The Illinois Jaycees: It is Time to Shine

The Illinois Jaycees is part of a global network of more than 5,000 chapters with over 200,000 members in 120 countries around the world. In Illinois alone, there are 38 chapters that span across the state with over 800 members. Their goal? "To be the leading global network of young active citizen."

Every day Jaycees work on developing leaders for a changing world by providing developmental opportunities that will empower young people to create positive change.

The Illinois Jaycee are introducing the executive team that will lead the state to "SHINE" in 2021.

Dawn Stangle was elected as the 90th president of the Illinois Jaycees in October. She previously served locally as the Schaumburg Jaycees president in 2017 and 2018. In 2019, Stangle was appointed to serve as the Illinois Jaycees administrative vice president and in 2020 she served as the state vice president for membership.

Eric Hiatt was elected administrative vice president in October of 2020. Hiatt served as chapter president of the Champaign Urbana Jaycees in 2018. In 2019, he was elected as Region Director of Region Four. In 2020, Hiatt served as the Illinois Jaycees vice president for programming.

Rebecca Klug was appointed vice president for membership in January. She was elected as the Highland Jaycees VP-Membership in 2018, in 2019 she served as the local community vice president. Just three short years after joining the organization, Klug became local president in 2020.

Jessica Neighbors was elected vice president-programming in October. She served as the Springfield Jaycees Community VP in 2017, in 2018 she was elected chapter president. In 2019, she was appointed program manager for PMG's & Year End Awards for the state. Neighbors led Region 4 in 2020 as their region director.

This year marks the 101st anniversary of when our nationwide movement was established.

Jaycees founder Henry Giessenbier believed that young people needed the opportunity to be empowered through collaborative and enriching experiences to build skills so they could find success more quickly as a young person. To this day, the Jaycee's why is empowerment. Its mission is to provide development opportunities that empower young people to create positive change.

The Illinois Jaycees is a leadership development through community involvement organization for people, age 18-40. Members have the opportunity to develop leadership, marketing, budgeting, and project management skills by running projects and taking leadership positions with the organization. The Jaycees offer training and skills development through training, speakers and participating in individual development member competitions. Members also have the opportunity to meet new people by networking with other members and by participating in community events.

JCI chapters across the United States are actively seeking new members for the organization and trying to open new chapters in other communities. If you would like more information on how you can join the Jaycees, visit illinioisjaycees.com.