Like any organization, we have our own terms and definitions, which can sometimes become slightly confusing for newer members. Below is a list of the most used terms related to the Jaycees.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Ambassador - The highest honor conferred by the U.S. Junior Chamber. This most distinguished form of recognition for outstanding past and present Jaycees can be bestowed at the state or chapter level upon application and approval. The prestigious Ambassadorship signifies an individual's exceptional contribution to the Junior Chamber movement in the United States.

Annual Meeting - The meeting held each year to conduct business of The U.S. Junior Chamber. It is at this meeting that the president and ten vice presidents are elected. Each chapter may send delegates to the Annual Meeting, also known as the national convention.

Areas of Opportunity - The four Areas of Opportunity are categories of activities in which a successful and well-rounded chapter excels. They are: Business, Community, Individual, and International.

Bid - An offer to host an event or meeting.

Blue Chip - A planning, evaluation and reporting process utilizing member and community input; designed to help chapters develop members and impact the community.

CPG - Chairperson's Planning Guide. A planning and evaluation tool utilized to effectively run Jaycee projects. Basically, it is a business plan written before, during and after a project documenting the steps followed in running the project.

Chairperson - The individual charged with the responsibility for the completion of a project. The chairperson heads a committee and provides motivation for its members.

Chapter Management - The effective, efficient, and proper use of resources to accomplish a pre-determined objective.

Charter - A document indicating an organization's affiliation with The U.S. Junior Chamber or Junior Chamber International.

Community Development Programs - The programs of a chapter through which an individual member is given the opportunity of applying learned leadership and management skills to impact the local community.

Degrees of Jaycees - A program designed to help individual members receive the benefits of their membership; a Junior Chamber career path outline. The program consists of three phases divided into ten degrees.

District - A group of chapters, usually three to six, located within a geographic area of a state Junior Chamber organization. The Gaithersburg/Germantown Jaycees are part of District West which also includes the chapters in Mongomery county, Carrol county, and counties west of those.

District Director - A state officer who works directly with chapter presidents of a particular district.

Dues - A dues collection system whereby a local member's annual dues to The U.S. Junior Chamber is due during each anniversary month of membership. The U.S. Junior Chamber collects these dues through chapters.

Exhausted Rooster - An affectionate title bestowed on a Jaycee upon reaching the age of 41, the age of Jaycee retirement.

G&G Gazette - The newsletter of the Gaithersburg/Germantown Jaycees, distributed to all regular and associate members in good standing with the chapter.

GEM - A Generally Enthusiastic Member. This describes all members of the Jaycees!

GMM - General Membership Meeting. The GMM is the regular (usually monthly) business meeting of a Jaycee chapter.

HOBY - Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership is a 501(c)(3) founded by Hugh O'Brian in 1958. The mission of HOBY is "To seek out, recognize, and develop leadership potential, commencing with high school sophomores, and to encourage and prepare the next generation of civic and corporate leadership for America's future." For more information on HOBY, visit them on the web.

Honorary Member - Membership conferred upon an individual whose contribution to the organization has been so outstanding as to merit this honor.

Individual Development - The self-improvement programs of a chapter, aimed at teaching, developing and increasing the individual member's personal and leadership skills.

JCI - Junior Chamber International. As a member of your local chapter, you are automatically a member of the Maryland Jaycees, the United States Jaycees and JCI. The headquarters for JCI is now located in Chesterfield, Missouri.

JCI Senator - The highest honor bestowed by JCI upon a current or past member for his or her contributions to the Junior Chamber. A JCI Senator is a life member of JCI.

Jaycee Creed - A statement of philosophy and beliefs adopted by The U.S. Junior Chamber and JCI. The late C. William Brownfield of Columbus, Ohio, wrote the Creed in 1946. Brownfield later served as a national vice president.

Leadership Training - A process by which the individual develops greater self-confidence, motivation, self-expression and other traits of leadership.

Maryland Jaycees Crab Corps - The Crab Corps is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) affiliate organization of the Maryland Jaycees with a purpose of raising funds for any charitable purposes as determined by the membership.

OYF - Outstanding Young Farmer. A Junior Chamber recognition program for farmers.

OYM - Outstanding Young Marylander. A Maryland Jaycees recognition program for extraordinary Marylanders between the ages of 21 and 40.

Orientation - The ongoing function of educating members about the Junior Chamber organization, its benefits, and member opportunities.

Parade of Chapters - Competition among chapters within a state, in which points are earned and an overall chapter ranking is established.

Plan of Action - A chapter's goals and plans for achievement developed each year by officers and members. Also known as the Chapter Plan.

Regular Member - A young person, age 21 through 40, whose dues are paid. A Jaycee.

Speak-Up - An individual development program to offer all Jaycees an opportunity to develop their verbal communication abilities.

Springboard - An activation tool that is part of the Degrees of the Jaycees program and aids chapters in involving new members in chapter activities.

State Board Meeting/Weekend/Convention - A meeting conducted by state officers, open to all members throughout the state, in accordance with the bylaws of the state organization. Statewide meetings are held on a quarterly basis.

State Director - A liaison between the state and local organization; a voting member of the board of directors of a state Junior Chamber organization.

TOYA - Ten Outstanding Young Americans. Each year the U.S. Junior Chamber honors ten dynamic young Americans at an awards congress.

Write-Up - An Individual Development program used to develop written communications skills.