Continue reading »]]> Keith Lakatosh, President, 248-854-8446

Spring is here!  The days are getting longer and the snow has melted.  This also means that we are getting ready to start another summer of fun festivals, hit the deck socials and other great opportunities to get involved in the community.  The last several months I have talked about creating opportunity and receiving value from the Jaycees.  My hope is the spring and summer seasons will help to make this message a reality.  Your Community Vice President, Julia Webber, along with her project committee has been hard at work organizing a Green Careers Fair is association with Michigan Earth Day Festival. This is the first year our organization has attempted an undertaking like this and we hope it will provide value for our local community and those wanting to learn more about the “green jobs” that will shape our country’s future.

Other events we have coming up are the Annual Rochester Heritage Festival, where we operate a Rock Wall and Extreme Jumper (members climb for free).  We will be going to Mexican Town around Cinco de Mayo for an international dinner, doing some park beautification at Rochester Jaycee Park (yes there is a Jaycee Park) and a plethora of other events scheduled for the next several months. Keep your eyes open for monthly postcard calendars in your mail with the scheduled events.

That being said, I want to reinforce how YOU will get the most VALUE from the Jaycees over the next several months. As you may remember, in February I highlighted three principles that I think help to create value from the Jaycees, they were: participate, lead, and impact.  Now is the opportunity to do this.  Many of the projects we plan on sponsoring have budgets assigned to them.  For instance, the chapter has allotted $100 for an international dinner in Mexican Town for Cinco de Mayo.  So here is a chance for you to go have a nice dinner out for a little less than it would cost you to go on your own.  What we ask from our members is to help organize these events.  At the least, that involves putting a plan behind the event. For the Jaycees, our preferred method is by utilizing the Chairperson’s Planning Guide (a proven planning process to promote successful events).  The rest of the project involves acting on your plan.  If you are hesitant about running a project, I assure you the board and our experienced members are available to help you through this process. Please volunteer to organize a project, but don’t be surprised if you receive calls from board or other members to participate.

I hope everyone is enjoying 2010.  We are a quarter of the way through and I see nothing but a bright future and great opportunities.  I hope to see you all soon!

Continue reading »]]> Kaitlin Schaefer, Community Director, 973-960-9009

Want to get an early start on your spring cleaning?  Have a number of seed packets you no longer plan on using?  Don’t know what to do with them?  Bring them to the April GMM!  We are looking to collect donated seed packets to be used in our park beautification project set to happen in May. Thank you!

Continue reading »]]> Jocelyn Moellering, Individual Development VP, 248-383-5623

MONDAY, APRIL 12, 2010 @ 7:00 PM

MOELLERINGS’ HOME – 788 FRANCIS, ROCHESTER HILLS

A little birdie in a tiny beret told me you might be interested in learning some survival French! Well, thankfully, it’s that time of year again where Madame Jocelyn Moellering offers her one-night only French class. Learn helpful phrases, questions, and cultural tidbits to help you get by during a visit to France or while impressing your French friend. Even if you don’t have travel plans in your foreseeable future, it’s still a great way to expand your horizons, get out of your comfort zone, and try something new. I’ll be providing little French goodies to inspire you as well. I am a French teacher of eight years and have lived in France, so get ready to get your French on!

DIRECTIONS TO THE MOELLERINGS’

Continue reading »]]> Julia Webber, Community VP, 248-613-6875

FRIDAY, APRIL 23, 2010: 9:00 AM-4:00 PM – DOWNTOWN ROCHESTER

Our state’s unemployment rate is 14.6%, the worst in the nation. Michigan shed 276,000 jobs in 2009. Last year was a challenging one for many in our area, and although economic data began to stabilize in the latter half of 2009, the structural changes to Michigan’s economy will continue to test job seekers. Job hunting, an ordeal in any circumstance, has become extraordinarily difficult and the challenge faced by our community is reconciling the large field of job seekers with the few positions that are available.

The Rochester Area Jaycees are tackling this challenge directly by conducting the MI Earth Day Green Career Fair. The event will take place in Downtown Rochester at the corner of Third and Water Streets on April 23rd from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. during the annual MI Earth Day Festival. At the career fair, job seekers will have the opportunity to connect with various green companies, government agencies, and educational institutions.

If you have any questions about the Green Career Fair or if you are interested in joining the planning committee, contact co-chairs Jason Matz (jmatz@rochesterareajaycees.org) or Julia Webber (jwebber@rochesterareajaycees.org).

Continue reading »]]> Elspeth Coats, Associate Member, 248-853-5632

FRIDAY, MAY 7, 2010 @ 7:00 PM

COATS’ HOME- 799 LOCKMOORE CT., ROCHESTER HILLS

The Rochester Area Jaycees have teamed up to help fight cancer.  We are walking in the Rochester Relay for Life on June 26 and are trying to raise money for the event.

Stephanie Jurva, a Tastefully Simple consultant, has graciously volunteered to help us out!  We are having a Tastefully Simple Party and Stephanie will donate 20% of all sales from the party to our Relay for Life team!

Tastefully Simple sells foods that are designed to help people spend less time in the kitchen.  Some are ready to eat, and others require 1 or 2 ingredients, and the food is YUMMY!  For more information about it go to www.tastefullysimple.com.

Come to the party at my house and sample many of the things Tastefully Simple has to offer including there yummy drink buckets.  If you can’t make it to the party, but want to order something, please let me know and we will get you a catalog and/or online order form.

DIRECTIONS TO THE COATS’

Continue reading »]]> THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 2010 @ 7:30 PM

The second Thursday of every month, we have a GMM to go over upcoming projects. This month, we will be collecting seed packets for our monthly community donation. Our meetings are held at the Rochester Community House which is located at 816 Ludlow in downtown Rochester. Ludlow runs north off University Drive (Walton Blvd), approximately one half mile east of Livernois (or one half mile west of Main Street/Rochester Rd). We encourage you to come early and mingle before the meeting.

DIRECTIONS TO COMMUNITY HOUSE

Continue reading »]]> Julia Webber, Community VP, 248-613-6875

TUESDAY, APRIL 13, 2010 @ 6:00 PM

GREAT OAKS COUNTRY CLUB, 777 GREAT OAKS BLVD., ROCHESTER

On Tuesday, April 13th the Interservice Club Banquet of the Rochester Area will be held at Great Oaks Country Club. This year’s dinner will be hosted by the Rochester Rotary Club – the host rotates each year and we have hosted in the past.

The social hour will begin at 6 PM with dinner scheduled to start at 7 PM. The after dinner speaker will be former NBA player Tim McCormick, also a motivational speaker. The cost of the dinner is $28 per person with a cash bar. We need to RSVP by Friday, April 2nd.

The Jaycees will subsidize the cost for members attending, although it may cost each member a small amount based on how many members attend. Please let Julia Webber know if you want to attend and have not previously signed up to go.

DIRECTIONS TO GREAT OAKS COUNTRY CLUB

Continue reading »]]> Jocelyn Moellering, Individual Development VP, 248-383-5623

SATURDAY, MAY 8 – MEXICAN TOWN, DOWNTOWN DETROIT

Believe it or not, May will be here before you know it! We’re going to celebrate Cinco de Mayo by having dinner in Mexican Town the Saturday following the holiday. The time and exact location of this event are still to be determined. This would be decided by the event chair, for whom we are still in need. This is a very simple outing that requires just a little planning and I’d be happy to help anyone who would be interested. Please let me know if you’re interested in chairing so we can plan this festive and delicious outing to Mexican Town!