Letter from the NJBot

Letter from the NJBot Welcome to the 2018 Spring Edition of JBNews! The NJBoT is happy to be back and bringing you incredible new content and information about CISV USA. We have been hard at work on our projects to help improve CISV USA and to provide amazing new resources! In this issue, we will be giving ideas for service projects and activities to do in your chapter, discussing the upcoming National Mini Camp (YAY!), and 1

introducing a revolutionary motion that was recently passed. Also in this issue, you can learn all you need to know about the new CISV USA program, Fortnight, in an exclusive interview with Nicki Veater. On top of that, you get to help us decide the best CISV lullaby and how we should prank the NJRs! Scroll on for information and entertainment! Love, NJBoT jbnews Volume 4, Issue 2

National Service Project Feature - Chattanooga Leila Owens In our daily lives, it is all too easy to forget about one of the most rewarding aspects of CISV, and JB in particular – the service projects! The National Service Project encourages chapters to run a service project based around a national theme. This year, the National Service Project focuses on neighborhoods. While there are many chapters doing wonderful things, this edition of the newsletter will focus on the great work that the Chattanooga chapter did for their project – painting a mural on a local inner city school. This spring, Chattanooga JB leaders, Gussie and Adira, successfully executed their plan to paint a mural on an inner city school. Both girls are avid artists and were able to merge their passion for art with their passion for helping others with this service project. No successful project is done alone; with the help of a local muralist, Rondell Crier, the project came together. With Adira acting as a liaison with the school and working on the mural design, and Gussie handling communication with Rondell and the chapter, it is no wonder the mural was such a success. On the day of the mural painting, not only did about 100 people contribute throughout the course of the day, but the local news also came out to interview the JB planners! 2

JB Chattanooga adding finishing touches to the mural

Local muralist Rondell Crier

jbnews Volume 4, Issue 2

The Inside Scoop of NMC: an Interview with NMCC Member, Aidan O’Leary

Liddy Grossman

It’s that time of year again! National Mini Camp is just around the corner! From Friday, May 25th to Monday, May 28th, National Mini Camp will be taking place in Brandywine Valley CISV chapter in Pennsylvania. This is an incredible experience in which participants from all over the United States come together to discuss meaningful themes and issues. Recently, the NJBoT had the opportunity to conduct an interview with National Mini Camp Committee member and CISV San Francisco LJR, Aidan O’Leary. Aidan has been involved in CISV since the age of eleven and has participated in a village in São Paulo, Brazil. Outside of CISV, she enjoys spending time outdoors and cooking vegan food. She has a strong interest in graphic design and will pursue a degree in graphic design at Wheaton College beginning next fall.

1. What is the theme of NMC and why did your committee decide upon this theme? Our theme this year is "The Seven Wonders of NMC." We chose this because it brings in the global theme of CISV and we thought it would be a lot of fun as well. 2. Who are the five amazing people on the committee and what CISV chapters are they all from? Our committee chair, Bryan, is originally from the Brandywine Valley Chapter, but he is currently part of the Boston Chapter. Alex is from the Miami Chapter. Gussie is from the Chattanooga Chapter. Witt is from the Smokey Mountain Chapter. And Sarah is from the Michigan City Chapter. 3. So far, as a committee, what has been your proudest moment? I think we are all proud of how close we've gotten as a group – we know each other's strengths and weaknesses and have learned how to work well together! 3


4. What has been the most difficult challenge for the committee to face during the planning and organizing process of the camp? Our biggest challenge has definitely been coordinating our schedules, we're all very busy. 5. What is the message(s) that the committee is hoping to convey through the themes and activities of NMC 2018? We have planned a camp that is full of topics relevant to current events, get ready for lots of fun activities that also make you think! 6. Aidan, how do you feel about the idea that NMC is just about two weeks away? Nervous? Excited? I'm so excited for camp! The NMCC has been working hard to plan everything and we're ready to share our work with everyone! 7. So really, just how good are the 2018 NMC t-shirt designs? The t-shirt design is AMAZING and the shirts are super so ! 8. Aidan, do you have a final message to share with JB national before NMC? Can't wait to meet everyone at camp, get ready for a super fun weekend!

The NJBoT and the rest of CISV USA are very excited to see all of the hard work that Aidan and the rest of the NMCC have done over the past several months! If you missed the NMC promo video, feel free to check it out using the link below: https://youtu.be/bnOJ7GoVjuA

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Updated Regions of US Chapters Baily Faller

This past February, the NJBoT voted on a motion to update the regions in the United States. Currently, there are 21 chapters, but with three rapidly developing chapters including Austin-San Antonio, Texas; Boston, Massachusetts; and Miami, Florida, the total number will be 24. The NJBoT agreed that the current regional structure would not support these areas. The new chapters are outlined in the color coded map below. The green colored pins represent the West: San Francisco, Rocky Mountain/Denver, San Antonio/Austin, Dallas. The red colored pins represent the South: Gulf Coast, Jacksonville, Atlanta, Smokey

Mountain, Chattanooga, Miami (Florida). The purple pins represent the Midwest: Michigan City, Detroit, Cincinnati, Columbus, NEO, Miami County. The blue pins represent the Mid-Atlantic: Washington DC, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Brandywine Valley. The yellow pins represent New England: New York, Maine, Boston, Springfield. The major changes are that the West Midwest and the East Midwest will be combined, while Pittsburgh will move to the Mid-Atlantic region. The Northeast will be split into the Mid-Atlantic and New England regions. These changes will be applied beginning at NJBM 2018 (October 19, 2018).

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Interview with Nicole Veater, Director of Fortnight

Baily Faller

Nicole Veater, also known as Nicki, grew up in the Brandywine Valley area and was a part of the Brandywine Valley chapter. She attended a Village in 1999 and as a kid she also participated in a Summer Camp (now called Step Up) and an Interchange. Nicki got re-involved with CISV a er being a leader in 2012. Last year she was the Director of a Step Up and is currently the Mosaic Chair of the Brandywine Valley adult board. Can you give a quick overview of Fortnight? Where is it hosted, how many people, how long, etc? Fortnight is a two-week camp hosted by Pittsburgh this July. This is a camp for 16 to 18 year olds with a spot for each chapter (or developing chapter) to send a delegate. Are there other countries with similar programs? Canada has a similar camp that meets nationally, and Europe has one called “Peace Train,” although it is more of a mosaic. Europe’s Peace Train program takes advantage of the Eurorail pass and travels to different CISV chapters around the continent. One of my friends had actually done the Peace Train program, and she has inspired me to be the Director of Fortnight. How did you learn about Fortnight? I learned about Fortnight from social media because CISV national sent an email looking for a Director! How does it feel to be the first Director of Fortnight? “It’s exciting and scary.” The pressure for the camp to be good enough to continue in upcoming years is definitely present, but it is an amazing opportunity to be able to shape a new program. I feel the need to make sure everything is good enough to continue and do in upcoming years. 6


What is the theme of the camp? One of the questions I want the participants to explore during the camp is “What does it mean to be an American in this day and age?” I really want the participants to discuss and take away how they can make an impact in their local communities. One of the special things about this camp is that all the participants belong to the United States community, and some of the discussions will hit closer to home than they would in an international program. Although I have an idea for the theme of the camp, it is going to run similarly to an IYM in that the participants will ultimately plan most of the activities. Are there any Excursions or Service projects planned? There are no planned service projects or excursions, but I hope to work with some type of LMO a few times over the two weeks to establish a meaningful and lasting relationship. What is your goal for Fortnight short term and long term? Short term, I want the participants to gain a better understanding of themselves and their national and local community. Long term, I want Fortnight to develop, keep CISV active, and inspire more participants to become Junior Staff. An important part of this program is that it is an additional leadership opportunity for the 16 to 18 age group, which will help to retain participants as their lives become busier. For the camp, I hope that it runs smoothly and long term that it will run at least every other year, but hopefully every year. My dream is that Fortnight will ultimately be a staple in the CISV USA travel programs. What are you most excited about? I am most excited to see how the conversations and debriefs differ from those of an international camp. I am also excited to see the different perspectives of a camp that sources people from all over the country because the diversity of thought in the U.S. is rarely highlighted in international camps. 7


JB USA Activity Sheet Activity Title

Sharks

Facilitators

You!

Time, Place

1 hour

Advanced Preparation Materials Needed

N/A One large sheet of paper per group and writing utensils

ASK Model

What attitudes, skills, and knowledge do you want your participants to gain from this session? Attitudes: Willingness to be open minded to all ideas Skills: Ability to consider a problem from all sides Knowledge: Understanding of differing points of view

Content Area

Which area(s) of CISV’s peace education content are you working with? Conflict and Resolution Diversity Human Rights Sustainable Development Other (specify):

Activity Do: What will participants be doing during the activity? Divide people into groups of 5 or 6, give each group paper and a writing utensil. Each group is a small town with a beach. Inform them that there has been a large increase in shark attacks on their beaches, and that many people are being injured. There have even been some cases of death.

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Time Needed

5-10 minutes

Facilitator


Tell them that they have 15 minutes to come up with a detailed plan on how to reduce the shark attacks in their area. They may write words and draw pictures, but they cannot use anything in their plan that they would not have the theoretical ability to create in the current human world (Ex. no black holes to swallow the sharks).

Groups design their plan

15 minutes

Each group presents their solution

20 minutes

Debrief

Reflect: Reflect on the ASK that has been learned from this activity.

Generalize: How can this learning relate to a larger context?

Apply: How can this new ASK be put into action in the world/our lives?

Questions

Facilitator

How did you come to your solution in your group? What were some some difficulties when working in your group and how did you resolve them? Did you all agree on your solution? In the beginning? In the end?

How do you think the effects of this activity are reflected in the real world? Do you think that some of the issues in your group are faced by real world politicians, lawmakers, and government officials when handling a topic such as gun control? Which ones? What do you think are some causes of gun violence?

What do you think can or should be done about gun control? In what ways can you have an affect on politics and the laws that are made?

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Q:

Q:

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what’s the best lullaby?

how should the NJBoT prank the NJRs?


Glossary ● CISV—formerly Children’s International Summer Villages, an international peacekeeping organization working to create global friendship ● JB—Junior Branch ● NJBM /CIM—National Junior Board Meeting/CISV In Motion, a four day long event held in October where all CISV USA chapters meet, discuss, elect national representatives, and pick programs for the next summer ● AJB—America’s Junior Branch, the Junior Board from North and South America ● AJBM—America’s Junior Branch Meeting, a meeting between all the JB’s in North, Central, and and South America ● IJB—International Junior Branch, the Junior Branch for CISV International ● GloCo / IJBC—Global Conference, a meeting held every 3 years with all of CISV International/International Junior Branch Conference, an annual meeting for all JB’s in the world ● LMO—Like-Minded Organization, an organization that shares the same values as CISV that could possibly pair with CISV for an activity or event ● Mosaic—A local chapter project that is designed to help the community in some way ● NSP—National Service Project, a nationally themed service project that is put into action by local chapters ● Mini Camp, a shortened version of an international CISV camp, typically lasting from 1-4 days ○ ○ ○

CMC—Chapter Mini Camp, a one to three day long camp held exclusively for one chapter in CISV USA RMC—Regional Mini Camp, a three day event held specifically for a region in CISV USA NMC—National Mini Camp, a four day event held for all chapters in CISV USA

● NJR / LJR—National Junior Representative/Local Junior Representative, the “president” either of a specific chapter (LJR) or of CISV USA (NJR), works to improve their assigned chapter or country ● NJBoT—National Junior Board of Trustees, works towards bettering CISV USA through projects and the gathering of resources ● NJBAd—National Junior Branch Advisor, an adult member of the NJBoT who serves as an advisor to local JBs and JB advisors and works to advance CISV USA as a whole ● NMCC—National Mini Camp Committee, plans the yearly national mini camp ● NCLD—National Committee for Leadership Development, serve as liaisons between local and national CISV, plan and run Chapter Development, help facilitate planning of RMCs, plan and run NJBM ● Winter Planning—weekend in which all national committees meet and plan out their year ● Regions—the five sections that JB USA is divided up into ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

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New England: Boston, Maine, New York, Springfield Midwest: Detroit, Miami County, Michigan City–Lakeshore, Cincinnati, Columbus, Northeast Ohio Mid Atlantic: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Brandywine Valley, Washington D.C. South: Chattanooga, Smokey Mountain, Gulf Coast, Jacksonville, Atlanta, Miami (FL) West: San Francisco, Dallas/Ft Worth, Austin/San Antonio, Rocky Mountain/Denver


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