Frequently Asked Questions
New members have lots of questions to ask about the organisation so we've tried to include some of these here.
What are the differences between Junior Chamber International Glasgow (JCI Glasgow) and the Chamber of Commerce?
JCI Glasgow was previously Glasgow Junior Chamber of Commerce and there have been many misconceptions regarding what relationship JCI Glasgow has with the Chamber of Commerce.
One of the most common is that we are “baby” members of the Chamber of Commerce who will graduate to the senior Chamber once our businesses grow larger. Not true! One of the main differences between the two organisations is that companies or organisations join the Chamber of Commerce whilst you join the Junior Chamber of Commerce as an individual. In addition the two organisations have different objectives with the Chamber being the voice of businesses in the city whilst JCI focuses on offering individuals personal development opportunities.
What is JCI and JCIS?
Our chapter in Glasgow was known as Glasgow Junior Chamber of Commerce (GJCC) for 69 years but we decided to change our name to Junior Chamber International Glasgow in line with other chapters of the Junior Chamber International movement.
The JCI world wide movement has almost 200,000 members in 110 countries. That is 6000 local chambers so there are ample opportunities on offer to see large parts of the world. Further information can be found at www.jci.cc .
JCIS is Junior Chamber International Scotland. This is the national organisation of which JCI Glasgow is a member. Part of your membership subscription is paid to JCIS. The national web site is www.jciscotland.org.uk
What are TOYP and BPP?
The Outstanding Young Person (TOYP) is an international awards programme run by JCI that serves to recognise individuals between the ages of 18 and 40 who exemplify the best attributes of the world's young people. The aim for TOYP is to recognise achievement by our young leaders and to inspire others working in similar areas. Past Scottish winners include Chris Gorman and Graham Obree.
The Best Business Plan (BPP) competition was launched by JCI in 2001 with the aim of fostering an entrepreneurial spirit amongst its members. Since its inception the competition has helped launch 7 new enterprises. The winner at a world level receives $5,000 start up funding.
Are there any training courses available at an International or National Level?
The 2 main previous courses were PRIME & EXCEL. These were the courses you had to complete if you wanted to run training for JCI at national or international level. These were always well attended as training is one of the most enjoyable aspects of the JCI world. You get a chance to participate in training all over the world once you become established as a competent trainer. The last PRIME & EXCEL courses are being run in 2007.
These have now been replaced by Presenter & Trainer. Presenter is a 2 day course on how to do presentations. The next step up is Trainer. There are various aspects of this depending on how far you wish to take your JCI training potential. You need to complete the basic Trainer course in order to get accreditation for training programmes you run. See www.jci.cc for further details.
There are also various Leadership Academies run through out the world. In the UK , there is the British Leadership Academy which just started in 2007. Previous to this there was the Scottish Leadership Academy run by Mel Harris.
The most recognised Leadership Academy is the European Academy held every year in Sweden which has participants from every corner of Europe & sometimes further a field. Most of the graduates from this Academy go on to become local & national Presidents.
Are there grants available to attend these courses?
Yes, there are a few sources of potential funding. The Scottish Senate are prepared to contribute £100 to the cost of JC members attending an overseas training event. The senate is part of JCI Scotland. The Training Trust for Scotland can also be applied to for potential sponsorship. The local chapter may give some funding to the individual but this may vary from chapter to chapter.
What is a twin chamber?
Twinning is a relationship between two Junior Chamber chapters usually in different countries. The motivation to twin originates from the members in two chapters who wish to establish a mutual understanding and friendship. The objective is to exchange personal visits, ideas, projects and culture.
Does Glasgow Junior Chamber have any twins?
Glasgow has three long standing twinning arrangements with the local chambers in Leeds, Dublin and Oulu in Finland . Our twins are invited to our Colquhoun dinner and over the past few years we have organised a whole programme of events for that weekend. Oulu invites Glasgow members to come to Finland for their Crayfish Banquet in August and over the years a number of us have had fantastic fun in Oulu . Members of Glasgow attend the Annual Dinners of our twins in Dublin and Leeds and we also meet up with our twin chambers at conferences.
How can I get more involved?
We are always keen for new members to get involved in the running of the organisation and this can be done in a number of ways depending on your area of interest and/or expertise. Just speak to any member of the management team and we'll let you know what options are available.