Dear JCI UK Members, Senators and Friends,

I named the last quarter of 2011 as the time for recognition - something that I truly believe in, but something I can't believe I am saying already. Even the weather still thinks we are in July!

September has well and truly been a great month, there has been so much that has happened, both big and small that has kept me smiling for the whole month!

After the disappointing number of miles travelled last month, I decide it was about time me and my car took to the road again, so 1,148 miles later, I have done the following:

VIP reception hosted by the Belfast Visitor and Convention Bureau aboard the HMS Belfast in London - The Belfast Visitor and Convention Bureau were very supportive of JCI Belfast and indeed JCI UK during World President Kentaro Harada's visit to the UK at the end of July. During our time in Belfast, I was taken on a site visit ahead of JCI Belfast preparing their Bid to host the National Convention 2012. They subsequently invited me to a VIP reception aboard the HMS Belfast in London, and wow what a night. I don't know if you have ever been to Belfast, but in my opinion it is a MUST! The people are lovely, the city is lovely, and you will just have an amazing time.

Attended JCI Barnsley's Vicious Circle Dinner - I only got name checked once, I've still not decided if this is a good or bad thing!?!? As always though a very funny night, and it was nice to see after 8 years of entering our Richard Grange was crowned the winner of the evening.

Chaired the National Council and JCI UK AGM - hosted by JCI Doncaster at The Dome, the meeting started off with some gentle aerobics music in the back ground, but that didn't stop us from cracking on with the job in hand. It was a really good meeting, with the highlights being;

• Solveig Malvik, JCI London, elected as the JCI UK 2012 National President
• Sarah Beckwith, JCI London, elected as 2012 JCI UK Administration and Membership Director
• Emma Eastwood, JCI Leeds, elected as 2012 Personal Development Director
• Steven Vandervelde, JCI Sheffield, elected as Regional Group Chair for JCI Yorkshire and the North, and
• Jen Little, JCI Cambridge, elected as Regional Group Chair for JCI South - A big congratulations to all of you.

We also saw JCI Belfast's fantastic bid to host National Convention 2012 passed unaniomously, well done JCI Belfast, it looks to be a brilliant convention.

Invited by JCI Sheffield to attend the MADE Festival - this was a great opportunity to showcase JCI, and it was great to see the JCI Sheffield team in action. It was evident that JCI Sheffield is well respected and supported by some key players in the city, and the JCI Sheffield team just have so much energy and passion - totally brilliant! The highlight for Dan Senter, JCI Sheffield Deputy President 2012, was having his photo taken with Peter Jones,

Attended and spoke at JCI Bradford's, 'I'm a President - Get me out of here' themed annual dinner. I have never been so scared... stood on a stage trying to give a speech when there were creepy crawlies scurrying in boxes next to me.......but it was nothing compared to what Philip Cavalier-Lumley went on to do - or Should I say Senator 70882 Philip Cavalier-Lumley. It was such a massive honour to be able to award Phil with his much deserved Senatorship for his never ending support and commitment to JCI.  Phil decided to face his fears in the name of charity, which included taking a business card from underneath a Scorpion, kissing a snake, and have a tarantula placed over his mouth...... that has made me shudder just thinking about it!! There was also a very cute Meerkat and a beautiful white owl there too - much more my cup of tea!

Attended a JCI Doncaster Meeting - I was invited to go along to JCI Doncaster's meeting, which was focused on reflecting on 2011, and thinking about the plan for 2012. I was made to feel really welcome, and while I intended to be quiet, that intention didn't last long, and before you know it I was chipping in, and felt right at home.

JCI Sheffield - There's an app for that - Well if you have not yet heard the amazingness of what JCI Sheffield have just done, please do take a look at their blog post. They have launched what we believe is the first fully interactive JCI iphone app..... IN THE WORLD! The JCI Sheffield team have totally blown me away with this one, and Glyn Jones, who is JCI Sheffield's Business Director, has been instrumental in seeing this project through from the initial concept to the launch. We are currently making plans with JCI World Head Quarters about arranging a meeting to see how we can work together to take this Global. Fantastic!

JCI UK Printed Newsletter - A massive thank you to Solveig Malvik, JCI UK Deputy National President for all of her hard work in producing the JCI UK Printed Newsletter, and also a big thank you to all Local Presidents who worked hard to make sure that they sent in their articles. I am really proud of it, and hope that you will be able to use it as a marketing tool within your chambers. I also wanted to thank Lorna form JCI UK Head office, for doing the mail shot, to make sure that each of our members received it.

JCI UK Membership growth - It's official we've had just over a 25% increase in our membership this year, as declared to JCI World Head Quarters! Thank you so much to everyone who has made this happen, I really am so happy about this, but please let's not take our foot of the accelerator, this is just the start, we need to keep growing - after all it's not fair that some people don't yet have JCI in their life!!

So I am sure you will agree wow what a great month!

Before I head off, I just wanted to remind you about a couple of things coming up:

• Local Leaders Weekend being hosted in Boston over the weekend of 15 - 16 October. This training is open to everyone, and everyone is welcome.
• JCI World Congress 2011 taking place in Brussels 1 - 5 November. There is a good number of JCI UK people attending, which is fantastic, but if you have not yet booked your place, it is not too late, and the more the merrier. Did you know, we have secured a place at the global Village this year too - yay!
• JCI UK National Convention 2011 - Again have you booked your place yet? It would be great to see you there. Not only will there be excellent key note speakers, fantastic training sessions, brilliant speaking competitions, and an amazing social on the Friday night, but it is also the Prestigious Gala Awards dinner on the Saturday night, where I cannot wait to recognise the Local chambers and all that they have achieved during the year.

I look forward to seeing you at an event soon, have a great month

Cheers

Alli

JCI UK National President
Email: allison.cowell@jciuk.org.uk

Senator # 70323