Palatine man loses bid to be Jaycees president

A Palatine man will not be the new leader for the U.S. Jaycees.

Garrett McNally, 35, launched his bid in April and has been campaigning since to become the 2008 National Jaycee president.

The election was held over the weekend at the U.S. Jaycees 87th annual meeting in Omaha, Neb. All state presidents were allowed to cast a vote for the new leader, who serves for one year.

Rather than McNally, Denice O'Neil of Tennessee will lead the group for the new year.

"It was a great experience, and I'm thrilled to have been given the opportunity to run," he said.

For the past three years, McNally's been on the U.S. Jaycees board of directors, providing direction to the more than 1,100 chapters nationwide.

Before that, he was active on the state level and, in 2004, was president of the Illinois Jaycees.

The Jaycees -- more formally known as the United States Junior Chamber -- formed in 1920 to help young men between ages 18 and 40 develop their leadership and management skills, primarily through community projects.

In Palatine, the Jaycees are in charge of the Fourth of July festival, a Halloween haunted house, Christmas tree sales and other activities.

McNally has been in the Palatine chapter since 1994. He's a financial adviser in Northbrook.

He plans to continue his involvement in the Jaycees for years to come, he said.