Newark would profit by a revival of the Jaycees

A possible revival of a local Jaycees chapter was reported by the Advocate yesterday. Nothing would stir new and better community good works and good will - if they can do it like they used to.

When I moved to Newark in 1962, the Jaycees were the cogs on which the community relied for ... well, whatever was needed. As an Advocate photographer I was overwhelmed with photo assignments of Jaycees and their projects. The men I met while aiding their promotional efforts were truly fine leaders who made things happen. Good things, and lots of things.

I still admire them personally - after all these years - and I remember them as a great ant hill of movers and shakers. That ant hill was the go-to place for just about everything important and exciting that was unofficial community business.

Wikipedia has a nice section on the U.S. Junior Chamber of Commerce, including its creed:

WE BELIEVE:
That faith in God gives meaning and purpose to human life;
That the brotherhood of man transcends the sovereignty of nations;
That economic justice can best be won by free men through free enterprise;
That government should be of laws rather than of men;
That earth's great treasure lies in human personality;
And that service to humanity is the best work of life.

The list of local "Exhausted Roosters" (the name for those who can no longer serve because they have reached age 40) from those days would read like a Newark Who's Who of today because they kept right on doing good stuff. Today's challenge is to replicate their enthusiasm and accomplishments, so good luck to those who are putting a local chapter together.