What Are The Areas Of Opportunity?
Chapter Single Project and chapter and state Annual Report award entries are judged and recognized in four categories. These categories are known as the Areas of Opportunity. The Areas are categories in which a successful and well-rounded chapter excels. Based on question one of the Chairman’s Planning Guide (the primary purpose), all chapter projects and chapter and state annual reports are entered into national competition based on these categories. In addition, Commissions are used to further classify chapter projects and to divide the Areas of Opportunity into manageable units. Commissions provide additional means for chapters and states to develop and to offer balanced programs to their members and communities. Note: in most cases, “chapter” can refer to either a local chapter or a state organization in the below definitions and examples, except where otherwise specified.
Business Area of Opportunity
Embodying the line of the Jaycees Creed that states, “Economic justice can best be won by free men through free enterprise,” this area provides an opportunity for individual members to contribute to the development and enhancement of the economic infrastructure, prosperity, and well being for all nations. Almost all members of Junior Chamber are involved in some business activity - working on their own, for another company, or preparing to open their own business. The Junior Chamber was established in 1915 to give young people an active voice in the business community. This same purpose is now found in the Business Area of Opportunity and divided into four Commissions:
- Marketing and Public Relations Commission–Projects in this Commission are conducted to promote the image of your chapter and the Junior Chamber movement in the community. Examples include: Parades, Public Service Announcements (PSAs), Chapter Web Site, Chapter Newsletter, Articles in Local Newspaper, Distinguished Service Awards, Business Sponsor Awards, USJC “Unknown at Home” Training Module
- Strategic Planning Commission–This includes all projects involving recordkeeping and reporting, planning, needs analysis and evaluation. Examples include developing Chairman’s Planning Guides, creating, reviewing and revising a chapter business plan and any other short-term or long-term planning and evaluation. Training in the above activities would also be included here. Examples include: Membership Survey, Community Survey, Blue Chip, Chapter Business Plan, Chapter Mid-Year Review, Annual Report, Long-Range Planning Committee, CPG Training or “CPG Night”, USJC “Vision, Mission and Strategy” Training Module, USJC “The Plan” Training Module
- Financial Management Commission–This Commission ensures that the chapter’s finances are handled in a proper way and looks for ways to enhance the financial stability of the chapter. Any project run with the primary purpose of raising funds for the chapter would go here. Examples include: Chapter Fundraisers, Chapter Insurance
- Business Opportunities Commission–Projects in this Commission gives chapters the chance to enhance the economics of the community by conducting projects to increase business productivity. Economic progress can be achieved by partnering with the local Chamber of Commerce, organizing small investment clubs, visiting successful companies to learn how they conduct their business, and by inviting successful entrepreneurs to speak at monthly meetings. Junior Chambers can also conduct training sessions on how to enhance company operations and promote free enterprise as the best way to achieve economic justice. Examples include: Local Business Tours, Chapter Incorporation, Board Meetings, USJC “Entrepreneurs Program”
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Community Area of Opportunity
Embodying the line of the Jaycee Creed that states, “Service to humanity is the best work of life,” this area develops the sensitivity of individual members to societal problems, and knowledge of community dynamics in solving these problems, through actual experience. Like all citizens, Junior Chamber members have a stake in the betterment of their communities. The Community Area of Opportunity is built around four Commissions. Below are some basic concepts under these four classifications:
- Community Service Commission–This Commission involves projects that are designed to promote or improve the quality of life for people in the community. This includes projects that deal directly with people such as elderly assistance, mental health and retardation, and health and safety. Projects dealing with properties, economic development, energy and the environment would also be included here. Note: youth projects would be listed under the Children and Youth Commission (Community) and state, national and international Junior Chamber priority projects would be under the State, National and International Junior Chamber Involvement Commission (International). Examples include: Projects for the Underprivileged, Projects for the Elderly, Park Clean-Up
- Community Fundraising Commission–Projects in this Commission deal with the direct raising of funds for a specific non-Jaycee program. This includes fundraising for local disaster or emergency assistance, health related organizations, foundations and any organized community charities. Examples include: Disaster Assistance, Red Cross Fundraising
- Government and Civic Involvement Commission–These are projects that deal with all areas of involvement with the local, state and national governmental process. Projects include town forums, debates, “Get Out The Vote”, advocacy issues, criminal justice projects, etc., as well as providing assistance to other civic organizations in the community. Examples include: Town Hall Meetings, “Get Out The Vote”, Meet the Candidates, Visit the Mayor City Council Meeting Visitations, Assist with a Lions Club Project
- Children and Youth Commission–This Commission’s responsibility is to promote and coordinate projects related to children and youth. As the future of our community lies in the hands of today’s young people, many projects should be conducted to ensure that young people are well prepared to take the community leadership roles in the years to come. Examples include: Shooting Education, Fingerprinting, Building a Playground, Summer Reading Program Local Punt, Pass and Kick, Local Pitch, Hit and Run, Easter Egg Hunt
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Individual Area of Opportunity
Embodying the line of the Jaycee Creed that states, “Earth’s great treasure lies in human personality,” this area provides an opportunity for individual members to realize their personal potential through training programs. While there is an Area of Opportunity for individual development, every single activity in the Junior Chamber organization is oriented to develop the potential and skills of the individual member. Active participation in activities in any of the Areas will give the member the opportunity to enhance his or her potential. Training opportunities not specifically covered by another Area would be included here. The Individual Area of Opportunity through its four Commissions ensures that new members are brought into the organization and are provided with training to fully develop their personal and professional potential:
- Personal Development Commission–This Commission includes projects that improve the quality of life of the membership. Such projects provide education that benefits members in both their personal and professional lives. Examples include: Financial Planning Training, Retirement Planning, Family Life Projects Spiritual Development Projects, Hobbies, Time Management, Public Speaking, USJC “No Time to Lose” Training Module, USJC “Stress Management” Training Module, USJC “Value Investing” Video Seminar USJC Competitions
- Professional Development Commission–Projects aimed at developing members as leaders in their chapters and professions are the focus of this Commission. Examples include: LOTS (Local Officers Training School), Chairperson Training, Officer Training, “How to Motivate Others”, Personnel Management Training, Parliamentary Procedure Training, USJC “Career Advancement” Training Program, USJC “The Final Chapter” Training Program, USJC “Super 7 - Seven Steps to Effective Chapter Management” Training Program
- Membership Retention, Growth and New Chapters Commission–This Commission ensures that new members join the chapter regularly, receive proper orientation and are included in the chapter’s activities immediately after joining. Examples include: Recruiting, M-Night, Chapter Extensions, New Member Orientations, Springboard Degrees of Jaycees, USJC “Corporate Recruiting” Training Module, USJC “Relationship Recruiting” Training Module, USJC “The AIM Program” Training Module, USJC “30 Checks, What’s Next?” Training Module, USJC “It’s All Greek to Me” Training Module
- Chapter Activities Commission–This Commission ensures that members have the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of social activities, and that chapter meetings are well planned and members have the opportunity to participate in meeting procedures. Examples include: Chapter Visitations, Chapter Socials, Awards Program, Chapter Sports Team General Membership Meetings
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International Area of Opportunity
Embodying the line of the Jaycee Creed that states, “The brotherhood of man transcends the sovereignty of nations,” this area provides an opportunity for individual members to contribute to the development of goodwill, understanding, and cooperation among all peoples. Programming in this area would encompass all projects and programs that enhance a member’s knowledge of different cultures and countries around the world. This includes the following two Commissions:
- State, National and International Junior Chamber Involvement Commission–This Commission includes all state, USJC and JCI emphasis programs. Consult your state organization for a list of state programs. Note: chapter twinning would be included under the International Involvement Commission. Examples Include: State Priority Projects, State Punt, Pass and Kick, State Pitch, Hit and Run, Jaycees Against Youth Smoking, Outstanding Young Farmer, Ten Outstanding Young Americans, Junior Chamber Family AIDS Network, Citizen’s Corps, Family Talk, East African Center, Rebuilding Together, PRIME, JCI Business Academy, Best Business Plan in the World
- International Involvement Commission–Projects in this Commission include those that provide assistance or promote understanding and communications between the chapter and people outside the United States. Junior Chamber members recognize the fact that the present world problems can often be solved through international collaboration, tolerance and friendship. Members put this belief into practice by collaborating in joint worldwide projects. Examples include: Twinning, Food Drives for Other Countries, International Guest Speakers
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