Are there any Jaycees here?

[proud2BlibKansan]

I will admit I know little about the organization. So if there are Jaycees here, please explain this:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=162&topic_id=4045&mesg_id=4045

Thanks in advance.

[kweerwolf]

1. I'm not a JayCee but ...

... JayCees is the name for the Junior Chamber of Commerce. Usually Chambers of Commerce tend to be a fairly conservative lot who oppose taxes, government regulations, etc., that might effect their businesses.

Given the fact that the chapter that nominated "Skippy" is in Joplin, I'd say that they group there is slightly to the right of the John Birch Society ... so no doubt a photogenic (if you're into that sort of bland, white-bread type) gives them a collective stiffie.

(On edit) ... Just checked out the JayCees web site and here's the list of other honorees. I don't see any bios for them and don't recognize any of the other names.

http://www.usjaycees.org/projects_toya.htm

[chat_noir]

2. ROBERTS v. UNITED STATES JAYCEES

It took a Supreme Court decision to force the Jaycees to admit women as full, rather than associate, members.

http://www.bessel.org/casejc.htm

[Oeditpus Rex]

3. I was in Jaycees for 10 years

until I got too old. Actually, they kept me on the rolls after I hit 40, because membership is everything to the internal upper caste. (I notice they've knocked the minimum age from 21 to 18 to get more members. It's about money.)

For the record, there's no connection between Jaycees and any chamber of commerce. The name is a misnomer; it was originally "Junior Citizens," but morphed over the years.

Anyway, TOYA is part of the OY (Outstanding Young) program. Chapters can select an Outstanding Young Farmer, Public Safety Officer, Educator and, the big one, Citizen. Each can be nominated for the award at the state level, and Farmer and Citizen are underwritten (the former by John Deere) and can go to the national level. TOYA is a huge deal; I never quite understood why. An OY need not be a Jaycee, but many are, and I've always thought the idea for the program was to get more people to join.

On edit: What chat_noir says is true. If memory serves, the official date was Aug. 16, 1984. Not unusual, really, when you consider that virtually all civic organizations were good ol' boys clubs. Some still are.

And welcome to DU. :hi:

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. Thanks for the info

[Divernan]

4. Lots of small town/community boosterism, business contacts, parties.

My ex and I (Jaycee Wives Club- cause only men in the Jaycees then) were very involved in a chapter back in the 70's. Lots of local businessmen and wanna be local politicians in small community joined to drum up their own businesses and self-interests. Projects like selling Christmas trees, golf tournaments, fund raising social events - all with tons of publicity and pictures in the local paper. "Frampton Smythe Townsend the Third (president of Townsend Buick Motors), chairman of the Jaycees spring golf tournament presents a check for $500 to sports scholarship winner, blah, blah, blah. The main benefit was the social life - at least one big party a month. I had very liberal political beliefs and activities back then and was given the nickname of Gloria Steinham. Yes, I was a Jaycee Wives dropout!
Maybe it's changed drastically since the 70's - I know I sure have.

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. The gov of MO is a disaster

Many of us are just stunned that he is getting an award from any organization.

If they had asked his constituents to vote, I doubt he would be getting this award.