About the Hawarden Iowa Junior Chamber
The Jaycees (or Junior Chamber) is a group of young men and women that join together to improve their lives and their communities. Our goal is to provide leadership training through community service. The Individual Development area sets the Junior Chamber apart from other organizations. While many other groups offer community service and social activities, only Junior Chamber chapters offer members the opportunity for self-improvement. By chairing a local project, a young person can practice organization, delegation, time and resource management, public relations and motivational skills. The Jaycees also offer training programs, usually at no cost to the member, that teach these skills. Even if a project does not meet its goals, if the chairperson learned from the experience, then it's not a failure.
The Junior Chamber organization starts with the local chapter. This chapter will typically serve one or more communities. Chapter members are automatically a member of a state organization, as well as the National organization (U.S. Junior Chamber) and the International organization (Junior Chamber International). Young people all over the world are engaged in Junior Chamber activities. Opportunities for international training and travel are available to members. At each level there are officers that oversee the day-to-day functioning of the organization.
Business Development focuses on projects that benefit members in their professional career. The Junior Chamber Center for Entrepreneurship and Career Advancement is a program of seven training sessions to teach interested individuals the basics or starting and operating a small business. This includes money making events like barbecues, food or beverage stands at local festivals, Haunted Houses or raffles. It also includes public relations projects like participating in parades. It also covers events that help the chapter become successful like yearly planning sessions and budgeting.
Individual Development projects are those designed to help Jaycees improve their skills or gain knowledge. In addition to business and leadership skills, we also offer fun activities like mini-golf, wine-tasting, stress relief or surfing the Internet. Family concerns such as caring for aging parents or communication skills fall into the Individual Development area, and spiritual development projects that allow members to learn more about their own or another religion are also popular.