Dear Jaycees:

Welcome back for the start of our 55th year of service to our shoreline community. The 2009-2010 Jaycees year is here and promises to be another busy one for the membership. Our goals this year are to sustain and grow our major fundraising events as well as to continue to provide service to other civic organizations and groups when the need arises. Our major efforts this year include the Summer Breeze Bike Ride to benefit Autism, the Dave Parcells Madison Triathlon and the Thanksgiving Day Madison Turkey Trot.

The Jaycees have a proud history of service to the shoreline community. Over the past few years, we have seen record numbers in dollars raised for charity. In addition to raising funds for needy organizations, we have provided the community with events that are family oriented, promote good health, and teamwork. We have increased the amount of funds we give in the form of scholarships to local high school seniors. We have lent money and man-power for town improvement projects. We dug in, worked hard and had a good time while doing it.

A core group of Jaycees returns this year. Their continued participation in this club is a testament to strong friendships that have been formed as well as a common desire to continue to serve our community. These are service-minded men and women with busy work schedules who have found the Jaycees to be a perfect organization with which to participate. In addition to the existing members, we also look to the “new blood” to learn the ropes and grow in the organization, bring in new ideas and carry the Jaycees into the future.

These difficult economic times will provide a real challenge to our club to raise more money than previous years. We will have to be creative in our efforts. This provides a golden opportunity to our newest members to bring in fresh ideas and make an immediate impact. Let’s also remember that if nothing else we can provide man-power when needed to help our community. So let’s work together, both long-time members and new, and do what the Jaycees have done for 55 years on the shoreline-SERVE!

Paul Westfall
President, Madison Jaycees