About the Mankato Jaycees

 
What We Offer

True Friendship

Serving as a Jaycee provides the opportunity to develop strong relationships to other Jaycees who are often people of influence. Members share a very real connection with all other members, past and present: former U.S. Presidents Bill Clinton and Gerald Ford, Domino’s Pizza mogul Tom Monaghan, registered nurse and former Miss America Kaye Lani Rae Rafko-Wilson, sports legends like basketball great Larry Bird, and aviation pioneer Charles Lindbergh.

Business Development

Jaycees have turned their energies toward making a difference, especially in the area of business. With the development of the National Junior Chamber Center for Business Advancement, the Jaycees have taken the next step to furthering the personal and professional lives of members through the entrepreneurship, networking, and investing programs.

Career Advancement

The Jaycees have also developed a program geared toward teaching members how to utilize the many skills they develop through the organization in the success of their career. The program provides practical and easy-to-implement tips and strategies to creating a successful career plan.

Community Action

Jaycees have built parks, playgrounds, hospitals, ball fields, and housing for the elderly while conducting service and support programs in thousands of communities across the nation. They helped establish AirMail services in America with Jaycee Charles Lindbergh, and have raised millions of dollars for causes such as the Muscular Dystrophy Association, March of Dimes, and the Junior Chamber Mission Inn Foundation.

Who We Are

What Is a Jaycee?

The Minnesota Junior Chamber (Jaycees) provides young people, ages 21-39, the opportunity to develop personal and leadership skills while improving our communities. Jaycees are able to network with over 200 chapters in the state, including over 350,000 current and former Jaycees in Minnesota alone.

The United States Junior Chamber gives young people the tools they need to build the bridges of success for themselves in the areas of business development, management skills, individual training, community service, and international connections.

Established in 1920 to provide opportunities for young men to develop personal and leadership skills through service to others, the Jaycees later expanded to include women, reflecting the growing influence and leadership of women in America.

With the focus of the nation on volunteerism, from the smallest towns to the largest cities, the Jaycees are enlarging areas of opportunity for young people.

How Much Time Does It Take?

We encourage members to be as active as they are able. Some members help with a couple of projects and events a year; others help monthly. Members and non-members are welcome to attend our meetings and events when they have time.

Leadership Development

What We Do

Who Do We Help?

The Minnesota Jaycees donate time and money to many charities, including:

• Missing Children Minnesota

• East & West High Scholl athletic programs

• Local food shelves, and shelters for women and children

• Mission Inn, a U.S. Jaycees pediatric HIV/AIDS facility

• Confidence Learning Center, a camp in northern Minnesota for handicapped children

Jaycees also provide manpower or run entire city events:

• Brainerd Jaycees Ice Fishing Extravaganza

• St. Paul Jaycees Tunnel of Terror

• Local fireworks displays, parades and city festivals

Local Jaycee chapters also run youth sports and safety activities in coordination with the Minnesota and U.S. Junior Chambers.

• Punt, Pass and Kick Football skills competition, sponsored by NFL

• Pitch, Hit and Run Baseball skills competition, sponsored by Pepsi and Major League Baseball

• Super Shots basketball skills competition

How Can You Join?

Fill out our membership application, or contact Paula Heyer at 327-0377..