The Greater Northland Junior Chamber of Commerce (formerly known as the North Kansas City Jr. Chamber of Commerce and the Southern Clay County Jaycees) was Chartered on March 24, 1955 The chapter currently contributes to the betterment of the community through programs such as offering the Annual Northland Jr. Olympics, a multi-district track and field meet for elementary school students; hosting the local and sectional competitions of the NFL Pepsi Punt, Pass & Kick; sponsoring an Annual Benefit Show; providing food for Thanksgiving to northland families and gifts for Christmas to local persons in crisis, providing physical and/or financial support to the Missouri Jaycee's Wonderland Camp, Access Day at the State Fair, the Jaycee's Family AIDS Network and Jaycees Against Youth Smoking. In the past, we have contributed funds for the Pediatric Ward of the North Kansas City Hospital; established the original Jaycees Press Box at the North Kansas City High School; created wheel-chair accessible picnic tables still in use at English Landing Park in Parkville; endorsed bond issues for the establishment of the Mid-Continent Public Library system and Watkins Mills State Park. contributed 710 manpower hours towards a month of activities during the Golden Anniversary Celebration of North Kansas City. These activities included selling souvenirs, taking care of 425 costumes and participating in two scenes of a 6 night pageant. provided key support in 1968 with the beginning of a three-year, $120,000 fund drive for the Vocational Services' North Kansas City Workshop. Noteworthy citizens of our community who have been members of the chapter include: Past President, Art Nichols - instrumental through the Jaycees in establishing and then serving as the first President of the Mid-Continent Public Libraries and LAGERS (with a building in Jefferson City formerly named after him); Freddie Nichols - Health Board Trustee and Health Department Treasurer, Past President of the NKC Jaycee Wives and the NKC School Board; Charter Member, Merle Walker - NKC City Council; Kelsey Short, former Mayor of NKC; Past President, Jeff Samborski - Economic Developer of NKC; Ron Ball - NKC Parks and Recreation Board and formerly on the NKC Library Board; Joe Koppe, of the NKC City Council; Past President, Curtis G. Eyler - Municipal Judge of the City of Plattsburg since court operations began in January 1998; Circuit Judge, Larry D. Harmon; Circuit Judge, Ken Elliott; Honorary life member, Charles Broomfield - former County Commissioner; John Sinnett - business leader and NKC Hospital Board; Harold Ash of Harold's Restaurant; Brad Yates of Yates Electric; Ray France of NKC Printing; Judge, Glenn McFarland; Dr. Peleggi; Dr. Paul Revere; Businessman, Jerry Yeager and MANY others
Who are the Jaycees? The Jaycees (or Junior Chamber) is a group of young men and women that join together to improve their lives and their communities. Our goal is to provide leadership training through community service. The Individual Development area sets the Junior Chamber apart from other organizations. While many other groups offer community service and social activities, only Junior Chamber chapters offer members the opportunity for self-improvement. By chairing a local project, a young person can practice organization, delegation, time and resource management, public relations and motivational skills. The Jaycees also offer training programs, usually at no cost to the member, that teach these skills. Even if a project does not meet its goals, if the chairperson learned from the experience, then it's not a failure. The Junior Chamber organization starts with the local chapter. This chapter will typically serve one or more communities. Chapter members are automatically a member of a state organization, as well as the National organization (U.S. Junior Chamber) and the International organization (Junior Chamber International). Young people all over the world are engaged in Junior Chamber activities. Opportunities for international training and travel are available to members. The Missouri Jaycees are divided up into 6 Regions, and each region is divided up into districts. Local chapters are grouped into districts of about 4-6 chapters. At each level there are officers that oversee the day-to-day functioning of the organization.

---

What do Jaycees do? The short answer is: whatever the members want to do! There are no set guidelines for what kind of projects or how many a chapter must run. However, there are some projects that are popular and can give you a good idea about what we do. Projects typically fall into one of 4 overall categories, or Areas of Opportunity: Business, Individual, Community, and International. Business Development focuses on projects that benefit members in their professional career. The Junior Chamber Center for Entrepreneurship and Career Advancement is a program of seven training sessions to teach interested individuals the basics or starting and operating a small business. This includes money making events like barbecues, food or beverage stands at local festivals, Haunted Houses or raffles. It also includes public relations projects like participating in parades. It also covers events that help the chapter become successful like yearly planning sessions and budgeting. Individual Development projects are those designed to help Jaycees improve their skills or gain knowledge. In addition to business and leadership skills, we also offer fun activities like mini-golf, wine-tasting, stress relief or surfing the Internet. Family concerns such as caring for aging parents or communication skills fall into the Individual Development area, and spiritual development projects that allow members to learn more about their own or another religion are also popular. Community Development covers any project that benefits the community outside of the chapter. Obviously raising money for various charities like MDA, St. Jude's Children's Hospital, Make-a-Wish or local charities would fall into this category. Children's events such as Easter Egg hunts, Halloween parties, football and baseball skills competitions, and teen dances are also Community Development. Jaycee chapters also help out their communities by building bleachers, pavilions, playgrounds and parks. International Involvement includes projects that introduce members to different countries and cultures. We are an international organization with Junior Chambers in over 100 countries.

---

Membership Requirements & Benefits Requirements for membership in the Jaycees:

• Members must be between the ages of 18 and 41.
• Annual dues (approximately $65-$75, varies by chapter).
• A willingness to participate and try new things!

Members are not required to:

• Belong to a specific political party or religion.
• Participate in a specific number of projects or contribute a required number of hours. Participation is encouraged, because you get as much out of Jaycees as you are willing to put in, but not required.
• Attend every meeting or hold an office.

Membership in the Jaycees offers many benefits besides valuable leadership experience:

• Membership in a National and International organization for no extra cost.
• Social and networking opportunities.
• Publications from the US Junior Chamber (Jaycees magazine), the state organization (the IMPACT newsletter) and usually a local chapter newsletter.
• Money-saving opportunities on services offered by national partners like car rental, insurance, credit cards and publications.