West Virginia Jaycees: State Information

Healthy Chapter Checkup

The information in this section is designed to ensure that every chater within the West Virginia Jaycees is up to date on all of the policies, standards, and requirements that the US Jaycees require from every chapter, regardless of state or location within the country.

Please be sure to come back to this page on a regular basis, and be sure to check over it after every new election to ensure that your chapter is not only healthy, but doing the best that it possibly can be.

Meetings

o Take written minutes and produce them for review and approval at next meeting
o Follow Robert’s Rules of Order
o Have written agenda at all meetings
o Call and e-mail people about the meetings
o Provide speakers/Individual Development trainings
o Have introductions of members and guests

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Newsletters

o Include meeting and project dates in calendar of newsletter
o Include contacts for board members and project chairmen
o Send newsletter by mail or e-mail to members and prospects in a timely manner to ensure attendance at projects and meetings
o Have articles in newsletter from at least the president and vice presidents

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Website

o Contact the state webmaster whenever you have an election
o Attempt to maintain some kind of web presence; the state webmaster is happy to assist. Contact him at webmaster@wvjaycees.org
o Have list of contacts on site
o Update at least once per month to include current information, events, contacts
o List date, time, and location of meetings and projects

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Chapter Management

o Have liability insurance. Make sure you have a rider if necessary for big projects such as a Haunted House
o Update bylaws, constitution, policies and procedures every two years
o Hold annual elections with a nominating/election committee
o Hold an annual chapter planning session, review strengths and weaknesses, make a list of goals in each area to achieve in the coming year
o Prioritize projects to achieve these goals
o Prepare a budget for the year
o Have the plan reviewed and approved by the chapter at the beginning of the year.
o Submit dues payment on a monthly basis.
o Hold at least one chapter management fundraiser, one community fundraiser, one individual development project and one membership night each year
o Attend state meetings to learn about other chapter’s events, state, and national programs and resources.
o Hold New Member Orientations as needed.

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Springboard and Degrees

Springboard
Designed for first-year members, Springboard is a tool to ensure members have every opportunity to become an active and productive member. Aimed at creating well-rounded Jaycees, the Springboard activities entail participation in community and individual development, as well as membership/social events.

The local chapter Membership Vice President or designated Director should assist the new member with completing a Springboard Enrollment Form. This form also is available electronically at www.wvjaycees.org or on the US Jaycees website www.usjaycees.org.

Springboard Certification
The final requirement for Springboard is to renew membership at the end of the first year. Upon completion of the Springboard requirements, the local chapter Membership Vice President or designated Director, should assist the member with completing the Springboard Certification Form, ask the Chapter President to sign it, and mail it to the State Regional Director or Springboard and Degrees Program Manager. Once new members have completed the Springboard requirements, they will have earned their first three Degrees.

Degrees of Jaycees
Degrees of Jaycees is a career path for members, providing a logical sequence of events to be followed to ensure that members have the opportunity to take advantage of balanced programming and can experience the total Jaycee concept. By working through the various requirements spread across ten degree levels, members will learn and grow in the Junior Chamber experience. The first three degrees may be earned within the member’s first year through the Springboard program or individually if not completed with the first year.

For the member, Degrees is a guide for personal growth. In addition, each member completing the Degrees of Jaycees program achieves the benefits of leadership training while directly affecting the experience of other members.

For the chapter, Degrees of Jaycees is a personnel management program, which can be used toward the achievement of chapter goals through member participation. The chapter also gains increased visibility and influence within the community.

Members advance through the Degrees by attending various events, recruiting new members, and holding leadership roles within their chapter or on the state/national level. Different requirements are defined for each level on the Degrees of Jaycees form included in this section.

The Degrees program is divided into three phases, as described below:

Phase 1: Involvement
The first three degrees provide newer Jaycees with opportunities to experience orientation, training, community awareness, and sharing Jaycees. (See Springboard)
Phase 2: Experience
Degrees four, five, and six are designed to let Jaycees use their experience from the first phase to develop skills in activation and recruiting.
Phase 3: Leadership
The last four Degrees use the Jaycees’ training and leadership skills gained in the first two phases.

Degrees Certification

When a Degree has been achieved, the local chapter Membership Vice President or designated Director, should assist the member with completing a Degrees of Jaycees Certification Form (found in the useful documents section,) listing the Degree and activities completed. Have the local chapter President sign the form, and send it to the Program Manager.

Why should my chapter promote Springboard and Degrees? It is a terrific way to get members activated and ensure that they get the most from their Jaycee experience.

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