JCI Dublin - Junior Chamber International Dublin

International JCI World Vice President Brian Kavaunagh from Nebraska, USA also attended the Spring Conference in Dublin. Prior to the conference IVP Brian Kavanaugh with JCI Ireland National President Catherine Laffey and JCI Dublin President Kevin Guerin attended a business briefing with Dublin Chamber of Commerce. DCC President Margaret Sweeney welcomed IVP Brian Kavanaugh to Dublin at the event.

 

The IVP also visited Dail Eireann as the guest of Maria Corrigan, Senator to Seanaid Eireann during his visit meeting Brian Cowen, Taoiseach-designate during his visit. In a further meeting to increase diplomatic links between Dublin and the JCI World IVP, Brian Kavanaugh, National President of JCI Ireland Catherine Laffey and President of JCI Dublin Kevin Guerin also visited the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Cllr Paddy Burke at the Mansion House. These diplomatic meetings all took place in the run up to the Spring Conference.

 

After drinks and social activities on Friday 4^th April the National Council Meeting was held on Saturday the 5^th of April at An Oige, Mountjoy St. Dublin. The national executive presided over the meeting and many upcoming events and ongoing policies were discussed. IVP JCI World Brian Kavanaugh also spoke to the group about his hopes for JCI Ireland in 2008/ 2009.

 

At the same time for those not taking part in the meeting there was an exciting teambuilding treasure hunt around the centre of Dublin. Participants had to explore the city and return to make a presentation for marketing the city.

After Lunch there was some training on Emotional Intelligence by trainer Fabio Grassi. This was followed by dinner for the entire conference at Cactus Jacks on Jervis St.

 

On Sunday the 6^th of April the JCI Ireland National Debating and Public Speaking Championships were held at the venue for the weekend conference. The competitions included National Advanced Public Speaking Champion, National Novice Public Speaking Champion and the title of National Debating Team.

The advanced public speaking competition was the first contested with an overwhelming entrance of six speakers. Deirdre Burke and John Scannell of Tullamore were among the advanced speakers, Mark Kelly and Michelle Daly spoke from Dublin, Orla Ryng, National Deputy President from Cobh spoke as did Emmeline Searson of Limerick. The topic was “Be Better Through Active Citizenship” and was treated with expertise by all of the competing speakers. The competition was won by Michelle Daly, Deputy President of JCI Dublin.

The Novice Public Speaking Competition was also hotly contested with entrants form all over Ireland. Kevin Guerin and Laura Hadade of JCI Dublin spoke on “Leadership” and “Everything I’ve Learned from Sex and The City”, respectively participated as did Sultan Semlali of JCI Cork who spoke about “The Reunion of Boyzone is good for Ireland”. Liam Burke, spoke on “Leadership” representing Limerick in the Novice Competition. Sultan Semlali of JCI Cork won the novice competition taking the cup to the Rebel County.

The National Debating Finals included four teams; there were astoundingly two teams in the final from Dublin. Elizabeth O’Donohoe captained Dublin Team 1, Kristy Clarke and Kevin Guerin while Dublin Team 2 was captained by Michelle Daly and included Mark Kelly and Gillian Daly.   In the first semi final the two Dublin Teams met each other on the motion “In 2008, Grammar, Spelling and Punctuation no longer matter.” Dublin Team 2 prevailed on this occasion.

There was a beyond the pale consolidation team of John Scannell, Tullamore, Orla Ryng, JCI Cobh and Deirdre Burke of Tullamore. This team met the renowned Limerick Debating Team made up of captain Emmeline Searson, Liam Burke and Olive Duffy on the subject “This is the best decade in which to be young…”. Limerick prevailed in the end and met Dublin Team 2 in the national final.

The national debating final was fought on the topic of “ As a Leader it is better to be successful than honest” Limerick were proposing the motion and Dublin Team 2 were opposing. The opposition won and Dublin Team 2 were announced JCI National Debating Team 2008. JCI Dublin therefore took home a collection of silverware from the conference, JCI Dublin Deputy President Michelle Daly will go on to represent Ireland at the JCI European Competition in Turku, Finland in June 2008, where perhaps more silverware can be brought back to Dublin.