JCI Management news

JCI President Sees Great Potential in Ecuador

JCI — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 21:07:00 +0100

When JCI President Lars Hajslund arrived in Quito, Ecuador, July 25, he was received by a group of enthusiastic members of JCI Quito and JCI Quito Metropolitano led by National President Lorena Rodr�guez Galarza. For more than two hours in the afternoon, Hajslund met with local members and discussed various topics of interest, focusing on growth. �I was really impressed with their youthful spirit and courageous objectives,� said Hajslund. �When we discussed the changes needed to make the organization more relevant, I found they were eager to make those changes in Ecuador. I am sure we will soon have many great members in this country.� At a dinner-conference in the evening, Hajslund not only inspired but also entertained attendees. The feedback from the members was exceptional. �Our World President conveyed a very moving and clear message regarding what we are looking for in JCI, which is growth and development,� reported National President Rodr�guez. Hajslund also met with JCI Senators and asked them to support JCI Ecuador and its members, allowing young people to run the organization. �A JCI Senatorship is an honor you receive from your local organization,� he said. �It gives you the responsibility of being available when needed but also of believing in the vision of our founder and having faith in the decisions of young people.� Mutualista Benalcazar Hajslund visited the headquarters of Mutualista Benalcazar, a business born as a JCI Quito project 40 years ago to make homes more available to the general population. Today, Mutualista Benalcazar, a solid financial group with more than 300 employees, provides financial and housing services all over Ecuador. Thanks to Hajslund�s visit, Mutualista Benalcazar may provide office space for a national secretariat. �We may have a permanent national secretariat, as established by our constitution,� said Rodr�guez. Other Visits Accompanied by Rodr�guez and other JCI Ecuador members, Hajslund visited Lcdo. Gonzalo Ruiz �lvarez at the Chamber of Commerce of Quito. �We discovered that there were many opportunities for cooperation,� said Hajslund. �Although there had not been much collaboration up to that point, I�m sure that after our meeting we will do a great deal of co-branding and co-sharing of ideas.� After attending a cocktail reception at the Quito City Council with 50 beautiful people selected as Top Models of the World, Hajslund, Rodriguez and other JCI Ecuador members were received by the mayor of Quito, Paco Moncayo. �I've never seen a better welcome committee than the one at the Mayor's office in Quito,� said Hajslund. �Our World President was pleased with this meeting,� said Rodr�guez. A New Local Organization Accompanied by Rodr�guez and other JCI members, Hajslund traveled to Manta and Portoviejo, where Hajslund was interviewed by a local TV station, Capital Televisi�n. A press conference was followed by a dinner which was organized by a new potential local organization, JCI San Gregorio. �I met the members from the new local organization and really had a great time,� stated Hajslund. �There was so much energy in the room and so many people were really excited.� It�s expected that JCI San Gregorio will become an outstanding local organization. Great Potential �I've just completed two wonderful days in Ecuador,� reported Hajslund after the visit. �JCI Ecuador really has fantastic potential. National President Lorena is doing a fantastic job leading this organization.� Rodr�guez thanked all JCI members and senators who had contributed to the success of the visit and expressed her appreciation for the World President�s visit. �His vision of the future for JCI Ecuador and the concrete actions we plan to take will no doubt bear fruit,� she said. Visit Report by JCI Ecuador President (in Spanish)... More photos� _________________________________________________ Please send your comments, suggestions and news contributions.

JCI President Promotes Growth in Peru

JCI — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 13:39:00 +0100

Late at night on July 22, JCI World President Lars Hajslund arrived in Lima, Peru, and was welcomed by JCI Peru President Jacqueline Alvarado and many local JCI members. The following morning, Hajslund went for breakfast to JCI Senator Cesar Lavanda�s home, where he joined JCI national and local officers, as well as JCI Senators, to celebrate Lavanda�s birthday. While at Lavanda�s home, Hajslund met with JCI members and Senators. �It was great to hear how JCI Senators are ready to support the growth of the organization,� he said. �We agreed that their role is to help recruit new members and start new chapters. They want to help.�

JCI Fukuoka Promotes Bid for 2016 Olympic Games

JCI — Thu, 13 Jul 2006 11:06:00 +0100

Considering the experience and reputation they gained by successfully organizing the 2004 JCI World Congress, JCI Fukuoka�s members will no doubt excel at promoting the hosting of the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in their city. -- JCI Secretary General Edson A. Kodama Led by President Katsutoshi Koike, JCI Fukuoka members are promoting their city�s bid for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games. The internal bid will take place in late August this year. So far, the cities of Fukuoka and Tokyo are under consideration. With a population of 1.5 million, the City of Fukuoka is planning to present a concrete and efficient plan to face the competition � Tokyo, a mega city. Under the theme �2016 Olympic Games in Fukuoka, Kyushu, Go for it!,� JCI Fukuoka�s 307 members are aggressively promoting the bid. As part of their promotional plan, they recently submitted 270,000 signatures from people in the area to the Japan Olympic Committee (JOC). To collect signatures, they conducted a bicycle relay from Fukuoka to Tokyo (approximately 1,200 km). More than 130 JCI Fukuoka members took turns riding bicycles.

JCI Executive Committee Reviews CSR Area Resolutions

JCI — Tue, 04 Jul 2006 16:24:00 +0100

During the Midyear Executive Committee Meeting (MYE), JCI Executive Vice President Scott Greenlee reported on efforts related to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). He said that CSR had been discussed at the four 2006 JCI Area Conferences. As planned, JCI national presidents had drafted a CSR Area Resolution at each conference. After reporting on the four CSR Area Resolutions, Greenlee reiterated that, at the JCI World Congress in Seoul, Korea, in November, delegates will discuss the four CSR Area resolutions and issue a final and consolidated JCI CSR Resolution to be implemented worldwide. What is CSR? Corporate and Social Responsibility (CSR) is a concept that encourages companies to integrate social and environmental concerns in their business operations and in their interactions with their stakeholders on a voluntary basis.

JCI Members in Europe Delve into Corporate Social Responsibility

JCI — Mon, 26 Jun 2006 15:29:00 +0100

At the JCI European Conference in Tallinn, Estonia, delegates had the opportunity to examine Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Emmanuel Perakis, an inspiring and informative speaker, explained how CSR can help corporations move towards excellence and increase profitability while contributing to the well being and prosperity of entrepreneurs, employees, their communities, and the world. �Doing the Right Thing� Perakis presented Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as a �value-driven way� of doing business. �Although there are -mainly four- clear benefits for companies applying CSR practices, the driver for being responsible, fundamentally has to remain the mindset that �it is the right thing to do��, said Perakis. �Therefore, it is not only a matter of philanthropy,� added Perakis. �It is the ethical obligation of an organization to reduce the potential negative impact of its operations and increase their positive impact on employees, on society, and on the world around.�

JCI President Meets with Tunisia�s Prime Minister

JCI — Fri, 09 Jun 2006 11:42:00 +0100

Through JCI, young people can play a vital role in the development of entrepreneurship. -- JCI President Lars Hajslund On Wednesday, June 7, before the official opening of the JCI Conference for Africa and the Middle East (Area A) in Monastir, Tunisia, JCI President Lars Hajslund met with Mr. Mohamed Ghannouchi, Tunisia�s Prime Minister, at the palace in La Kasbah. �The primary reason for this meeting was to obtain support for JCI Tunisia and its outstanding projects,� stated President Hajslund. �A strong national organization with 105 local organizations and almost 2,800 members, JCI Tunisia will be aligned with the Tunisian government in the creation of new businesses.�

ASPAC 2006 Surpasses Expectations

JCI — Tue, 30 May 2006 09:38:00 +0100

Nearly 10,000 members from all over Asia, the Pacific, and the world gathered in Takamatsu, Japan, for the 2006 Area B (Asia-Pacific) Conference (ASPAC). They became immersed in dynamic activities arranged by the outstanding Conference Organizing Committee (COC) and took advantage of the opportunities they found to make international friends and contacts, receive training, exchange ideas, and develop themselves. His Imperial Highness Prince Akishino, who took part in ASPAC, met with JCI officers and others. His presence gave additional luster to the event. High Expectations Not only delegates, but also their respective local and national organizations had high expectations regarding ASPAC. JCI Gampaha (Sri Lanka) President Hyacinth Weerasinghe, for example, was eager for her members to attend ASPAC and expected a great deal from their participation.

JCI to Study Partnership with UN Foundation

JCI — Thu, 18 May 2006 17:29:00 +0100

Expressing interest in JCI�s mission and goals, the United Nations (UN) Foundation invited JCI to explore possible opportunities for collaboration between the two organizations. On May 17, 2006, JCI Secretary General Edson A. Kodama traveled to Washington to meet with Michael Madnick, Senior Vice President of the United Nations Foundation, and Cameron Dubes, Vice President of CCS Fund Raising, an international fundraising firm that specializes in working with nonprofit organizations. During the meeting, they discussed partnership opportunities to develop campaigns on behalf of specific global health issues.

JCI Discusses CSR at High-Level UN Meeting in New York

JCI — Tue, 25 Apr 2006 11:23:00 +0100

On April 24, 2006, JCI President Lars Hajslund, Secretary General Edson A. Kodama, Vice President Camilo Correa and Area Director Edmond Sakai attended a special high-level meeting of the Economic and Social Council with the Bretton Woods institutions, the World Trade Organization and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development in New York. Representing JCI, Vice President Correa participated in roundtable discussion on the theme "Implementation of and support for National Development Strategies towards the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the MDGs." During the roundtable, Correa delivered a speech related to the theme, as well as to the Vienna Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Treaty signed by JCI in 2005.

National Presidents to Draft CSR Resolution

JCI — Mon, 17 Apr 2006 13:20:00 +0100

At the JCI World Congress in Vienna, Austria, in October 2005, JCI officers and several high-ranking political and business representatives signed the �Vienna Treaty," which sets out Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as a principle of conducting business. Thus, JCI began a worldwide effort to promote CSR. In 2006, National Presidents will draft a CRS Resolution. "Through CSR actions taken at the national and local levels, we can be champions in this area," said JCI President Lars Hajslund in January 2006. JCI officers indicated that CSR projects can help members develop leadership skills, advance business success and prosperity in their communities, and gain public recognition for JCI.