Entrepreneurial spirit and community involvement have come together.
Vernon’s Junior Chamber International has been involved in considerable charitable work in the community during the past year and was recently recognized for it.
“I am very proud of our members’ hard work,” said Daniel Proulx, the newly elected president of the chapter.
“Their dedication has made this community a better place and getting recognized for those efforts is the icing on the cake.”
Proulx has been with the JCI for the past three years and was elected president earlier in the year.
Proulx, 30, moved to Vernon five years ago from Calgary.
The JCI is a non-profit organization that was established to raise funds for the community.
The membership is comprised of 19 to 40-year-old businesspeople who want to make a positive difference on the community.
The JCI provides people the opportunity to develop the leadership skills, social responsibility and entrepreneurship necessary to create positive change in the community.
The JCI’s 15th year in Vernon was a successful one, as it hauled in some hardware at the JCI regional convention May 3 at the Ramada Hotel in Penticton.
Vernon won the 2013 regional chapter of the year award.
This award was in recognition of the chapter’s ability to succeed in four areas of opportunity: individual, community, business and international.
Last year, it organized the JCI Hospital Gala, an alternative gift fair and teamed up with JCI Harare, in Zimbabwe, to facilitate training for community leaders.
Sue Solymosi was also honoured with the regional member of the year award and Alora McGrandle received an honourable mention as the chapter’s rookie of the year.
Vernon’s JCI is in a region with Kelowna, the Kootenays, Abbotsford, Vancouver, Penticton and Prince George. It is also affiliated with JCI Canada and Junior Chamber International.
Vernon JCI is currently working with Funtastic to help organize volunteers to sell beverage tickets for the music festival.
Proulx says JCI provides a great opportunity for people to network outside of work.
“I really enjoy the people I get to meet, it’s so fun,” he said.
“Giving back to the community is so important, it’s the most selfish thing I do. I feel so good about it afterwards.”
JCI’s next meeting is Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce (Century 21 boardroom).
For more information, go to http://www.jcivernon.com.
