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The Elkin Tribune
April 17, 2009
JayCee membership celebrates new interest in organization
TRIBUNE/Steve Steiner Elkin JayCee president Otis Gillette explains some of the benefits of being a member.
Managing editor
ssteiner@elkintribune.com
Less than a year ago, the Elkin JayCees were in a perilous position.
“We were on the verge of losing our charter,” said Otis Gillette, current president.
According to Gillette, there were only 3 - 5 active members.
It would have been an end to one of the more stellar chapters of the JayCees in the state — one that not only was an asset to Elkin, but one which had won honors nationwide in its heyday.
Fortunately, Gillette, who officially became president of the chapter in January — and the few current members, threw themselves wholeheartedly into reviving the Elkin JayCees.
“We did membership nights, dinners, just calling people and asking if they knew about the JayCees,” said Gillette.
They contacted past members and officers, soliciting their advice.
Little by little, their efforts began paying off and now the current membership is robust and showing signs of further growth.
One of the factors they learned might have been a hindrance to grow the group was membership fee. Thanks to fundraising efforts, they are able to offset the cost.
“It’s $70 per year,” Gillette said. “We’re willing to do memberships for $30 per year.”
On Tuesday, the Elkin JayCees held a dinner at Twenty One & Main.
“Gambill (Aldridge) came to me 3 - 4 months ago and said do a dinner,” said Gillette; Aldridge is a former JayCee who aged out after he turned 40-years-old.
One of the current members in attendance Tuesday was Elkin Elementary School fifth grade teacher Jason Throckmorton, who joined three months ago. Like Gillette, he would like to see the group grow.
“A number of younger people don’t know about JayCees,” he said. “It’s just a matter of getting word out there.”
As for himself, Throckmorton joined, in part, because of its past history of doing things for Elkin’s citizenry.
“I think it’s a good opportunity to help the community,” he said.
A number of guests were on hand Tuesday, including several former members (besides Aldridge), and visitors from the state organization.
One of the guests, Dr. Vernon Taylor, was the president of the group in 1948. Before the start of the night’s presentation, he presented a black and white glossy photo of 1948 members; he was the only one still living.
As a guest speaker, Dr. Taylor spoke of the chapter’s illustrious history, how it won a national award in 1948 at a convention held in Colorado, for which it was recognized in the agricultural category.
“I would encourage you to continue the work started in 1941 by Charlie Weaver,” he said in his concluding remarks.
Current town commissioner Joe Walker, a former Elkin JayCee member, gave the history of pictures that had been projected onto a restaurant wall (from a PowerPoint presentation).
He spoke of the impact to this day what being a member meant and the connections he made with other JayCee members from across the state and nation. He said that at least once per day, he speaks with someone he grew to know from his younger years.
“It will be a treasure you take with you all your life,” he said.
Current state president Valerie Huffman extolled the virtues of membership, that among the things it achieves is the developing of tomorrow’s leaders. However, being a member was more than that.
“None of you wouldn’t be in this room if you didn’t care about the community,” she said.
Gillette concluded the presentations by stating that one of the important aspects of belonging is building relationships, especially career-wise.
“With people starting careers, now is the most important time to be active in the JayCees,” he said.
About the JayCees
Membership is limited to people ages 21 - 40, at which point a member “ages out.” Anyone interested in becoming a JayCee or volunteering is asked to call 874-4237.