NYSJC Metro Chapters have many reasons to be proud this year

By 2007 NYSJC Metro-Conference Director Shonda Ranson

In St. Louis in 2006, former MCD Jennifer Sinatra-MacNeil (Buffalo) attended a special training with the idea that someday, New York State would host the prestigous JCI MetNet international conference. Well, from her beginnings to our formal bid in Atlanta in August 2007, New York State has made a big name for itself and is hosting JCI MetNet 2008: “MetNet & the City.”

But we haven’t stopped there. New York City Metros played hosts to many JCI international guests and banded together to impress UN delegates for a New York City night. Rochester launched a countywide young talent survey that made statewide news and started a conference led by First Lady Governor Silda Spitzer while capturing the attention of local colleges and setting the groundwork for collegiate extensions. KAJC Presidential Advisor Jonathon led an international moment of silence in honor of the Virginia Tech shooting victims. Syracuse connected with young professional giant 40 Below to begin a new collaborative partnership and invited them to participate in the JCI Training program. PNY boosted membership training to a new level and still kept their high level of community involvement. And, finally, Christine D’Andrade was elected the 2008 Metro-Conference Director while Gina Pellettieri took on the JCI MetNet Chairperson role.

Still, with all of these accomplishments, the most impressive accomplishment of the New York State Metro Chapters in 2007 was their ability to seek involvement of all of New York State, whether through the acceptance from the Board of Directors or consulting all of the chapters regardless of designation. Truly, what we’ve accomplished in 2007 will carry us through years to come and I am very proud that I was allowed to be a part of it.

The passing of my Great, Great Aunt Fondy -- A Strong, Amazing Lady

Fonda Opal Heath Pumphrey
Fonda Opal Heath Pumphrey, 93, of 4030 Indian Fork Road, Orlando, departed this life at approximately 3:45 p.m. on Friday, December 14, 2007, at her home.
Fonda was born on March 11, 1914, a daughter of the late Charles Bates Heath and Amanda Mae Bond Heath, in Lewis County.
On June 9, 1932, she was united in marriage to Alvin J. Pumphrey, who preceded her in death in June 1985.
Surviving are two grandchildren: grandson, Robert P. Pumphrey II of Indian Fork Road and granddaughter, Robin Lynn Pumphrey, also of Indian Fork Road; one sister, Rena P. Heath Pumphrey, Indian Fork Road; a special nephew, Earnest "Cliff" Wine, her caregiver and faithful friend; several other nieces and nephews; and many other special friends.
In addition to her parents and husband, Fonda was preceded in death by her only son, Robert Parker Pumphrey; four brothers, Oliver Herbert Heath, Alton Parker Heath and two infant brothers; and one sister, Frena Heath Wine.
Fonda was the oldest member of the Blackburn United Methodist Church. She loved her church and was a faithful supporter of her faith. She loved gardening, sewing, singing, working puzzles and entertaining the many who came to visit. She gave the Pine Run Schoolhouse to Cedar Creek State Park to which it was moved and restored. It stands today, in a prominent spot, as a tribute to the one-room schools of a by-gone era, thanks to her gift.
Friends may call from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, December 19, at Boyle Funeral Home of Weston. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday from the Boyle Funeral Home Chapel with Reverend Roy Wiant officiating. Interment will follow in the Pumphrey Cemetery, Indian Fork Road, Orlando.

Are you providing what your competition is missing?

Recently, I had the opportunity to sit down with a large Young Professional group that does wonderful things in a metropolitan area. I've known about this group and have watched it develop for a few years, now, and I knew that it was the right time to talk to them about collaboration instead of competition. How? In reserching the organization, I found that there was a key element that the group was missing that we provide -- leadership training.

In marketing, your taught to know your target audience, understand their needs, and either explain how you fill those needs or create a customized product to meet the need. The same principles apply when assessing competing organizations. As only Junior Chamber affiliates can have what the Junior Chamber offers, there will always be one element that another group needs to fully develop.

It got met thinking about how well do we know these other groups? In my home town, we work alongside one another, support each others' projects, and make a bigger impact on the community as a result. While most of the other groups are social-networking or community volunteerism only, they recommend membership in the Junior Chamber to their own members who want something more. It's a great relationship to have and improves long-term civic revival from the young professional roots.

So I encourage you to take a look at competing groups, get to know them, understand them, and see what they can provide for your group. In exchange, find out how you can fill their needs and build a great civic, collaborative relationship.

Inexpensive way to use the internet to set up a new business

My uncle recently bought a nearby farm with a brand new house on it. He is considering setting up the house as an international getaway spot for business professionals who want to experience life in the country while still being connected to their business. So I created the following help sheet on how he could create a new company with a web presence for under $140 USD (please note that other preferences like another blog site or marketing site may be used. These are just my preferences).

1. Set up an LLC through your bank to protect your other assets. A great place to get the forms you need in advance is Legal Zoom. www.legalzoom.com

2. Go to www.blogger.com and create a new blog (web log) using their wizard. You can add text, titles, pictures, etc. at the time or at a later date.

3. When you set up you LLC, you’ll likely have picked a name for the LLC. Go to www.changeip.com and purchase a domain ending in .com for your “company” website and purchase the DDNS (Dynamic Domain Name Server). The DDNS will allow you to point the domain name to anywhere in the internet as you decide to develop or change your web presence. The cost for 1 year for a domain and DDNS is $30 for the whole year of the first domain and DDNS and only $19 for each additional.

1. To set up the DDNS, log in to your account (if you are not already), click on the “Edit” link next to your DDNS name and where it states: Enter an IP, CNAME
   or URL Redirect below paste or type the URL of the blog that you created on blogger.
2. Enter the URL in all 3 places (root, ftp, and www).

4. Go to www.icontact.com and sign up for an account. You won’t need more than the minimum account: 500 contact for $9.95/month or $107.46/year.
1. After you put in your LLC information, you can create a sign up form with their wizard and it will automatically generate the code for you to put on your blogger page.
2. People can sign up for information about staying and they will automatically be stored on iContact for your use in the database. This will also protect you from receiving spam and unwanted emails while allowing you to have the information you need for Customer Relations Marketing (CRM) and contact information to screen clients.
3. Other tools you might like are the survey tool to have people complete an “exit interview” to help you improve your service.

Total Cost to Start Your business = 137.46 USD for first year +tax and legal fees.

A Good Dream - A Great Purpose

This weekend, I had an amazing dream. I was headed to a JCI recruitment event to give a presentation and on the radio, I heard the DJ mention the Junior Chamber as THE source of training young talent to become Young Leaders who make a difference. When I arrived, there was a buzz in the room and hands went up with questions, comments, even personal testimonials on the benefits that had been gained.

At the end, when the questions died down and I looked at the 40-50 people in attendance, wondering why there weren't more, I Called the group to Action by telling them that they needed to get up, sign up, and get started NOW. And they did. Every last one of them.

It made me think about the purpose of the organization to which we swear to uphold when we become a member:

"..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."

Are all of us doing this? or are we hoarding our knowledge and connections to ourselves and not passing any of it along? And does the purpose say that we can only contribute to the advancement of young people in the Junior Chamber?

I spoke to the leader of a very large Young Professional group in a nearby city today, who have done some amazing things. They put young people on civic and business boards all over their community to give a voice to the concerns of young talent. In hindsight, however, the leader was concerned that while young people were volunteering, many were unprepared to interface with affluent, influential, and well-connected older leaders of the community. So together, we proposed a collaborative effort for initial and developing training of young professionals in this already-existing organization, led by the Junior Chamber as a Leadership Training Task Force. It was a win-win scenario.

So my lesson from this dream was to truly think about what it means to contribute -- and to truly provide opportunities for young people. Maybe the key to reviving a chapter lies in how you give "service to humanity," after all.

JCI and Politics

There is some concern with some Junior Chamber groups about involvement in politics and maintaining a reasonable distance as is required by a 501(c) organization. Unfortunately, many members mistake government involvement for getting involved in politics and the voice of young leaders are lost for fear of organizational recrimination.

According to the Urban Institutes' National Center for Charitable Statistics
"Many of the most visible and politically active nonprofit organizations in the United States are classified by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as 501(c)(4) social welfare groups. The National Rifle Association, the National Organization for Women, the American Civil Liberties Union, and the Sierra Club, for example, are classified as 501(c)(4) organizations and are active participants in the nation’s public policy process. They lobby for and against legislation, get issues on policymakers’ radar screens, and educate and mobilize the public around election time."

That is why in New York State, we are hosting our very own Government Affairs Leadership Seminar in the state capital of Albany the first week of March 2008, but we hope to offer new and on-going opportunities to let the voice of young talent be heard in New York.

Starting this week, the New York State Junior Chamber has been asked to take part in State Budget Hearings to voice our concerns over state spending and revenue streams. This might be a good time to make suggestions like a statewide college-loan break incentive for living and working in New York, as well as some other more creative ideas on increasing disposable income for young adults.

“We need to balance the need for Government to do more with the ability of taxpayers to bear the tax burden and for businesses to remain competitive.” Governor Eliot Spitzer, October 2007

New York State Division of the Budget

Public Hearings in Preparation for the 2008-09 Budget

New York State faces a difficult budget challenge in the fiscal year beginning April 1, 2008. The Division of the Budget has projected a significant budget deficit because of weakness in tax revenues resulting in part from problems on Wall Street. Governor Eliot Spitzer has asked the Division of the Budget to conduct a series of public hearings to present the challenges the State faces in the 2008-09 budget and get public input on spending needs and priorities to assist in making budget decisions.

The New York State Director of the Budget, along with other decision makers responsible for crafting the Executive Budget that the Governor will present to the Legislature in January, is inviting testimony from residents of various areas of the State at the following locations and times:

Buffalo	Saturday, November 17 10-1	Buffalo Museumof Science
Rochester	Saturday, November 17 3-6	University of Rochester Medical Center
Syracuse	Tuesday, November 27 1 -4	Common Council Chambers
Utica	Tuesday, November 27 6-9	SUNY IT, Marcy
Long Island	Friday, November 30 10-1	H. Lee Dennison Office Building, Hauppauge

Those interested in offering testimony at the event are asked to please register in advance. Participants wishing to comment who are not pre-registered will be accommodated, as time allows, on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information visit http://www.budget.state.ny.us/ or call 518-473-3885

Veterans Day Remembered JCI: USA

While Veterans Day was officially declared by President Eisenhower in honor of end of hostilities in WWI being the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, its intent was also to give federal employees a 3-day weekend as a reward for their service to the country (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veteran%27s_Day).

In the U.S., we traditionally celebrated this occasion with holiday shopping and a day off from school or work -- at least that was my understanding growing up because I had not seen a major conflict in my lifetime, especially with the impact of WWI, which was mostly a list of questions on a history exam. Even in the 90's when older siblings of friends went off to Iraq and CNN was bolstered as a major news network because everyone was glued to the images of a remote war, it was all so distant. Later, in college, Iraq War Veterans flooded the schools on their GI Bill and I took classes alongside them, hearing some of their stories. Still they were stories that seemed distant and short-lived.

WWI (28 July 1914–11 November 1918) lasted a little over 4 years (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WWI) and WWII (September 1, 1939 – September 2, 1945) one day more than 6 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WWII). My generation's "world conflict," the Iraq War officially was declared on March 2003, heading into 4.5 years to date. Often tied to the September 11 attacks on the U.S. Northeast (intimately effecting New York with a hefty death toll of more than 2400 in the World Trade Center in 2001), then later tied to the UN hunt for Weapons of Mass Destruction, which were never found (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq_war), the world is waiting for the 2008 U.S. Presidential elections to see if the war will come to an end soon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election%2C_2008).

But to me, a true Veterans Day is more than just about U.S. observance and shopping specials. It's a day for all veterans world wide in all countries, of all cultures, and from all conflicts, who represent their countries and risk their lives for the ideals of their homeland. They are ambassadors and representatives and politicians. And while JCI ultimately envisions World Peace, it is our young and our JCI-age friends who are sent to fight the battles.

So for all of them on this Veterans Day 2008, I truly hope for" a message [that] will come in the sometime of tomorrow that will stir the people toward the establishment of a permanent and everlasting world peace."

The JCI Vision:
From within the walls of the soul of this organization wherein the foundation of character and good citizenship are laid, I hope a message will come in the sometime of tomorrow that will stir the people toward the establishment of a permanent and everlasting world peace.

Natural Member Enhancement

At the 2008 Board retreat, we were throwing around ideas for promotions. Accidentally, one of the people at the table mispoke our Empowered members as "Enhanced members," which got quite a chuckle. So then we started thinking, that is kind of a fun promotion -- JCI: "Natural Member Enhancement." We could come up with all sorts of promotions including a JCI pill pack and maybe a series of testimonials likean Enzyte commercial.

New York Turns 75 in Syracuse Jan 11-13

Good evening, NY State!

If you haven't heard, there's a big buzz in Syracuse for the January 2008 Convention. Not only is it celebrating all of the wonderful things that we did over 2007, but it's the start of our 75th Anniversary!

That's right, the New York State Junior Chamber is turning 75!

But you won't find any exhausted roosters here...

Instead, here's what you can expect at January's convention:

• Local Officers' Training for 2008 boards
• JCI Presenter -- Must for anyone considering becoming a certified trainer, or someone who wants to become a better presenter. Instructed by world-renowned ITF Suzette Plaisted!
• Great ID Competitions vying for that Year-End ticket to get a free trip to compete in Memphis, TN, in March!

And a 40 Below Social Networking Cocktail Party! That's right. We intend to show off the Syracuse Jaycees by inviting the members of the 40 Below and anyone 18-40 to our event as the group is interested in the Syracuse Jaycees becoming their new Leadership Trainers! (Yes, Pres. Andrea, Director Rhoda Smith is on board and very interested :) ).

*To get more information and more updates sent directly to your email, sign up at http://NYSJC.org

JCI eWorld

JCI has launched a new social networking site called JCI eWorld. If you already had a www.jci.cc account, you probably received an email about it and already have a username on the site (just remember to use the email to reset your password).

eWorld can be accessed at http://www.jcieworld.cc

If you haven't signed up yet, check out what other JCI members around the world are doing and if you meet someone you click with, you can always get together in person at the next conference.

It's also a great place to practice blogging.
http://www.jcieworld.cc/eplus/blogs/sranson

Daylight Savings Day - Why isn't Hallmark in on this?

Today is the end of Daylight Savings, when we turn our clocks back an hour and feel like we're getting that extra hour of sleep in the morning. For me, it's an extra hour of quiet time to get things accomplished.

When I was growing up, my mother would always get up an hour before we would. I would hear her in the living room with the television on low (usually to old Bugs Bunny cartoons, though she insisted it was "news") and she would sip her tea and knit. After a while I realized that with four children, that one hour in the morning was "her time," when everyone was quiet and she was free to do the things that she wanted to do. When I went to college, my roommates were evening people -- as well as most of my dorm hall -- and it soon became clear to me that if I wanted to study in quiet, I had to get up in the morning when everyone else was sleeping.

So that is my secret of efficiency -- I wake up early and get things done before the world gets noisy again. But then I thinking that since the card companies started making even "Boss's Day" cards this year, that we should be handing out and signing cards for Daylight Savings. Maybe that's a fundraiser idea for Junior Chamber:

• "Happy Daylight Savings! And don't forget to renew your membership!" or
• "Happy Daylight Savings -- use that extra hour to plan a training forum for your chapter!"

Okay! Kind of lame, but hey? if the card companies aren't there yet, we could beat them to the punch.

Weekend Board Retreat in Binghamton

Tonight, I will be headed to Binghamton for the 2007 Exec-Com meeting tomorrow morning, followed by the 2008 Elect Board Retreat. For 2008, we have the following:

• NYSJC IDVP Stephanie Kingsley (Saratoga)
• NYSJC CDVP Dave Stern (Saratoga)
• NYSJC MSVP Michelle Wallen (Johnson City)
• NYSJC Treasurer Willi Gamboa (Philippine-NYC)
• NYSJC President Shonda Ranson (Rochester)
• NYSJC IPP/COB Andrea Ciravolo (Syracuse)
• NYSJC Metro-Conference Director Christine D'Andrade (Caribbean)
• Region South Director Gary Abasolo, Esq. (Philippine-NYC)
• Region West Director Melissa George (Batavia)

Expected Program Managers to date are: OYNY - Patty Benda

Collegiate Chapter Update

It's November 1st and my email is flooded with follow ups from Balloon Manor 2007, ideas for New York State's Empowerment in 2008, and some very excited prospective members of a now-forming chapter at the University of Rochester.

This JCI @ UR project has been several months in the making, but missing that one key element - a member with passion. This past month, I finally found that person with passion: JK. JK jumped right in and is pulling friends along with her. Today we met with a committee to have an afterwork networking panel at the Center for Entrepreneurship, which will highlight one busines speaker, one media speaker, and one political speaker to represent 3 "tracks" of success that the Junior Chamber may offer. Our goal is to leave with at least 20 committed members handing over their $25 collegiate membership fee to have a new chapter chartered by the end of the month.

The event is going to take place on November 15th from 4:40-6:00 p.m. and we are soliciting the following speakers: CEO of Paetec Arunas Chesonis, Morning DJ E-Man from 106.7 Kiss-FM, and Mayor Robert Duffy.

If all goes well, we'll have a December orientation followed by a reserved transport to the Syracuse convention and the JCI Presenter training.

This Saturday is also the 2008 State Board Retreat. Members have been working already to prepare for the weekend, which happens to fall just one day before our international travelers fly to Turkey for World Congress. We wish all of travelers much health and safety and to NVP Scott -- it's a country, not a food ;).