Projects

Individual Development
This area of focus ensures that our members have access to all types of projects that would provide them with a firm basis for increasing their leadership and personal skills in diverse areas. These projects include and are not limited to: Career Management, Communication and Delegation Skills, Persuading and Influencing, Parliamentary Procedure, and Computer and Software Training. Throughout the year, some personal development projects include: CPR and home repair as well as how to brew your own beer and wine tasting. Our members also have opportunities to work with a professional to update their resumes, challenge themselves with rock climbing, white water rafting, a ropes course, and chart their financial future.

Community Development
The Jaycees work hard to create positive change within the Greater Hartford Community. The CD program helps us to continue that tradition with such projects as building a new playscape for a school or park, serving meals at local shelters, working with Habitat for Humanity, running HOBY, a four-day youth leadership seminar for over 200 Connecticut high school sophomores, and bringing a group of our favorite special citizens on an outing. Our members hone their leadership and management skills by planning and running these projects. They set goals, work within a budget and manage communications and people. Many of our projects, like our participation in Special Olympics and working with the Humane Society, allow our members to interact with and support other local non-profit organizations.

Management Development
This area is where our members take what they have learned and put it into practice. Throughout the year, our members volunteer to do everything from helping new members get orientated to the organization and serving as leaders on our Board of Directors. These positions help them learn how to track not only their own leadership development, but also help our organization stay focused on the goals it has set. Through running a committee, chairing a project or holding a board position, you learn how to prioritize, motivate, make decisions, speak and write effectively, run meetings, set goals, organize and plan events, maintain budgets, manage volunteers and committees. This area also encompasses the Public Relations area as well as International projects such as World Congress where thousands of Jaycees from around the world gather at a different location each year such as Cannes, France and Barcelona, Spain to attend special events and classes taught by distinguished instructors. Other International projects include cultural dinners and festivals.