Service

n: contribution to the welfare of others

I recently completed my year-long term as president of JCI Hopkins, a local chapter of JCI, or the Jaycees. JCI is a global organization of young adults, ages 18 to 40, who work to create positive change in their communities.

I have been a member of my local chapter of this awesome organization for 13 and a half years, and it took me that long to step up to the top leadership position. I hadn't considered being president before 2019; I was content with serving on the board of directors and just being an active member who showed up to work hard.

But something felt different when one of my close friends in the group made an offhanded comment about me being president. I had been approached before, so the comment wasn't out of left field, but this time it really stuck. And I knew I was finally ready for the challenge.

I think one of the things that changed for me was the fact that I now have two kids and I wanted to set a good example for them. I have taken them to Jaycee projects and events, and they know that I sometimes leave for the night when I attend meetings. But I wanted to be able to show them, even if it's years from now, that I didn't shy away from the hard stuff and was willing to be the one responsible for our chapter.

I come from a family of community service-minded folks—on both sides. While no one in my family had been involved in the Jaycees, they had been involved in other similar civic organizations, such as the Elks. Both of my grandfathers and my dad were active members of the Elks. My mom was a member of the Lady Elks (when that was still a thing). My paternal grandfather was a member of the Oddfellows; my maternal grandfather was involved in the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic fraternal organization.

All of these organizations have similar stated goals, which boil down to making the world a better place. JCI members recite a creed, the last line of which is my favorite:

We believe

That faith in God gives meaning and purpose to human life,

That the brotherhood of man transcends the sovereignty of nations,

That economic justice can best be won by free men through free enterprise,

That government should be of laws rather than of men,

That earth's great treasure lies in human personality,

And that service to humanity is the best work of life

These values have been important to me all of my life, which is why the Jaycees was so attractive to me when I joined at 26 years old. Now, as I approach 40, I have just one year left in this organization, as members "age out" and are encouraged to take on new leadership roles in their communities.

As I think about everything I've done and everything I've learned, I realize how much of this I want to pass on to my own children. While they are only 6 and 2, I hope they continue to see my community involvement and my passion for making the world they grow up in a kinder place.

Looking back on my parents' involvement with the Elks, I don't remember a lot of what they did as members. I remember my dad cooking breakfasts on Saturday mornings and driving the "Say no to drugs!" float in the parade. My mom attended monthly meetings of the Lady Elks and was often making an hors d'oeuvres for one of their social functions.

I imagine they had a similar experience to mine—they made wonderful friends who also cared about their community, and they had fun doing it! Whether or not I really understood the nuts and bolts of what they did, just knowing that they were involved and volunteering their time made a big impression on me. And that's what I want my kids to see.

My son Noah helped us pick up trash on the side of the road this summer.

As I prepare to age out of the Jaycees and transition to an alumni member, not much will change. I can still attend meetings and events, and volunteer to help at chapter projects. I just can no longer hold office or vote on chapter business. And because of the incredible experience that I have had over the years and the truly wonderful friends I have made, I will continue to be a part of JCI Hopkins. As my kids grow, I will bring them to projects, too, so they can get a little taste of what it's like.

But I am also looking forward and wondering what is next for me. My son started kindergarten this year, so I have already attended some PTO meetings. I get emails from my city government about openings on certain city advisory boards and commissions. There's also the school board or the local Lions club.

I'm not sure what I will pursue, but I know that I need to be involved in something. I want to continue this legacy of service that my parents and grandparents instilled in me. My time as a Jaycee has shown me that it doesn’t take much to make a significant positive impact in your local community. After 13 years in the organization, it still gives me chills to say "service to humanity is the best work of life." It's certainly true and it's something I want my kids to know as soon as possible.

(JCI is an international organization that has thousands of members around the globe. As the devastating Australia wildfires rage on, JCI Australia has created donation pages to support local organizations providing critical aid now. If you have thought about donating, please consider supporting organizations selected by those being affected by the fires.)