Junior Chamber Profile

The History of Junior Chamber International can be traced as far back as 1910 to the city of St. Louis, Missouri, in the United States of America. A young man named Henry Giessenbier and his friends formed the Herculaneum Dance Club with the main objective being the preservation of conservative dance styles.

Five years later, in 1915, Colonel H.N. Morgan, a prominent St. Louis citizen, inspired the members of the dance club to become more involved in civic issues. Giessenbier and 32 other young men formed the Young Men's Progressive Civic Association (YMPCA) on October 13, 1915. This organization grew to a membership of 750 in less than five months.

The very next year, 1916, saw another change of name as the YMPCA became Junior Citizens, commonly called JCs, which later became Jaycees. The year 1918 marked another change as the JCs were affiliated with the St. Louis Chamber of Commerce and officially became the St. Louis Junior Chamber of Commerce.

After WWI, Giessenbier contacted other cities in the United States with similar young businessmen's groups, and, subsequently, 29 clubs from around the nation formed the United States Junior Chamber of Commerce. Henry Giessenbier was elected the first President of the national organization.

The international chapter of the organization began in 1923 with the Winnipeg Board of Trade's becoming the first Junior Chamber outside the United States. By 1928 the idea of an international body crossed the Atlantic Ocean to England.

In 1940 a resolution was passed by the United States Junior Chamber approving a program to further mutual interests among countries in Central and South America. This lead to the establishment of Junior Chambers in Mexico City, Guatemala City, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama City in 1943.

The realization of Junior Chamber International had begun. In 1944 the first international conference was held in Mexico City. Raul Garcia Vidal of Mexico was elected the first President. The countries which formed Junior Chamber International were: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama and the United States of America.

Two years later, in February of 1946, the first World Congress was held in Panama City. This congress was attended by 44 delegates from 16 different countries. The international organization was formally constituted, a temporary constitution was approved, and the word "Commerce" was omitted from the official name.

Erasmo Chambonnet of Panama was elected the second JCI President at that Congress, and Australia and Canada were officially affiliated.

In 1948 the JCI Creed was officially adopted at the IV JCI World Congress in Rio de Janeiro, and in 1952 a permanent Secretariat was established. In 1972 the name was changed to Jaycees International; however, in 1988 the name was changed back to Junior Chamber International.

JCI has opened a temporary headquarters in Chesterfield Village in St. Louis, Missouri. This temporary headquarters will operate until the permanent new headquarters is built in Chesterfield Village in 8 to 10 months. The provisional 4000-square-foot office space was offered to JCI in a short-term lease until the new headquarters is completed.

Until the new permanent headquarters is built and open for business, you can contact the provisional JCI Headquarters:

Address:
Junior Chamber International
16120 Chesterfield Parkway West, Suite 250
Chesterfield, MO 63017, U.S.A.

Junior Chamber is a worldwide organization of young persons, which welcomes to its ranks men and women between the ages of 18 to 40 years regardless of color, creed, cast or race. It is a voluntary organization where young people join together in friendly spirit, train themselves and become better citizens by means of active participation in various projects undertaken by the organization.

In India Jaycees was Founded in 1949 by Segunde Mapa,at Calcutta. Today Indian Junior Chamber is one of the largest NOMs of the world. Over five decades of its existence, Indian Jaycees has contributed considerably to the growth of the movement in the Area-B of Junior Chamber International.

Building upon its accomplishments, Indian Jaycees responded to various challenges with its meaningful activities in training as well as Community Development. Its bold, innovative programmes include Adult Education, Leadership 21st Century for School Children, Child Care, community Blood Banks, Environment Awareness Projects, National Integration and Leadership Camps, Programme on Anti Terrorism, Honoring (TOYI) Ten Outstanding Young Indians on different fields, Honoring (TOBIP) three outstanding businessmen, Industrialist and Professional, Scholarship to the needy and poor students, Professional Excellence to the needy students for higher studies.

Thousands of members benefited Jaycees through its premier Training programs like NALANDA (National Academy for Leadership and Administration) VEDA (Value Enrichment Development Avenues), ABLE (Academy of Business Leadership Excellence) every year.

Junior Chamber programs revolve around five areas of opportunities. These areas offer numerous activities for members to acquire or refine leadership development skill and provide multiple channels for communities to benefit from the Junior Chamber experience