“A great leader is like a shepherd. He stays behind the flock, letting the most nimble go out ahead, whereupon the others follow, not realizing that all along they are being directed from behind.” – Nelson Mandela
Junior Chamber International (JCI), a non-profit international non-governmental organization of young people between the ages of 18 to 40 years old and founded by Henry Giessenbier on December 11, 1944 in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, has deliberately served the worldwide community since its inception while instinctively guided by its undemanding but challenging slogan: “Be Better!”
Tracing its origin as far back as 1910 when Geissenbier formed the Herculaneum Dance Club with the main objective of preserving conservative dance style, the organization’s membership enormously grew and expanded across the country after having been active in copious social and civic community projects.
Earlier dubbed as Junior Citizens (for obvious reason) the said organization was commonly called “JCs” for short which later was coined “Jaycees” for which it was presently better known for. Its international chapter began in 1932 with the Winnipeg Board of Trades becoming the first Junior Chamber outside the US, after which other countries enthusiastically joined and formed chapters of their own.
In 1944, during the first International Conference held in Mexico City, Raul Garcia Vidal was elected the organization’s first President that enticed several North American countries to join the league and form chapters. Two years later, in 1946, the first World Congress was held in Panama City which was attended by 44 delegates who elected Panamanian Erasmo Chambonnet as JCI second President.
Through the years, Jaycees International has constantly changed and evolved with the times. In 1976, in order to reflect the better image of the organization, women members were welcomed into membership and Ebba Zachariassen of Sweden was unanimously elected first female international officer.
Then just last Monday, July 20, 2015 at the Ramada Plaza Newark Airport, a significantly well-attended Community Partnership Forum was sponsored by JCI North Jersey, through the initiative of its indefatigable President, Ria Serrano, Project Chairperson Joyce Andes-David, officers and members, with JCI World President Ismail Haznedar as special guest.
As a dynamic group and affiliate of Junior Chamber International, JCI North Jersey is considerably young…merely a year old as of Saturday, July 25, 2015 but it has impressively accomplished its mission of providing opportunities and empowering young people to be able to create change and make a difference.
Guests were provided with light snack of assorted fresh fruits, drinks, and bagels (plus goody bags) sufficient to sustain the lengthy but pleasurable session. A well-appointed panel of distinguished resource persons, led by Mr. Haznedar, added extra “drive” to the already well-driven young spirited event.
Seated on the panel were: JCI World President Ismail Haznedar; JCI USA National President Jennifer Ray of Boston (incidentally, she’s the 95th JCI USA President); Commissioner Steven Rogers of Nutley, NJ; Council President Rolando Lavarro of Jersey City, NJ; Councilman Peter Mendonez of West Windsor, NJ; Councilman Jonathan Wong of Mahwah, NJ; and PACCAL Founder- President Emeritus Linda M. Mayo of Jersey City.
The preliminary highlight of the event was a sterling video clip presentation that essayed every bit and piece achieved and accomplished by JCI North Jersey Chapter during its entire year of existence. Ria Serrano’s indisputable management and keen sense of unparalleled leadership undeniably proved her full competence as the prominent organization’s local chapter’s president.
Meet 2015 JCI World President Ismail Haznedar
Born on September 18, 1976 in Tetovo, Republic of Macedonia, Ismail Haznedar holds a bachelor’s degree in Management, a Master’s Degree in Marketing, and concurrently continues his studies leading to his PhD in Organizational Development.
Haznedar joined JCI Avrasya in 2005 and in just three years he was elected Local President then later served as JCI Turkey National President in 2010. His unprecedented potentials earned for him a nomination from JCI Turkey that paved way to his getting elected as 2015 JCI President during the 2014 JCI World Congress in Leipzig, Germany.
With his enormous capacity to translate vision into reality that eventually magnified his exceptional accomplishments, due awards and recognitions came in exceedingly: Most Outstanding Turkish Local President of the Year (2008), Special Recognition during the 2010 JCI World Congress in Osaka, Japan, Leader of the Most Outstanding Team of Appointees (2013), Most Outstanding Executive Vice-President (2014 in Valleta, Malta), honored as JCI Senator No. 69159, and is a Phil Pugsley Patron of the JCI Foundation, a foundation named after the 1951-52 JCI President and Founder of the JCI Senate..
Haznedar has every inch the traits and aura of a born leader. Possessing a well-built physique with a towering height of 188 cm. (6’3”) and tips the scale at 88 kilos (194 lbs), the current JCI World President was affable and acquiescent. “The very first time I joined the organization when I was 30, I already saw the great possibility that I could manage to create impact in others’ lives that they may grow and prosper,” was his arresting response to my query about what made him embrace such humanitarian service after his exceptionally inspiring speech. “Hopefully, during my term, I could build alternative means to unlock the youths’ potentials that they may perform better to bridge the gap between the present and the next generation.”
With the 124 countries where JCI is actively organized, Haznedar has traveled around to more than 40 to meet other foreign organizations, has attended 13 JCI Area Conferences, 7 World Congresses, and 4 JCI Global Partnership Summits. “This is a continuous effort that should be sustained to build a better future and this is only possible if we become united to be able to fulfill the challenge,” he shared.
The induction ceremony of new JCI New Jersey Youth and JCI North Jersey members more than instantaneously proved the august involvement of the young generation who are already innately armed with aspirations and driven to serve the community despite their tender age…as if responding in unison to Haznedar’s mandate: “My goals are to see an increased commitment amongst young people to active citizenship in communities around the world, spread greater impact to communities through increased action and connection of members, and ensure that JCI Active Citizen Framework projects care for and are align with the local community needs.”
With the more than a thousand JCI organizational chapters in the USA alone, JCI World President Ismail Haznedar tries to squeeze into his hectic schedules every invitation just so to be able to reach out and personally meet with his subordinates while in the country.
The JCI Creed, if only being adhered, advocated, and practiced, could easily be a faultless life’s steering guide to a more peaceful, better, and harmonious world…as it states: We believe that faith in God gives meaning and purpose to human life; That brotherhood of man transcends the sovereignty of nations; That economic justice can be best won by free men through free enterprise; that government should be of laws rather than of men; that earth’s great treasures lies on human personality; and that service to humanity is the best work of life.
Incidentally, the well-powered young minds that composed the 2015 JCI North Jersey Executive Board Members are: Chapter President-Ria Serrano, EVP-Bernard Cortes, VP for Internal Affairs-Joyce Andes-David, VP for Community Services- Emiljun Rapada, VP for Individual Development – Shine Wann, and VP for Membership Services- Christian Angeles.
Director for International Affairs – Christine Rapada, Director for Community Services – Patrick Lee, Director for Individual Development – James Tagorda, and Director for membership Services – Mylz Tolentino.
Other officers include: Secretary – Joliza Pucci, Treasurer – Allah Arcanghel, Auditor – Gladies Natividad-Llamas, Webmaster – James Tagorda, Board Adviser - Loren San Diego, and Legal Counsel – Gary Abasolo while Jesse Arteche and Richard Rillera are designated Presidential Advisers.
By and large, the recently concluded Community Partnership Forum could be ambitious and tedious but it justifiably exemplified a mutually interactive and motivated dialogue among government officials, business entities, civic-oriented organizations, and community leaders where they profoundly discussed current social issues and came up with sustainable solutions to ease, if not totally eradicate, prevailing problems hindering the progress of the community, the youths in particular.
For membership inquiry or more information about JCI North Jersey, please visit their homepage at www.jcinorthjersey.org or email at [email protected] or call tel. 201-304-7536. You can also visit their facebook page, instagram, and tweeter @jcinorthjersey
For comments and suggestions, please email to: [email protected].
