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How we select people to chair projects

by Chris Wilsey

One of the most valuable and rewarding experiences a Jaycee can get is chairing a project. You'll make new friends, expand your personal skills, help other people, and have fun all at the same time. I was a Jaycee for 2 years before I took the plunge, and now my only regret is that I waited so long.

Why do people hesitate to chair projects? In many cases, it's because there's somewhat of a mystery surrounding exactly how project chairs are selected.

What's a good project for a first-timer to chair?
There are dozens of great projects that require limited amounts of time and little or no Jaycee experience. If you're a new Jaycee or have never chaired a project before, then Level I projects are what you're looking for. Find one that sounds interesting to you and call that project's Director or VP to learn more about it.

How do I "apply" to chair a project?
In the past, it's generally come down to whoever asks the Director or VP first. Now, in order to give all interested Jaycees a fair chance, the Board will set a "Chair Selection Date" for each project. If you're interested in chairing a project, let the Director or VP know by that date. Keep in mind that many of our projects require significant advance planning, so we often need to select our chairpeople months in advance.

Who makes the final decision, and on what basis?
The answer depends on the project. Following are some general guidelines. They are not intended to be inflexible rules. Our intent here is to help people identify which projects best fit their experience and interests. We will be attempting to classify all Jaycee projects into three categories:

• Level 1 projects require little or no experience. The responsible VP and Director will select the project chair. With some enthusiasm and energy, you'll do great! Your director will work with you to make sure your project is successful.
• Level II projects require a moderate level of experience. The VP and Director select chairs. Ideally, to chair a Level II project you should have either worked on that project in the past or have experience chairing some other project. These projects generally require more work and planning than Level I projects.
• Level III projects are the most difficult and demanding projects to chair. They generally involve the most time, energy, skill, and risk. Level III chairpeople generally have chaired other projects in the past, and have significant management level experience with the Level III project they wish to chair. Examples include Brookhill, Haunted House, HOBY and a few others. For these most critical Jaycee projects, the Board of Directors must approve project chairs.