Who are the Jaycees?

An introduction to the BEST young professionals organization in the world!

Who are we, and what do we do?

The United States Junior Chamber exists for active young citizens ages 18 to 40, who bring energy and insight to solving problems locally and around the world. We believe we can and should address the needs of others.

Becoming a member of the Jaycees is a step in the right direction if youre looking to branch out, meet new people, become a civic leader, find new challenges, develop professional skills and make new connections locally, nationally and internationally. The opportunities are endless when you join the Jaycees.
Our mission is to empower young active citizens to create positive change in their communities. Our members offer targeted, sustainable solutions that achieve results. From poverty to illiteracy to the UN Millennium Development Goals, our members tackle serious issues without hesitation. The Jaycees is an international organization. Junior Chamber International (JCI) is our international arm, with nearly 200,000 young active citizens and over five million alumni including several world leaders. JCI chapters are spread over more than 5,000 local communities and over 100 countries around the world.

Vision, Mission, and Values

The Vision of the United States Junior Chamber: To be the leading global network of active young citizens.

The Mission of the United States Junior Chamber: To provide development opportunities that empower young people to create positive change.
The Values of the United States Junior Chamber, or our Creed: We believe that faith in God gives meaning and purpose to human life, that the brotherhood of man transcends the sovereignty of nations, that economic justice can best be won by free men through free enterprise, that government should be of laws rather than of men, that earth's great treasure lies in human personality, and that service to humanity is the best work of life.

History
Henry Giessenbier founded the Jaycees in 1920 with 3,000 members in St. Louis, Missouri. It was Henrys vision to provide young people with opportunities which they had little or no access to otherwise attain. He believed that young people could change the world. He was right. In his era, most young men were out of school and working by the age of 15. Their first jobs were most likely the jobs they held throughout their lives. With luck and hard work, some might reach executive positions by their forties. Giessenbier felt that young men were not receiving the opportunities necessary to develop their skills at a younger age, thus depriving our nation of an important resource, and so he formed the founding ideals of the U.S. Junior Chamber. His theory was simple offer leadership opportunities to young people, giving them hands-on experience through serving the community. That concept has never wavered.

Historical Milestones
1920s
1920 The United States Junior Chamber of Commerce (USJCC) was formed in St. Louis, Missouri, with 3,000 members. Get Out The Vote was the first Jaycee program to receive national endorsement Beginning of national projects Know America First and Fire Prevention. Birth of EXPANSION, the first USJC national magazine. Development of aviation adopted as national project. Jaycee Charles A. Lindbergh made the first solo flight between New York and Paris. Jaycees worked with Lindbergh to develop the U.S. Air Mail Service.

1923 -

1925 -

1926 1927 -

1930s
1931 1935 1936 1937 Distinguished Service Awards program established at the chapter level. Death of founder Henry Giessenbier. National Wildlife Federation established with guidance of USJC Programs begun at state and national level to inform public of need for diagnosis and treatment of venereal disease. Future Magazine established. USJC name Ten Outstanding Young Men for the first time. Safety with Light campaign gained national attention as thousands of street lights were donated to communities by Jaycees.

1938 -

1939 -

1940s
1940 USJC endorsed the principle of a military draft.

1944 -

Junior Chamber International (JCI) formed at Pan American Congress in Mexico City.
USJC established permanent headquarters in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Junior Golf program began. Official approval of "Jaycee" as synonym of organization. Adoption of Jaycee Creed.

1946 -

1947 -

1950s
1951 War Memorial Headquarters in Tulsa dedicated. At urging of Andy Mungenast, the reference to Faith in God was added to the Jaycee Creed. Jaycees sponsored stops on Professional Golfers Association tour for first time at Greensboro, North Carolina, and Hartford, Connecticut.

1953

1954
1959

First Outstanding Young Farmer and Junior Tennis programs held.

Jaycees supported statehood for Alaska. Hawaii gained statehood the following year due to Jaycee efforts

1960s
1961 1962 First Governmental Affairs Leadership Seminar conducted. Jaycees urge adoption of Uniform Vehicle Code, with emphasis on state action resulting in adoption nationally. Clean Water Program launched to improve water quality in communities across America. Gun Safety/Shooting Education adopted as a national program. Project Concern adopted as International Relations activity. Program raised money and equipment for clinics providing medical care to Chinese refugees in Hong Kong. Jaycees presented first annual National Award of Distinction from National Clean Up-Paint Up-Fix Up Bureau.

1963

1964

1965

1966

Name of organization officially changed to U.S. Jaycees

1970s
1970 Do Something campaign sparked national interest in volunteerism. Jaycees cooperation with other service organizations resulted in the founding of the National Center for Voluntary Action.

1971

More than 3,000,000 volunteer hours were provided by Jaycees to help administer 7,000,000 doses of rubella measles vaccine.
Jaycees undertook model Operation Identification program to combat burglaries and aid crime prevention efforts. Five million stickers were distributed nationally through Operation Red Ball to reduce fire fatalities. Bylaw change admitted 18-year-olds as regular members. The United States Jaycees Center for Improved Child Nutrition opened in Bloomington, Minnesota. Operation Threshold, a program dedicated to reducing alcohol abuse, reached more than 23 million Americans. Muscular Dystrophy Fund Raising adopted as national program.

1972

1973

1977

1980s
1980 Daisy/U.S. Jaycees Gun Safety/Shooting Education program honored with National Safety Council Award for Youth Activities. Healthy American Fitness Leaders adopted as national program. Bylaw change admitted women as full and regular members. Sign Up America campaign collected 1.5 million signatures supporting Americas Olympic athletes.

1982 1984

1985

The U.S. Jaycees endorsed Campaign for Liberty to encourage public support for restoration of Statue of Liberty. St. Jude Fundraising adopted as national program.
First woman honored by Congress of Ten Outstanding Young Americans.

1986

1987

Bylaw change established membership age as 21 through 39.

1990s
1990 Name of organization officially changed back to The U.S. Junior Chamber of Commerce. National Wake Up America program urged communities to get involved in politics by coordinating voter registration campaigns, hosting debates, and embracing pertinent community issues. Jaycees responded to devastating hurricanes in the southeast with national support. GreenWorks! environmental education and community action program adopted by USJC. Jaycees Against Youth Smoking (JAYS) adopted as national program. Junior Chamber members were instrumental in bringing relief to the flood-stricken Midwest. Junior Chamber Mission Inn Foundation created to build a nationwide network of care facilities for children and adolescents affected by HIV/AIDS. The Jaycee Alliance was formed as a non-partisan, educational, grassroots governmental advocacy organization to give young Americans a voice in government. The Jaycee KidCare I.D. Program was organized to provide identification to aid in the recovery of missing children.

1992

1993

1994

1995

1990s cont.
1996 The Jaycees Wake Up America Tour bus began a journey through the 48 contiguous states promoting programs and membership. Social Security Reform Town Hall Meetings program initiated. Junior Chamber Center for Entrepreneurship and Career Advancement begun a program designed to train young entrepreneurs and improve local economies. Junior Chamber Center for Entrepreneurship and Career Advancement name changed to Junior Chamber Center for Business Advancement. Two new programs, National Business Network and Virtual Networking, added to encourage Junior Chamber members to business network via the Internet both nationally and internationally. JAYS program reintroduced as an educational program that informs children about the dangers of smoking. Value Investing and Career Advancement added to the Junior Chamber Center for Business Advancement.

1997

1998

1999

2000s
2000 First female elected National President. Junior Chamber Center for Business Advancement develops web-based video seminar training.

2001
2004

Name changes to The United States Junior Chamber

Bylaw change established membership age as 18 through 40.

Fun Fact and Claim to Fame

PMG: The Jaycees own unique business plan The Project Management Guide (PMG), formerly called the Chairmans Planning Guide (CPG), has been effectively used by Jaycees in launching many successful projects, political campaigns, and even new start-up businesses. In fact, Dominos Pizza is here today primarily because of a CPG. Founded in 1960, Domino's is the second-largest pizza chain in the United States and has more than 10,000 corporate and franchised stores in 70 countries and all 50 U.S. states. Original founder, Tom Monaghan, secured the purchase of a small pizza store called Dominicks Pizza in Ypsilanti, Michigan with a $75 down payment and $500 borrowed from the bank. Mr. Monaghan was a Jaycee and wrote a CPG for his pizza store franchise idea. He brought this CPG to the bank and presented it as his business plan. The bank was so impressed with Mr. Monaghans well thought out strategy, that he approved his loan without question.

Benefits of Membership
Leadership development through community involvement has been the basis of the Jaycees since its inception in 1920. The goal of the not-for-profit organization is to provide members a means to reach their full potential through networking and personal growth opportunities, and is ideal for proactive young people ages 18 to 40. Members enhance a variety of skills as they work together to plan and run civic and individual development activities in their home communities and chapters, such as:
Developing a business plan for maximum success and impact for each event Learning to successfully manage volunteers Communicating effectively, public speaking and debating as a team Discovering the needs of the community and managing resources to meet them Organizing efforts to make the most of dollars raised and hours volunteered

All members have unique talents to offer. We provide them an outlet to share those talents in programs and projects that benefit other members, as well as the community at large. Your involvement with the Jaycees will provide you opportunities to meet people, impact your community, and apply skills to enhance your career.

Networking Opportunities
It is often said that its who you know that matters and Jaycees are people who are connected. This organization has been known to not only produce successful business owners and other prominent leaders, but it has also brought together many friends and families. Statewide conferences are held where members take advantage of various

training seminars, round table discussions, and socials to network with

people from across the state. The true value of the program is in sharing with others the experience of participating.

Community Involvement
Few organizations touch as many lives, in as many ways, as the Jaycees. We develop civic leaders. We provide assistance with national and international disaster relief. We support a not-for-profit cancer organization, camps for individuals with developmental disabilities, collection drives for troops serving our country and other diverse programs. We are involved in their communities running festivals, raising funds for many causes, as well as directly helping individuals in need.

Individual Development
Whether interested in being a chapter officer or simply working on a project committee, members have the chance to develop skills ranging from planning, budgeting, marketing, personnel management and more. There are endless training opportunities through speakers and formal training programs. Members decide their chapters

programming.