Hello Jaycees!

 

We are at the halfway mark of our term and I would like to dedicate my message to our 2017 Board of Directors most especially to the next president who will lead our chapter.

 

Let me begin with a question: what should every JCI members aspire for?

For me the answer is simple.

Without doubt, every JCI member should aspire to become local organization president.

 

I say this for four specific reasons:

1. You will be directly involved with all the members of your chapter
2. You will be in control of all the projects and programs of your local organization that create positive change
3. You will have a network of local organization presidents as your batchmates
4. You will be free to a certain degree from the distraction of JCI politics.

 

As president, you are in the best position to create positive change. I believe that the LO presidency is the purest form of the JCI experience. Before I continue, let me say a few words on “positive change”. Do you agree that our time as JCI members is limited? Of course it is because we can only be member until we are 40. Not only that, but presidents can only serve in a given position only once, and for one year only.

We all know that JCI Cotabato, is a chapter of diverse and mixed culture which makes us more unique and does not allow conflict. Meaning, anyone can be a president regardless of race and religion. Given our limited time in this organization, I think we owe it to our values, our mission, to our fellow members, and to the community at large, that we should always seek to create, not just positive change, but the maximum amount of positive change.

 

Remember, nothing great has ever been achieved without hard work. Always do your best to create positive change. Always do it for the right reasons. We are all given one year to lead, there is no time to waste. Do not settle for mediocrity.

 

The next question is this: what is the lifeblood of any organization?

The lifeblood of any organization is its members.

But how do we engage members to create meaningful change?

I think the first strategy should be to take full advantage of the training that JCI has to offer.

More often than not, we don’t have full appreciation of the value of trainings. Sometimes, we see trainings as an expense – “gastos na sad” and that we have to spend money to set up and hope that we can recover the expenses from the assessment fees. Sometimes, we have issues regarding our JCI.CC accounts. Sometimes we almost have to force our members to attend.

If you have experienced, or continue to experience these things, don’t worry! All chapter presidents go through this growing pain, but we should take comfort in the saying: kung unsa’y batasan sa president, mao sad sa mga membro niya.

Do not understand your capacity to change the culture of your local organization. You are the leader of your chapter, its highest officer. Regardless of seniority, as chapter president, you are in charge. Your members will always look up at you for leadership, or at the very least evaluate your leadership.

 

Therefore, your perspective, your work ethic, your opinion, your action, the way you carry yourself, the way you manage your projects, even the way you speak to others – all of these and many more influence the behaviour of your members.

So if you chapter tends to shy away from training, it is up to you as president, to change that outlook within your local organization.

Remember our mission: “to provide development opportunities that empower young people to create positive change”. Before we can create positive change, we must first equip our members with necessary “development opportunities”, and we can do this by taking full advantage of the trainings available to us.

 

The second strategy is to adopt a management method that work. This usually comes from trails and error. In retrospect, I think the following worked very well during my presidency.

 

1. Delegating responsibility – I think the practice of delegating tasks and responsibility to your members is a good technique for your members to learn to grow. I think we have to do this because it is also our responsibility as presidents to train the next generation of JCI members that will take over leadership of our chapter.
2. Keeping a close eye to correct mistakes – do not hesitate to correct an error, especially in the execution of projects. Remember that JCI is an organization that allows you to make mistakes, but should never be left uncorrected. Keep in mind the saying: “praise in public but criticize in private”. Our objective is to learn, no to embarrass. Let us shy away from the “pwede na” mentality.
3. Owning the plan – to be able to sell an idea is one of the key traits of a good leader. But before we can sell any ideas to the members, you as president must first set a clear vision for your members.
4. Keeping busy – I think idle time is what makes JCI members lose their focus and consequently become inactive. Thus, keep pushing the envelope; generate a steady stream of projects and programs to keep your members busy. The feeling of accomplishment is very powerful motivator. Successful projects create motivated members.
5. Not shying away from big projects – the harder it is, the more we learn the bigger the reward. The third strategy is to adopt the mentality that we are here to “create more leaders and not followers”.

 

If I were to be asked “do you want to be the best?” definitely, “Yes! I want to be the best, the best for my family, my friends, for myself and for our organization.” And if I will ask you the same question, I am quite sure that the answer would be a definitive!

There is nothing wrong with that answer. But I think we should put this in perspective. Yes, as your chapter president. Next year, I would want of course, and we all want the successor to be better.

There is a saying that the hallmark of a good teacher is if the student surpasses the teacher. The same is true in our organization. We are in the business of making leaders not just out of ourselves but also out of every single member of our organization. This is a task that must be taken seriously. If our members feel that you are invested in their development as leaders, they are more likely to be active in your local organization.

If the leaders of tomorrow turn out to be better than us, that is a sign, that we did our job today.

 

The fourth strategy is to reward good leadership. Motivate the members of our chapter to perform at the highest level. One of the most effective ways of creating leaders is to give your members important responsibilities and the best way to do this is for a member to become a project chairman.

I believe that good work should not go unrewarded, even a simple token can be given in appreciation of their efforts. Remember that we are here as volunteers. This is a voluntary organization. We do not get paid for our work. It is important to let people know that they are appreciated.

 

Fifth, to continue to establish a working relationship with our LGU. We need all the help we can get. Beside our partnership with private entities, I think all local organizations should make an effort to establish ties with our respective LGUs.

Practically speaking, we know we don’t like our chapter to get politicized, but as much as possible, a working relationship must be established. When we partner with LGU, we are not after their name but we should also offer our service. It is a give and take parternship. I say this because having LGU support makes our chapter more active. An active chapter means its members are participating in the JCI Process, and in turn creating more positive change within their communities and themselves.

 

Lasty, bring our members to fellowships. Make an effort to bring them to the AreaCon, the Academies, the NatCon, and if possible, the ASPAC and even the World Congress, Soon.

 

As president, you have to be able to show your members that JCI is also fun and in this aspect, I don’t think anyone can deny our ability to have fun. I am sure, once they have experienced something like the NatCon, they will be more motivated to participate in JCI activities.

Before I end, I would like to extend my congratulations to all the nominees for the 2017 Board of Directors.

 

My final message, Do not let your term end with regrets about what you could have done or could have done better. One year goes by very fast. While there is still enough time, do the things you set out to accomplish. Do not take your term as president for granted.

And also, remember we cannot control others of what they will say or do against you. Expect those things will happen too but the greatest challenge for you is how YOU will react to those judgements and criticisms. Ano ba? Does that circumstances will make you a better person or will it break you?

 

Well, I chose and think positive! Step up and make a difference. Don’t be pressured of me and of others, instead be yourself! Unleash the possibilities that you can do for yourself and for our chapter. I started it strong and continue it stronger!

 

Good luck and God bless to all the nominees.

 

 

 

Leslie C. Yap
2016 LO President

JCI Cotabato