Who We Are

Connecticut Jaycees

The United States Junior Chamber (Jaycees) gives young people between the ages of 21 and 40 the tools they need to build the bridges of success for themselves in the areas of business development, management skills, individual training, community service, and international connections.

Our Mission

To provide young people the opportunity to develop personal and leadership skills through local community service and organizational involvement while expanding the Jaycee movement.

Our Purpose

The Junior Chamber organization is "a constructive action organization of young persons who devote a portion of their time to community service in the public interest, developing young persons as leaders of their community." (Taken from The U.S. Junior Chamber of Commerce Bylaws and Policy Manual.)

We offer activities in four areas of opportunity:

  • Individual Development - Public Speaking, Job Interviews, and Personal Development

  • Community Development - Community Action and Charity Fundraising

  • Management Development - Management Training and Leadership Development

  • International - Global Action and Involvement

Community

These events will directly impact your community. They can range from running a food drive, distributing Thanksgiving turkeys to the less fortunate, reading a story to a disadvantaged youth, Paws in the Park, HOBY and the PGA Tour’s Travelers Championship.

During the Holiday Season, we run many projects such as Christmas Caroling in a retirement home, Holiday Gifts for Kids and Breakfast with Santa to name a few.

Social Activities

These events are fun and offer the chance to meet many new people. Examples include the Thimble Island Cruise, Movie Night, Progressive Dinner, Amerada and happy hours.

Leadership Training

These are opportunities to further your career. The Connecticut Jaycees host a quarterly speaking and writing competition, debate competition and trainings such as Roberts Rules, Time Management and Communication Skills.

Membership

These projects are designed to introduce young adults to the benefits of membership in the Jaycees and to activate new members into the chapter.

United States Junior Chamber

The United States Junior Chamber (Jaycees) gives young people between the ages of 18 and 40 the tools they need to build the bridges of success for themselves in the areas of business development, management skills, individual training, community service, and international connections. The U.S. Junior Chamber is a non-profit corporation/organization as described under IRS code 501

Established in 1920 to provide opportunities for young men to develop personal and leadership skills through service to others, the Jaycees later expanded to include women, reflecting the growing influence and leadership of women in America.

For the past 86 years, Jaycees have been a force for good in America and around the world. Jaycees helped establish AirMail services in America with Jaycee Charles Lindbergh, and have raised millions of dollars for causes such as the Muscular Dystrophy Association and the March of Dimes. They have built parks, playgrounds, hospitals, ball fields, and housing for the elderly while conducting service and support programs in thousands of communities nationwide.

Jaycees can be found in all walks of life: governmental leaders such as past Presidents Bill Clinton and Gerald Ford, business tycoons such as Domino’s Pizza mogul Tom Monaghan, registered nurse and former Miss America Kaye Lani Rae Rafko-Wilson, sports heroes like basketball great Larry Bird – name the field and Jaycees can be found at the forefront.

With the focus of the nation on volunteerism, from the smallest towns to the largest cities, the Jaycees are enlarging areas of opportunity for young people.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

To learn more about getting involved with this unique organization contact the National Service Center at: 1.800.JAYCEES

To learn how you can support the goals and objective of the organization through corporate partnerships or through membership benefits directly aimed at this proactive market, contact:

USJC Resource Development Manager
918.584.2481 Ext. 412
e-mail: executivecoordinator@usjaycees.org

JCI

JCI is a worldwide community of young active citizens ages 18-40 who share the belief that in order to create positive change, we must take collective action to improve ourselves and the world around us. Engaging in activities ranging from community development to international projects, members demonstrate their social responsibility and improve themselves through participation, leadership and action.

Mission: To provide development opportunities that empowers young people to create positive change.

Vision: To be the leading global network of young active citizens.

Values:

  • Faith in God

  • The brotherhood of man

  • Individual freedom and dignity

  • Government of laws

  • Human personality

  • Service to humanity

Be Better

JCI members constantly seek ways to live JCI’s slogan: Be Better. They not only believe that improvement is possible, they believe it is their responsibility to initiate positive change both in themselves and in their local community. All members around the world share this sense of social responsibility and the initiative to take action to create a better future for all.

JCI Around the World

With over 5,000 Local Organizations in more than 100 countries and territories, JCI forms a vibrant international community of nearly 200,000 active citizens. All members belong to a JCI Local Organization where they focus on finding solutions to improve their local community. Local Organizations are affiliated to National Organizations where members coordinate activities on national and international scales. This structure links JCI members together to form a global grassroots movement creating global impact through local action.

International Events

Each year, members from all over the globe come together at the JCI World Congress. At this event, JCI’s critical mass of young people unite to share experiences, understand the interconnectedness of our world and facilitate international cooperation. This global forum enables members to find new ways to take action in their local communities and make globalization a positive force.

JCI also hosts four regional conferences each year: Africa and the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific, the Americas and Europe. At these conferences, JCI conducts its affairs, hosts training, and gives members the opportunity to address global issues and show their commitment to becoming socially responsible leaders.

JCI History

Almost a century ago, Henry Giessenbier, Jr. decided to take responsibility for the progress and welfare of his community by helping tackle difficult problems around him. Together with 32 other young men, Giessenbier established the Young Men's Progressive Civic Association, JCI’s first Local Organization, in St. Louis, USA in 1915. The members of the first Local Organization dedicated themselves to bringing about community improvements and giving young people a constructive approach to civic problems.

By 1944, the movement had spread through eight countries. When delegates from these countries met in Mexico City at the Inter-American Conference that year, they agreed it was time to officially form Junior Chamber International. This deep-rooted tradition of bringing together active citizens from diverse backgrounds remains alive today in our international events. They fuel the JCI movement and set the groundwork to create positive change that transcends boundaries.

2009 JCI President Jun Sup Shin from JCI Korea.

JCI World Headquarters

The JCI World Headquarters is located in Chesterfield, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.A., where the first local organization was founded. A professional staff of full-time employees provides services to JCI members.

International Cooperation

JCI is an international Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) with active participation in the United Nations (UN) system. In this context, JCI has relations with the Office of the UN Secretary General (Secretariat) and a Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

JCI has cooperation agreements with the UN Global Compact; the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO); the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD); the Pan American Health Organization; the Conference of Non-Governmental Organizations (CONGO); the NGO Committee on UNICEF; the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and World Chambers Federation; the Council of Europe; AIESEC International; and Goal4Africa.

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