Last year was a very special benchmark for the Batavia Area Jaycees. It was their Diamond Anniversary.

On Saturday, the community service and social-networking group will receive the Special Service Recognition Award from the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce.

"The membership looks at it as a lifetime achievement for everyone who's ever been a Jaycee," said Steve Tufts, chairman of the Jaycees' 75th Anniversary Committee. "I think they are looking at the award as a nod from the chamber of commerce that they're doing some good stuff for the community."

Other committee members are Danielle Russell, Jodie Freese and Tara Pariso. Alumni who served on it are Bill Young, Ron Weiler, Bill Dougherty and Tom Ditzel.

The 1934 charter meeting of the Batavia Junior Chamber of Commerce was held at the Hotel Richmond on Main Street. Membership was restricted to men aged 18 to 35, but the age span shifted to 21 through 39 once the national legal drinking age became 21. The local chapter incorporated in 1976 and changed its name to the Batavia Area Jaycees. Eight years later, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the national organization and all its affiliates could not ban women from membership.

"That year, the brainstorming power of our chapter effectively doubled," Tufts said.

From the beginning, the Jaycees were all about networking and developing leadership skills to better themselves and their communities. So for decades now, the club has groomed tomorrow's leaders, which is one of the unique aspects of the Jaycees. Some people think of it as a "stepping-stone organization."

"We recruit them, train them and ship them out," Tufts said. "When they leave, they're better at organizing things, running a project or serving on a board. They understand the basics of Roberts Rules of Order and parliamentary procedure."

The development of an individual's leadership skills includes learning to: think fast and speak extemporaneously; debate topics; improve writing and otherwise hone the abilities considered to be valuable assets, both on the job and in the public sector.

People in their 20s and 30s experience a lot of flux and changes in their lives, so the average length of a Jaycee membership is three years. If a member hits 40 and "ages out," he or she affectionately becomes "an exhausted rooster."

Over the years, many people have benefitted from their association with the Jaycees. Past Chamber of Commerce President Ray San Fratello is said to credit the group with helping him learn the skills to serve in that capacity. Chamber Executive Assistant Melissa A. George was once a Jaycee president. So was Kelly J. Bermingham, the chamber's director of membership and special events.

Each year, the Jaycees Board of Directors proposes a calendar of events to meet the needs of the membership and the community. Programming falls into one of four areas: management development, individual development, community development and membership services. Community volunteer activities are offered most.

Early projects were health related, including Adam Miller's Stamp Out Syphillis program in 1937, free polio and measles clinics and a blood bank. During World War II, the chapter displayed flags on Main Street, led campaigns on civic planning, Americanism, Boost Batavia, and established three shelters for hitchhiking servicemen.

In the '60s, the Jaycees "spearheaded the effort to establish Genesee Community College," according to the Special Recognition Award application. And later, they held several annual competitions, including the Miss Batavia Pageant and Outstanding Young Farmer program. They developed a blind trail and built a shelter at Genesee County Park and a shelter at DeWitt Park.

Projects overseen by the Batavia Area Jaycees today include the annual Labor Day 5K Run, and the Home, Garden & Trade Show, which is the group's largest fund-raiser. Their 57th annual show was held this past weekend.

"It's been our longest-standing project because the basic model works -- it's a temporary place where local businesses can see more people than they normally would (in a weekend) and develop leads and maybe even sell some products," Tufts said.

He views the show as, indirectly, the chapter's best community service project, even though it is held to raise money for the chapter. Putting the show together serves as a "catalyst to local businesses" because homes are typically a family's greatest tangible asset, so virtually everyone has some connection to a home show.

The chapter's awards are too numerous to list. Suffice it to say that there are dozens and dozens of them, many of which are displayed at its hall in the historic Batavia Industrial Center on Harvester Avenue.

"We call it our woodpile," Tufts said, of the plaques, trophies, certificates, ribbons, etc., lining the shelves.

The fact that the Batavia Area Jaycees have a home base sets them apart from all other chapters in the state. It is a business. The chapter's ever-changing membership has been confident enough in its fund-raising abilities to take on the associated costs -- rent, utilities, insurance -- of renting office and hall space.

And they have succeeded, in part, because of the size of this community, not in spite of it. The small- to medium-sized community is best suited to any club that really wants to make a difference.

"We've got enough feelers out there to know and sense what needs to be done, how we can help and what gaps need to be filled," Tufts said.

General membership meetings are held at the Jaycee Hall at 7 p.m. on the first Thursday of the month. The Jaycee Hotline is 343-5775.

Photo: Tara Pariso, Danielle Russell and Steve Tufts.

HOLIDAY HOME LIGHTING CONTEST TO BE HELD

Santa will be at Oliver's Candies from 10am - 3pm.

The Batavia Area Jaycees will be selling Hot Dogs, Coffee, Hot Cocoa and Popcorn!

Come support the Batavia Area Jaycees by dining at Pizza Hut from 4:00pm - 8:00pm (or take out during these hours).

Money raised from this event will be used to off set the cost of the Oct. 25, Halloween Parade.  Details on parade: http://geneseeny.entrexp.com/documentview.asp?docID=850

Its simple to do, just bring a copy of the form when ordering/paying!

Any questions, please contact the Jaycees at 585-343-5775 / batjcs@wnynet.net

Link for the form needed:
http://geneseeny.entrexp.com/documentview.asp?docID=849

SPONSORED BY: 

The Batavia Area Jaycees, GCASA, Batavia Youth Bureau, and Oliver’s Candies

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2009: Line Forms at 12:45pm, West Side of Genesee Country Mall/City Centre (near Dan’s Tires)

Small Children MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT

~Wagons or sleds strongly suggested~

PARADE BEGINS AT 1:00PM

Parade route begins on the west side of the Mall near Dan’s Tires

**NO RAIN DATE, Listen to W.B.T.A. for Cancellations by 11:30am

The First 100 Children 10 & under IN COSTUME ONLY will receive a special free gift!!!

Popcorn and other goodies for kids (IN COSTUME ONLY) at end of parade compliments of the Batavia Area Jaycees

FOR MORE INFORMATION: CALL 585-345-6420

And they are off!  2009 Batavia Area Jaycees Labor Day 5k Run/Walk

The Batavia Area Jaycees Clor's Chicken Barbecue will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday April 19.

Cost is $8 and includes a half chicken, salt potatoes, baked beans, roll and butter.

Pre-sale tickets are available through April 17 at the Genesee County
Chamber of Commerce, 210 E. Main St.; Licata Chiropractic & Wellness
Center, 39 Ellicott St.; Oliver's Candies, 211 W. Main St.; and the Holland Land Office Museum, 131 W. Main St.; or by calling 585-343-5775 or asking any Jaycee.

A limited number of extra dinners will be available on a first come first
serve basis.

Dinners can be picked up at the Batavia Area Jaycee office located at 56
Harvester Ave. There's free delivery for those in Batavia with five or more
pre-sale orders.

The Batavia Area Jaycees will be hosting a Clor's Chicken Barbecue on April 19, 2009 from 11:30am – 2:00 pm.   Cost for the dinner is $8.00 and includes half a chicken, salt potatoes, baked beans, roll & butter.

Press Release:

The Batavia Area Jaycees will be hosting a Clor's Chicken Barbecue on April 19, 2009 from 11:30am – 2:00pm.   Cost for the dinner is $8.00 and includes half a chicken, salt potatoes, baked beans, roll & butter.

Pre-sale tickets are available at the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce, 210 East Main Street; Licata Chiropractic & Wellness Center, 39 Ellicott Street; Oliver's Candies, 211 West Main Street; Holland Land Office Museum, 131 West Main Street; or by calling 585-343-5775 or asking any Jaycee for more details.  Tickets will also be sold at the Batavia Area Jaycee Booth at the Home, Garden & Trade Show at the Batavia Downs on March 20-22.

Dinners can be picked up at the Batavia Area Jaycee Office located at 56 Harvester Avenue.  Free delivery for those in Batavia with 5 or more pre-sale orders!

If you have any questions about the Chicken BBQ, contact the Jaycees at 585-343-5775.

The Batavia Area Jaycees are proud to announce the 56^th Annual Home Garden and Trade Show is going to be held on March 20-22 at the Batavia Downs!

We are still looking for vendors for this event!  All booth prices will be $279!!!! 

Weekend Passes have been slashed to $1

For contract details visit: www.geneseeny.com/bataviajaycees and click on the home show link! 

Show hours are:
March 20 (Friday) from 5-9pm
March 21 (Saturday) from 10am - 7pm 
March 22 (Sunday) from noon - 4pm

If you have any questions, please contact us at 585-343-5775 or email at info@bataviajcs.org

2008 HOLIDAY LIGHT CONTEST WINNERS ANNOUNCED

HOLIDAY HOME LIGHTING CONTEST TO BE HELD

The Batavia Area Jaycees have announced they will be doing home holiday light judging on December 16, 2008 starting at 6:00 pm.

• Most Traditional Décor
  
• Most Colorful
  
• Overall Display
  
• Friends of the Lighting Company
  
• Most Commercial
  
• Simple and Elegant

16th Annual Halloween Parade!

Sponsored by Pontillo's Pizzeria, The Batavia Area Jaycees, Batavia Youth Bureau, Big Buddy, and Oliver's Candies.

SUNDAY - OCTOBER 26, 2008

Line forms at 12:45pm on the West Side of the Genesee Country Mall/City Centre, near Dan's Tire.

Small Children MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT
~Wagons/Sleds strongly suggested~

Parade will begin at 1:00pm
**no rain date - listen to WBTA 1490AM for cancellations by 11:30am

NEW: The first 100 Children (10 and under) in COSTUME ONLY will receive a special free gift!

Slice of Pizza and Cider for kids (IN COSTUME ONLY) at end of parade compliments of Pontillo's Pizzeria

For more information call 345-6420.

The 22nd Annual Labor Day 5k Run and Walk by the Batavia Area Jaycees was held on a great sunny day.  Proceeds will benefit the Genesee County Aids Task Force.

Here is the link to the results:

http://geneseeny.entrexp.com/documentview.asp?docID=608

Thanks to everyone help sponsored and made the event run as well as it did!

www.geneseeny.com/bataviajaycees

Don't forget, on Monday, September 1, 2008 is the Batavia Area Jaycees 22nd Annual Labor Day 5K Run & Walk.  Proceeds will go to a local community organization: Genesee County AIDS Task Force.

Registration begins at 8am at MacArthur Park with the Race begining at 10am.

Day of the race registration is $15 for runners, $10 for runners.

For more details click on the 5k section at www.geneseeny.com/bataviajaycees or call 585-343-5775.

At Summer in the City on August 16, 2008, the Batavia Area Jaycees did another Community Survey.

Here is the link to view the results of this survey:
http://geneseeny.entrexp.com/documentview.asp?docID=606

-Melissa A. George
2008 Community Development Vice President

The Batavia Area Jaycees are gearing up for their annual run/walk coming up in September, and they're looking for sponsors. Melissa George issued this press release over the weekend:

The Batavia Area Jaycees are proud to announce the 22nd Annual Labor Day 5K Run & Walk on September 1, 2008 at MacArthur Park in Batavia, NY.  This is the third year that the proceeds from the event will go to benefit Genesee County AIDS Task Force, which relies strictly on donations.

Registration will begin at 8:00 a.m. and the race will begin at 10:00 a.m.  The race fee is $12 for runners and $10 for walkers, with the fee Jayceesgoing to $15 the day of the race.  Trophies and prizes will be given out to the top male & female runners after the race and the first 100 registered participants will receive a free t-shirt. The course is USA Track & field certified.

Registration forms are available online at www.geneseeny.com/bataviajaycees or by calling 585-343-5775.

The Batavia Area Jaycees are still looking for sponsorships for this event.  If you are interested in learning more on being a sponsor, contact Melissa A. George, race chairman at 585-343-5775 or info@bataviajcs.org.

Pow! Can you see that sunburst on that sunburst-orange hood? That's hot. Hot!

Genesee Community College's Cruise at the College is right around the corner: July 26. We mentioned yesterday that the Batavia Area Jaycees will be holding a chicken barbecue.

So, what else can you expect?

How about several custom-built trikes from Skull Crusher Trikes of Leicester on display. Or "remote-controlled flying machines" flown by the Batavia Flying RC Club. Plus there's music, "ultra lights" and good, hot picnic-style food. Then, of course, there's the classic cars, motorcycles and trucks.

Dash plaques (see them to the left here) will be granted to the first 200 cruisers. Pre-sale tickets for the chicken barbeuce are available for $8 through the Jaycees — just call (585) 343-5775. Entry to the Cruise is free. Pauly's Pizza will be serving up slices. The Batavia Lion's Club will serve up some dogs and burgers. Abbot's will be serving frozen custard.

The cruise starts at 4:00pm and should go to about 8:00pm.

Call (585) 345-6809 for more information.