Form.pdf.  Once completed, Chapter’s can submit the forms for Parade points to texasjuniorchamber@gmail.com.  Each new member who completes the Springboard will earn their Chapter 15 points for Parade. 

But what if you have never done Passport and have been a member for more than six months?  Individuals who are outside of their six month window must complete each Degree separately.  Meaning, you cannot ‘springboard’ to being a 3^rd Degree Jaycee by completing the above eight items.  You must complete all requirements for each Degree separately.  A breakdown for each Degree can be found at:  http://www.jci.cc/local/info/usa/ourlibrary.

If you have been a member and look at the list and say, ‘I’ve already done that!’  The U.S. Jaycees are allowing you to go back as far as 2011 and have it count towards your Degree.  If you completed an item prior to 2011, then you will have to complete that particular item again.  It’s just a great way to keep you on your toes and make sure you are also receiving the full Jaycee experience even if you have been a Jaycee for many years! 

There are three phases that encompass the ten degrees of being a Jaycee:  Involvement, Experience and Leadership.  By having your members complete each Degree and phase, you are showing them all aspects of being a Jaycee and activating them as a member of this great organization. Chapters will earn 15 points for each member who advances one Degree for Parade.  20 points will be awarded in Parade for each individual who achieves the ultimate of becoming a 10^th Degree Jaycee.

If you have questions regarding Passport to Leadership, please contact us at texasjuniorchamber@gmail.com.

Five Outstanding Young Texans