About
Since 1935, the Austin Jaycees is the premiere leadership training organization for young adults, serving men and women between the ages of 18 and 40. The Jaycees, also known as the Junior Chamber, provides opportunities to improve on one’s business skills, provides networking opportunities, performs community service, and offers many fun social opportunities. The membership represents a variety of occupations, interests, social and economic backgrounds.
Mission The mission of the Austin Jaycees is to create a better world by empowering young people. We are a people-development organization that seeks to create positive change in ourselves, our organization and our community. Everything we do must encourage young people to become members and to take full advantage of our world-class fellowship, community service and leadership training opportunities.
Vision The vision of the Austin Jaycees is to be the organization of choice for young adults, providing direction and leadership to our communities, the state and the nation in order to effect positive change.
A Global Network. Jaycees are not only members of their local chapter, but of the Texas Junior Chamber, the United States Junior Chamber, and Junior Chamber International (JCI), a worldwide federation of almost a quarter of a million young leaders and entrepreneurs, located in more than 5,000 communities in over 100 nations throughout the world, participating in projects, meetings, learning programs and events to help create positive change in our world.
History
The Austin Jaycees, now a vigorous civic organization with a 75 year history, is the result of a civic dream in the minds of ten young Austin men who decided the city needed an organization for young men with pride in their own capabilities and faith in the future progress of Austin. These ten – Jess Allman, W. Pete Allsup, Jr., Taylor Glass, Ben Howell, A.S. Hull, Adolph Kohn, Jr., Fred Lesser, E.T. Morris, M.D. Mosteller and Murray Stevens – organized the Austin Junior Chamber of Commerce in 1935.
Today, the Austin Junior Chamber (Jaycees) organization is composed of young professionals (18-40) who are interested in civic betterment through constructive action. It is an organization in which a young professional can help themselves while helping their community. No other organization in the city is so full of youthful ambition, ideas and enthusiasm.
Some of the accomplishments of the Austin Junior Chamber (Jaycees) include:
1940 – Instrumental in constructing Disch Field
1950 – Austin, Texas Fourth of July Celebration
1960 – Ben Crenshaw wins National Jaycee Golf Tournament
1970 – Cavalcade of Commerce
1976 – Lee Cooke, President; Austin Jaycees – Outstanding Chapter in Texas and in the US Junior Chamber
1982 – Matthew Walker, President; Austin Jaycees – Outstanding Chapter in US Junior Chamber
1983 – Richard Battle, President; Austin Jaycees – Outstanding Chapter in US Junior Chamber
1987 – Austin Jaycees named Outstanding Chapter of the World (Junior Chamber International)
1990 – Austin, Texas Haunted House
2000 – Austin Junior Chamber Foundation
2010 – Austin Jaycees – 75th Anniversary
