July News Headlines

Development Director Departs LAJCC
Bob Basile, our Director of Development, has moved on to a new opportunity. Bob left the LAJCC at the end of May to become a regional development director with Special Olympics of Southern California. We appreciate all that Bob accomplished during his time here at the Junior Chamber and wish him all the best with the Special Olympics. You may see Bob again at the L.A. Watts Summer Games. He's now an LAJCC volunteer!

What a Deal!
The Membership Department has special discount coupons for Six Flags Magic Mountain. With the coupon, you'll get a free admission with every one purchased on Sunday and Monday. Every other day the admission price is discounted to $23.99. The admission is normally $46.99 so this is a huge savings! Call Irene or stop in the LAJCC office if you want a coupon. Also, a reminder that we have discounted AMC movie passes. Just $5.50 for an adult ticket! Again, just call or visit the office to purchase passes.

By-Laws Changed
Following a recommendation from the Governance Committee to the Board of Directors, an election on proposed changes to the By-Laws of the LAJCC was held early in June.

The Governance Committee recommended, and the Board approved, changing the authorized number of Board members from sixteen to no less than eleven and no more than sixteen. The Committee further recommended and the Board approved changing the term of office for Directors from one year to two years. Both changes were approved by the membership vote and will become effective with the new Fiscal year, September 2004.

RVLDP Graduation
On a beautiful June evening, LAJCC members joined the RVLDP Class 26 at the Bonaventure Brewing Company to celebrate their completion of our board leadership program. Joining them were representatives from the agencies the participants served their board internships with. Amidst the scenic Downtown skyline at sunset, lots of mixing, mingling and celebrating occurred. Congratulations graduates!

Is it Your Turn to Lead?
by Michael J. Donovan, III, LAJCC Chairman of the Board

If we at the LAJCC do one thing very well, it would be the fact that we offer the best opportunity for anyone willing to improve or develop leadership and management skills. Where else can you go in this city and instantly help lead a project or program that is part of an almost $9 million non-profit organization that is now 80 years old? One of the main things that attracted me to the LAJCC back in 1998 was the opportunity to give back to my community and help lead an organization of young people as prestigious and professional as the LAJCC.

On Saturday, March 27th more than 120 young professionals came together as part of our Leadership Day 2004 held at the Our Lady of the Angels Conference Center Downtown. For the second year we partnered up with our friends at the Junior League of Los Angeles to join forces and learn from each other. What impressed me was the commitment of our members as well as the Junior League women to spend their beautiful Saturday with us for the sole purposes of improving their own leadership skills and abilities. This event was planned, organized, and run exceptionally well and was a wonderful example of the types of services that we offer our membership.

True Leadership has nothing to do with a title or position. Small businesses, large corporations and organizations all over Los Angeles are seeking leadership whether they know it or not. Few of us heed the call, raise our voice, question the status quo, pickup the torch, or step up to the plate…but the reward is so worth it once we do! I was so proud to see so many future leaders in attendance at our event that I can now be rest assured that our future is in very good shape for years to come!

Successful Leadership Day (Click here for photo gallery)

More than 100 members of the LAJCC and Junior League of Los Angeles plus employees of non-profit organizations throughout Los Angeles, Riverside and Orange Counties, attended this year's Leadership Day. For the second year, the day was a collaboration between the LAJCC and JLLA.

Comments from attendees included: "What a great day! The presenters were wonderful and I learned a lot that will be useful in my professional and personal life," and "The on only improvement would be to make each session longer. Great sessions!"

If you didn't attend, you really missed out on a great day. Plan to attend next year.

Presidential Service Award Presented (Click here for photo gallery)

This year's Leadership Day included the presentation of Presidential Service Awards to three volunteers. Ray Evans is a volunteer with Junior Achievement and Jordan Ramer, a graduate of RVLDP, is on the Board of Wildwoods Foundation (his placement for his RVLDP internship.) Each received a bronze award for 100 hours of service last year.

Our own member, Dan Pelletier, received a silver Presidential Service Award for 250-400 hours of service in the past year. Dan has been a member of the LAJCC since 1996. As Chair of the Scholarship Committee in 2003, Dan personally reached out to every public and private school in Southern California. His efforts resulted in more scholarship applications than ever before - nearly 800! Dan also personally reviewed every application as well as updating the application and selection criteria. Dan showed great dedication, passion and compassion in his role as Chairman of the Scholarship Committee. The LAJCC is very proud that he received this award from the Office of the President of the United States. Read Dan’s letter of appreciation below.