Dating back to 1915, the Jaycees was started by Colonel H.N. Micgran, a prominent citizen from St. Louis who approached Henry Geissenbier who was the leader of the Herculaneum Dance Club and asked they become involved in civic issues. Geissenbier and his young men friends formed the young men’s progressive association (YMPCA), which then became the Junior Citizens, called the JC’s … thus, the name “Jaycees.” The whole concept started in St. Louis but grew outward from there. This year marks the 100^th anniversary of the organization.

The Jaycees were originally an all men’s club that had a woman’s auxiliary and in 1984, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of allowing females as members. This decision then led the way for other organizations to allow women in as members.  Currently, Jennifer Ray is the national president, and Cathy Colby is the New York State President for the Jaycees; proof that the decision made a gateway for females to not only join, but to take on leadership roles.

The Jaycees has over 200,000 members and is always looking for civic-minded people from the ages of 18-41 to join the various chapters. The various chapters “seek out solutions to local problems to create a sustainable global impact.” In meeting with local representatives, President Ray addressed problems regarding local socioeconomic issues, citing the number of students eligible for free and reduced lunches. By meeting with different chapters, the Jaycees can share community and global resources to hopefully find solutions to an issue such as this.

On a global level, the Jaycees have assisted with numerous projects and in June, they have a National Summit in Washington, DC, which brings together national policies and public policies. The Jaycees partners with various organizations to discuss national and global issues. Then they write resolutions and meet with legislators on Capitol Hill then return to their local chapters and look at opportunities and ways to resolve issues.  Jennifer mentioned the “Nothingbutnets” Project, which supports President Obama’s Malaria Initiative, and provides insecticide laced bednets that prevent Malaria in African countries. This is one of the many global projects the Jaycees work on. For more information on these projects, go to www.jci.cc

Cathryn Colby is the New York State President and she can be contacted at 716-474-3343 for anyone interested in learning more about the Jaycees and how to get involved in the local chapter.  Her mantra is “choose your tomorrow” – encouraging the youth in the community to get out and make a difference in your communities.

And as her final message, President Ray stated “young people are the movers and shakers.. it is important to become active in the community by not only identifying problems, but acting on them… and that is what we do”.

Some of the kids, happy to tell Santa what they wanted for Christmas.

Outside was a petting zoo for the kids.

The Batavia Area Jaycees were on hand with refreshments.

Just in case you weren't prepared for Santa's Christmas visit, the Girl Scouts had plenty of cookies. Just add milk.

Batavia, NY: The Batavia Area Jaycees are proud to announce the 25^th Annual Labor Day 5K Run & Walk being held on September 5, 2011 at MacArthur Park in Batavia, NY. 

Registration will begin at 8:00am and the race will begin at 10:00am.  The race fee is $12 for runners and $10 for walkers, with the fee going to $15 for the day of the race.  Medals and prizes will be given out to the top male and female runners after the race.  Sign up early to receive your free t-shirt.

The Batavia Area Jaycee’s 5K course is USA Track & Field certified #NY-06038-JG.

The Batavia Area Jaycees are also still looking for sponsorships for this event; if interested in participating or being a sponsor call 585-343-5775 or email us at bajny@yahoo.com

The Batavia Area Jaycee's are sponsoring a Clor's Chicken Barbecue on April 30, 2011 from 11:00am – 2:00 pm.  

Cost for the dinner is $8.00 pre-sale or $8.50 the day of the event and includes half a chicken, cole slaw, salt potatoes, roll & butter.

 Pre-sale tickets are available at:

Dinners can be picked up at Clor’s at 4169 West Main Street, Batavia.

SPONSORED BY: 
The Batavia Area Jaycees, Pontillo’s,
Oliver’s Candies and Batavia Youth Bureau

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2010

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 compliments of Oliver’s.

Pizza & Cider for kids (IN COSTUME ONLY) at end of parade compliments of Pontillo’s

FOR MORE INFORMATION: CALL 585-345-6420

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.

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

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