Who Are We?
The United States Junior Chamber of Commerce was founded nearly 80 years ago in St. Louis, Missouri by Henry Giessenbier. His vision was an organization that would allow young persons the opportunity to develop personal and leadership skills through local community service and organizational improvement. In addition to a long-standing dedication to serving its local communities, the Junior Chamber has also placed a major emphasis on the ongoing individual development of people age 21-40. The organization's success can be recognized not only through the contributions it has made to the community, but also through the continued success of its members in their professional and civic lives.
Why join the Jaycees?
Simply put, the purpose of the local chapter is to become a force for good in the community, determining community needs and providing solutions by planning and facilitating community service projects. In the act of serving, members receive hands-on experience, which translates to the enhancement of personal growth and the development of valuable leadership skills.
The
Jaycees vision can be broken into five areas of opportunity: Business,
Management, Individual, Community, and International.
Management
- This area develops the managerial skill of individual members by
offering training and leadership experience at all levels of the organization.
Individual
- This area provides an opportunity for members to realize their
personal potential through training programs.
Community
- This area develops the sensitivity of the individual members to
societal problems and community dynamics by providing experience in
community problem solving. Many of the Jaycees works benefit
the community. We have raised funds for D.A.R.E., the Ronald McDonald
House, and other community services.
International
- This area provides an opportunity for individual members to contribute
to the development of goodwill, understanding, and cooperation among
all peoples.
And
we can't forget to mention...
Meet People - The people you will meet in the Jaycees are some
of the finest people you will ever know. They come from all walks
of life, and they all share a common interest of helping to make their
community a better place.
Have Fun - Jaycee projects often involve hard work, but they are
always rewarding and fun.
The Jaycee Creed We Believe:
That faith in God gives 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 men;
That earth's great treasure lies in human personality;
And that service to humanity is the best work of life.
This Creed, written by C. William Brownfield, was adopted in 1947. The creed has since been translated into 100 different languages and is still recognized today as the official Jaycee Creed.