The degree program is a great way to gain a well-rounded community service and Jaycees experience.  It not only encourages civic involvement, it is a way to recognize the hard work you have done.  Whether you use it as a guideline for your activities, as a resume builder, or simply for your own benefit, the degrees program is easy to understand and advance through. 

This program consists of 10 Degrees. First Degree is fairly easy to complete, with each subsequent degree requiring a progressively higher level of involvement. New members are not required to be enrolled in Springboard, but if all the requirements are met within their first year as a member, it is the equivalent of earning first, second, and third degree. Tenth Degree is the highest honor a member can achieve and less than 25% of all current members achieve this status.

DEGREES

The 10 Degrees are divided into three phases:

Phase 1. Involvement - Degrees 1-3, provides newer members with opportunities to experience orientation, training, community awareness and sharing Jaycees.

Phase 2. Experience - Degrees 4-6, encourages members to use their experiences to develop skills in activation, action and recruiting.

Phase 3. Leadership - Degrees 7-10, uses the member's training and leadership skills.

Each degree has a list of activities to be completed to earn that degree. Activities marked with an asterisk (*) are mandatory. Other activities listed are recommended. If a recommended activity cannot be completed, the chapter may substitute two other activities.  All the requirements for a degree must be completed before the next one can begin. Each degree certification must indicate a completion date. Certifications with overlapping dates between degrees will not be accepted.

PHASE I / INVOLVEMENT

(*) MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS

(**) FORMERLY CALLED INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT

1st Degree:

(Members completing Springboard in the current program year are considered 3rd Degree and may go directly to 4th Degree.)

1. Attend 50 percent of the chapter’s membership meetings conducted while attaining 1st Degree.

2. Participate in a member development project. (*) (**)

3. Attend an orientation of chapter, state, and national structure and programs. (*)

4. Be able to recite the Jaycee Creed.

5. Work on a chapter project.

6. Attend a chapter Chairman’s Planning Guide preparation training session, or have a chapter member explain the CPG process.

7. Bring a prospective member to a chapter activity.

2nd Degree:

1. Attend 50 percent of the chapter’s membership meetings conducted while attaining 2nd Degree.

2. Participate in a second member development project. (*) (**)

3. Lead the Junior Chamber chapter in reciting the Jaycee Creed, Pledge of Allegiance, or Invocation.

4. Be an active committee member on a chapter project.

5. Attend a civic organization, local government, religious, or school board meeting with another Jaycee and report to the chapter.

6. Recruit one new member. Make sure he or she completes the Springboard Survey and is enrolled in the Springboard program. (*)

3rd Degree:

1. Attend 50 percent of the chapter’s membership meetings conducted while attaining 3rd Degree.

2. Participate in a third member development project. (*)

3. Attend a district, region, state, or national training session, forum, orientation, or meeting. (*)

4. Attend a chapter orientation or training session.

5. Chair or co-chair a chapter project and complete the CPG process.

6. Be assigned to a new member in the Springboard program.

PHASE II / EXPERIENCE

4th Degree:

1. Attend 50 percent of the chapter’s membership meetings conducted while attaining 4th Degree.

2. Participate in a fourth member development project. (*) (**)

3. Attend a district, region, state, or national training session, forum, orientation, or meeting. (*)

4. Conduct a Springboard orientation, either with a group or one-on-one.

5. Chair a chapter project and complete the CPG process.

6. Recruit one new member. Make sure he or she completes the Springboard Survey and is enrolled in the Springboard program. (*)

5th Degree:

1. Attend 50 percent of the chapter’s membership meetings conducted while attaining 5th Degree.

2. Participate in a fifth member development project. (*)

3. Attend a district, region, state, or national training session, forum, meeting. (*)

4. Visit an activity of another chapter.

5. Chair a chapter project or serve on the chapter’s Board of Directors. (*)

6. Be assigned to a new member in the Springboard program.

6th Degree:

1. Attend 50 percent of the chapter’s membership meetings conducted while attaining 6th Degree.

2. Participate in a sixth member development project. (**)

3. Attend a district, region, state, or national training session, forum, orientation, or meeting. (*)

4. Lead and coordinate a visitation team to another chapter.

5. Chair a chapter project and complete the CPG process, or serve on the chapter’s Board of Directors. (*)

6. Recruit one new member. Make sure he or she completes the Springboard Survey and is enrolled in the Springboard program. (*) (**)

PHASE III / LEADERSHIP

7th - 10th Degrees

For the 7th through 10th Degrees, the two requirements for each listed below are mandatory. In addition, five of the optional requirements should be completed. Three chapter activities may be substituted for three optional activities.  Optional requirements may not be repeated for the completion of one degree.

7th Degree:

1. Conduct a new-member orientation.

2. Help a Jaycee advance one degree (not including Springboard).

8th Degree:

1. Organize and participate in a training program.

2. Recruit one new member. Make sure he or she completes the Springboard Survey and is enrolled in the Springboard program.

9th Degree:

1. Assist a new committee chairperson in completing the CPG process.

2. Help a Jaycee advance one degree (not including Springboard).

10th Degree

1. Conduct a training program revolving around the Junior Chamber Areas of Opportunity OR conduct a recruiting training program.

2. Recruit one new member. Make sure he or she completes the Springboard Survey and is enrolled in the Springboard program.

OPTIONAL REQUIREMENTS

7th - 10th Degrees:

1. Enroll as a member of the Leadership Academy.

2. Work on a chapter project.

3. Conduct a chapter training program.

4. Attend a future officers’ training program and run for office.

5. Help a Jaycee advance one degree (not including Springboard).

6. Conduct a community service/fundraising project.

7. Conduct a chapter management project.

8. Conduct a member development project. (**)

9. Serve on the chapter’s Board of Directors.

10. Serve as a District Director, Region Director, state Program Manager, State Chairperson, or a state office not previously held.

11. Serve on the chapter’s election committee.

12. Conduct a community service/fundraising project.

13. Conduct a member development project.

14. Participate in a statewide community service/fundraising program.

15. Participate in a statewide member development program.

16. Assist in preparing the chapter’s annual report.

17. Participate in local, district, region, state, or national competition.

18. Serve as a judge for local, district, region, state, or national competition.

19. Assist in development OR mid-year evaluation OR year-end evaluation of the chapter plan.

20. Write an article for publication in a chapter, district, region, state newsletter or newspaper.

21. Become a PRIME trainer.

22. Conduct a new member orientation (for 8th, 9th, or 10th Degree).

23. Conduct an old member orientation.

24. Propose and chair a new chapter project.

25. Serve as a committee chairperson.

26. Attend a district, region, state, or national training session, forum, or meeting.

27. Visit another chapter.