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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 prestigious TOYP Awards serve to formally recognise exceptional young people who both excel in their chosen fields and create positive social change. 

Last year JCI UK entered two outstanding candidates; Emily Cummins and Sabirul Islam, both of whom were named as one of the Ten Outstanding Young People in the World for 2010.

This year we have nominated another three inspirational young people from across the UK and would like to take this opportunity to introduce them to you.

Ruth Ibegbuna, leader of RECLAIM; an award-winning preventative youth crime project founded by her in 2007.  RECLAIM targets young people across Greater Manchester from areas of social instability. 

The Not for Profit Organisation has gathered a huge amount of critical acclaim for adding tangible benefits to communities, but more importantly, it has been supported and adopted by the communities that host the project. 

Ruth is a true driving force behind RECLAIM and winning a global award would complement her existing accolades of Manchester Peace Activist of the Year 2008 and Manchester City Council award for Outstanding Contribution 2009.

Kai Graf von Pahlen, a Solicitor at Manchester firm Davis Blank Furniss, has also been nominated.  Kai is an exceptional young Lawyer with a difference; in that he has a true passion for offering transforming thought leadership propositions on various topics where law unduly stifles justice for the people. 

His published work provides a new take on bridging the equality and justice gaps across diverse areas of society, thus instigating individuals to both question the existing legal standing and challenge historic protocol.  Away from his career, Kai excels in bettering society by engaging in humanity service through a number of charities.  Kai was recognised as a ‘JCI Manchester Rising Star’ in 2010.

Carly Ward strives to provide inspiration for young people to start their own businesses. In searching for inspirational entrepreneurs Carly has succeeded in building a high profile network that is supportive of her work and desire to help as many young people as possible with her online and classroom delivered ’12 Steps to Success’ programme and YES Network.

Carly has been recognised as Inspirational Women in Business Award winner in March 2011 and Winner of the Haines Watts Young Entrepreneur of the Year Special Achievement Award, Nov 2010.

JCI Manchester International Liaison Director, Matt Worman, commented on the Manchester nominations: “Ruth and Kai are truly inspirational people - not only are they both already exceeding expectations in their respected career paths, but more importantly, and pertinent to the TOYP Awards criteria, their commitment to humanity service and passion for bettering society is exceptional.  JCI Manchester is extremely proud to be associated with both individuals and on behalf of the Manchester public, we wish them the best of luck.”

JCI UK National Administration Director, Debbie Tills commented on Carly’s nomination:  “ Carly’s motto is that “successful people aren’t different, they just do things differently”. This is certainly the case where Carly is concerned. Not only did she seek to improve on an existing idea, she has developed that idea beyond recognition to provide an inspiring programme that really works.”

JCI UK wishes our three nominees the best of luck for the international round of judging and hopes to be cheering them on at the TOYP ceremony at World Congress in Belgium in November.

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All JCI National organisations (NOMs) have been invited to submit their awards for the 2011 Area Conferences - that's the European Conference in Tarragona for us!

JCI HQ have published the following six tips for success at the awards ceremonies and here in the UK we'll be running an Awards Surgery at Presidents' Day, with experienced judges Julia Lea and Andrew Morton, to give us the best possible chance of success now and in the future.

Follow these steps as you amend and submit your chamber's award entries for the European Conference and prepare to win!

Play by the rules.
JCI Local and National Organizations can submit entries from now until the deadlines listed below for the JCI Area Conferences. Winning projects from the JCI Area Conferences are automatically entered to win at World Congress, and these participants are free to edit and improve upon their entries until the Congress deadline.

The online JCI Awards System provides directions for every step of the submission process from start to finish. Read the JCI Awards Manual carefully to become familiar with the details. If you’re new to the JCI Awards website, check out the Guide to the Online JCI Awards System to learn the ins and outs of the process.

The best entries take planning and preparation, so start your submission well before these deadlines:

• May 2: European Conference
• October 3: JCI World Congress (fingers crossed!)

Strategize and categorize.
Submit your entry in an awards category that highlights your project’s greatest strengths. Would your project shine in the Best UN Millennium Development Goals (MDG) Project, or does it seem like a winner for Best Environmental Development Program? Consider the competition in each category, narrow your focus accordingly, and highlight the ways your project is the best in that respect.

Keep it short and sweet.
Judges read as many as 30 entries within a few weeks. Help them find the most relevant information quickly through clear and direct language. Don’t use eight words when three will do. Even the best results can get lost in repetitive and wordy explanations, so avoid this common problem and keep it straight to the point.

Document details from start to finish.
Awards judges want to see concrete facts such as numbers, photos, and specific details. Assign members to take pictures of the action and gather all the data from the very beginning. Instead of generalizations such as, “A lot of children were helped by this project,” you will be able to include compelling and specific facts, such as, “236 students ages 5 to 7 will attend primary school in 2011 thanks to the 10-room school built through this project.

Revise and spell-check.
Don’t let spelling and grammatical errors stand between you and a trophy. Judges must be able to clearly understand every part of the entry to evaluate it. Spell-check can save embarrassment, and a second or third editor can make your entry shine. If you’re not 100% comfortable with the JCI communication language, find someone who is who can review the spelling and grammar for you.

Showcase positive change.
Winning submissions show JCI members advancing the JCI Mission by taking action to create positive change in their communities. These initiatives provide a strong example for other Local and National Organizations, as well as an example to external partners of the accomplishments of JCI. They serve to display an organization’s best work for other members or groups to learn from and find inspiration. When writing about your projects, highlight how they have advanced the JCI Mission in your community.

Good luck!!!

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Do you want to know more about TOYP and how you can get involved?

Does your Chamber want to learn more about a programme that changes lives, forges links with exceptional people and promotes JCI to a wider audience?

Do you want to drive TOYP forward in the UK?

Do you want a once in a life time opportunity to experience and explore Istanbul? 

If your response is yes, then the TOYP Academy is the right place for you!

Last year Alli and I had the opportunity to attend the Academy in its first year and had a truly amazing experience, meeting JCI members from across Europe, learning all about TOYP from the experts and exploring the incredible city of Istanbul with our hosts. 

The TOYP Academy's objective is to share the accumulated knowledge of JCI Turkey’s 17 years experience of the programme with other countries. It's a unique opportunity to learn about the structure of TOYP, share ideas and find out more about the history and future of the programme.

Istanbul’s unique cultural and historical features provide the backdrop for the Academy and you’ll have the opportunity to cross from Europe to Asia, experiencing two continents in one weekend, shopping at Grand Bazaar, the amazing views of the Bosphorus and much more...

Attend the TOYP Academy from 28^th April to 1^st May 2011 for an unforgettable three days in Istanbul!

One participant from each country, approved by national president, will be free (all you need to pay for is your transport). Other participants will be charged by 200 Euro. Contact me via email at debbie.tills@jciuk.org.uk to find out more about how you can represent the UK.

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Does your Chamber want to get involved in a programme that changes lives, forges links with exceptional people and promotes JCI to a wider audience? If so then the TOYP competition could be exactly what you're looking for!
 
After a quiet few years, TOYP is back in JCI UK and no-one can argue with our recent successes... last year we entered two outstanding candidates; Emily Cummins and Sabirul Islam, both of whom were named as one of the Ten Outstanding Young People in the World for 2010. They join other notable TOYP honourees Elvis Presley, JFK, Jackie Chan and Amar Latif (2004 TOYP Honouree, nominated by JCI UK).
 
TOYP gives us the opportunity to approach the people who inspire us and gives them the opportunity to inspire on a global scale - everyone wins! Don't believe me? Check out Sabirul's blog to find out what he's been up to since becoming one of the Ten Outstanding Young People for 2010.

The 10 categories are wide reaching and versatile - if your potential nominees are aged between 18 and 40 and have created outstanding positive change in their life, then they are eligible! It's a great chance for your members to develop as well... What can be better than forming a team with a mission to discover exceptional people and hidden heroes? 

So how does it work? The great thing with TOYP is it can be tailored to suit your chamber, resources and goals:
 
Tiny TOYP - Have a discussion at your council meeting, is there someone that immediately springs to mind? If so, why not approach them to encourage their application. This is how Emily and Sabirul were nominated by Bradford and London.
 
Tweeny TOYP - Form a team and brainstorm one, two... or all of the categories; search the web, tweet, use social networking, approach organisations and the local media and see who you can discover on your doorstep!
 
Tremendous TOYP - Cast your net wide, promote it like crazy, engage high profile judges and hold a glittering awards ceremony! Admittedly this is something to aspire to, but there's nothing stopping you once you've dipped your toe into TOYP!
 
There's a full JCI TOYP Toolkit available on the JCI.cc website, follow the link (you'll need to sign in) to the JCI Library and look under 'Programs'. The Toolkit contains loads of useful resources including a full guide, press release templates, invitations to judges, business plans and other good stuff. The only thing that it doesn't include is an 'offline' template for the application form (contact me and I'll send you one!) as applications must be submitted using the JCI.cc website. We found that copying and pasting from a word document was soooo much easier!
 
So, how does this sound? Are you interested??? Please get in touch and let me know how I can help and how you're getting on! The applications for 2011 need to be approved and submitted by 23rd May, so now's the time for action!
 
TOYP Academy - Registration has opened for the second TOYP Academy in Istanbul, taking place between April 28th and 1st May 2011. Do you want to attend as the JCI UK delegate, all you need to pay for is your transport? Please contact Alli and I if you think you have what it takes to drive TOYP forward in the UK. It will be an absolutely amazing and unforgettable experience - I promise!!!

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A wise man once said 'Do one thing every day that scares you'. Well in the name of JCI UK, today I have done two things!

Firstly, I have got to grips with the cumbersome Google Apps and set up our new JCI UK directors with emails that re-direct to their personal accounts - something that terrified the life out of me, but was actually pretty straight forward!

Secondly, I'm posting this on the JCI UK blog... another thing I've been putting off, after all, who really wants to hear the musings of the Admin bird?

So, what have you done that scares you today?

Is there anything you've been putting off?

And remember, wear sunscreen.

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