JCI United Kingdom took home two prestigious awards from the JCI European Conference in Tarragona, catalonia.

Most Oustanding President (50-100 members):

JCI Leeds' Claire Dempster

Claire says: "Days after I had got my hearing back following the call from the JCI UK delegation at EC2011 to tell me that I had won the best president award, it still hasn't sunk in! For any member of JCI reading this who thinks it'll never happen to you, well it just might do, but you've got to be in it to win it!

My experience as a member and president of JCI Leeds has no comparison with anything else I have ever done. I have developed my skills, expanded my experiences and so many friends all over the world I have lost count.

I recently heard someone say that your JCI experience is like being a member of a gym, to get the most out of it you need to do more than pay your membership. Nothing could be more accurate - get involved or even better...get more involved!'

JCI Leeds President Claire Dempster (to the right) selling the Nothing But Net calendars in Osaka, Japan

Most Oustanding Millennium Development Goal Project:

JCI Leeds' Nothing But Net Calendar

Julia Goodfellow-Smith, project leader for the calendar, says:

"I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to lead the One Calendar One Life project. It brought together a large proportion of our chamber's membership to work on something for the benefit of others. We've raised enough funds from the project to protect over 1100 families from malaria, which is phenomenal. Along the way, we produced something that was quite stunning, raised awareness of the Nothing But Nets campaign and JCI Leeds, and had a lot of fun. I'm proud to have been part of the team and thrilled that we've won a European award for our efforts to combat malaria."

JCI Leeds members in robes after the photo shoot for the calendar. From left Julia Goodfellow-Smith, Claire Dempster and Emma Eastwood

Congratulations to JCI Leeds! We are very proud of you! Keep up the good work!