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Piggers, the little JCI Barnsley pig, made his first little international trip to sunny Scotland for their National Conference from 20-22nd April.

To induct Piggers fully into the JCI fold he needed to meet our twin Chamber JCI Aberdeen and experience one of the most exciting areas of JCI opportunity, international.

Piggers, and his travelling companion Gemma Fletcher, took the train to Glasgow for this years JCIS National Conference. The journey was beautiful, travelling through the Yorkshire dales all the way to Glasgow.

Piggers was a little tired so both travellers took a tactical nap before the weekends first event, a cocktail master class.

Piggers got to meet his first JCI Edinburgh member in the form of Mhairi McCallum, a fellow European Academy graduate in the same year as Gemma. Piggers made a great impression and made his way to the cocktail class, where he got to meet his JCI Aberdeen twins. Piggers made friends very easily and was definitely a hit! He even got to taste his first cocktail made by Gemma's fair hand! Gemma and Piggers made a sensible decision and left the party before the karaoke started!

On the first official day in Conference both Gemma and Piggers were able to catch up with old friends and meet new ones! Piggers made himself useful by helping Fiona McGregor of JCI Aberdeen to operate the lights during the public speaking and debating competitions. Piggers especially enjoyed Stuart Pownall's use of voices when telling his fairy stories that eventually led to him being crown the Public Speaking Champion for 2012 and giving Edinburgh their first award of the evening at the awards ceremony.

Piggers them popped to lunch with his new friends, but wasn't very impressed when Gemma chose a pulled pork sandwich!

In the afternoon Piggers took part in the training session entitled Walt Disney's Imagineers! He was able to put his creative skills into practice by helping to make an amusement ride using Disney's 3 stages of development, dreaming, realising and critiquing. Piggers was very proud of his Titanic inspired boat ride.

Next Piggers retired to his room so that he and Gemma could make themselves pretty for the evenings events.

In his best attire both he and Gemma popped to the JCI Edinburgh reception where he tasted his first champagne! Needless to say he was bubbling by the time he arrived at the dinner, where he got to meet Pam and Grace from JCI Aberdeen.

Piggers enjoyed a wonderful meal and enjoyed celebrating with JCI Aberdeen when 2 of their senators received awards. Piggers then made his way through the Lighthouse, viewing exhibits and making his way to the viewing platform to see Glasgow by night.

Piggers wanted a little rest so watched as the guests danced to some tunes. Upon Gemma's return to the table Piggers was missing! JCI Scotland President, Louise Swanson, came to the rescue by making an announcement that poor Piggers had been kidnapped and a reward was offered. The kidnapper was soon revealed in the form of cheeky JCI Aberdeen member Stan Yau, who was punished for his crimes.

For fear of a repeat performances Piggers joined his Scottish and JCI UK National Board friends, Emma Eastwood, Personal Development Director and Solveig Malvik, National President for a bit of a dance. As the witching our approached and Gemma's feet started to hurt both parties made an emergency Macdonald's run before snuggling up in bed.

Sunday meant brunch and fair well to his new Scottish friends before heading home with Emma and Gemma on the train.

Both Gemma and Piggers were very tired but his first JCI international event was a roaring success and he can't wait to hop on a plane to Germany for JCI European Conference!

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As a JCI member you never quite know what new experiences await you as you set off for an event... and last Friday night was no different!

Gemma, Charlie and I set off for Sheffield with expectations of meeting the World President, Bertolt Daems, supporting the Archer Project and watching some off the cuff public speaking (known as Extempore in JCI).

We got much more than we bargained for though! Our first task was to deliver pillows and blankets donated by the Holiday Inn Royal Victoria to the Archer Project. Squeezing ourselves and numerous bags of bedding into a little car, then trying to work out the best way to the cathedral, kicked off the night with plenty of giggles.

Once we arrived at the Archer Project we learned more about the fantastic work they do with homeless and vulnerable people in the city. To support the Archer Project, we all wore our favourite winter headwear for ‘Woolly Hat Day', an event to raise funds and awareness for the project.

After an address from the World President and some cracking pie and peas, the Extempore event kicked off to a flying start with our very own Charlie being drawn second to compete. New member Charlie hadn't even heard of this public speaking competition before, but she did us proud and gave a great performance talking about her unusual pets!

After a spot of catching up with old friends and meeting new members, we headed for home full of enthusiasm for the organisation and the opportunities it gives us to make a difference.

P.S. If you're interested, we had to stop at 33 pillows, 5 blankets, 3 Barnsley members and the Immediate Past National President!

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By Gemma Fletcher

The art of JCI Twinning is simple, befriend a Chamber and get to know them. JCI Barnsley is twinned with JCI Aberdeen and this weekend I had the privilege of attending their President's BBQ.

The event is aimed at brining together members and celebrating what has been achieved so far in a presidential year. This year JCI Aberdeen President, Steven Wilson, was gracious enough to invite be into his home to celebrate this annual event.

This BBQ was not simply a social event but also a charity event to raise money for JCI Aberdeen's chosen charity for 2011, the Maggie's Cancer Centre Appeal. Members were encouraged to donate to the appeal almost £50O was raised for the charity!

The wine flowed and the food was eaten and the event was a huge success! The sun shone and the party continued into the night, giving me a chance to catch up with my Aberdonian friends.

The only downside with twinning is that at the end of the day you have to go home. Here's hoping my next trip to Aberdeen will not be in the too distant future!

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By Gemma Fletcher

JCI Barnsley was on fine form when 5 of us made our way up to Aberdeen for JCI Scottish Conference! Not that we need an excuse to visit our twin Chamber, but when there is a conference involved then how could we say no! Having consumed 2 cups of coffee and half my weight in Haribo I was certainly ready for an action packed weekend by the time I made it to Scotland!

Doing what we do best, having arrived at the hotel I promptly bumped into the JCI UK contingent and we decided to see the sights that Aberdeen had to offer, or as it is known in Yorkshire, the pubs! Having spent the afternoon catching up with friends (including Mr Daniels and Mr Magners) we were on our way the public speaking and debating competition.

Having endured a strange model fish and some serious wolf-whistling through the debating competition we were confident that our twins would be successful winners of these competitions and made our way for some food before grabbing an early night ready for a long day of training and speakers.

Saturday provided team building opportunities with members learning how to break an egg, but in a really impressive ship (the breaking of the eggs was not the point, but we were all very good at it.) The afternoon was filled with guest speakers teaching up all about how to succeed in the business world.

Before we knew it, it was time to get our dancing shoes at the ready to celebrate Scottish success! Having had the pleasure of carrying out the twinning friendship speech I was ready to boogie the night away to some serious Celidh dancing, and yes I have the bruises to prove it! We were lucky enough to watch Aberdeen almost clean house with awards and it was also a great pleasure for me to see my friend and fellow 2010 President Arlene Smith receive a senatorship for her contribution to JCI. After a few more hours dancing, and a whisky that was older than me, we were all off to bed.

Sunday brought with it the opportunity to meet JCI Aberdeen's newest and youngest member in the form of little Abigail Mennie! After a much needed bunch and some sad goodbyes, it was time to JCI Barnsley to make their way back to sunny Yorkshire until the next time...

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By Gemma Fletcher

My second visit to Aberdeen was considerably more relaxing the first (and I got to spend more than 14 hours there!) JCI Aberdeen's flagship event, the Grampian Industrialist of the Year Award, is an award recognising prominent businessmen in the Grampian area. JCI Barnsley has a long and proud history attending JCI Aberdeen events and this is certainly one of my favourites!

This year I had the pleasure of staying with Steven Wilson, JCI Aberdeen President 2011 and my good friend. Having finally made it to Aberdeen after the 7 hour train journey I was taken to the ‘Palace' for a bit of R&R and to get ready for the evening's festivities.

Having made it to the hotel, by the skin of my teeth, it was great to catch up with old friends and make some new ones. It was good to see so many old friends, including Leslie and Nick Mennie (along with Mini Mennie in the form of Leslie's bump) along with JCI Aberdeen President 2010 Arlene Hutchinson.

Although you would think that it would be hard to see our Scottish friends on a regular basis we were actually surprised to realise how often we have managed to meet. From European Academy, to JCI Ladies Day at the Races, to World Congress in Japan. The relationship between Aberdeen and Barnsley is still as strong as ever.

The evening was as great as usual with a great speech by Peter Shilton (even if I didn't understand all the football references) Steven Wilson's well executed speech and the unveiling of the 34th Grampian Industrialist of the Year in Bob Kitt. With the chatter flowing and the wine aplenty the evening was over all too soon and it was time to go home to my bed.

Saturday brought a day tourism and lunch with friends. After a walking tour of the West End of Aberdeen taking in the sights (and very expensive houses) it was off to lunch with JCI Aberdeen members to reflect on the nights events and to continue catching up. Again the food was great, but the company was even better! We were also lucky that Leslie managed to hold in Mini Mennie for the length of the meal. Here is hoping next time I am visiting I get to see JCI Aberdeen's newest addition!

Having parted ways for the second time that weekend, it was time for a quick driving tour of Aberdeen taking in some of the outskirt villages and the countryside. It was great to finally get to see what Aberdeen has to offer and I was out to shame by my host's knowledge of his city! I think it is fairly safe to say I do not know that much about Barnsley! Steven and I then returned home for a bit more relaxing and a good early night!

Having been awoken by the electric curtains I was sad to know that my final day in Aberdeen was upon me. It is so nice to be able to have such a good relationship with our twins and always sad when we have to go our separate ways. After a hearty breakfast on the beachfront and a tour of the city centre and harbour it was time for me to say my final goodbyes and head for the train station and yet another 7 hour ride!

Hopefully we will get to meet again soon, and many JCI Barnsley members will be attending Scottish Conference in the coming weeks.

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By Zaaheda Dadhiwala

On Saturday 23rd January after a tiring night of festivities, 3 members of JCI Barnsley decided to brave the cold and public transport to take part in JCI Edinburgh's homage to the great Scottish poet Robert Burns. Looking forward to a weekend of haggis, whisky and for some, deep- fried battered Mars bars!

After 6 hours of travelling on the great British railway and getting there with moments to spare before the supper we were treated to a night of superb Scottish hospitality and celebrations.

The occasion kicked off with public speeches made by the 2011 President Pauline McLeod, followed by the Selkirk Grace from JCI London President Sarah Beckwith. The guests were then treated to a bagpipe procession of the haggis and a fantastic traditional ‘toast to the haggis' by Aileen Noble from JCI Aberdeen. Robin Harper MSP provided an interesting and informative tribute with his Immortal Memory to Robert Burns.

The tribute to the poet was closed with the ‘Toast to the Lassies' led by Carrick Flockhart and the ‘Reply to the Laddies' by Laura Hutton which had the crowd nearly falling off their chairs with laughter and clearly proved that girls always have the last say! The night was rounded off by some traditional Ceilidh dancing into the wee hours with Ceilidh rockers Whisky Kiss.

A huge well done goes out to the project leader Mhairi McCallum and her team for giving us an experience which I am sure we will all remember for a long time!

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