Lafayette County WI Archives History - Books .....Blanchardville Area Jaycees And Jaycettes 1976 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/wi/wifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com January 28, 2008, 11:09 pm Book Title: A History Of Blanchardville, Gem Of The Pecatonica Blanchardville Area Jaycees The Blanchardville Area Jaycees chartered February 6, 1971. They were extended by the New Glarus Jaycees, and the charter was presented by Paul Hagen, President of the Wisconsin Jaycees. First year officers were Gary Jeglum, president; Gary Kammerude, internal vice president; Jack Hutton, external vice president; Bob McGowan, state director; Larry Larson, secretary; Larry Kurschner, treasurer, and Bruce Baker and Steve Jeglum, directors. Charter members: Gary Jeglum, Tom Olson, Roger Kittleson, Jim McKeon, Richard Johnson, Duane Prestbroten, Richard Kundert, Karl Gant, Larry Anderson, Wes Watrud, Robert Helmeid, Bruce Baker, Richard Engstad, Jack Hutton, Bob McGowan, Gary Kammerude, Steve Jeglum, Larry Larson, Paul Kittleson, Larry Kurschner, Duane Kundert, David Cassidy and Ronald Cleary. Some of the community projects carried out were the purchase and planting of trees and shrubs around the Legion Building, a benefit dance for Donny Mulcahy, an agricultural scholarship presented to James Strommen, a contribution to the new park restrooms, and a speaker system purchased and donated to the park. Also, in the past years, three Outstanding Young Farmers have been named. They were Larry Kurschner, Douglas Paulson, and Dick Laufenberg. Dean Siedschlag was named Outstanding Educator. Outstanding Distinguished Citizens named have been, Walter Gould, Eva Kingeter, Wilma Johnson and Geraldine Marshall. Some of the events held during the past five years were a bicycle safety course, several talent shows, a "Keep Christ in Christmas" brunch and two children's events, and Easter Egg Hunt and a Halloween Party which were co-sponsored with .the Jaycettes. The club also enters a float in the Homecoming Parade, participates in Market Day and assists the Businessmen with the Chicken Barbecue. The ways and means projects are an annual Canoe Race held on Father's Day and the big event is the Softball Tournament and Tractor Pull held in August. The pop stand in the upper park is operated by the Jaycees and is open for major events at the park. Major goals of the Jaycees are self improvement through internal affairs such as Leadership Training, Speak-Up, Family Life programs, etc. to develop the individual Jaycee. External affairs are aimed at the community. 1976, the Bicentennial year, marks the fifth anniversary of the Blanchardville Area Jaycees. Jaycettes The Blanchardville Area Jaycettes Chapter was chartered on November 6, 1971. Jaycettes are a national auxiliary of the Jaycees. As of May, 1968, there were 120 Jaycette chapters in Wisconsin with a total membership of over 2600. That number has grown in the past eight years. The charter members of the Blanchardville Area Jaycettes were Mmes. Carl Chandler, Larry Kurschner, Paul Kittleson, David Cassidy, Dick Laufenberg, Wes Watrud, Roger Kittleson, Robert Helmeid, Steve Jeglum, James McKeon, Jack Hutton, Larry Larson, Bruce Baker, Larry Ryan, and Gary Kammerude. The charter president was Mrs. Steve Jeglum. Subsequent presidents were Mrs. Carl Chandler, Mrs. Robert Helmeid, Mrs. David Cassidy and Mrs. Roger Kittleson. The main purpose of the Jaycettes is to render assistance to the Jaycees, but Jaycettes are also, active in many community and state service and welfare projects. On the state level the local Jaycettes have donated money to the Nicaraguan Relief Fund and have been active in the state CF campaign. They have collected money door-to-door in the village for cystic fibrosis, participated in a yearly candle sale and in 1973 sold balloons with the money donated to CF. The Jaycettes were instrumental in beginning a local Red Ball Project with the assistance of the fire department. In September of each year, a Protect Your Child From Strangers Week is held. A film is shown to children in kindergarten, first and second grades and they are given Patch the Pony buttons and pamphlets. In 1972 they sponsored a boy from Mississippi in the Project Understanding Program. Every Halloween, children collect money for UNICEF which the Jaycettes send to national headquarters. For several years Jaycettes set hair on a monthly basis at the New Glarus Home. They also send cards, cookies and Christmas gifts to Central Colony in Madison. At the present time, the Blanchardville Area Jaycees and Jaycettes are sponsoring a child in Mexico under the Project Concern Program. His medical and dental bills are paid and food for his family is purchased with money sent every month. The Jaycettes have had numerous other activities over the years including donating boxes to the needy at Christmas, helping at the annual Chicken Barbecue (a community wide event), donating books to the local library, serving lunch at the Midland Co-op Annual Meeting, babysitting at the blood bank, planting flowers in the village park, running a lunch stand at. area farm sales, contributing money to the Empty Stocking Fund and CP-OPH telethon, serving the Jaycee OYF banquets, holding an annual Halloween party for local children, assisting with the Jaycee Christmas brunch, serving the local businessmen's lunch every month, and participating in the Better Broadcasting Program to try to improve television programs our youngsters are watching. The Jaycettes hold several money making projects throughout the year. These, include an annual style show, bake sales, cookbook sales, garage sales, selling magazine subscriptions and a carnival at Market Day. Additional Comments: Extracted from A History of Blanchardville, Gem of the Pecatonica File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/wi/lafayette/history/1976/ahistory/blanchar267gms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/wifiles/ File size: 6.3 Kb