As local President I travelled with my Deputy, Luke Evans, to represent Birmingham at the JCI World Congress held between 24^th and 29^th November in Leipzig, Germany. A jam-packed week of key-note speakers, training workshops and social events was on the agenda and it’s clear to say we were not disappointed!

There was even time for us to fit in a walk round Leipzig town and the Christmas markets to have a bratwurst and a gluwein, on a number of occasions! Some other JCI UK members even took a trip to the oldest chocolate factory in Germany or visited the Porsche factory.

Not only did have a great week with fellow JCI UK members, we met many new JCI members from all the World and I got chance to meet up with JCI friends from when I had visited Monaco for the European conference last year. We even had a twinning lunch with our twin chambers; JCI Frankfurt, JCI Lyon and JCI Leipzig, and we are looking to host a twinning weekend in Birmingham in 2015!

The whole week was rounded off with JCI Sheffield member, Mark Smith, winning the ‘Most Outstanding Member in the World’ award, such a great achievement for JCI UK! I particularly enjoy the international events of JCI as it can take you to places you’d never really thought about visiting and you make so many new friends whilst there!

By Kay Purser