Every year local chapters, regions and national areas hold Effective Speaking Competitions to help people train and gain experience in public speaking. This is a deep tradition in Brantford and was held once again by the JCI Brantford Chapter on Thursday, April 20, 2016. 

The winner of the JCI Brantford competition goes on to represent the local chapter at the competition held at the JCI Regional Conference. The winner of that goes on to the National level, and then potentially moves onto the America's and eventually the World competition. By putting yourself forward, the payoff in training and experience is unmeasurable. 

This year, the Chapter was hosted by the owners of BRELU Restaurant at 153 West St, Brantford who provided us with space and delicious refreshments for the evening.  Thank you for your generosity and I hope this partnership with our organizations is long lived.

Two competitors, Joshua Wall and Aaron DeMille, prepared a 5 to 7 min speech on a pre-determined theme of “Leading by Example”.  Their second speech is considered “impromptu” where the theme of “If you had to choose anyone in history to have lunch with, with whom would it be and why” was not told to them until just before they spoke. They were given 1 minute to prepare a 2 to 4 minute speech to deliver.

Our elite panel of judges had their work cut out for them. Current JCI Brantford member Jeremy Voss has participated in the JCI National Speaking Training and completed at the local level. JCI Brantford Alumni John Murnaghan, a member from 1991 to 2012 represented our region at the national level with his effective speaking. JCI Brantford Alumni Doug Summerhayes (Order of Canada and Co-Founder of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Canada) had represented JCI Brantford at the provincial level in the late 1950’s.

After a wonderful night of speeches, the 2016 JCI Brantford Effective Speaking Champion and the person representing the local chapter at Regionals this year is Aaron DeMille. CONGRATULATIONS! Both Joshua and Aaron spoke passionately and eloquently and are excellent examples of how our chapter of young active citizens is striving to BE BETTER.

JCI Brantford's mission is to "empower young people to create positive change" doesn't stop with local projects.   Once a need has been assessed in a local community, it is often partnerships with other community organizations that make lasting sustainable change in a community.  When we found a need in the Brantford community for more positive learning opportunities for youth, member Aaron De Mille was reminded of the impact that Junior Achievement (JA) had on his life and picked up the phone.  Little did he know that JA was already looking for opportunities to expand their programming to Brantford and South-Western Ontario.  A perfect match echoed by the enthusiasm of JA Waterloo President and CEO, Karen Gallant.

It wasn't long after that call that a committee was formed in JCI and Karen was invited to present the Company Program to JCI members at their April 6th General Members meeting.   Karen is an amazing presenter with professional experience at the business incubator, Communitech based in waterloo.  Karen shared some of the amazing points of impact that the Company Program makes around the world, some especially interesting facts are highlighted below:

75% percent of Achievers stated that JA has had a significant impact in the development of their financial literacy and decision-making skills.  JA inspires students to stay in school and prepares them to succeed in tomorrow’s jobs. Through our programs, students learn how to translate their interests and skills into successful careers. They also develop practical job skills in such as interviewing, communications and critical thinking.

65% of Achievers stated that JA has had a significant impact on their decisions to stay in school and enroll in post-secondary education.  Graduates from JA programs save more and borrow less than the average Canadian. In our financial literacy programs, students learn how to create and manage wealth. They develop real-world skills that they can apply to their lives immediately – such as budgeting, investing and aligning their financial choices with their goals.

JA graduates are 50% more likely to open a business.  JA graduates are more likely to launch businesses and create jobs. Through our entrepreneurship programs, students gain firsthand experience in running a business. They work with mentors from their local business communities to create strategies and manage companies. Many business leaders cite JA’s Company Program as the catalyst that gave them the ambition to launch a business and the skills to do so successfully.

So what is the Company Program? (From the JA Waterloo Website)

The after-school Company Program is designed to help young people appreciate and better understand the role of business in our society. With the support and guidance of local business professionals high school students get the opportunity to build their own business enterprise.

While operating their business, Achievers will have the opportunity to:

• Incorporate and capitalize by selling shares
• Organize a Board of Directors and elect a management team
• Produce and market a product or a service
• Establish production and sales goals for their company, and monitor progress toward goals at regular company meetings
• Maintain and analyze financial records
• Compile an annual report for shareholders, pay a dividend and liquidate the business

Through this after-school Company Program Junior Achievement of Waterloo Region seeks to:

• Link students with mentor Advisors in the form of volunteers from our community who are knowledgeable about business operation and may be working local businesses or operating their own.
• Oversee the integrity of the ventures through robust policies
• Ensure the safety of products and services
• Develop lasting relationships that bring students, mentors, and the business  community together for mutual benefit.

JCI is already forging partnerships with the Grand Erie District School Board and the City of Brantford to bring the JA Company Program back to Brantford.  For more information, contact member Aaron De Mille who is leading the JCI efforts relating to this innitiative.

Bowling is a great way to spend time with friends during the cold (or sloppy) winter months.  Members of JCI Brantford met at Star Lanes bowling alley on Saturday, Feb 13th for a good time and a side game of poker.  And at JCI events, you don't even have to PLAY to win - as one of our newest members Mandy English found out when she won the first Poker hand.  We might have bent the rules a bit for her and had a rotating schedule of "surrogate" bowlers to stand in while she cheered on the sidelines and nursed a sore wrist.   

In attendance was JCI members James Reinelt, Mandy English, Secretary Thomas Ferris, VP Jason Freeze (who we now blame for weather this time of year),  Jeremy Voss, and organizer Aaron De Mille.  About half way through the night President Adam Marshall visited to support the social as well as VP Michelle Yuile and and member Shawn Stemmler. 

Although no-one recorded the scores (perhaps conveniently), it was a night of fellowship and fun, and is a great way to meet JCI members for the first time or to hang out with friends.