Mount Airy Jaycees disband

Chapter unable to maintain the 20 member minimum required

Flagler, who became a Mount Airy Jaycees member four years ago, took her son with her for many of the group’s activities.

She joined the Jaycees to show her preschool-age son that you need to help other people. “It’s not about getting paid, it’s about helping others,“ she said.

Now Flagler will have to find other ways to demonstrate service to her son, because the Mount Airy Jaycee club disbanded due to a lack of membership. Flagler plans on continuing her volunteering with Cub Scouts.

The 34-year-old chapter was unable to maintain the 20 member minimum required by the organization. The Jaycees, a national organization, helps young professionals age 21-40 build leadership skills through community service.

“Our membership has dropped and dropped and dropped and dropped,“ she said. The reasons for lagging membership vary, she added, including it’s not for some people, the price of gas and it’s just one more activity in already busy lives.

The Mount Airy Jaycees were involved in a number of local activities, including yard sales, charity walks such as Relay for Life, holiday food drives, a Christmas event for children in need, Easter egg hunts and a Halloween parade.

“We had some great yard sales. It brought in a lot of money, and we were able to do some great things for the community,“ Flagler said.

The Lion’s Club will take over the Jaycees spring and fall yard sales.

“It was great to see all the work you do throughout the year for fundraising come full circle so that we could help others,“ said Devin Flagler, Mary Flagler’s husband and a three year member.

Jean Keltner, a two-year Jaycee member, said the age cut off and the busyness of careers and families are the main reasons behind the lack of membership.

“We’re not the only organization having this issue -- especially in this age group of 21 to 40,“ she said. “It’s full of kids.“

Keltner’s parents were in the Jaycees, and she remembers the friends they made in the organization. “I kind of grew up as a Jaycee brat,“ she said.

The Mount Airy chapter was a relaxed and fun environment, she said. “When we came to a meeting you knew you’re usually going to have five or six kids running around.“

One of the biggest problem’s they faced in recruiting was people didn’t know what the Jaycees were about or what they did, Keltner said. “I would ask people if they wanted to join the Jaycees, and they would say “I’m sorry honey, I’m not Jewish.’

“It’s so hard when you go to recruit people. You tell them leadership and service, and it starts a negative thought process,“ she said. “People are just very busy.“

Without the credibility of the national organization, members decided to stop meeting. “You can’t just call [someone] and say ‘Hi, I’m Mary Flagler -- help me!’“ Flagler said.

The Jaycees sometimes attended quarterly state conventions in addition to community service projects and fundraisers. It was a great place to meet people and get their ideas, Keltner said.

Attendees went to seminars and could be involved in debates from the serious to the silly. Flagler said she once debated whether Santa was real or not, while Keltner, who won multiple debates at the conventions with her husband, participated in a debate on capital punishment.

Keltner is considering driving to the Frederick Jaycees Chapter, since the Mount Airy group was the last in Carroll County. She also considered joining the Lion’s club. “I’m just so busy I don’t know if I want to commit to that,“ said the mother of three who is going to school and running a home business. “But you hate to completely drop out of the Jaycees.“

Keltner will continue her volunteer work with Soldier’s Angels, a non profit group providing aid and comfort to soldiers and their families.

“Even though we’re not officially a chapter, never count us out,“ said Keltner. “We’re still around.“