Jaycees

The Jaycees were founded on October 13, 1915 in St. Louis, Missouri by a man named Henry "Hy" Giessenbier, Jr. What Hy sought to do was to develop the character and business skills of young men. He knew the potential was there and sought to bring out that potential in all. It started life as the Young Men's Progressive Civic Association In 1916, the name was changed to Junior Citizens and in 1918, the Junior Citizens affiliated themselves with the St. Louis Chamber of Commerce. After The Great War ended, the group decided to become a National organization On January 1920 it is the official birthday of the Junior Chamber of Commcerce (called informally J.C.'s) It was changed officially to  Jaycees and in 1990 it was changed back to Junior Chamber of Commerce Membership now is limited to those individuals 18 to 41 years of age It's an organization for both men and women Women members were admitted in 1984. It went from a peak membership of 395,000 in the 70s to 12,500 Giessenbier felt it was important for a young man to make his mark early in life, so he offered the members development of business and leadership skills. Those skills are still offered to today's members. Jaycees were an important part of our life in the late 70s and early 80s At that time, there were two organizations -- The Jaycees which was the men's group And the Jaycee Wives which was the auxiliary group We wives helped our husbands in their projects and we did our own projects both fund raising projects and service projects Some of the things we did:

Jaycee Rodeo

M D A Telethon

Community sign in Nevada, Missouri

U S Marine Corp Band Sponsor

Food Booths to raise money for projects

Award Banquets

Socials

We lived by the Jaycee Creed during those years

And actually, it is a good Creed to live by

for service to humanity is really the best work of life!

Jaycee Officers

The Jaycees (and wives) always wore their red vests whenever they worked a project.

Pins on the vest were awards and pins traded with other clubs at

regional meetings, state conventions and national conventions

To think how many lives were changed because of Henry Giessenbier, Jr.

The Jaycees changed even more when in 1984, they allowed women to join the organization.

because women were now taking more of a leadership role in the workplace.

The Jaycee Wives held on for 11 more years before they disbanded and even though couples can both be Jaycees, there was something special about the two organizations.    

How we could focused on issues involving women and children while the men's projects

were more for general community good.

And those women's issues are not at the fore front now that it is a co-ed organization.

All of this walk down memory lane is because of something I found at a flea market

A 1976 cookbook published by the Fort Scott chapter of the Jaycee Jaynes

(which some states called the women's auxillary)

And reading the book, seeing recipes from dear Fort Scott friends

who also were Jaycee Jaynes brought back a flood of memories from our Jaycee days.

When The Lunch Bunch came in March, the menu came from the cookbook's pages

 Joann Meara's Chicken Artichoke Casserole

Made for the 21st Century with boneless skinless chicken breasts 

rather than a whole chicken

An appropriante recipe for The Lunch Bunch for before she moved away, Joann was a member of the Lunch Bunch.     So even though she wasn't there, her recipe was!

With fresh asparagus, roasted and a hot roll

it was a ladies lunch

Dessert was lemonade pie -- that simple pie of lemonade, cool whip and Eagle milk mixed together and poured into a graham cracker crust.     In the 70s, it was served often -- almost as much as quiche!

I must say that I am proud that Jim was a member of the Jaycees

And that I was a Jaycee wife!

Joann's Chicken recipe:

JOANN MEARA’S CHICKEN ARTICHOKE CASSEROLE

3 pound cut-up fryer or chicken pieces

1 ½ t. Salt

½ t. Paprika

¼ t. Pepper

6 T. butter

¼ pound mushrooms, cut into large pieces

12-15 oz. can artichoke hearts

2 T. flour

⅔ c. chicken consomme or bouillon (I used chicken broth)

3 T. sherry

Salt, pepper and paprika chicken, then brown them in 4 T. butter and put them in big casserole.    Now put 2 T. butter into frying pan, saute mushrooms 5 minutes. Sprinkle flour over them; stir in chicken broth and sherry.     While this cooks 5 minutes, arrange artichoke hearts between chicken pieces; pour mushrooms and sherry over them, cover and bake at 376 degrees 40 minutes.    This can be fixed in the morning or day before.