HISTORY OF THE Canada JCI SENATE

In March of 1973 Harry Weldon contacted Jim O'Connell, the Founding President of the US JCI Senate, and sought advice and guidance as to how to set up a Canada JCI Senate. Jim advised Harry to expect the national Jaycees executive to be cool towards the concept, which proved to be as true in Canada as it was in the US.

Harry convened a meeting of Ottawa Senators to discuss the feasibility of creating a Canada JCI Senate. It was agreed to proceed when Senator George Gowling contributed $1,OOO.OO to cover the costs of convening a Founding Meeting. On March 31st, Harry and Helen Weldon sent out a Notice of Founding Meeting and a proposed mission and constitution to some 1,143 JCI Senators across Canada.

Despite the lack of enthusiasm by the executive of The Canada Jaycees, as had been predicted by Jim O'Connell, the Canada JCI Senate was founded on July 2, 1973 at Kingston, Ontario. The Senators present elected five men to the executive with the power to elect officers from amongst themselves and to add new members as needed. The first executive consisted of Harry Weldon as President, with Cliff Willis as Executive Vice President, Gary Commins, J. Roger Flumerfelt, and Ross Smyth as Vice-Presidents; Joyce Clarke was added as the Secretary Treasurer.

The Founding Executive established the Canada JCI Senate Newsletter, patterned after 'The Elder Statesman', initiated a proposal to establish a Canadian Crew of the S/S Fellowship (which they commissioned Senator Gordon Lowry to write) and repaid the $1,OOO.OO advanced by George Gowling. They also aggressively sought to establish a more cordial relationship with the Canada Jaycees.

Harry met with Bob Lindholm, the second US Senate President, in Montreal and followed this up at the US Crew Meeting at Washington, DC in April 1974. Succeeding presidents have further strengthened these ties into a very strong bond.

The First Annual General Meeting was held in Kamloops, British Columbia in 1974. It adopted the Crew proposal, replaced the 'constitution' with less formal 'Terms of Reference' and elected Cliff Willis to lead the organization. During his two terms of office, under Cliff's capable leadership, the organization grew and strengthened the ties with the Canada Jaycees.

The creation of National Senate groups in the Philippines, U.S. and Canada had caused concern within JCI. Many of the concerns were addressed at an open forum led by a panel comprised of the JCI Senate Chairman, the President of the US JCI Senate, the President of the European Senate and the Past President of the Canada JCI Senate at the 1975 JCI World Congress.

Continued strong leadership over the years has developed a very cohesive yet informal association of JCI Senators in Canada, with many linkages and friendships formed over the years with our neighbours to the south, whose very active alumni group, the US JCI Senate, has fostered friendships and supported the Jaycees for 26 years.

Twenty-five years later President Dale J Foran brings new energies and ideas to meet the challenge of keeping an alumni group interested, vibrant and supportive.

Special mention must be made of Barney Ziola and his wife Molly. Barney has been the appointed secretary-treasurer and the publisher of the Canada JCI Senate Newsletter since 1974. The Newsletter, a prodigious labour of love by Barney with strong family support, is recognized internationally as the key ingredient in the 'glue' that holds the Canada JCI Senate together.