Dwindling membership threatens Burlington Area Jaycees charter

Organization hopes to add 25 new members by end of year

By BRENDAN O'BRIEN
Journal Times

Monday, September 10, 2007 11:29 PM CDT

BURLINGTON — Dwindling membership of the Burlington Area Jaycees is threatening the amount and quality of projects that it can organize and fund each year.

“If we don’t have enough people, we have to cut programs,” Membership Vice President Kris Fischer said Monday.

The organization currently has 20 members after losing 15 members during the past year.

Fischer said the organization has had to terminate its sandbox fill program in which the organization provided sand to residents.

“The (fewer) people we have to help with our fundraisers, the less chance we have in generating the income to give back to the community,” Fischer said.

The Jaycees spearhead Burlington area events such as the annual Easter egg hunt, the Punt, Pass and Kick Competition and the Boat and Brat Day races.

One of the most recognizable Jaycees program that could be lost is Safety Town, which annually teaches kindergartners safety rules in a town constructed to a child-size scale.

The Burlington Area Jaycees also award scholarships to seniors at both Burlington High School and Catholic Central High School, donate money to keep the community pool open and sponsor food drives.

The organization’s goal is to have 25 new members by the end of the year. The loss in membership threatens the organization. If the Burlington Area Jaycees loses another member and falls to fewer than 20, it will be put on probation by the state organization. Then it would have a certain amount of time to increase membership or face losing its charter.

The Jaycees meet at Karcher Middle School library, 225 Roberts St., at 7 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month. For information, go to

http://www.burlington-jaycees.org

Organization hosting a myriad of upcoming events

The Burlington Jaycees annual Octoberfest Arts and Crafts fair will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7.

The annual arts and crafts fair will be at Echo Park.

Spots are available for artists to display and sell their work. If interested in selling artwork, call (262) 210-7721 or go to

http://www.Burlington-Jaycees.org

The Burlington Jaycees will hold a scavenger hunt followed by a bonfire for those interested in becoming a member. The event begins at 5 p.m. on Oct. 20. For information, call (262) 763-3841.

The Burlington Jaycees will host an NFL Pepsi Punt, Pass and Kick competition Sunday at the football field at Karcher Middle School, 225 Roberts St.

Registration is at 11:30 a.m. and the competition begins at noon.

The National Football League national skills program provides boys and girls the opportunity to showcase their punting, passing and kicking abilities.

The contest is open to children ages 8 to 15 as of Dec. 31. A birth certificate is required at registration.

Winners in each age group in each category will advance to sectional competition.

Registration forms are available at local schools, at the Burlington Public Library, 166 E. Jefferson St., and at the Community Education Department, 125 E. Washington.

For information, call (262) 903-5392.

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