JCI has evolved as an organization over the last 100 years. Yet, it remains the same at its very core. Here is what it means to me as a member of 14 years.

1. Why be a JCIWhy be a JCI
Member?Member?
By JCI Sen. Lawrence See

2. Who are we?Who are we?
• Vision: The Leading Global Network of Young
Active Citizens
• My Personal Meaning: JCI is active citizenry of
the youth. We are society’s hands and legs,
doing what they’re “too busy” to do.
• Root word: Active. We activate society. We are
the catalysts. We use other people’s resources
to do our projects. We involve/activate society in
the projects that we do by asking them to
become sponsors, or participants.
• The Youth is the future of this country. Young
people will always challenge the status quo
• Old people are set in their ways and have
learned to accept the status quo and always say,
“that’s just how it is.” Pathetic right?

3. What do we do?What do we do?
• Mission: To provide development opportunities that
empower young people to create positive change.
• Definition:
– Provide – JCI is the platform. It is not paid to do anything for you. It is
a platform of your (or the group’s collective) self-expression.
– Development – By being actively involved, we assure you of
personal growth and development.
– Opportunities – These are modes of expression of your youthful
energies. Whatever you feel like contributing, is an opportunity that
will yield you returns that you can not even imagine in the future.
– Empowers – Both sector in society helped and the person involved.
– Young people – Between 18 to 40.
– Create – JCI will teach you to do many things by sheer will power.
Through resources you don’t even know you had. Through other
people’s money.
– Positive – Do you want it to be any other way?
– Change – Be happy with what you have, but be discontent and
dissatisfied with what you have accomplished for that is the creative
force that produces positive change..

4. What does it take?What does it take?
• 3 T’s and S – Your time, treasure, talent and sponsorship.
• Time – You need to put in time if you want to benefit from it.
• Treasure – Tuition fee in JCI is your annual dues, events
assessment, and traveling expenses when you meet people
in JCI who come from all over the world.
• Talent – We only require that you stretch your God-given
talents.
• Sponsorship – To become a member, you need to first be
sponsored, which is what your respective sponsors did.
Being a member is a privilege. It means your sponsors saw
something in you that would contribute to this organization.

5. ExcusesExcuses
• Don’t have Time – We always find time for what we love.
JCI is like a girlfriend. You never tell the girl you like “let’s
just meet once a week,” right? You always want to see that
girl or at least call her up? You incorporate her into your
busy schedules. That how JCI is. It is a lifestyle. Being a
director on the other hand, is like being married. You can’t
say no when the wife asks you to do your manly duties.
• Treasure – I don’t have money. Well, sadly, nothing in life is
free. We don’t ask you to contribute money into your own
projects because we are supposed to generate funds for
them. But we do expect you to pay your own way to
participate in our activities.
• Talent – I’m not good enough or talented enough. In life,
nobody starts out good at something. What’s important is
the willingness to explore and try. If you’re good at
something, start by contributing that but be sure to
continually learn new things. Development Opportunities
remember?

6. Why am I an active JCI Member?Why am I an active JCI Member?
• JCI Members help each other. I was down and a fledgling
consultant. My first project chairman saw potential in me and
instantly gave me a regular job in banking on our second
meeting.
• Friends for life. Most of us struggle from 20-40 years of age.
We lose track of our old friends in the process. Some get
married, others are too wrapped up in work. Once we hit 40, we
realize all our friends are gone and we start over. However, this
same time is the time JCI members are active. We spend time
working on projects together, we go out together, we invite our
families to each other’s special events like birthdays, weddings,
kiddie parties, etc. We become friends for life.
• Learnings. You learn in 5 years as a JCI member what
you’llusually learn in 20 years at work.
• Opportunities abound. Networking, business, community
service, individual development.

7. What does JCI ask in return?What does JCI ask in return?
• Let the world know who we are through words,
deeds and actions
• Become living witnesses for JCI and tell
everyone what benefits you gained from being
active
• Always promote JCI in all your projects. Let as
many people know what you did for others
through the organization.
• Encourage other people to join the movement

8. So why be a JCI Member?So why be a JCI Member?
• You are one of the privileged few to be
sponsored into this great organization.
– Your sponsor saw a great quality in you that
he thought could contribute to the movement
of creating positive change in society.
• With great privilege comes great
responsibility
• You are going to lead our society, not in
the future, but today. Starting today.