(Quad Cities, IA) – Local Jaycees are earning top honors at home, across the state, throughout the nation and around the world.
Your local Jaycees members are often seen driving golf carts, packing backpacks, serving meals at Café on Vine, scaring Haunted House patrons, herding brides, cleaning our hall, delivering checks, shaking hands, and a million other things that embody all that we are as an organization – service to humanity.
And while it’s the best work of life – a little recognition from our peers doesn’t hurt. Recognition not only from our chapter but from the state organization gives credit to the tremendous philanthropic heart and community betterment demonstrated by these individuals.
Iowa Jaycees Governorship is a life-long award, the highest award presented to local members by the Iowa Jaycees. It is intended for the Jaycee who has made significant contributions to their local community and chapter. A plaque and name tag is presented to the honoree. Despite being a difficult accomplishment to achieve, two long-time Quad Cities’ residents and local Jaycees were recently awarded top honors:
Heather Hartley
Heather is a tremendous asset to the Quad Cities chapter. She is a past President of the chapter and served previously as Vice President of Marketing. She still assists the chapter with marketing needs today. Following her board term, Heather continued to chair the Bridal Expo fundraiser for our chapter.
Under Heathers leadership Bridal Expo has almost doubled profits and cut costs while implementing new technology, marketing strategies, and almost doubling the size of the event. She is innovative, creative, dedicated, and intuitive to the needs of the chapter, the community, and our market base.
Heather was integral in the first year success of the Jaycee’s Brew Ha Ha event in 2014 spearheading the marketing campaign and assisting with ticket sales. Heather is constantly looking for ways to improve the event, not just to keep it running. In her personal life, she is dedicated to serving the special needs community and serves on the board of Hand In Hand, a local not for profit that serves special needs individuals and their families. She has brought other not for profits needs to the forefront.
Heather is a marketing professional for John Deere construction division and each year is awarded a $1,000 donation to our Foundation for her hours of community service. She could give those funds to any charity of her choice, but she chooses the Jaycee Santa program as the recipient. Heathers life is a demonstration of the Values of our chapter and our organization. We are tremendously blessed to have her as a member and she is deserving of this award.
Jennifer Kincaid
Jennifer consistently performs above and beyond when it comes to her duties in the chapter and throughout the community. She always takes it upon herself to pick up where others leave off, especially when she knows something needs to be done for the greater good.
“I've never seen someone so dedicated to the mission and creed of the Jaycees,” says nominator Danielle Reagle.
“You can always hear her voice as she shouts the loudest every time we recite the creed, ‘Service to humanity is the best work of life,’” Reagle said.
Jenny proves to be unbiased and approaches issues with an open mind. She's quick to review every request and item before making any kind of judgment call as to whether or not it upholds the Jaycees Mission.
Only a handful of individuals in our more than 80 year history have earned this honor and the organization and the Quad Cities are lucky to have such young passionate talent. The Quad Cities Chapter boasts 30 of the 500 individuals in the State of Iowa to earn this honor.
Last but certainly not least, Chad Gaul was presented with a senatorship. A senatorship is the highest national honor that can be given to a Jaycee. Only 1 out of 1,000 Jaycees becomes a Senator. And the Quad Cities now has one. Mr. Gaul joins another 29 Quad Citizens who have been bestowed this great achievement.
The United States JCI Senate is an independent organization, with its own constitution and bylaws, associated with the United States Junior Chamber and Junior Chamber International. The US JCI Senate consists of over 7,800 members throughout 50 states and the District of Columbia. The purposes of the Senate include:
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Assisting and mentoring Jaycees.
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Supporting the US JCI Senate Foundation in bestowing college scholarships to graduating seniors.
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Promoting fellowship among its members.
Chad Gaul
Chad Gaul has held every position eligible on the Jaycees board at one time or another in his ten year tenure. He served as President and went on to hold numerous state and National positions. Chad brings so much to the table in terms of leadership, institutional knowledge, and passion for the mission, vision, and focus of the chapter. Chad’s life shows he lives the values of the Jaycees in all he does through his dedication to the mission, the projects, and the community.
“There are mere mortals. And then there are legends. Chad Gaul is the embodiment of what it means to be a Jaycee and his dedication to the Davenport chapter is probably unmatched in the history of the organization,” says nominator Chris Mandle.
To highlight just a few of Chad’s achievements that set him apart from “regular members”:
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marched in an early morning Labor Day parade to promote the Jaycee Haunted House
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drove over an hour to deliver posters and tickets for Bridal Expo
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organized head logistics of transportation at Bridal Expo
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picks the older kids to shop for at Jaycee Santa since this person values all of the children we impact, not just the “fun” ones to shop for
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founding contributor to our notorious photo scavenger hunt
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helped rehab almost every house Rebuilding Together annual work day on and always takes on the less than glamorous jobs, even in conditions that made him physically ill
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held four different positions on our local board and has served on the regional board. Chad is affectionately the reason that we now have term limits encouraged our chapter to become involved in regional and state activities
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drove all over the state, often alone, to attend other chapter and state events
Chapter Accolades
But the hits don’t stop there! In addition to the above individual accolades well-deserved to great Quad City young professionals, the Jaycees of the Quad Cities chapter is also raking up some great awards for their work in the community.
These prestigious awards were presented at the year-end All State Gala in January 2016 in Iowa City, Iowa. And the hits just keep on coming.
The following awards were presented at the Spring 2016 Allstate in Davenport in May.
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Inter-organization Collaboration Project - Hand-in-Hand Chili Cook Off
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Local Growth & Development Program - Jaycees 101
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Local Economic Development Program - Jaycees Bridal Expo
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Top Vice President - Theresa Oprondek
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Top Local Member - Alex Leutzinger
About Jaycees of the Quad Cities: Jaycees aim to build personal and professional relationships by working together on projects to strengthen and grow the Quad-Cities community. The Quad Cities Chapter is one of the oldest chapters in the state of Iowa and has grown to include young professionals from both sides of the Mississippi River. They pride themselves on blending social opportunities with service – like planning the annual Bridal Expo and the Brew Ha Ha that raise funds for charitable initiatives. Individuals and groups interested in volunteering with Jaycees of the Quad Cities should contact info@jayceesqc.org or call (563) 484-0041.
(submitted by Jamie Lange)
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