National Council October

Hey GeeBeeJayBee,

We're currently sat in the first National Council meeting of the year 2009-10, which means it is Jess' first meeting as NJR. Very exciting....ish!

National Council is a meeting that happens four times every year where a few seniors from each branch along with the big dogs (Chair, Secretary, NJRs -yeah)
This meeting is where all the big important decisions are made like what places each branch gets for Villages, Summer Camps and all the other programmes. There are lots of other bits that go on as well including reporting back from the summers Annual International Meeting, planning things like chapter development and leadership training, and addressing problems like new rules about safeguarding - it looks like if you're over 16 within JB, you'll be needing to be CRB checked soon.

Anyone can come along to these meetings and see what's going on - we'd really like you to come along too, the next meeting on 22nd November (same time as SMILE though...).

We're really excited about all the weekends coming up - 17plus and SMILE are only a month away so get your letter in fastfastfast to guarantee yourself a bed to sleep in. There are facebook events for both of them so have a search and if you want a copy of the letter just drop us an email at njr@gb.cisv.org.

The participation form for Wild West Weekend is out. The deadline is the 1st of November so the sooner you get them in the better. Again drop us an email at the above address if you want a letter. And if you don't even have the first letter, check it out on jbpedia: search Wild Wild West.

Much NJR love,

JesseJames

Human Arrows!

That's right everyone, at NJB Day we made our own GBJB Human Arrow!

To see our contribution with all the others check out the Youtube video, and to find out more about this big project visit the JBPedia page

JesseJames get keen at NJB Day!

Hey everyone!

While at National Junior Branch Day, we decided to get keen and do our first video blog as you NJRs! Enjoy...

See you soon - much love from JesseJames (Wild West, here we come...)

Hi from Jess!

Hey all,

So here we are nearly one week after my election as the new NJR. One productive meeting down.
You may have noticed you can now become 'a fan' of GeeBeeJayBee NJRs now on facebook or follow us on twitter. We decided to get technology happy this week so you guys can know what we're up to without having to trawl through long emails. Check us out and we'll keep you informed of anything exciting coming up!
In other Internet related news we are most viewed on JBpedia this month! Good work guys! We want to keep this up so make sure you keep googleing GB and why not check out some fellow GBJBers while you're there (like James and Jess)?

So it's NJB day on the 19th in Hull and we are really exciting about dressing up as 'Parrots and Pirates', can you guess which will be which?!
It would be great to see lots of happy faces there as the day after I move to Nottingham to university. Very exciting but a little scary!
The day after that, the 21st of September, is also a VERY important day! I do hope you know why! That's right - it's International Peace Day! Why not have a look on the Peace One Day website for some ideas about what you can do on the day. Big or small it all counts.

CISVers all over the world will be taking part in a project called 'Human Arrows' which aims to highlight one particular issue. This year they have chosen to raise awareness and draw attention to a new law passed in Lithuania that outlaws discussing homosexuality with minors, which is evidently against the freedom of expression, and an institutionalisation of homophobia. There is more information on our favourite friend JBpedia. Have a read and maybe try and organise a Human Arrow in your city. Feel free to email us at njr@gb.cisv.org if you need any ideas or help organising it or any other peace day project.

Well I think that's enough for my first blog,
See you at NJB day!

Jess (& James!)

Thank You Lou!

Dear geebeejaybee, and anyone else who happens to be reading.

It is with sadness that I present a homage to our beautiful NJR Louisa Wallbridge, who has now finished her term as NJR for Great Britain. She's been absolutely wonderful, and given a lot to our little Junior Branch off the coast of continental Europe. Thanks for everything Lou, and we hope to see you again sometime!

However, it is also with great pleasure, that I announce our brand new shiny NJR, Jess Wanless! She's already been around for a long time and done a lot, and we're so lucky that we have her to do even more as NJR for the next 2 years. C'mooooon :) Our first joint blog coming soon, get excited!

With much love, and British hugs,

James (now Senior NJR GB haha)

AIM 2009

Hey all, hope you're keeping well,

Enjoy this quick update from the CISV AIM Plenary, including finding out who your new IJR is! 

Love, Lou n Jam xx

IJBC over, AIM begins

Hey all, hows your summers going?

So IJBC is over now, finishing yesterday, and AIM officially began this morning.

For a full rundown on what went down at IJBC check out IJBClive on the link below in the last blog. You'll also find links to videos of people and things that went on (including a star appearance from our own James).

What do we think? Well, it's flown by been absolutely packed, and an absolutely great chance to work with and hang out with other JBers. We think it's an awesome opportunity to get to see JB and CISV at work, and we really hope you'll come with us to Germany next year!

What now? So we're continuing to work on the Wild West Weekend, which will happen next March, as well as preparing workshops and trainings for NJBF in September (see you over 16s!)

Lastly, Soliman from Egypt, who has kindly lent me his computer to do this, says hi. If you have the luck to meet him, he's a good guy.

Catch up soon with AIM news (I'm sure Nic and Laura say hi too - they're currently sat in the plenary - room where everybody sits and discusses!)

Love, Jam (& Lou)