The primary emphasis this year, as I outlined at the region meetings, will be how do we make sure the US JCI Senate continues to be able to fulfill the purpose for which it was created. Our constitution describes two purposes: 1) promote fellowship among Senators and 2) support Jaycees when asked. The one thing we seem to take for granted is the continued existence of the US JCI Senate or, more immediately, the existence of some our state organizations to fulfill our purpose. We have just experienced our second consecutive year of net membership loss.

There are a couple of obvious reasons for this trend: 1) there is a smaller pool of Jaycees from which Senatorships are awarded and 2) we do not effectively recruit new, or activate old, Senators. The theme “Remember the Past – Grow the Future” is a reminder to use those recruiting and retention practices we learned as Jaycees to grow the Senate. Simple things like personal invitations to come to meetings or social functions and suggesting committees or tasks to become involved in immediately. Make a point of speaking with new attendees; if you only communicate with the same group of people there is very little chance of being exposed to new ideas or perspectives and the new person, if not made welcome, will probably not return. Remember the things that caused you to become active?

The oak tree logo is, to me, symbolic of our Jaycee careers. We are drawn from many and varied backgrounds (the root system);   through the tree trunk (Jaycees); to the crown (the Senate). Our Senate organization is dependent on the roots and trunk to continue.

The presidential pin is an acorn, with the word “potential” on it. An oak tree generates thousands of acorns (ideas) of which only a few become trees. Remember all ideas have potential; it just depends on where the “acorn” falls.

I invite you, as we enjoy the fellowship our friendships engender, to explore our potential.

Mike O’Connell #40225

39th President

US JCI Senate