2012 JA Company Program

All companies must submit their product idea for approval using this form.

Your product could be denied (due to safety concerns, etc.). In this case, you would need to submit a new idea for approval. No company is allowed to begin production without product approval.

The form is due on February 17th. If you submit the form by this Friday (10th), we will have more time to provide you with feedback regarding your product. Also, products will be assigned in first come first serve basis. So, the sooner you submit your form the better.

You can access the Product Approval Form under Resources. You can also check the status of your product approval there.

This week you are brainstorming ideas for your potential product!

Keep in mind that the best products from previous years…

• Are creative/innovative – new products that fix everyday issues
• Are portable – can easily fit inside a purse-sized area
• Have readily available materials – that can be bought (cheaply) at multiple locations around the city
• Are reasonably priced – usually between $3 to $20
• Are professionally packaged – which include quality labels*

*Labels MUST be firmly attached to the product and include your company name/logo, contact information (usually an email address), and a JA logo.

ALSO, the production process for your product must keep you busy during the 3 hours you are at JA each week. For example, you cannot have a product that will only take you 1 hour to produce large quantities, and then sit around for the remaining 2 hours.

In the production process, you are not allowed to use power tools, fire, knives, and other dangerous materials. Please verify with your advisors/the coordinators if you have questions about materials.

Products that will not be approved include:

• ANY services
• Products that contain food (unless pre-packaged – prior approval from JA required)
• Products that touch the skin (hand sanitizer, lotions, soap, lip balm, etc.)
• Products that are offensive to the general public, or can cause bodily injury or property damage
• Products produced in the last 2 years (link to that list: HERE)

Let us know if you have any questions! Happy brainstorming!

With the school year about to end, and the 2011 JA Company Program officially wrapped up; I wanted to personally invite you to sign up for the 2012 Company Program!

I know it seems far away now, but the JA Staff have some fantastic things planned for the returning achievers this FALL, before the Company Program even starts. If you want to get involved in these events that are planned, you will need to sign up now. Plus, if you do it now, you will not forget when school starts again and you will be invited to some amazing new events, that are just for returning achievers.

If you have any questions, concerns, or some feedback please let me know.

Keep watching your email and I look forward to your registration!

Have a great summer!

Kindest wishes,

Kathy

P.S. Click the registration link above to register for next year! 

Just a quick reminder to all that the Company Program Awards have been moved. Originally scheduled for this evening, they have been moved to Alberta College for June 16th. Awards will begin at 6:30 P.M.

Please remember to RSVP!

On June 7th, 2011, Junior Achievement will be hosting its annual golf tournament at The Links in Spruce Grove.

Every year, we invite students out to the golf tournament to help with sign-in, hole activities and to represent Junior Achievement.

This year, we are looking for 10-12 students in the Company Program to come out and help this year. Breakfast and lunch will be provided

There are guidelines that students must meet prior to submitting your name. They include:

1) Must be 15 years of age or older

2) Must have transportation to and from the golf course.

3) Must be at the golf course for 6 AM

4) Dress code in effect- no jeans, runners, tank tops, high heels or shorts above mid-thigh.

Email Kathy at kmccutcheon@janorthalberta.org if you would like to help.

Congrats to the following achievers, they have gotten an interview this Thursday! All interviews will be conducted at the World Trade Center. Check in with Thi or Idel in the main lobby of the World Trade Center. Be at the JA Center for 5:30 P.M. All interviews will begin promptly at 5:45 P.M. Being late to your interview will disqualify you.

There you will find out what time your interviews are. Bring dinner and work to do, as no one finds out their times until the day of. Once signed in, you will not be allowed to leaving the building for any circumstances. 

Decadence

Alexander Azhikannickal

Crystal Han

Eric Kother

Felicia Krausert

Ivan Au

Jenna Wong

Melissa Ho

Mercedes Batt

Randolf Picardal

Samantha Capicio

Samuel Nguyen

Sylvia Nguyen

Fresh Ground

Erick Maleko

Hunter Tindill

Jesusa Santiago

Stephanie Gruhlke

JA Balm

Domonique Greiner

Hadi Ali

Lemiah L'Hirondelle

Nik Halliday

Rachelle Griner

Victoria Kelso

JetSet

Amy Duong

Hanna Warwa

Matthew Tiet

Tetiana Hlus

Tsega MacDonald

MugShot

Aqil Ebrahim

Christina Hodgson

Frederique Ndatirwa

Jonathan Choi

Katherina Nguyen

Naeem Nanji

Rachel Laskey

Vicki Parsons

Paws for Cause

Arfa Khan

Sarah Vuong

Plantec

Connor Clarkes

Daniel Purcell

Karlee Tobin

Kimberly Huynh

Sean Medina

Timothy Salinas

Victor Vo

Waishing Wan

Sync

Barnabas Swilia

Darcy Kuipers

Marisa Pazder

Roxanne Dias

Katrina Tuason

VYendo

Edisa Zorilla

Nigel Rodrigues

Safia Syed

A quick update for everyone! The Award interview schedule has been delayed. It should be going out either Monday evening or Tuesday morning. Watch your inbox to see if you have received an interview. 

Hi everyone!

A few VERY IMPORTANT things are happening this week (May 24-26), so listen up:

1) We are taking your company photos this next week. This means EVERY SINGLE COMPANY MEMBER must be at JA. Your company must dress nice. So please, BE PRESENT and LOOK NICE. (not business, but nice).

2) This week your company will have a chance to write on the Wall of Evidence. This is that wall at the centre with all the inspirational writings on it. Please COME PREPARED with what you would like to write.Keep it clean! We'll come tell you when it is your turn.

3) This week is also liquidation. This means that ALL OF YOUR PRODUCTS should be sold. You should not have any products left to sell at the end of this week. That also includes production inventory. Try to sell everything at whatever price. Everything needs to go back to being cash, so you can maximize the profit for your shareholders.

We've noticed that several companies still have products/materials in their drawers/cupboards. Pick them up and and sell them ASAP (the centre reopens on Tuesday).

So this week: you should have NO product left, NO production material left, and ALL of the money for these items.

We will be posting a complete Liquidation Checklist under resources momentarily. We apologize for the delay.

So, what should you take away from this post?

- Come next week and look nice

- Think of something to write on the wall

- Prepare your company for liquidation

If you have any questions, please let us know!

We have just uploaded an spread sheet with samples of all the journal entries that you should do during the program. This could be a useful tool for liquidation.

Download it under Resources.

This is the last week of sales for all companies. That means that all products should be sold or in the process of being sold to a client! This last week of sales will lead into next week, where all companies should be in the process of liquidating all assets in the company. 

What is expected in a shareholders report:

A PDF version and a hard copy must be handed in to Kathy no later then May 27 for companies not applying for the North America Competition. 

It should be a maximum of 10 pages. No appendices are allowed. The 10 page limit excludes the front and back cover. The minimum font size is 12 point. 

The cover in addition to the 10 pages should include: Company Name, year of operation, and name of Adviser.

Page one must be an executive summary and include: Company Name, Mission Statement, Product, summary of financial results, summary of company performance and an index.

The report must include statements of the company financial accounts up to the company liquidation date. These accounts presented should be verified and signed by a company adviser.

The report should read as a single business document, not as a series of repetitive directors reports. It should be a review of memeber's develoment as individuals and as a team, a company structure and outlines, any special activites undertaken by the group, and a photograph of the company .