National Board of Directors

How to Start a JCI Local Organization

JCI West Indies has seven local organizations across the region and we are always looking to revive, and in some instances start, local organizations. If you think that your country would benefit from having a JCI organization, please note the below or contact the JCI West Indies at [email protected] for more information.

JCI has been in the West Indies for 59 years and continues to contribute to the economic and social development of our region. Throughout the years its membership has comprised of: Antigua & Barbuda; Barbados; Dominica; Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinque; Jamaica[1]; Guyana; Montserrat; St. Kitts & Nevis; St. Lucia; St. Vincent & the Grenadines; and Trinidad and Tobago. JCI West Indies currently includes Antigua & Barbuda; Barbados; Dominica, Grenada, Guyana; St. Vincent & the Grenadines; and Port- of-Spain (Trinidad) and Tobago.

[1] From January 2013, JCI Jamaica became a full-fledged National Organization.

Who can start a chapter
Anyone who is 18-40, with the enthusiasm and passion to bring JCI to their town/country can do so. Read our FAQ for New Organizations and Re-affiliations in the West Indies for additional information.

Benefits to you and your team
You’ll learn and accelerate skills such as leadership, project management, sales, decision-making etc, create positive change in your local community, and build your local business network. And what better legacy could there be to leave to your community?

How to start you own chapter?

Get to know JCI better – attend events, conferences, training
Form a Standing Committee and apply for recognition of the same – who else do you want to be part of the journey?
Research and plan – does the area need JCI?
Identify a potential high impact project - Commuity, Business Development or Fundraising.
Write a plan of action – collect all your thoughts and share these with JCI West Indies and your team
Recruitment strategy – where can you find potential members?
Promotion plan – do some PR and marketing to spread the news that a new local organization is launching
Set up social media pages or submit information to be added to the JCI West Indies website
Plan and run the launch event for the local organization or for the project
Local Organization development – make sure you have a team that wants to continue working together
Formalise the Local Organization and become fully affiliated
Follow-up with JCI West Indies

Getting help and support from JCI
You can download the JCI New Chapter Kit to dicover a lot of ideas for you and your team, read this Jumpstart Your Chapter Guide written a few years ago by a JCI President or contact JCI West Indies with additional queries.