JCI Ireland survey shows that Irish people believe active citizenship starts with volunteering!
A survey conducted by JCI Ireland shows that 16% of Irish people believe that volunteering is a more representative act of active citizenship as opposed to joining a political party, where 0% voted in favour. The survey was conducted to mark the announcement of JCI Ireland’s Active Citizenship Week on October 3-8th 2010.
Hi everyone I would just like to bring this clip to your attention of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon addresses JCI Global Partnership Summit. This is a great event that allows members of JCI go to the United Nations and see what is happening there. This clip gives you a good idea of the high regard JCI is held in around the world!
Will be back with some more posts next week!
Mark
I had a great night last night at the Catalonia party. They were promoting the 2011 European conference and if last night was anything to go by we are in for a treat. If you are looking for some info on next years conference have a look here.
The sun finally came out today and I had some free time to explore Aarhus. I spent some time in the coffee shops around the old town square and in the local shops. It really is a beautiful city and I hope to get back here again to explore a little more. Have a look at the center in the video below!
This afternoon the Irish delegation came over to the apartment that we were staying in and we all enjoyed a glass of campaigning and we had a nice chat about our highlights of the conference. I have to say we also had the football game on in the background. After this we went to the awards ceremony and we would like to congratulate Solveig from JCI UK on winning the public speaking competition. We did not win any awards this year but we can not win every year I guess 
We all went to the Gala dinner tonight and had a great time eating, dancing and getting to know our friends from. I have to confess that I had two deserts as it was chocolate mouse and strawberries. It was a splendid finish on a great meal.
This brings an end to my report from the 2010 European conference. I have had a ball and feel that I have learned so much, grown as a leader and really got to meet some great people. I hope you can make it to Osaka in November or Catalonia next year and have the same experience we have all had here in Aarhus.
After a late night last night where I was partying until 2:30 at the German night I had an early start this morning to have breakfast with the JCI World president. I invited him to our national convention in Fingal this year and I hope he can make it. He had the following words to say to the JCI Ireland members.
After breakfast with the world president I went to this mornings key note speaker George Kohlrieser. George is a lecturer in leadership at the number one business school in Europe, IMD in Lausanne. He is the author of the best selling book on leadership “Hostage at the Table”. http://www.hostageatthetable.com/
He delivered an excellent talk on leadership that was moving & inspiring. He had the following nice words for all the JCI Ireland members.
We also had an excellent reception today from JCI Osaka on the world convention this November. It is an understatement to say that I was blown away by the scale of the plans for world convention. JCI Osaka have rented all of Universal Studios for part of the convention.
http://www.jci-wc2010.com/english/
This evening I was at a reception hosted by our good friends JCI UK. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate JCI UK president and my great friend Lesley on the announcement of her plan to run for International Vice President. Also I hope that JCI London member Solveig wins the European public speaking as she delivered a splendid speech in the final today.
Finally some of us attended the Dutch party night tonight where they gave us pizza and all the beer we could drink 
There was rock music and great craic. See if you can spot any one you know in the video below.
I am off out to the JCI Catalan night now and I do not know if I will get any sleep this week. As Kevin once said “No sleep till Dublin”
Mark
Just out of the Danish reception where I had a great chat with my friends from Iceland, Scotland & UK
I landed in Copenhagen last night at 21:00 and had a nice walk around the city. It was raining a little and I did not expect that but I guess I should have checked the weather.
This morning I got the 7:50 fast train from Copenhagen to Aarhus and really got to see the splendid countryside of Denmark. There were many lovely lakes and lots of great bridges.
Five of the JCI Ireland delegation are staying in an apartment that is just around the corner from the conference Centrex and hotel. International director Marie did an excellent job finding the accommodation and everyone is delighted with the find.
The opening ceremony saw acrobats performing death defying feats on stage that really amassed everyone. As national president I was called up on stage as the Irish chief delegate and they had a short presentation on Ireland.
The night then kicked off in style with the first big party of the week and the beer was flowing freely. The price of beer in Denmark is quite expensive so everyone was delighted with the free bar that is included in the price of the conference ticket at the parties.
Up early tomorrow morning and off to general assembly where we will start to make some decisions on the direction of JCI in Europe. I hope to get some good ideas on launching branches around Ireland from my fellow JCI National Presidents.
Mark
Last weekend saw members and non members from around Ireland attend the national TOYP awards. This was an excellent event that has gone from strength to strength over the last few years. I was so proud to be able to present awards to this years seven outstanding young people. I would like to really thank Michelle and her team for doing a splendid job in organising the event.
I am just sitting in the Airport now typing up this post getting ready to jet over to Denmark and attend the 2010 JCI European conference. I love the opportunity to get to European and World events to meet up with my JCI international friends. I hope to do some video blogs from the conference so you can experience some of the good times also.
We are going to do a marketing campaign at this years JCI Ireland national convention that is being hosted by JCI Fingal on the first weekend of October. I am hoping that we can tempt some of our good international friends over for a great weekend. This years convention theme is “Leading Together“
I would like everyone to keep new branch launches at the front of their minds an also Active Citizenship week
Last week I was at the JCI Dublin Friendly Business Awards that were hosted by The Lord Mayor of Dublin in the Mansion house on Dawson street. These excellent awards recognise those excellent companies in Dublin who are going that extra mile in customer service & friendliness. If you would like to have a look at this years winners please visit
http://www.friendlybusinessawards.com
At the weekend I made the now short trip up to Belfast to meet up with some of my friends from JCI Belfast. They were hosting JCI UK presidents day and they did a splendid job of it. There were a few of us from JCI Ireland who made the trip and we really enjoyed the treasure hunt around Belfast city. And got to meet Jim Larkin on route
Next weekend JCI Limerick are hosting training day and I am really looking forward to the political awareness training and the training on ballroom dancing. In the evening we will announce the outstanding young people who will receive a JCI Ireland TOPY award. I really enjoyed and was inspired by the stories of this years entrants and I am sure you will be inspired also.
See you on Saturday
Mark
Last week I had the pleasure of attending the launch of the JCI Galway tourist guide. This is an excellent project that has been running for over 40 years in Galway. This project creates local, national & international impact and creates positive change. Have a look here and perhaps visit Galway http://www.galwaytouristguide.com/
At Galway Tourist Guide Launch
Later this month we have the finals of the 2010 JCI Ireland TOYP finals. This year we have a record number of entrants and I am really looking forward to judging these. If any of you were listening to 2FM on Thursday you would have heard them mention TOYP and the fact that Elvis won this award in the past. Hope to see you in Limerick on the 29th of May for this excellent event.
Thanks to JCI Dun Laoghaire and their excellent networking training I managed to get on the Radio last week. You can have a listen if you like here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6mk80nltZE I have not listened to it as don’t like listening to myself on the radio.
Lastly training day will also be in Limerick on the 29th of May also and I know this will be an excellent day.
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