As the annual National Volunteers Week draws to an end, we want to take this chance to thank all our members for their time, energy and support that they give to JCI in a voluntary capacity whether on a local, regional, national or international scale.  As well as the vast contribution our members make within JCI, externally our members are regularly involved with a wide range of community projects all over the country that make a positive impact - whether its helping refugee groups, raising funds to help many charities, volunteering as trustees of charities, collecting items for food banks...the list goes on and on. Its easy to think of charity donations in financial terms, but donating your time through volunteering to community projects is just as valuable a contribution to an organization or cause as any financial donation. Volunteering also has many benefits on a personal level including learning new skills, gaining new experiences, meeting new people and building relationships as well as the all important 'feel good' factor that comes from giving your time and talents. At the heart of JCI is the ethos to be an active citizen and to make a local impact. Several years ago, JCI UK launched a volunteering project on a national level under the name "ACE" - Active Citizen Experience, to recognise those members who went a bit further and actively got involved in their local community. ACE is a community hours project where JCI Members can register their volunteer hours. Members are then awarded bronze, silver and gold certificates (according to the hours logged) in recognition of their efforts on an annual basis. The certificates are awarded at national events by the National President and National Community Director. Bronze 10 hours Silver 20 hours Gold 30 hours Any type of volunteering is eligible for ACE and we would encourage all JCI to keep a log of the volunteering hours they are giving. For more information about ACE and how to register your hours, please contact the 2017 National Community Director Epi Mabika - email epi.mabika@jciuk.org.uk   Mark Smith 2017 Yorkshire Regional Group Chair JCI UK E: mark.smith@jciuk.org.uk