April/May, 2008 President’s Message

Hello Senators: This is my last Newsletter as your President. It has been a busy but enjoyable year which saw Josette and I travel to the US JCI Senate Annual Meeting in Annapolis, MD, to the Fall Frolic in New London, CT, and to Manchester, England for the drumming out of the British Chairman. I also attended the JCI Canada National Convention in Calgary and attended the 75th Anniversary of the Toronto Jaycees and Annual Gourmet Dinner in Toronto. Over the past number of months I have talked about the strong foundation of friends our organization enjoys and the opportunity that the Presidency has given me to build on that foundation. For those of you attending the President’s Banquet in Burlington, I hope to share with you the results as I close out my year.

During the year I received and answered hundreds of E-Mails and letters from across North America and Europe, no small feat for someone who 18 months ago was computer illiterate. Much of the correspondence dealt with the special motion passed at the last Annual Meeting to send letters to Senators who had not made a financial contribution to the Senate. I want to make it clear that this was done to cut down on expenses for the Senate, not to make money. Senators who responded that they were unable to make a donation for whatever reason have not been put on the dormant list. They will continue to receive the Newsletter. Unfortunately the majority of Senators did not bother to reply even thought a stamped/self-addressed envelope was provided and those Senators have been placed on the dormant list. If you know of a Senator who wants to receive the Newsletter, please have them contact me or Barney.


Click here to read the latest Senate newsletter

Burlington in 2008

Get ready for a fantastic weekend (May 16 - 18) in Burlington. The Burlington Senators have a great program for you and you can save by registering now. Click here to register online or print the registration form at the bottom of your latest newsletter and mail it in.

[read entire article]

“The Road We Travel”
Senator Donald M Phillips 433

The word JAYCEE was foreign to me when I left the Ford Motor Company and took up the job of Parts Manager in Aspol Motors in Dawson Creek - Mile O on the Alaska Highway. Mr. Aspol had the Ford Dealership in Dawson Creek when the Japanese hit Pearl Harbour. The Americans after declaring war were afraid that the Japanese would blockade Alaska and decided to build a land link to Alaska. The American army actually built the Town of Dawson Creek and the Alaska Highway. At the height of construction of the highway there were 8000 civilian trucks working out of Dawson Creek. Aspol Motors had a priority on everything from batteries to tires and motors that other dealers in North America could not obtain.

The result was that Mr. Aspol who was in the right spot at the right time made millions. He built a big dealership and after the war went into buying everything like farm tractors, refrigerators, cars and trucks. He, in other words, had the buying power of a fat bank account. I was brought up in a Ford dealership from the time I was 13 years old and my Sunday School Teacher made me take a job in the small Ford Dealership in my home town of Woodstock. From there I took a job in a big Ford Dealership in Saint John, NB as Parts Manager. No less than 7 men working there and all older than me. I knew nothing about how to manage people until an old fellow in the sales department who had designs for me with his cousin gave me the book, “How to Win Friends and Influence People”. From there on I said please and thank you and explained why I wanted things done.


[read entire article]


In praise of service
By David Belz

There is a generation which grew up in the post-war years of the 1950’s through to the 1970’s, for whom the concept of community service came as second nature. It was part of their personal make-up, and was a key factor in rebuilding the social structure, not only here in New Zealand but this positive attitude was prevalent in other countries as well.

Today some of their number can still be found as leading lights in various community groups, service organisations, sport clubs, assorted church groups, all engaged in selfless community activities for the general social betterment. Most of them have now retired from permanent paid employment, while some are approaching their twilight years, and have well-earned a decent rest. For those remaining, it is a mystery to them why so few in succeeding generations have seemed willing to offer themselves for the same mantle of leadership in similar service.


[read entire article]