History of the Southington Jaycees



History of the Southington Jaycees

The Southington Jaycees received their Charter in April 1954 with Frederic Yarringon as President. Their first woman President, Lee Carlson was in 1986. In April of 2004, the Chapter held their 50th Anniversary with over 20 Past Presidents in Attendance. That was a great evening of many stories from the past years of our Chapter.

Over the years, the Southington Jaycees have donated over one million dollars to local, state and national charities. Our biggest project that began in 1967 -1968 is still held to this day. It was started many years ago as a “Jaycee Carnival” and eventually turned into “The Apple Harvest Festival”, which is now run by the town. Each year at the Apple Harvest, our chapter runs the “Fried Dough Booth” and the Carnival ride ticket booth. With the money that is raised from this project, it enables our Chapter to run the entire year, and we give that money, along with much more back to the Community.

In the 60’s and early 70’s, The Southington Jaycees were instrumental in running the Miss Connecticut Pageant. Also in the 60’s, the town of Southington built what is known as “Jaycee Park” off Union Street in the Plantsville section of town. This is a small neighborhood park, and our chapter helps to maintain it. We also hold an annual “Easter Egg Hunt” each year at the park for the children in town. The “Lazy Eye Clinic” was a project that was held in the 70’s and 80’s that the chapter was also known for.

Each year on Thanksgiving weekend, we hold a “Coffee Break” at the rest stop off I-84 East. The money rose from that over the years have been donated to Muscular Dystrophy Association, The U. S. Jaycees Mission Inn for children with HIV, and many other National Charities.

Our Haunted House and Haunted Trails projects over the years have been another project that we donate the proceeds back into the Community. We get many volunteers to come out and help us to have fun, and raise money at the same time.

The Southington Jaycees works closely with the social Services Department in town each year to help the less fortunate. Some of the projects we do for them are the Smart Start back to School Drive, Thanksgiving Food Baskets, Toys for Tots, Christmas Food Baskets, Christmas Wish List of Presents, and many others.

In the International area, the members of our Chapter enjoy attending and participating in “Amerada”. Amerada is where the Canadian and American Jaycees spend the second weekend in September together with plenty of food, fun, games of skill and comradeship. In alternate years it is held in America, and our Chapter has hosted this project several times.

As a Jaycee, it is said that “We Help People”. Well, we not only help others, but we learn to grow ourselves too. Jaycees is leadership training through Community Service. While we run projects to help others, we grow and learn to work together at the same time. The individual member can take advantage of many projects such as Money Management, Time Management, Learning about Financial aspects, Speak Up training, Write up Training, How to Run a Successful Business, and many other self help projects.