Did you know that at the Chamber of Commerce you can network with all types of business owners, executives, members of charitable organizations, elected officials, and everyday people like you and me looking for a job? Yes, it’s true!  If you have never attended, I encourage you to look up your local chamber and check it out.

My local Chamber of Commerce that I am a member of is the Greater Hollywood Chamber of Commerce.  Currently, I serve on the WOMENS committee and I am the Co-Chair of the Preparing Youth for Industry Committee.  Also, I am a graduate of Leadership XXIX. This is a great program to get to know your city and how it operates. Remember the chamber is also a great resource when relocating for a job. You can also call them to see if they know of a company that is hiring.

The Greater Hollywood Chamber of Commerce represents local business interests, promotes economic growth, provides leadership in community affairs and delivers services and programs for its business members.

There are three primary functions of a Chamber of Commerce:

• To act as an advocate for the business and professional community, translating into action the thinking of its members.
• To deliver specific services that can be most effectively performed by a local organization both to its members and to the community as a whole.
• To promote quality of life for the people of Hollywood.

So, your next employer may be attending the next chamber event!  Get involved! For the next Hollywood Chamber of Commerce event go to: www.hollywoodchamber.org

The Hollywood Junior Chamber of Commerce (also known as the Jaycees) is an organization of young men and women, ages 18 through 40. Our focus is on charitable involvement, social activities, and developing business opportunities.

The Jaycees offer young men and women an opportunity for further personal development and leadership. Major efforts are directed to finding solutions to problems within our communities. Hollywood Jaycees play an integral part in our community and take pride in developing tomorrow’s leaders. This idea of providing “leadership training through community involvement” has been the basis of the Jaycees since the organization’s beginning in 1920.

As an active member of the Hollywood Jaycees, you will have the opportunity to plan, organize, conduct, and participate in projects and programs which benefit the people in the Greater Hollywood area, and learn from your activities and experiences.

I have been involved with the Junior Chamber since 2000 and this year I am the Individual Development Vice President.  My role is to help members develop professionally through trainings, seminars, workshops, and preparation for competitions.  Also, this year I am the Pageant Director for the Miss. Hollywood and Miss. Hollywood Teen Pageants. 

How would you benefit by becoming a member?  First, you would meet new people and once again, develop your networking skills.  The trainings that are offered to members are for public speaking, debate, event project training, writing and more! 

The best thing about being involved with the Jaycees is that you can get involved in as many projects as you would like.  There is something for everyone.  To name a few we are involved in most of the parades in Hollywood, Relay for Life, Back to School Shopping, Thanksgiving Baskets for the Needy, Summer Concert Series,  BBQ’s for Lincoln Manor, Valentine’s Day Cards for Joe DiMaggio Children’s Center, Miss. Hollywood Pageants, Bachelor/ette Auction, Pub Crawls, and more.  You see, you can incorporate learning, giving back to the community, and having fun in one organization!

Please come out and join us!  www.hollywoodjaycees.org

What can you expect by getting involved with JA?  I started by attending a social networking event. These networking socials take place every 2^nd Wednesday of the month.  I have met so many people including CEO’s, politicians, college students, and of course many professionals in various industries.  You too can meet these people!  Just imagine, that one person you meet can change your life.  The socials take you to the many venues in South Florida. The Board members, volunteers, and staff of JA welcome you to the event in a professional and friendly manner. You can have some appetizers, a drink, and talk to a new person. Many professionals have done business at these events, found jobs, and even encountered a social aspect. Once you are hooked on the socials, the desire to volunteer is natural. I was so impressed with the mission of JA that I became a volunteer in the Broward County Public Schools. To give you some background… 

Junior Achievement is the world’s largest organization dedicated to educating students about workforce readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy through experiential, hands-on programs.
Junior Achievement programs help prepare young people for the real world by showing them how to generate wealth and effectively manage it, how to create jobs which make their communities more robust, and how to apply entrepreneurial thinking to the workplace. Students put these lessons into action and learn the value of contributing to their communities.
JA’s unique approach allows volunteers from the community to deliver our curriculum while sharing their experiences with students.

I have taught Success Skills in the high schools and many programs to elementary students.  To say I had fun is an understatement!  All of the students and teachers are so appreciative of your time, experience and dedication that you feel great when you leave, and are excited to be there next time.  When I taught the 2^nd graders, there were really cute, very attentive, and they even sent me thank you letters and drew me pictures! 

So, for me JA is a great organization where I have met new people, shared good times with friends, volunteered, made business contacts, and most of all MADE A DIFFERNECE! Oh, and most importantly, I met my husband at a JA event five years ago and now we have a beautiful baby boy named James Alexander (JA).

Come see what JA is about at our next social and for information on volunteering. www.jasouthflorida.com  Make sure you find me and say hi!