Foxboro Jaycees Information

What is a Yankee Swap?

2008-11-13T18:29:00.001-08:00

Every December, at our monthly general membership meeting (GM), we hold our annual Yankee Swap!

In Yankee Swap each participant brings a wrapped, unmarked gift (value $10) and places it in a designated area. Guests are given numbers as they arrive, or their names are randomly drawn, and they select and unwrap gifts from the pile in that order -- with a twist.

The person who receives the number 1 will pick a gift (that is not their own) from the pile and open it for all to see (or models it, reads it, or demos it). During the selection of a wrapped gift, the participant may visually inspect the gifts, pick them up and/or gently shake them. The person who receives number 2 then chooses a gift and opens it, and then must decide whether to keep it or swap it for the first player’s gift. Each person in order then gets to select a present, open it and decide whether to keep it or swap it for any other gift someone has already opened. pening of gifts and swapping takes place until all the presents have been chosen. Finally, the person who picked first gets to choose from all the gifts or keep what he/she has already received. In the end, the gift you are holding is the gift you take home.

H.U.G.S. - Help Us Get Safe

2008-08-20T11:17:00.000-07:00

H.U.G.S. Foxboro
P.O. Box 466
Foxborough, MA 02035

508.698.8784

Dedicated to increasing Local Awareness of Domestic Violence through Education

H.U.G.S. Foxboro is committed to making our community safer by educating the public regarding violence in relationships, and by providing assistance to victims and families affected by domestic violence.

H.U.G.S. Foxboro also offers referral information for the following:

Referrals for temporary emergency shelter
Referrals for safety planning
Assistance with police, court process, and restraining orders

H.U.G.S. provides the following confidential services:

Transportation (to court, job training, counseling, employment, support services
Assistance with food, clothing, and personal care items
Referrals for weekday (short-term) babysitting
Cell phone programs (911 only)
Assistance with home security (dead bolts)

Foxboro Jaycees Logos

2008-07-08T19:08:00.000-07:00

Simply click on any of the images below for the full size logo, then right click and save the image to your computer.

Advice for new Board members and Project Chairpersons

2008-07-07T20:33:00.000-07:00

By Melissa Feder, Chapel Hill Jaycees

What it means to be a Board member

Be professional in how you treat people. You are no longer Joe Jaycee. Your actions reflect on the chapter, and guests/new-members/non-members will take your actions as representative of us as an organization.

Treat non-Jaycees with care. You may only be here 1,2,3,4 years, but your actions may affect the chapter's relationship with a business for years to come (or ruin one that has existed for years).

Talk to the past board members in your position, from in your chapter and other chapters. You may learn a lot about what worked and what didn't work. That doesn't mean you can't try something again, but with their knowledge, you may be able to make the event a raving success! Make sure your chair people do the same thing.

Remember there are 12 months in the year...pace yourself.

You are moving up the Leadership/Management chain. Generally this means you are transitioning from worker-bee to helper-of-worker-bees. The hardest thing to do is to start letting go of doing things yourself (which you are probably all very good at), and instead helping others to do them. Even more frustrating is to let those other people do them, and see them done less well than you think you could have done. But that is part of their growth process.

During Board Meetings

Always be considerate, respectful, and supportive of your fellow Board members.

Save yourself (and others) a LOT of time, by not "springing" surprise issues at a Board meeting. Give people warning of the issue, and as much info as you can via an email. This will let people spend time OUTSIDE of the Board meeting to process their thoughts. Otherwise you may waste a lot of time as people during the Board meeting are "thinking out loud", because they have not had time to think things through.

Things to think about before speaking up in a board meeting discussion or debate...

During General Membership Meetings

Make an effort to talk to all members and introduce yourself to guests. Help make everyone feel like a “part of the group”.

Front table etiquette: When you are not paying attention to the chairpersons and other Board members making announcements, others are likely to notice. Show respect to the people making their announcements. Set a good example.

Be aware of the agenda topics as they apply to you and be prepared to “fill in” for one of your project chairpersons to give an update, ask for volunteers, or provide a follow-up announcement when the topic comes up. Talk with your project chairpersons beforehand to know if they will be in attendance and know their project status.

Publicly recognize others for their ideas and/or contributions.

Be supportive and respectful of others.

VPs & Project Chairpersons

When you are overwhelmed, or have a problem, speak up. It is easier to head off an upcoming problem than to fix it after the fact. It is also more responsible to admit when you cannot do something vs. letting it go undone.

Make sure that anyone doing something for you knows it’s ok to come to you with problems.

Someone may resign this year. And that's ok. Time availability will change. Interest levels will change. And some people simply don't find Board life to be what they thought it would be. But they may be a fabulous chairperson! Don't hold it against them; instead, encourage them to go do what they do best.

Someone may let you down this year. Be prepared to find a way to let them still be your friend, or step down now.

If you think you want to quit, talk about it with the relevant people before stepping aside. You may be able to fix things. Or those people might confirm you desire to quit as the best option. Either way is better than hating what you are doing, and then doing it badly. Your disinterest will be obvious to other members and serve no good purpose.

When running a project, always assume you can do more and/or do it better than it was done before, and strive to learn how to improve.

Write a thank-you note.

More Tips

Remember that everyone is a volunteer. Every minute of their time that they donate is a minute that some project didn't otherwise have. Be thankful for every minute that someone gives, and remember those minutes are theirs to spend, not yours.

Everyone is not perfect, but they are trying to do their best.

PRAISE EARLY & OFTEN. Praise costs you nothing, and will mean a lot to someone else.

If you notice things that are broken, missing, etc, please take the moment to stop and tell someone.

HAVE FUN. If you aren't, figure out why and try to fix it.

Jaycee "My Hero" Essays

2008-07-07T10:41:00.000-07:00

The “My Hero” essay contest is sponsored annually by the Foxboro Jaycees and open to all third graders.

The students are asked to write about someone who has made an impact on them and changed their lives, or about someone in their lives of whom they are very proud.

“This year’s essays [2008] were amazing and written with so much emotion,” said Jaycees contest coordinator Kris Long. “It was very difficult to pick a winner -- the essays were all winners and the kids who wrote them should be very proud of themselves.”

The third graders wrote about there nanas and grandpas who have fought or lost their lives to cancer, their kid brothers and sisters and how they take care of them, and moms and dads who encourage them to be themselves.

“Parents, guardians and teachers, you all have done a great job molding these kids and you deserve credit as well,” said Long, herself a mother of five. “Great job to each child that submitted essays.”

Foxboro Jaycees Calendar

2008-07-07T08:41:00.001-07:00

Foxboro Jaycees Concerts on the Common -- Previous Years

2008-06-15T18:53:00.000-07:00

Each summer, the Jaycees present a series of free concerts on the common. Join us on Thursday nights between 7:00-9:00pm for a night of music and fun!

Thank you to the acts and bands who performed in 2008:

Boston City Band
Country Mile
Foxboro High School Jazz Band
Galley Dawgs
Horns in the House
Norfolk County Jazz Band
Southeastern Community Concert Band
Streamline

Thank you to the acts and bands who performed in 2007:

Country Mile
Dedham Allstar Jazz Band
Foxboro Jazz Band
Galley Dawgs
Horns in the House
Infractions
Kristhanthi Pappas

Thank you to the acts and bands who performed in 2006:

Chad LaMarsh
Cocobanana Band
College All-Star Jazz Emsemble
Country Mile
Foxboro High School Jazz Band
Horns in the House
Infractions
No Deniro, formerly known as Who's Your Daddy
Pi Alley Band
Usual Suspects

Thank you to the acts and bands who performed in 2005:

Country Mile
Foxboro High School Jazz Band
Galley Dawgs
Horns in the House
Impaired Visionary
Infractions
John Burrows and the CocoBanana Band
Sharon Community Band
Three Kings
Usual Suspects

Thank you to the acts and bands who performed in 2004:

Blue Wave Music
Cable Folk Band
Country Mile
Foxboro Jazz Ensemble
Freudian Slip
Horns in the House
Impaired Visionary
Krisanthi Pappas
Short Bus
Usual Suspects

Web Sites

Chad LaMarsh - http://www.chadlamarsh.com/
Cocobanana Band http://www.cocabananaband.com/
Country Mile - http://www.countrymilemusic.com/
Horns in the House - http://www.hornsinthehouse.net/
Infractions http://www.infractions.com/
Pi Alley Band - http://www.pialley.com/
Streamline - http://www.thestreamlineband.com/
The Usual Suspects - http://www.bostonbands.com/
Usual Suspects - http://www.bostonbands.com/

Artists and Bands -- if you have performed at a Jaycee concert and would like your website listed please send us an email.

Foxboro Jaycees New Member Guide

2008-05-25T18:50:00.000-07:00

FOXBORO JAYCEES NEW MEMBER GUIDE
Updated: November, 2005

ABOUT THIS GUIDE
On behalf of the Foxboro Jaycees, welcome! General Membership Meetings can be confusing to new Jaycees, and we hope to eliminate any confusion by providing this guide, which contains relevant and useful explanations of terms you will hear often.

HISTORY OF THE FOXBORO JAYCEES
The Foxboro Jaycees were incorporated in 1961 and consisted of all male members. Wives of the members had their own group called the Jaycee Wives. It wasn't until 1986 that women were allowed to become members of the Foxboro Jaycees.

NATIONAL AND STATE JAYCEES GOALS
The purpose of the National and State Jaycees is to provide leadership training to energetic young men and women between the ages of 18 and 40. For more information about the National Jaycees, you can visit their website at, http://www.usjaycees.org/. You can also visit the Massachusetts Jaycees website at www.massjaycees.org.

FOXBORO JAYCEES GOALS
The purpose of the Foxboro Jaycees is to provide civic service through the organized efforts of the people of the community and to promote the welfare of Foxboro and its citizens through active, constructive projects. The Foxboro Jaycees also provide its members with leadership training and civic consciousness, which betters their usefulness as citizens.

EXPLANATION OF TERMS

General Membership Meeting: More commonly referred to as "GMs" these are held the second Wednesday of each month at 8:00pm at the South Foxboro Community Center on South Street. GMs are the business meeting of the organization where the entire membership discusses business. In addition, there is often a program and refreshments are available.
Remarks for the Good of the Chapter: At the end of a General Membership Meeting, each member is given a last opportunity to speak, to remark on the evening's happenings. It should be noted that a member can “pass" on remarks and not speak.
Call List: This is the list of all Foxboro Jaycees, their spouses name, address and telephone number contained in the Wise Fox. The Board of Directors will make reminder calls to all Jaycees prior to the General Membership Meeting utilizing the call list.
President: The President resides over General Membership Meetings and Board Meetings and is in charge of the Chapter for the given election year.
Chairman of the Board: The Chairman of the Board is the previous year's President and will guide the current President as needed.
Presidential Director: This person is elected to the Board of Directors to assist the President. They have no dedicated area of responsibility but can act as an advisor, if experienced, or can learn, as a type of internship, if new to the Chapter and/or the Board.
Vice Presidents and Directors: Vice Presidents of the Chapter head up the areas of Ways and Means, Community Development, Individual Development and Membership. Each area also has a director who assists the Vice Presidents.
Ways and Means: This area has projects that are vital to the organization. Responsibilities include all fundraising for the organization and are responsible for achieving the financial goals of the chapter. Projects run by this area provide the majority of the funds that the Foxboro Jaycees are able to disperse back into the community.
Community Development: This area entails projects for the good of the community. These may include, the summer Concerts on the Common, Fruit Baskets, Youth Scholarships, and Sand for Seniors. Holiday projects such as Caroling on the Common, Santa on the Common, Adopt a Kid for Christmas, and the Easter Egg Hunt are also popular projects that run on a yearly basis.
Individual Development: The focal point of this area is to educate, train and entertain individual Jaycee members. Projects may include CPR and First Aid Training, How to Run a Project, Public Speaking, the Progressive Dinner, Pick-Up Volleyball, Book Club, Scrap booking, Camping/Hiking, Whitewater Rafting, and our end of the year Installation Banquet.
Membership: The purpose of this area is to recruit, activate and retain members. The Foxboro Jaycees have a Membership Booth to attract people with information and pictures. We also have Call Nights to inform the public of opportunities they have to participate. We have a New Members Social. This get together gives an opportunity for new members to meet veteran members in a social atmosphere such as a barbecue. Finally, we have a fantastic website that will tell you anything you need to know about our chapter. You can find our website at www.foxborojaycees.org.
Treasurer: The Treasurer's primary responsibility is to monitor and disburse funds in accordance to the budget that was approved by the general membership.
Treasurer’s Report: The Treasurer's Report is broken down into seven major areas: Administration, Individual Development, Community Development, Ways & Means, Membership, Donations and Chapter Voted Donations. Within each of these major categories are line items. Reading across the report at any given line item, the Proposed Budget is broken down into Income, Expense and Net. The Actual Year to Date budget is likewise broken down and the difference between the Proposed and the Actual is given in a separate column.
Secretary: The Secretary is responsible for such things as keeping notes at the General Membership Meeting and the Board Meeting, distributing the Jaycee mail, and ensuring that all reports are submitted to the Wise Fox Editor in a timely manner.
Board of Directors: The Board meets once per month, two weeks prior to the GM. The purpose of the Board Meeting is to finalize the agenda for the upcoming GM, bring up projects that should be announced to the GM so as to obtain a chairman and subsequent committee members, and to resolve any potential conflicts.
Associates Vs. Regular Members: Associates are members aged 41 and over. Regulars are members aged 18 to 40. Associates, per the Foxboro Jaycee bylaws, have all the same privileges as Regulars with the exception of being unable to hold a position on the Board of Directors unless appointed by the President.
By-Laws: The by-laws are how the Foxboro Jaycees govern themselves. Although they seem lengthy and intimidating, the by-laws have served their purpose by maintaining the integrity and principles of the Foxboro Jaycees. The by-laws are deemed necessary and proper in the furtherance of the operation of this chapter. The by-laws are reviewed yearly and are amended as needed. If you do not have a copy, ask the Secretary of the Chapter for a copy.
Robert's Rules of Order: The Jaycees utilize Robert's Rules of Order to govern the proceedings of all meetings of the chapter. Robert's Rules of Order is derived from parliamentary procedure and is based upon common sense and courtesy. For a copy of Robert's Rules of Order, see the Chapter Secretary.
Jaycee Election Year: The Foxboro Jaycee Election Year runs from May 1st to April 30th.
Jaycee Fiscal Year: The Foxboro Jaycee Fiscal Year runs from June 1st to May 31st.
Wise Fox: The Wise Fox is the Foxboro Jaycees' monthly publication that consists of reports from area vice presidents and/or directors. These reports detail upcoming events and other pertinent information for all members. The Wise Fox is mailed out within one week prior to the GM.
Web Site: Your Foxboro Jaycees website is http://www.foxborojaycees.org/. Check it regularly for latest news, information, pictures, and much more!
Chairman: A chairman is a person who has agreed to head a project or a committee and is responsible for seeing that the end goal of that particular project or committee is met.
Chairman Planning Guide: More commonly known as the CPG, Chairman Planning Guide is written documentation of how a project is run and details as to what would make the project run better, what went wrong, etc. By passing on the CPG to the following year’s chairperson of a particular project, measures can be taken to prevent the same mistakes from occurring again.
Donation vs. Project: Donations are usually dollar amounts or something specific that is needed by an individual(s) or organization in the community. Projects, on the other hand, require a chairperson and manpower to do something specific within the community.
Degrees of Jaycees: This program is a way for a member to track his/her progress within the chapter.
Mentor Program: This program is for new members. A member of the Chapter " mentors" a new Jaycee Member by inviting them to events, being on committees together, and overall helping the new Jaycee "get their feet wet."
Frog: "For certain management skills the recipient would just as soon forget." In other words, the Frog is given to the person who has made the biggest snafu of the month.
Key Man: This is the highest honor that can be bestowed on a Jaycee member. It is only given out once per year and only by previous Key Men. The Key Man is the person who has unselfishly given of their time and efforts over the course of the Jaycee year and has shown tremendous leadership skills. This person has been the "key" to Jaycee success over the year.
Life Member: This is a prestigious award given to a regular or associate member for outstanding service.
Installation Banquet: The Installation Banquet, usually held in late April of every year, is when the new board of directors is installed into the Chapter and recognition is given to the board of directors that served the year ending. Awards such as the Key Man, Project of the Year and Frog of the Year are also given out at this time.

When you become a new member of the Jaycees, you are sworn in as follows:

President: "You are about to become a member of the greatest young person’s organization in the world. The Junior Chamber offers members the opportunity to meet a group of aggressive young people, take part in worthwhile projects, fulfill a need for personal growth, and contribute to society. Raise your right hand and repeat after me:"

New Member: "I, (state your name) do solemnly pledge that I will uphold the principles and traditions of the Foxboro Junior Chamber, the Massachusetts Junior Chamber, and promote the objectives of The United States Junior Chamber, and Junior Chamber International. "

When you join the board of directors, you are sworn in as follows:

President: "The office to which you have been elected is one of dignity and importance. In accepting this office, you undertake a responsibility which is not to be assumed lightly nor carelessly discharged. You are charged with the duties of seriously and resolutely furthering the objectives of the Junior Chamber movement. With the policy and bylaws as your guide, you must be ever ready to exercise the functions of the office with which you are entrusted. Further, you are charged with governing this organization according to the laws of democracy, under which every person who wishes to speak shall be heard, toward the end that in every matter considered, the best opinion shall prevail through the expressed will of the majority, and the best course of action followed. Do you accept this charge?"

New board member: (reply, "I do.")

President: "Raise your right hand and repeat after me."

New board member: "I, (state your name), do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of (state your office) of the Foxboro Junior Chamber and will to the best of my ability, serve as a living example of this organization’s philosophy and beliefs."

Jaycee Key Man Award

2008-05-25T13:31:00.002-07:00

This is the highest honor that can be bestowed on a Jaycee member. It is only given out once per year and only by previous Key Men. The Key Man is the person who has unselfishly given of their time and efforts over the course of the Jaycee year and has shown tremendous leadership skills. This person has been the "key" to Jaycee success over the year. See also: Recent Key Man Photo Gallery

William Hadley	1961
Leon Cote	1962
John Hebert	1963
Earl Beardsley	1964
+ Carroll Perkins	1965
William Norwood	1966
Leonard Avery	1967
+ Timothy Sullivan	1968
William Marsh	1969
+ William Hyland	1970
Henry Bowditch	1971
Barry Behn	1972
David Fitzgerald	1973
Robert Pietraffeta	1974
William Ewald	1975
Guy Daniels	1976
Paul Kelly	1977
Jack Tynan	1978
Robert Cole	1979
Robert Leavitt	1980
Robert Street	1981
Robert Street	1982
John Freudenberg	1983
Paul Howard	1984
Michael Lenihan	1985
Martin Heffernan	1986
Robert Kilroy	1987
Chris Ienello	1988
Chris Nametz	1989
Sandra Smith	1990
Bob Webster	1991
Tom Sawran	1992
Fred Badger	1993
Dave Brown	1994
Carl Bertolino	1995
Beth Maddestra	1996
Lynda Walsh	1997
Bob Hickey	1998
Lynn Freerksen	1999
Helene Savage	2000
Tom Whiffen	2001
Elise Behn	2002
Kris Long	2003
Monica Rigamonti	2004
Dave Fisler	2005
Jennifer Widmer	2006
Sandy Emery	2007
Monica Fisler	2008

Jaycee Life Member

2008-05-25T13:31:00.001-07:00

This is a prestigious award given to a regular or associate member for outstanding service.

Fred Badger
Bob Cole
Sandy Daniels
Mark Emery
Sandy Emery
Paul Howard
Paul Kelly
Jerry Norwood
Tom Sawran
Lynda Walsh
Bob Webster

What is the Founders Day Boot Drive?

2008-05-25T13:08:00.000-07:00

On the Saturday before Memorial Day, from 7:00am to 1:00pm, the Founders Day committee holds its annual voluntary toll (“the boot drive,” also called the “rocket drive”) to collect money for the spectacular fireworks we all will enjoy on Founders Day. This yearly “toll” is the firework fund greatest fundraiser and the Foxboro Jaycees hep out each year, Please be generous to the “toll takers” that morning!

Photos by Vanessa Linke -- click on the small photo to see the larger image.

What is candidates night?

2008-05-16T19:11:00.000-07:00

Each year, the Foxboro Jaycees host a forum at Foxboro Cable Access to allow each candidate for the upcoming election (selectman, town clerk, board of health, housing authority, etc.) To speak to the public, introduce or re-introduce themselves, take questions and express their qualifications and reasons for running for office. The forum is broadcast live and rebroadcast repeatedly up to Election Day.

The Jaycees are proud to present this forum so that the voters of Foxboro have an opportunity to meet the candidates running for public office, and to hear their views on the issues that are relevant to the positions that they are seeking.

The Foxboro Jaycees as an organization cannot and will not endorse any particular candidate, nor can we espouse a particular political point of view. This is specifically prohibited in our chapter by-laws. However, since one of the strengths of the Jaycees is to provide leadership training, it should come as no surprise that many of our members are currently serving the community on a variety of town boards. Any actions or views expressed by the candidates are the views of those individual citizens, and do not reflect the views of the Foxboro Jaycees as an organization.

The forum generally follows this structure:

Each candidate will be allowed to start with a brief introductory statement that shall not exceed three minutes.
The candidates will then be asked a series of questions from our local journalists.
The order in which the candidates speak and in which the panelists ask the questions is determined by a random drawing.
Candidates will have two minutes to answer each question after which the reporter may ask a follow-up question.
If a follow-up question is asked, the candidate will have one minute to answer the follow-up question.
Immediately after the question and answer period for a group, each candidate will have two minutes to make closing remarks.
Candidates will be advised of time constraints off camera. Warnings will be given to them as their time is close to running out.

It is our hope that information in this broadcast will enable the voter to make a more informed decision at the polls.

You can view the 2008 Candidates Night Video on Foxboro Cable Access by CLICKING HERE

The Jaycee Creed

2008-04-21T11:24:00.000-07:00

We Believe:

That Faith in God gives meaning and purpose to human life;

That the brotherhood of men 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.

The year was 1946; the place, Milwaukee, Wisconsin: the event, the United States Junior Chamber National Convention. Visitors came from Canada, Mexico, South America, Europe and the Philippine Islands. It was here that the idea of a JC Creed was born.

Past President of the Ohio Junior Chamber and National Vice President of the United States Junior Chamber C. William Brownfield realized at this convention that the organization did not have a Creed. He was inspired by the devotion of Junior Chamber members "to the purpose of serving mankind in a thousand different ways, right down at the grass roots where freedom lives or dies".

Brownfield saw Junior Chamber as "the potential for a new force in the world, one capable of changing the balance between victory or defeat for our chosen way of life in a time of crisis."

The actual writting of the Creed took place in July 1946 during a drive from Brownfield's hometown of Columbus, Ohio, to his coal mine in New Lexington, a journey of about 75 minutes. He started that journey with a firm conviction in his mind to work on the Creed. It was during that trip that the following words came to mind and were put on paper:

The brotherhood of man transcends the sovereignty of nations.
Economic justice can best be won by free men through free enterprise.
Government should be of laws rather than of men.
Earth's great treasure lies in human personality.
Service to humanity is the best work of life.

In 1950 the first line, "We believe that faith in God gives meaning and purpose to human life." was added.

Since it was written, Junior Chamber members all over the world recite the Creed at local national and international meetings and functions.

History of the Jaycees

2008-04-19T11:25:00.000-07:00

The U.S. Junior Chamber founder Henry Giessenbier’s vision of providing young people with leadership through community service can be broken down into four Areas of Opportunity: Business, Individual, Community, and International.

Business: embodying the line of the Jaycee Creed, which states “Economic justice can best be won by free men through free enterprise,” this area provides an opportunity for individual members to contribute to the development and enhancement of the economic infrastructure, prosperity, and well-being for their community as well as all nations.

Individual: embodying the line of the Jaycee Creed which states “Earth’s great treasure lies in human personality,” this area provides an opportunity for individual members to realize their personal potential through training programs.

Community: embodying the line of the Jaycee Creed which states “Service to humanity is the best work of life,” this area develops the sensitivity of individual members to societal problems and community dynamics by providing experience in community problem solving.

International: embodying the line of the Jaycee Creed which states “That the brotherhood of man transcends the sovereignty of nations,” this area provides an opportunity for individual members to contribute to the development of goodwill, understanding, and cooperation among all peoples.

The Junior Chamber organization is: “a constructive action organization of young persons who devote a portion of their time to community service in the public interest, developing young persons as leaders in their communities.” (Taken from The U.S. Junior Chamber Bylaws Manual.)

The purpose of the Junior Chamber is: “to promote and foster the growth and development of young persons’ civic organizations in the United States, designed to inculcate (to teach and impress upon) in the individual membership of such organization a spirit of genuine Americanism and civic interest, and...to provide them with opportunity for personal development and achievement and an avenue for intelligent participation...in the affairs of the community, state, and nation, and to develop true friendship and understanding among young persons of all nations.” (Taken from The U.S. Junior Chamber Bylaws Manual.)

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. This is the total Junior Chamber Concept.

Henry “Hy” Giessenbier visualized an organization that would allow young men to develop their business skills and reputations in the community. 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.

1920 - The United States Junior Chamber of Commerce (USJCC) was formed in St. Louis, Missouri, with 3,000 members.
1923 - Get Out The Vote was the first Jaycee program to receive national endorsement.
1925 - Beginning of national projects Know America First and Fire Prevention. Birth of EXPANSION, the first USJC national magazine.
1926 - Development of aviation adopted as national project.
1927 - 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.

1931 - Distinguished Service Awards program established at the chapter level.
1935 - Death of founder Henry Giessenbier.
1936 - National Wildlife Federation established with guidance of USJC.
1937 - Programs begun at state and national level to inform public of need for diagnosis and treatment of venereal disease.
1938 - Future Magazine established. USJC name Ten Outstanding Young Men for the first time.
1939 - Safety with Light campaign gained national attention as thousands of street lights were donated to communities by Jaycees.

1940 - USJC endorsed the principle of a military draft.
1944 - Junior Chamber International (JCI) formed at Pan American Congress in Mexico City.
1946 - USJC established permanent headquarters in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Junior Golf program begun.
1947 - Official approval of Jaycee as synonym of organization. Adoption of Jaycee Creed.

1951 - War Memorial Headquarters in Tulsa dedicated. At urging of Andy Mungenast, the reference to “Faith in God” was added to the Jaycee Creed.
1953 - Jaycees sponsored stops on Professional Golfers’ Association tour for first time at Greensboro, North Carolina, and Hartford, Connecticut.
1954 - First Outstanding Young Farmer and Junior Tennis programs held.
1959 - Jaycees supported statehood for Alaska. Hawaii gained statehood the following year due to Jaycee efforts.

1961 - Foxboro Jaycees of Massachusetts founded.
1961 - First Governmental Affairs Leadership Seminar conducted.
1962 - Jaycees urge adoption of Uniform Vehicle Code, with emphasis on state action resulting in adoption nationally.
1963 - Clean Water Program launched to improve water quality in communities across America.Gun Safety/Shooting Education adopted as a national program.
1964 - Project Concern adopted as International Relations activity. Program raised money and equipment for clinics providing medical care to Chinese refugees in Hong Kong.
1965 - Jaycees presented first annual National Award of Distinction from National Clean Up-Paint Up-Fix Up Bureau.
1966 - Name of organization officially changed to U.S. Jaycees.

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 seven million doses of rubella measles vaccine.
1972 - 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.
1973 - The United States Jaycees’ Center for Improved Child Nutrition opened in Bloomington, Minnesota.
1977 - Operation Threshold, a program dedicated to reducing alcohol abuse, reached more than 23 million Americans. Muscular Dystrophy Fund Raising adopted as national program.

1980 - Daisy/U.S. Jaycees Gun Safety/Shooting Education program honored with National Safety Council Award for Youth Activities.
1982 - Healthy American Fitness Leaders adopted as national program.
1984 - Bylaw change admitted women as full and regular members. Sign Up America campaign collected 1.5 million signatures supporting America’s Olympic athletes.
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.
1986 - First woman honored by Congress of Ten Outstanding Young Americans.
1987 - Bylaw change established membership age as 21 through 39. Name of U.S. Jaycees’ official publication changed to JAYCEES MAGAZINE.

1990 - Name of organization officially changed back to The U.S. Junior Chamber of Commerce.
1992 - 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.
1993 - 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.
1994 - Junior Chamber Mission Inn Foundation created to build a nationwide network of care facilities for children and adolescents affected by HIV/AIDS.
1995 - 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.
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.
1997 - Junior Chamber Center for Entrepreneurship and Career Advancement begun — a program designed to train young entrepreneurs and improve local economies.
1998 - 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.
1999 - 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.

2000 - First female elected National President. Junior Chamber Center for Business Advancement develops web-based video seminar training.
2001 - Name changes to The United States Junior Chamber
2004 - Bylaw change established membership age as 18 through 40.

For more insight on how the Junior Chamber has affected the lives of its members, the following book is recommended: A Legacy of Leadership, by John W. Clark, USJC Historian

What is Sand for Seniors?

2007-02-03T16:21:00.000-08:00

Sand for Seniors sounds simple - deliver buckets of sand/salt to homebound seniors to keep their walkways slip-free -- but it's a lot of work.

The Jaycees are very happy to provide this service to our senior friends all winter.

To receive a delivery, a senior need only give the Foxboro Senior Center (Council On Aging) a call. Kris or another COA staff member calls the Jaycees Sand for Seniors chairperson and the Jaycee "bucket brigade" as they call themselves makes the deliveries.

If you are a senior in need of sand, please call the Foxboro Senior Center and we'll be glad to help you! For 2007-08, contact: Mark Emery at 508-543-3634

What is the Foxboro Discretionary Fund?

2007-02-01T19:32:00.000-08:00

The Foxboro Discretionary Fund serves the community in more ways than one.

In its efforts help those in need, the Discretionary Fund not only runs the food pantry in Foxboro, but also provides families with holiday meal baskets, gives children holiday gifts, and even provides assistance for those having trouble paying their bills.

One of the Discretionary Fund's main efforts to serve the community is the food pantry, which is open on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 9 to 11 a.m., and on the fourth Wednesday of the month from 5 to 6:30 p.m.

The pantry serves 85 to 115 families each month, said Lisa Downs, of the Discretionary Fund.

At the food pantry, clients are provided with bags of food in proportion to the size of their families.

Although the food pantry mainly serves Foxboro residents, as an emergency food provider they don't turn anyone down who comes to them for assistance on a one-time basis. The food pantry staff members also deliver groceries to people who are unable to drive, said Downs.

The Discretionary Fund also provides families with holiday meals. Each Thanksgiving, they give out turkey baskets filled with food for a complete Thanksgiving meal.

Furthermore, each holiday season, the Discretionary Fund holds its annual Assist a Child program, providing toys, a coat and an outfit for all of the children on their list. In December, the children receive their gifts along with a holiday meal basket for their families.

Besides providing food to those in need, the Discretionary Fund provides assistance for those having trouble paying their bills.

"Whether their electricity is about to be shut off, or they need help with rent or fuel assistance, we meet with them to discuss their situation and see how we can help them," said Downs.

This one-time financial assistance serves to help people get back on their feet, she said.

At the food pantry, there are also gently-used clothes that people can pick from and a selection of toys in case someone doesn't have a gift for a birthday party, said Downs.

All of the Discretionary Fund's services are made possible by donations, and much of the pantry's food comes from food drives, she said.

Currently, the pantry could use items such as stews, Spaghetti-Os, ravioli, or ready-made meals that are microwaveable, since some people don't have access to ovens or stoves, said Downs.

Any non-perishable food donations are always appreciated. There is also always a need for toiletries such as toothpaste and shampoo, she said.

There are food drop off boxes at Stop & Shop Foxboro and Shaws Supermarket in Sharon.

To learn more about the Foxboro Discretionary Fund, or to make a donation, call 508-543-5235.

"Funds offers helping hand in Foxboro," by Jesika Giron. Country Gazette, Fri Dec 01, 2006.

Subscribe to the Foxboro Jaycees News Feed

2007-01-01T12:10:00.000-08:00

The Foxboro Jaycees News and Events email is sent out every time an entry is made on our "news" page. To subscribe, simply fill in your email address in this form and click SUBSCRIBE. Once you do so, you will be sent an email with a link to confirm your email subscription.