The following is from the President's inaugural address

Shortly after our elections in October, as plans for this night began, I was asked what my theme for this year was going to be. Jaycee tradition has it that each year the incoming president comes up with a theme to define their term in office. Previous themes have included Work hard, play hard, Bounce! and Bring it on! All strong words used to inspire the masses to strong action.

But we are in a state of renewal. We are getting back to basics. We MUST act today in order to preserve this chapter for the young professionals of tomorrow. There is too much to do to worry about a theme that, frankly, doesn’t really matter.

Then I began to plan for 2009, and like it or not, a theme began to emerge.

Over the last few years, we've seen a dramatic decrease in membership numbers. Some members aged out, while others had life changing events such as new jobs in other towns or new families. Whatever the reason, it was not due to the acts of a few people. These are natural occurrences that happen in all organizations. The problem was our inability to bring in new members during the year. The people are not walking through those doors and it’s not because we have nothing to offer them. It’s because they don’t know about us or understand who we are.

Jaycees… It’s time to spread the word.

The next time you’re in line at the grocery store, ask the people around you who puts on the Fourth of July celebration and fireworks display on the Town Common. Or, the next time you find yourself around the water cooler with co-workers, ask them who organizes the annual Christmas parade. I guarantee most of the answers will be the same… “the City of Greenville.”

Jaycees… It’s time to spread the word.

It is my intention to use my knowledge of public relations and the resources of my company to make sure the community knows WHO we are and WHAT we do. But it doesn’t end there. I need your help. To paraphrase President Ronald Regan, ALL must share in the productive work of this renewal, and ALL will share in the bounty of this revived organization.

When I first joined the Jaycees I was only a few years out of college. All of my college friends had moved away, I was working with people twice my age and I was living on my own. Randy Cox, a friend of mine since our pre-school days, talked me into joining a singles group at a local church to meet new people. I later learned this group was started by members of the Greenville Jaycees, who worshiped at the church.

As I became friends with these Jaycees, I found myself participating in their other social events — Thursday nights at Kinston Indians baseball games, tailgating for ECU football, and evenings at Courtyard Tavern.

I was a person in search of filling that social void that opened after I graduated from college. For me, the Jaycees was the answer. Little did I know at the time that I would eventually meet a young Jaycee who later became my wife.

Each one of us has a story. Each one of us has our own reason for joining this organization. Some of us are in search of professional training. Some of us are here for networking. Some are looking to do great things for their community. Others, like me, came looking for friendship.

Whatever your story, you can be assured there is someone out there just like you. Jaycees… It’s time to spread the word.

Thank you.
BJ Smith, 68th Greenville Jaycees President