PdC Jaycees disband, yet leave rich legacy
The Prairie du Chien Jaycees' sandbox fill was a community service provided out of necessity. When the young Jaycees members had kids with sandboxes that needed filled, they found a way to make it happen for everyone—just one example of the organization's dedication to its community. Pictured just a few decades ago (from left) are Ed Hamman from Prairie Sand and Gravel, Gary Howe, Shelby Eastman, Oscar Eastman and Carol Baumeister.
These grease monkeys manned the Jaycees' Rendezvous food stand in 1990: Lynn McCreary (Rider), David Shihata and his dad Moe Shihata. This fundraiser and the Rendezvous flea market were, together, among the largest fundraisers for the Jaycees.
Ready to record the distance, Jaycee John Green watches as a Punt, Pass and Kick participant lofts a long ball. This event was just one of dozens the Jaycees organized over the years.
These Jaycees and Jaycettes had a fun time at Mecca in Milwaukee in 1974.
Prairie du Chien Jaycees alumni Tom Nelson, Gary Howe and Cathie Nelson stand with the current Jaycees' most senior member, Tarah Marx, in front of the Old Rock School, which was most recently home to the local chapter. The Jaycees voted in February to disband the organization after six decades of existence in Prairie du Chien. The move was mainly due to declining membership. (Photo by Correne Martin)
By Correne Martin
The Prairie du Chien Jaycees are disbanding after six decades of shaping humanity in the community. Though the decision came with heart-rending resolve, a rich legacy is being left behind, the result of purposeful devotion invested by hundreds of local Junior Chamber members.
As the last line of the Jaycees International Creed states, “That service to humanity is the best work of life.”
“We have a lot of respect for the Jaycees who came before us, and that (is why this decision) has weighed heavily on us,” lamented Treasurer Jamie Stram, a 12-year member.
“We’re both passionate about what the Jaycees stand for. No one’s happy about this,” added past-president and 18-year current member Tarah Marx. “We’ve fought this and held on as long as we could. We tried to get new people and be proactive (in recent years). But there’s always been this progressive downturn in numbers.”
With only half a dozen active members remaining—and several of those aging out of the organization or embarking upon life-changing events—the Jaycees had dropped some of its long-running activities, such as the sandbox fill and Christmas tree pick-up. They had little manpower left to continue hosting others. Although the entity had about 20 members on paper, it was becoming increasingly difficult to see committed, regular participation from many.
Another reason this decision was made, according to Marx and Stram, was they didn’t want the state to step in and shut the chapter down, taking their hard-earned fundraising dollars in the process.
So on Feb. 21, the Prairie du Chien Jaycees voted to disband.
As part of the organization’s conclusion, they are dispersing over $15,000 in funds, equipment and materials to Prairie du Chien endeavors, including:
•$5,000 toward ongoing scholarships through Futures of Prairie du Chien, dispersed over 10 years;
•$4,000 to city parks and rec, toward new signage for St. Feriole Island, and one new ping pong table and a new shuffleboard table at Hoffman Hall, something the community can treasure for years to come;
•$2,000, plus materials, to the service organization taking over Operation Santa;
•$1,000 toward Concerts in the Park, an event the Jaycees formerly sponsored;
•$500 to the Prairie du Chien Memorial Library;
•$500 to the St. Feriole Island Memorial Gardens;
•$500 to the Rivers and Bluffs Animal Shelter;
•$500 to Citizens Concerned about Hunger and Need;
•$500 to the Prairie du Chien Independent Little League, since the Jaycees previously sponsored the Pitch, Hit and Run event;
•$250 toward parks and rec youth football, since the Jaycees also sponsored the Punt, Pass and Kick;
•tents, tables and supplies to the Prairie du Chien Fire Association, which has taken over the Jaycees’ Rendezvous flea market and beer stand fundraiser; and
•supplies and equipment for the Ice Fisheree to the Chamber of Commerce.
The Jaycees are also in discussion with a local service group, which has voted to take the lead on essential Operation Santa program, along with collaboration from other community groups.
“That’s one of the things that pulls at my heart strings the most: seeing people in need, and hoping that need can still be met,” Stram said. “To our credit, we’re passing on a plan that says who to contact and how to run Op Santa most efficiently.”
Marx said a few of the Jaycees intend to continue giving back through community volunteer organizations.
Though initial public reaction to the Jaycees’ news of disbandment may be downcast, the young, active citizen volunteers are proud of the positive impacts their organization has made within the community since the chapter chartered in the late 1950s/early 1960s.
“The good part is going back and looking at all the good we’ve done,” Stram reflected.
That’s where some of the Jaycees alumni come in.
“The Jaycees developed the leaders of the community and then sent them out to lead the future of the community,” expressed Tom Nelson, who, along with Gary Howe, was among the trailblazers in the early years of the Prairie du Chien organization. At the international level, Howe achieved ambassador rank and Nelson grew to the title of senator. Nelson’s wife, Cathie, was also a Jaycette in those times past.
“The Jaycees also created a good reason to get a group of people together and meet others outside of the box,” Nelson pointed out.
Projects occurred once a month, some of which were subtle, more that developed from a need and other large events that became huge fundraisers.
One of the bigger projects the Jaycees performed was tree planting in the city when elm disease wiped out the line of trees flanking Beaumont Road.
“Our philosophy was, ‘you buy the trees and we’ll plant ‘em,’” Howe said.
Another significant activity started when the young parents in the Jaycees had children whose sandboxes needed to be filled. “We wanted ‘em filled so we got ‘em filled. Wherever there was a need, the community came to the Jaycees and asked us to help out,” Howe explained.
“We never heard (the phrase), ‘It can’t be done,’” Nelson added.
In addition to those already mentioned, the Jaycees sponsored a honey sale; a skate meet; a birthday and anniversary calendar; road rallies; an Oktoberfest brats/beer/flea market event; Punt, Pass and Kick; Pitch, Hit and Run; a magic show; Drums at Dusk, which Howe said involved “the best parades we ever had,” and more.
On top of that, the Jaycees were at ground zero when the famous Prairie Villa Rendezvous started, when it was held on the Villa Louis grounds.
“They needed someone to feed the buck skinners,” Nelson commented. Both Nelson and Howe shared great laughter as they remembered organizing a show on the hill, through which Howe acted as Chief Blackhawk, and putting trout in the Villa Louis pond, which later died.
“We were a bit aggressive,” Nelson chuckled. “But we relished in the socialization and those friendships we gained. Every time we had a project, we came back and had a party.”
These were the times when participation was at its peak, with 40-60 people.
However, rewind about 10-15 years, and the Jaycees weren’t exactly flourishing. Instead, they were broke and in jeopardy.
“We were there several times actually,” Howe noted. “We found ways to enhance our enrollment and bring people in. If they couldn’t pay the $20 dues, we asked them to work on a project and we’d pay their dues for them.”
The group also extended its membership age to 45 (though it’s since returned to 40) and opened it up to women, the Jaycettes. This, Howe felt, brought a whole new level of success and strength to the organization.
Back then, they also made and sold buttons as a means of raising money. For $2, citizens could purchase a “Support with Pride, Prairie du Chien Jaycees” button. Then, just like with their calendars, they sold the items door-to-door.
“That created some internal pride about who we were,” Nelson smiled, “and it got us out talking to all these businesses.”
One aspect both men believed to be, in their days, a faithful motivator to new Jaycees, was the Kickstart program. This meant that, when a new man or woman joined, they were placed on a committee right away.
“They’d get more drive by being active as quickly as possible,” Howe said.
There was never such a thing as failure either, he declared. “A project might have lacked, but it was a success because you raised your hand, had a team of people who helped you, and you completed the project. Whether you made money or not, you had to report to the group.”
To follow every report, there would be a rousing round of applause as well. “It might seem hokey as hell, but it felt good to be recognized by your peers,” Howe stated.
Similarly, at the end of each year, the Jaycees handed out plaques to its members for their achievements. Nelson agreed: “Receiving an honor isn’t why we did it, but it felt good to get that ‘thank you.’”
As a of the process was to “focus on the volunteers as individuals gaining confidence, experience and organizational skills. Those attributes came along with completing projects for the community,” Howe said.
To which, Nelson added, “All the while, the Jaycees were training me to work on projects, I was learning how to socialize, work the world of business and take ownership over something.”
Though none of the Jaycees, past or present, could put their finger on what caused their once vibrant existence to fizzle, they surmised a little.
“So the peril is, are we, as a society, that much more into ourselves and less interested in our community? [Other organizations] have suffered through the same thing,” Howe wondered, noting that Jaycees’ personal lives were just as busy in his time as a member. “And I loved every minute of it.”
“Have we become complacent, thinking somebody else is going to do what needs to be done?” implored Nelson, who routinely works with Cathie to plant trees and maintain Prairie du Chien’s park areas. “Young people need to step forward. And we, as a community, need to take responsibility too. We need to make sure our young people have opportunities to explore their own internal development.”
As part of their legacy—aside from the donations and physical reminders—the Jaycees want the public to understand that such openings in the community can provide young adults that major characteristic of commitment for their entire life. The Jaycees feel strongly about how such volunteer qualities have transcended their own personal and professional lives.
They hope local service organizations, from the Scouts and 4-H clubs to the Lions and Kiwanis clubs, can maintain today’s leaders for the stability of the community’s future.
“I don’t think outwardly, at first, it’ll affect anybody,” Howe continued.
“But, ultimately, the ramifications will be felt, because who’s gonna step up?”
