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JCI Presenter is an effective presentation course that focuses on the concepts of creating and delivering an effective presentation, utilizing visual aids and strong delivery methods with a mind towards understanding the audience. Throughout the full day course, participants practice the preparation and delivery of a range of presentations.

JCI Presenter should be taken by all members who want to expand their presentation skills in order to make an impact - be it delivering better project reports or intervening during chapter meetings.

After graduating from JCI Presenter Phil Cavalier-Lumley, President of JCI Bradford soon had the chance to practice what he had learnt and sent the following feedback:

"I used your training and tips. I rehearsed, recorded myself, timed myself, tweaked and tweaked until I was completely happy that my speech was motivational but accurate and I strolled up to the podium with a new kind of confidence and let loose.

I was approached by people afterwards who I didn't know but who congratulated me on such an inspirational speech. The Strategic Director of Young People Services in Bradford commented on my powerful speech and agreed with my view on developing young people in Bradford.

I may sound big headed to say I was ON FIRE but I have never felt that good delivering a presentation and I've never had such brilliant feedback.

I have to say that your training certainly made a big contribution to my success - many thanks!"

Phil has since gone on to win the 2011 JCI UK public speaking competition and was part of the debating team that won the JCI UK debating competition this year also.

The first course in the UK for 2012 is to be hosted by JCI London on Saturday 4th February with Lina Derkeshli as head trainer and Solveig Malvik as assistant trainer. The price is £35 for a full day of training including lunch. To book you place go to www.eventelephant.com/jcipresenterlondon

The second course is being hosted by JCI Sheffield on Saturday 3rd March with Maggie Georgopoulos as head trainer and Emma Eastwood as assistant trainer and again the cost is £35 for a full day of training, including lunch. To book go to www.eventelephant.com/jcipresentersheffield

For more information contact Emma Eastwood at e.eastwood@cityliving.co.uk

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Dear JCI UK Members, Senators and Friends.

Well this is it .... I really can't believe I am writing my last message to you as JCI UK National President!

So let's start with some facts;

• I believe I am the first non Senator National President to have spoken at the Senate Drumming out breakfast
• One week later I was made a Senator - which was fantastic
• This year I have travelled 17,503 miles on behalf of JCI UK
• I have visited all chambers in the UK, with the exception of JCI Portsmouth
• I think I have grown as a person, and no not just in size because of all the great food, drink and hospitality I have received!
• I have to be honest and say I still don't enjoy public speaking, but I don't get anywhere near as nervous as I did, I may be ready to try it without a script soon!?!?
• I have graduated from JCI Presenter, and JCI Achieve during the year.
• I gave my first 'official' training session this year during the Local Leaders weekend
• The Alli Clap is now a well known phrase and well used action!
• I have had the most amazing experience of my life.
• JCI UK has grown by more than 25%
• JCI UK received recognition in Brussels at World Congress for achieving 100% efficiency this year
• JCI UK has raised more than $32k for the Nothing But Nets Campaign this year
• JCI UK has 2 new chambers on the verge of staring, and there are some talks underway about a couple of others
• JCI UK has 'Excelled in 2011'

The last weekend of November was the JCI UK National Convention, and wow what a weekend. The weekend was hosted by JCI Yorkshire and was held in Sheffield. The Conference team did a fantastic job, and it was made all the better by the brilliant delegates, who really got involved and took advantage of the opportunities on offer during the weekend. It was great to see so many different people playing a part in the weekend from hosting a session, taking part in the competitions and delivering training. It was also brilliant to see so many members of the British Senate in Sheffield too, and to see them right in the heart of it with the JCI UK members.

The weekend was jam packed but my favourite part of the weekend was Saturday night....the prestigious awards ceremony. It was great to be able to recognise so many individuals and chambers for their phenomenal efforts this year. But it was not just the award winners that I was proud of, it was each and every person who has helped to make 2011 such a great year.

It was all happening on Saturday night, after the awards ceremony, I had the massively great honour of announcing 4 individuals as Senators, and therefore, life long members of JCI, Paul Thwaite, Lorna Bainbridge, Julia Goodfellow-Smith, and our 2012 National President Solveig Malvik.

It was then time for the moment I had not been looking forward to ...... the passing of the Chain, I've become rather attached to the chain! From the photo's I have seen it looks like Solveig and I are high fiving on the stage, but no that was me officially swearing her in to office.

All that was left for us to do was to party to the live band, who were fantastic, and then party some more at the after party.

It was an amazing night, and the reaction in the room when I finished my speech is something that will stay with me forever - THANK YOU.

All in all it was a brilliant end to a brilliant year.

A couple of weeks ago I was really chuffed to have been able to attend the JCI Achieve course that was run in Sheffield. I had heard such good things of the course that I was really pleased that I got the chance to attend it. Maggie and Lesley from JCI Scotland braced the wind and the snow and came down to deliver the course, and it was cracking. It's always great to get together with other Jaycees and bounce around ideas and get all motivated to go back to you home chamber and make a difference. But, can you believe I have been a member for all this time and never attended an official course, and this year, my busiest year in JCI, I have managed to attend two - brilliant!!

So all that is left for me to say is, thank you for all of your support and hard work this year, I hope you have had as good a year as I have had, and I am really looking forward to see what great things we can achieve in Chapter 2012.

I hope you have a lovely Christmas, a great New Year, and I look forward to seeing you soon.

JCI UK - we've 'Excelled in 2011'

Cheers

Alli

JCI UK National President
Email: allison.cowell@jciuk.org.uk
Senator # 70323

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2011 is coming to an end and JCI UK is preparing for 2012. As 2012 National President my role so far this year has been to support Alli, the 2011 President, and prepare for 2012.And right now, that is getting really busy!

JCI UK really has a great team on National Board in 2012. I'm very grateful that all these amazing people are dedicating a year of their lives to JCI UK. Our role as National Board is to support our members and help the Local Presidents be their best.

In this blog post you can meet the members of the JCI UK National Board 2012.

From left:

Jen Little - Regional Group Chair. Jen Little is Local President JCI Cambridge 2010 and 2011 and will give the JCI UK South region a big lift with her experience from getting chambers up and running. Jen has a lot of passion for JCI and can also help you get your LinkedIN account up to scratch.

Claire Evans (nee Dempster) - Communication Director. Claire is one of two Communication directors on JCI UK's 2012 board. Claire works in communication and marketing outside of JCI. Claire was the 2010 Local President in JCI Leeds and won the 2010 Most Outstanding President for JCI Europe in the 49-100 members category. Claire loves her husband almost as much as she loves JCI.

Allison Cowell - Immediate Past President. Alli is a Past JCI Boston Local President and is JCI UK National President 2011. Alli has worn the Treasurer hat for JCI UK the last couple of years, a hat she truly enjoys but really looks forward to putting down though she will never put down the spreadsheets. 

Emma Eastwood - Personal Development Director. Emma is 2009 JCI Leeds Local President and works in real estate. Emma is passionate about training and having a good time. Emma has the longest legs and the shortest skirts on National Board but we still love her. Or maybe that's just why we love her.

Kate Senter - Communication Director. As one of two communication directors Kate will take care of among other social media for JCI UK in 2012. Outside of JCI Kate works in internal communications and is the 2011 JCI Sheffield Local President. Kate enjoys running marathons in Scotland or wherever else it is likely to rain.

Solveig Malvik - National President (me). Solveig is 2010 Local President JCI London and in 2011 was Marketing Director JCI UK. Solveig's had a varied career across the world and is currently head of marketing for a British work based learning company. You probably didn't know that I was a goth when I was a teen; fisnets, corsets, black hair and the full package, even managing a gothic nightclub on the side of my studies.

Tim Metcalfe - International Director. Tim has been a member of JCI Leeds for a number of year but it was only after traveling to the European Conference in Aarhus that Tim discovered the international aspects of JCI. Since then Tim has barly missed a JCI event and the only thing he regrets is not discovering this earlier. Tim runs his own IT business and is often seen at 1950s themed parties in London.

Soraya Bowen - Website Manager. Soraya joined JCI to get active in the community side of things but quickly got involved with everything. Not quite sure how she has time for everything but my theory is that this girl does not sleep. Ever. And she also runs marathons. How?!?

Steven Vandevelde - Regional Group Chair, Yorkshire. Being a foreigner in Yorkshire cannot be easy but Steven has embraced the region full heartedly and the region him. Steven was JCI Sheffield Local President 2010 and is the General Manager at the Holiday Inn hotels in Sheffield. Steven is always there with a smile, even if its Saturday and someone has to change all the locks in both hotels. 

Sarah Beckwith - Administration & Membership Director. Sarah is JCI London President 2011 and almost as fond of spreadsheets as Alli. Sarah is a chartered surveyor and when she's not doing her job or JCI you can find her on a sailboat somewhere off the coast of England.

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You may remember that last year some JCI's around the UK linked up with a Colin Nesbitt of Little Heroes, a children cancer charity based in Bradford. Colin travelled around the UK dropping presents off at children's cancer hospitals in the run up to Christmas.

He's aiming to do the same thing again this year, can you help? If you can contact Colin direct at littleheroes@hotmail.co.uk to introduce yourself and express your interest in helping him that would be fantastic.

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The last clothes collection in aid of the Nothing But Nets Campaign by JCI Boston took place on the 30th September, 95 bags were collected, this should take their overall total to over £800! Thank you for your donations. JCI Barnsley also raised in excess of £50.00 from their clothing collection earlier in the year and JCI London also got in on the action by arranging a clothes way event!

It really is as easy as collecting old clothes from friends, family, colleagues, members and anyone else you can think of! Then simply contact Bag 2 the Future who will send you bags to put the clothes in and arrange a pick up date. They will pick up the clothes and send you a cheque! It really is that simple to send a net and save a life with JCI Nothing But Nets campaign!

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JCI Achieve will help you to understand how to establish your chambers identity, purpose and activity which will help to ‘achieve' our organisations mission and vision. It will provide you with the tools to develop your membership and opportunities for them to create positive change within your local community.

Kate Senter, President, JCI Sheffield said: "JCI Achieve really opened my eyes to how we can define our activity, what we stand far and how to share this vision! I would highly recommend it to anyone who wants to understand more about building an active chamber and share best practice. I personally have found this to be the most powerful of all the JCI official courses!"

This one day course on Saturday 10th December in Sheffield is such fantastic value for money that a number of members from JCI Sheffield, JCI Manchester, JCI Boston and JCI Leeds have already secured their places.

JCI Achieve is open to all members and bookings are open until Thursday 8th December.

Date: Saturday 10th November

Time: 10:00am to 5:00pm

Cost: £25 (subsidised by JCI UK)

Venue: Holiday Inn, Royal Victoria in Sheffield

Booking: For more information or to book a place please contact Emma Eastwood on 07966222707 or e.eastwood@cityliving.co.uk

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An unexpected side-effect of the flooding in parts of Pakistan has been that millions of spiders climbed up into the trees to escape the rising flood waters.

Because of the scale of the flooding and the fact that the water has taken so long to recede, many trees have become cocooned in spiders webs.

People in this part of Sindh have never seen this phenomenon before but they also report that there are now far fewer mosquitoes than they would expect, given the amount of stagnant, standing water that is around.

It is thought that the mosquitos are getting caught in the spiders web thus reducing the risk of malaria, which would be one blessing for the people of Sindh, facing so many other hardships after the floods.

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