JCI Ralston

Infobox Non-profit
Non-profit_name = Junior Chamber International Ralston
Non-profit_
Non-profit_type = Service / NGO
founded_date = September, 1968
location = Ralston, Nebraska, USA
key_people = 2008 President, Chad Sherrets
2008 Chairman of the Board, Melissa Gilbert
2008 Business VP, Meredith Kavan
2008 Community VP, Amy Roeder
2008 Individual VP, Julie Sharp
area_served = Ralston, Nebraska
focus = Individual, Community, International, Business
method = Community service
revenue =
endowment =
num_volunteers =
num_employees =
num_members = 60
owner =
homepage = [http://www.jci-ralston.org www.jci-ralston.org]
dissolved =
footnotes =

JCI Ralston is the Ralston, Nebraska chapter of the Junior Chamber International (JCI) organization.

The chapter was founded in September 1968 as the Ralston Jaycees. In December 2007, the local chapter changed its name to JCI Ralston and restructured itself to identify with the international organization. The chapter has ranged in size from between 20 and 140 members over the years.

JCI Ralston seeks to provide the following to its membership: community service opportunities; leadership and project management trainings; civic involvement; social networking; and business skill development. Projects are run within the Ralston community as much as possible in order to support the local economy.

Members are men and women between the ages of 21 and 40. As a volunteer organization, member attendance to meetings and projects is not mandatory, but it is encouraged.

Members are encouraged to step up for leadership positions through serving in elected office, chairing projects, and getting involved with chapter committees. Leadership positions exist not only at the chapter level, but also at the regional, state, national, and international levels.

Relationship with Ralston

JCI Ralston holds a seat on the [http://www.ralstonareachamber.org/ Ralston Chamber of Commerce] , and works closely with the chamber and the [http://www.cityofralston.com/ City of Ralston] to support them.

As Ralston Nebraska is known as the Independence City, the local Chamber of Commerce holds many events around Independence Day which JCI Ralston volunteers for. This includes running the July 3rd Picnic in the Park and Kids Games (for families in the community), the July 3rd street dance (to raise funds for scholarships), and building a float for the Independence Day Parade.

Other community events that JCI Ralston volunteers for include the S.U.R.E. (Spruce Up Ralston's Environment) Cleanup in April, Tunes in Town Square during the summer, Ralston Night Out in August, and Holiday Magic in November. Additionally, the mayor of Ralston declares one week in October as JCI Mission Week at a city council meeting. This is designed to recognize the positive work done by JCI Ralston.

JCI Ralston Branding

The symbol for the chapter is a red and white, four-panel checkerboard. This is often used on their marketing materials to identify them.

The mascot for JCI Ralston is a donkey named "Jack A. Ralston".

JCI Ralston Purpose

= The Mission Statement of JCI Ralston is as follows: =

"To contribute to the advancement of the global community by providing the opportunity for young people to develop the leadership skills, social responsibility, entrepreneurship and fellowship necessary to create positive change."

= The Statement of Purpose for JCI Ralston is below: =

# Civic service through the organized efforts of the young people of the community, to promote the welfare of the community and its citizens through active, constructive projects, and;
# To provide the young people constituting its membership with training in leadership and to instill civic consciousness to better their usefulness as citizens."

The Vision Statement of JCI Ralston is summed up by one of founders of JCI:

"From within the walls of the soul of this organization, wherein the foundation of character and citizenship are laid, we hope a message will come forth in the sometime of tomorrow that will stir the people toward the establishment of a permanent and everlasting world peace." - Henry Giessenbier

The Values of JCI Ralston are summed up by the Jaycee Creed:

"We believe that faith in God gives meaning and purpose to human life,
That the brotherhood of man transcends the sovereignty of nations,
That economic justice can best be won by free men through free enterprise,
That government should be of laws rather than of men,
That earth's great treasure lies in human personality,
And that service to humanity is the best work of life!"

External links

* http://www.jci-ralston.org - JCI Ralston official website
* http://www.nejaycees.org/ - Nebraska Jaycees website
* http://www.usjaycees.org/ - United States Jaycees website
* http://www.jci.cc/ - Junior Chamber International (JCI) website
* http://www.cityofralston.com/ - City of Ralston website
* http://www.ralstonareachamber.org/ - Ralston Chamber of Commerce website

References

* http://www.jci-ralston.org
* http://www.jci.cc/
* http://www.ralstonareachamber.org/