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With recognition at the 2011 JCI World Congress in Brussels, Belgium fast approaching, the time is now for JCI members to step up the fight against malaria.

Make It A Million
Starting September 1, the JCI Nothing But Nets Countdown to Congress is back and the campaign is on the verge of reaching a whole new level. Contributions to the JCI Nothing But Nets campaign currently total USD $860,000 and every JCI National Organisation as well as each JCI member, is challenged to boost the campaign to one million dollars between now and JCI World Congress.

The Countdown to Congress award will be presented at the JCI Morning Show on November 4. 2011. JCI President Kentaro Harada will recognise the three JCI National Organisations that contributed the most funds to JCI Nothing But Nets throughout 2011.

Passionate JCI members should use these next months to step up and jump ahead in the race to send nets by taking your fundraising total to a new level. Encourage your fellow JCI members, families and friends to join the fight against malaria and celebrate with your National Organisation as you help Make It A Million.  Let's see if JCI UK can send some serious nets!

Buy Clics For Nets
Also at this year’s World Congress, JCI members can take part in another exciting project for JCI Nothing But Nets. From now through Congress, you can buy clics to raise money for mosquito nets. A clic is a multi-colored plastic building block used to construct different shapes and structures as a playful display of architectural creation. Each clic costs one euro, with a goal of raising one million euros by November 5. Each clic purchased will be used to build a colorful carpet at the entrance to the World Congress, with the plan of breaking the Guinness World Record for number of clics used to build one structure.

Purchase your clics for nets before and during World Congress to be part of this remarkable record-breaking adventure to make history and save lives. Each clic bought also counts toward your National Organisation’s Countdown to Congress donation total, so purchase clics online now and help your National Organisation get the recognition it deserves.

To donate visit the JCI UK 2011 Nothing But Nets donation page!

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On 3 September 2011 in Biograd, Croatia the participants of the first international JCI Regatta charity sailing event will line up behind the starting line to fight against malaria. Malaria is the leading killer of children in Africa, but this deadly disease can easily be prevented with the use of insecticide-treated nets. Through programs like the JCI Regatta, JCI (Junior Chamber International) members, in partnership with the UN Foundation's Nothing But Nets initiative, all around the world work to purchase and distribute mosquito nets and educate families on their proper use.

All the revenues raised by the fanatic sailors from the Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Hungary and Turkey will go to JCI Nothing But Nets to purchase mosquito nets for African families. The donations of the JCI Regatta charity event will be doubled in the end by Cordaid, the largest developing-aid organization of the Netherlands.

The JCI Regatta will take place between 3-7 September 2011, around the beautiful Kornati islands near Biograd. The so called ‘one-off fleet' will consist of 8 boats, each having maximum 8 crew members. To raise the prestige of the event, the incoming 2012 JC World President, Mr. Bertolt Daems will also actively participate at the event. His focus, just like of the other sailors will be on raising awareness in Croatia and in other countries about the need for action to overcome the deadly disease in Africa. Ultimately the event may also contribute to the establishment of a local JCI organization in Croatia.

About JCI: JCI is the leading global network of young active citizens with 200.000 members in more than 100 countries worldwide. JCI provides its members development opportunities in order to create a positive change in our world and to become better leaders or entrepreneurs.

JCI has officially partnered with the UN since 1954. In 2003, JCI committed to advancing the UN Millennium Development Goals, a set of time-bound targets for poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy, environmental degradation and discrimination against women. JCI members organize thousands of projects every year committed to advancing the goals and using the UN MDGs as a framework. The JCI Regatta is one of these projects that supports the UN Foundation's Nothing But Nets campaign.

For more information, please contact:
Roel van Laarhoven

Secretary, JCI Regatta Foundation
E-mail: info@jci-regatta.com
Website: www.jci-regatta.com

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JCI Bradford are supporting their local community and environment by promoting the protecting of honeybees!.

Did you know that Honey Bees are a protected species? Did you know that bee numbers have been declining year on year? Did you know that our environment depends on Honey Bees?

You can help the environment, support the increase in numbers of bees and help others understand the importance of honey bees.

Supporting the local bee keepers association can help you achieve your organisation's social responsibility targets.

But don't just take my word for it have a look at the attached info Bradford Flyer.pdf and Bradford Beekeepers Apiary Sponsorship.pdf

or visit the Bradford Bee Keepers Association - www.bradfordbeekeepersassociation.co.uk

You never know you might just fancy taking up a new hobby bee keeping!

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On the 2^nd October Soraya Bowen and Alex Illsley will be running round Loch Ness in order to try and raise awareness of Nothing But Nets. Nothing But Nets is a global, grassroots campaign to raise awareness and funding to combat malaria, one of the largest killers of children in Africa. Sadly, every 45 seconds a child in Africa dies from Malaria but Malaria is preventable. Just $10 covers the cost of a net, its distribution and educating recipients on its use.

JCI London has set a target of 50 bednets for this year so Soraya and Alex are hoping that you will be able to support their efforts to help them achieve this. Soraya is running in the 10k event and Alex is running the marathon – eek! Hopefully the aching will be worth it as they are doing this in the hope that people will send one of those all important bednets.

As the name Nothing But Nets suggests it really is simple – sending nets saves lives – and it would be very much appreciated by Soraya and Alex if you could send a bednet so we hope you will take a look at their fundraising page!

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Lesley Young is JCI UK's first International Vice President (VP) since 2003. I had a chance to catch up with her this week.

How has your year been so far?
It has been really busy but very exciting to undertake such a different role in JCI. I've had lots of opportunities to meet members in their own local communities and learn about the projects they do.

Can you explain what you are doing as a JCI VP?
As VP I am assigned to a number of countries as a mentor and support to their National Organisation. My role is to promote the JCI Plan of Action and key goals for the year. I also communicate successes and challenges from NOMs to the JCI Board of Directors so that they can be taken into account in strategic planning and agenda setting for General Assemblies.

Which counties are you assigned to?
Catalonia, Cyprus, Armenia, Turkey, Hungary, Portugal and Greece.

Is this a full-time role?
Like other JCI leadership roles it is voluntary and can be fulfilled alongside a full time job. I'm fortunate not to be working at the moment and therefore have been able to spend more time on visits - it definitely feels like a full-time job sometimes as I'm also active as Immediate Past President of JCI UK.

Which JCI events have you travelled to so far this year?
Travelling has taken up a considerable amount of my time this year so far! I've attended:

• January Board Meeting at JCI HQ in St Louis
• European Presidents Meeting in Varese
• March - VP visit to JCI Catalonia
• April - VP visit to JCI Turkey and JCI Armenia
• May - VP visit to JCI Cyprus, JCI Greece and JCI Portugal
• European Conference, Tarragona
• JCI/UN Global Partnership Summit, New York

In JCI UK I've also attended the Senate Drumming Out weekend in Belfast, Inspiration Day in Reading, President and Deputies Day in Cambridge and National Board Meetings.

I hope to visit my assigned countries a second time before the World Congress in Brussels and will also attend the European Parliament Know How Transfer in October.

How many VP colleagues do you have in Europe?
There are 4 other VPs assigned in Europe with 17 in total on the JCI Board of Directors.

Has JCI Europe been growing in the last year?
I've been delighted to see growth and new local Chambers opening in my assigned NOMs. The actual growth will shortly be reported to JCI HQ and reported at the General Assembly at World Congress.

What other exciting tasks are you doing as VP?
VPs are expected to carry out support roles at international events in terms of facilitation of working groups and training sessions. I served as moderator at the Global Partnership Summit. We also take part in General Assemblies as members of the JCI Board of Directors. At European Conference I was delighted to Chair the First Timers Programme and the World Debating Competition. It was also exciting but nerve wracking to co-host the Awards Ceremony at the Gala Dinner evening!

How long have you been a JCI member?
7 years

If anyone is interested in taking on an international position within JCI, can you give them some tips?
Networking and getting yourself known at international JCI events is always a good way to meet members from other countries and to learn about the international scene. I would be very happy to talk to anyone interested in an international position as there are many different kinds of opportunities available. It is not always necessary to have been a member of National Board to be involved in an international project.

I would also recommend talking to your Local President and Alli Cowell, our National President who can advise on usual steps to take on international roles.

Who is a leader you admire?
I am very impressed by the 2011 JCI President Kentaro Harada.

How do you describe his values?
Dedication, selfless, humble, committed and visionary as well as being a warm and funny family man.

This is all against the backdrop of the tremendous tragedies suffered this year in his home country Japan where thousands have lost their lives, homes and businesses, including JCI Japan members.

Anything you want to say to end with?
JCI makes it's impact across the world by the work it does locally and the dedication of all it's members. I've been able to see so many examples of the hard work of local and national organisations and am very thankful for having the wonderful opportunity to serve as VP - I would highly recommend it!!

Lesley Young and Myles Reilly, JCI UK at the welcoming  ceremony at JCI European conference

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This year JCI Leeds is continuing to support the United Nation Foundation's Nothing But Nets malaria campaign.

On Saturday the 8th of October JCI Leeds will host Fashion Bites Back, a charity fashion show that will raise awareness and funds to help eradicate malaria by sending bet nets to Africa. A fantastic community teamis working on this project and with in excess of 50 tickets already sold it looks set to be an amazing event!

The community team interviewed a number of fashion designers who are interested in showcasing their designs at the show and were blown away by their talent and creativity and can't wait to see the designs on the catwalk. The designers will be showcasing a collection of garments that will be modelled with African style make-up and they will also be creating a netted garment, which will fit perfectly with the theme of the event. The team have also hosted a model casting day to gather models for the show.

A raffle with also be held on the night and the team have already secured some amazing prizes, including a little black dress donated by French Connection UK, and ESPA body massage courtesy of the Academy Spa in Harrogate and £100 of vouchers to spend in NEXT. Stay tuned for more exciting prizes to follow.

For further information and deatils on hwo to book your ticket visit the Fashion Bites Back Website!

So far donations have reached $3000 and the event isn't until October! The event has also bee featured in the Yorkshire Post!

A child dies every 45 seconds from malaria so lets see if we can save more children's lives and support the charity Nothing But Nets!

Get to know more about JCI Leeds and what they do at their website.

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Dear JCI member and friend,

As the economy in the UK and Europe is getting worse and worse and people are taking to the streets in frustration or picking up a gun (as in my home country, Norway), JCI offers real and proven opportunities for you to take control over your career. Ways you can stand out, help your community and make the best of your opportunities.

In JCI we are busy preparing for 2012 and there's lots of opportunities for you to get invovled. Check out the opportunities for roles on national board for a truly national and international network, talk to your local president for opportunities on the local level and how you can help your local community, and read our blog to get inspired on what is going on across the country already.

I'm Solveig Malvik and I'm the Deputy National President for JCI UK 2011. I'd like to share with you how JCI has helped me in my career, how it can help you, and how we in JCI can make a positive difference in our local communities.

• Read about opportunities on JCI UK National level in 2012
• Find your local chamber for local opportunities in 2012
• contact me on solveig.malvik@jciuk.org.uk if you want to get involved or want more information

10 ways JCI can help your career (and your community) - and how it helped me!

JCI has been incredibly helpful for my career. I just (last week! yay!) started a job as Head of Marketing, part of the Senior Management Team at a national training provider, and I can tell you that I would never have gotten this job had if I had not been involved with JCI.

I want to share with you how that happened to me, and how you can make the same happen in your life - it if is a better job, more control over your career, a promotion, better career opportunities or simply just getting better at what you do. And all this while working with our local community making them Be Better too.

1. Challenge yourself - Last year, mostly because no one else wanted to, I got the opportunity to represent the UK in the JCI World Public Speaking Championship at the European finals at the 2010 JCI European Conference in Denmark. And lo and behold! I won! So off I went to the World Finals in Osaka, Japan, 6 months later. Was I nervous? Yep, what an understatement. But by that time I was also prepared. People from all across the organisation, both in the UK and abroad, had been helping me to make sure I was able to do my best. When I stood there on the platform I was nervous as I knew I was being judged, but I also felt incredibly lucky and loved, knowing everyone just wanted me to do my best.
   
2. Go outside your comfort zone - Yeah, the public speaking championship was pretty far outside my comfort zone. Though the things that have taken me the furthest outside my comfort zones are not the big flashy events. Its the smaller things where every day I've had the opportunity to try something I wasn't comfortable with and get positive results. From sending this email to you, to chairing a meeting, speaking to Senators, all the way to speaking in the House of Lords. JCI offers you lots of little ways you can learn something new and useful.
   
3. Take every opportunity to learn something new - I never thought I'd find myself in marketing. And even less head of a marketing team. But I've always been interested in communication and in managing people, the how's, why's and what's. So I've always been curious. Read and listened. And taken every opportunity to try things out. Managing a project team in JCI with the Entrepreneurial Academy, working on communication with the newsletters and websites of JCI, learning what works and what doesn't. One of the best ways to learn something new? Get involved in JCI on the national or local level in 2012. Take on a director role or a project, have fun! try something new!
   
4. Think inside the box, then do the other thing -It's a cliché to think outside the box - have you thought about what it looks like to think *inside* the box? Write down all the obvious things? Then write down the exact opposite? Then you write down what you can actually do. And just go do it. That's one of many tricks and ideas I've learned in training sessions with JCI.
   
5. Build a global network - In JCI we say we want to be "the world's leading network of young active citizens". And we are. We're the largest organisation of like minded people in the world. And we're all over the world. And we're connected. It's a big kick to go to somewhere like Manila and have people from all over the world asking you about your new business and how they can do business with you. This is what JCI does.
   
6. Build a trust based network - A network isn't how many names are in your contacts book, but how many people know you and trust you, people you can count on when things really matter. JCI isn't a networking organisation, but the network you get in JCI will be with you for life. Its people you've worked with, laughed with, cried with. Its real connections. Real friends. People who will help you for life.
   
7. Help yourself, help others - In JCI we don't believe in business for the sake of business, but business as so far it can help develop our community. The mind-set of "Be better", always looking to see how we can go that extra mile (or meal), do things just a bit better, make things better for the people around us.
   
8. Give back - Giving back feels good. Helping others feel good. We know that most of us join JCI for what we can get out of the organisation, but the majority of us stay in the organisation for what we can give back, for what we can help others do. In JCI you get to be part of the bigger picture, help your local community through local projects, or help fight malaria in Africa (funnily also through local projects here in the UK, it's amazing what a local project can do, really).
   
9. Surprise yourself! - When I joined JCI I barely dared talk to the local president and I thought the national president was something similar to a semi-god. They were intimidating and awesome people I highly admired. I could never ever see myself as a local president. And national president?!? You must be kidding me! And here I find myself - past president of JCI London (2010) and future National President for JCI UK. And it's all happened awfully fast but been awfully fun all along the way.
   
10. Remember to have fun! - It's been busy and gone fast but I've done things I've never ever dreamt of and had more fun than I ever thought I would. From visiting the tsunami stricken areas of Japan and getting in the middle of a tsunami warning ourselves, touring the UK with the world president (he's awesome! and really really nice!), setting up my own business on the back of my JCI experience to the weekly and monthly meetings with our amazing and always interesting members - it's all been fun. And I'll keep going as long as it keeps being fun, that I can promise you.

Check out the opportunities for you on National Board 2012 or find opportunities in your local chamber by talking to your local President.

If you want more inspiration, come to the JCI UK National Convention in Sheffield in November! (here's how awesome it was last year, this year will be even better)

Help us Be Better!
Do you have an idea for how we can do things differently or better in JCI UK? Please share it with me. It doesn't matter if you've been a member for a year or a week, any idea is welcome.

I look forward to hearing from you! (and maybe working with you next year, on local or national level).

And if you want inspiration for what people have already done, and read more about the things I've been up to, check out the JCI UK blog!

Yours,

Solveig Malvik
solveig.malvik@jciuk.org.uk

Deputy National President JCI UK 2011
Marketing Director JCI UK 2011
Immediate Past President JCI London (2010)
Certified National Trainer (CNT)
2010 European Public Speaking Champion

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The UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) has granted JCI new consultative status, advancing our longtime partnership and collaborative relations with the UN. Since 1954, JCI and the United Nations have had a longstanding, positive relationship sharing similar goals and working toward better communities and a better world. ECOSOC allows non-governmental organizations (NGOs) like JCI to have a role in formal UN deliberations. When our partnership with the UN began, JCI received Special consultative status after being recommended by the ECOSOC Committee on NGOs. 

At the end of July 2011, the Committee on NGOs voted to raise JCI’s status from “Special” to “General.”

There are 3 levels of consultative status, Roster, Special and General. Roster consultative status includes NGOs that tend to have a rather narrow or technical focus and can make smaller, occasional contributions to the work of ECOSOC.

Special consultative status, JCI’s previous status, is granted to NGOs that have a Special competence in and are concerned specifically with only a few of the initiatives and activities covered by ECOSOC.

After an application and recommendation process through the ECOSOC Committee on NGOs, JCI was granted a change of status. JCI’s new general consultative status is reserved for large international NGOs whose area of work covers most of the issues on the agenda of ECOSOC and its subsidiary bodies. JCI joins an elite group of fewer than 150 large, established NGOs that hold general status with ECOSOC.

Read the full report from the 2011 resumed session of the ECOSOC Committee on NGOs.

Discover more about general consultative status with ECOSOC.

Learn more about the application and approval process for consultative status with ECOSOC. 

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Make sure you are free 25-27 November and join other young professionals for a fun weekend in Sheffield for the JCI UK National Convention.

Last year the National Convention in London was a huge success. You can watch photos from the event here https://picasaweb.google.com/JCILondon

Sign up the JCI UK National Convention 2011 here

If you are joining you'll be able to participate in JCI UK public speaking championship, in the photo you see Sandra from JCI Sheffield participating 2010. She was representing JCI UK at a European level earlier this year at JCI European Conference.

Listen to inspiring speakers. In the photo we are listening to Richard Mullender who is an ex hostage negotiator.

Share your knowledge and learn from other JCI members.

Take part in the JCI UK debating championship (make sure to get your team together now and do some training)

Go to the national award dinner and collect your awards.

Party all night after the award dinner. Last year we were almost 200 people at the gala dinner and National Awards ceremony on the HMS President in London.

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After weeks of training, the JCI London Hot Pink Ladies (Mehnaz Siddiqui, Soraya Bowen, Sofie Sandell and Alexandra Illsley) took part in the 5K Race for Life on 17^th July at Hyde Park. Upon arrival, a sea of pink greeted the participant as over 11,000 women of all ages had gathered to run in aid of Cancer Research UK.....along with a few dogs dressed in pink tutus! Many women had their reasons for running printed on message cards on their backs and it was quite poignant reading the inscriptions dedicated to loved ones who had been lost to the disease.

The ladies started off with an energetic group warm up (not an easy feat on a Sunday morning!) and were separated into runners, joggers and walkers. As they were in the runners group they were first to the starting line and as soon as Jamie Theakston gave the signal, off theh ladies went! They were hoping that the weather would be kind but shortly after the start the heavens opened and the rain gave everyone a good soaking. Fortunately Sofie had bought some waterproof ponchos so our ladies got off quite lightly compared to some of the other runners. I think the ladies in the shower caps had the right idea....

In spite of the torrential rain, spirits remained high as the ladies were cheered on by the public and the volunteers who stood at every kilometre along the route. Part of the way through the ladies got separated but after 35 minutes, they saw the last 500m sign and sprinted towards the finishing line.  The ladies were handed a silver medal that is handed out to all the runners who complete the course, not to mention the pink goody bag full of treats! After meeting up with the others, they all headed off to the pub to enjoy a well earned lunch and to celebrate their achievement with their JCI colleagues which was a great way to end the day.

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