Upcoming Events for The Shelton Jaycees

Welcome new members! Class of First Quarter 08 - Mason, Tara, Melissa, Scott, and Gary. Your new ideas and enthusiasm have made me even more excited about our chapter.

We've had an outstanding first 3 months! Special thanks go out to you all and also to our friends from around the state!

Already this year we've had an Installation party, January State Convention parties, Chairman's Planning Guide training, Online Networking training (thanks Tara!), a Best Pizza in Shelton M-Night, a visitation to the Cheshire Jaycees, Bowling to Benefit Victims of Domestic Violence fundraiser, and an International Potluck supper!

Coming up soon is our Membership Meeting this Tuesday April 8th, an Intro to Astronomy training April 11th, and our Setback Card Social April 19th. The CT Region 1 meeting will be in Danbury April 22nd.

New member Melissa and her team the Unknown Warriors are coordinating a Relay for Life fundraising tsunami.

Check out this wave! We'll be collecting Relay for Life donations at our Flower Sale, at our State Convention Hospitality Room, at Shaw's Supermarket in Shelton and at Hula Hank's bar in New Haven on 5/17, plus at our Arts & Crafts Fair on 6/1!

The first 2 weeks in May will include our Mothers Day Flower Sale (Both weekends), The Sound Idea shoreline cleanup on May 3rd, and the CT Statesman Banquet State Convention May 9th & 10th.

The first 2 weeks in June will also be very busy. Our largest chapter fundraiser of the year, our annual Arts and Crafts Fair is June 1st. New member Melissa's RELAY FOR LIFE project (details below) will be June 7th and 8th. Also June 7th will be our Children's Circus Show (only two members required to set up chairs at this event).

I'm so proud to be the chapter President of such an amazing group. There are so many great activities to choose from. To sign up for an event or to contact the person running the event, click on the link provided and the e-mail address will pop up.

To hear all about our April and May events and to get involved with planning future events, don't miss the next Membership Meeting this Tuesday April 8th.

Meetings are always on the second Tuesday of the month, 8 PM at the Pinerock Firehouse on 722 Longhill Avenue. Members may volunteer as much or as little as they like, and only for events that interest them.

See you there!

Kate

Membership Meeting and Social

Membership Meeting and Social - Tuesday April 8^th 8 PM at Pinerock Firehouse, 722 Longhill Ave. Shelton. Don't miss your opportunity to meet new friends and old at the SJC's monthly meeting and social. Project reports run about 20 to 30 minutes. Shooting the bull runs about another 15 to 20 minutes after that. Later we usually head out to a nearby pub or restaurant. Guests and prospective members are always welcome.

After the business portion of our April meeting you're invited to help brainstorm ideas for a Support the Troops activity to run at our May meeting.

To e-mail Matt for details and directions, Click Here

Intro to Astronomy Seminar

Intro to Astronomy Seminar Friday April 11^th 8 PM Location: Capewell Park Rte 108 in Shelton. Our trainer will be Mark Holden, a Junior Chamber International Senator and a Past President of our chapter (1986). He's a current VP of one of the state's best astronomical clubs. Expect to learn a lot at this event. He's a great trainer and an expert on observational astronomy. Rain/Fog date will be April 18^th. For details contact Wendy at 913-3147 or to send her an email Click Here.

Setback (aka Pitch) Card Game Social

Setback (aka Pitch) Card Game Social Saturday April 19^th 7:30 PM Location: Panera Bread, 850 Bridgeport Ave. in Shelton. There will be both beginner tables and advanced tables. I'm not saying some people take playing cards a little TOO seriously but if you have to ask "am I advanced enough?" you should probably stick to the beginner tables. For more information Click Here

Mothers Day Flower Sale

Mothers Day Flower Sale - Friday through Sunday May 2nd 3rd & 4th and May 9th 10th & 11th at Pinerock Firehouse. Friday hours are 10 AM - 8 PM. Saturday and Sunday hours 8 AM - 6 PM This has become a very successful annual fundraiser. It does require a lot of help especially during morning setup and evening takedown. Event chairman Jim will be out of state on a work project until May 3rd. We desperately need help during the afternoon and evening Thursday May 1st loading and unloading the flowers onto the delivery truck. We're also desperate for May 2nd Friday morning volunteers to open the shop. To contact Jim and volunteer, or to reserve a special plant Click Here.

"Sound Idea" Earth Day Shoreline Clean-Up

Earth Day Clean Up Saturday May 3^rd 8 AM - 2 PM Location: Sunny Side Boat Ramp Rte 110 in Shelton. Get Down and Get Dirty with the Shelton Jaycees! We'll be working again this year with non-profits Clean Sound Inc. and others to clean up a half mile plus stretch of the Housatonic River near Sunny Side Boat Ramp (right behind Sunny Side Elementary School) Boats will be provided so we'll be working on some of the islands along the river in Shelton too. We'll provide lunch and we'll have some spare work gloves if you need to borrow a pair. Don't forget to wear waterproof footwear or shoes you wont mind throwing out after the event. A ton of garbage washes up along this area of shoreline each year. For details and directions Click Here.

44^th Annual Arts & Crafts Fair Sunday June 1^st

44^th Annual Arts & Crafts Fair Sunday June 1^st 10 AM - 4 PM on the Huntington Green in Shelton. (Rain Date June 8^th) Always the first Sunday in June, this event has become a well established community tradition welcoming the summer season. We'll be having sign painting parties in both April and May. Also extra help will be needed at this year's Fair coordinating a Children's Crafts Area. Applications for new exhibitors are available for download on the left side of our web site under Files and Forms. To contact the committee via e-mail Click Here or call 203-623-6698 for details.

Relay For Life Team Fundraising

Relay for Life walkathon to benefit the American Cancer Society June 7th - 8th at Riverwalk Park. As mentioned above new member Melissa and her team the Unknown Warriors are coordinating a wave of fundraisers. The ideas generated at her last meeting were fantastic. The next committee meeting will be on Tuesday April 15th at 7:30 PM to discuss fundraising plans and to enter offline donations. Plans are coming together to collect donations at our Flower Sale, at our State Convention Hospitality Room, at a Cinco de Mayo theme party Friday 5/2, at Shaw's Supermarket in Shelton and at Hula Hank's bar in New Haven on 5/17, and at our Arts & Crafts Fair! THESE EVENTS ARE GOING TO BE A BLAST!!! To join Melissa's "Unknown Warriors" Team Click Here. To e-mail Melissa for details Click Here.

Children's Circus Show

Children's Circus Show Saturday June 7th 1 PM at the Shelton Community Center 41 Church St. No huge requirement for volunteers at this event. Only a couple of Jaycees are needed to put up chairs about 45 minutes prior to the show. This annual event is a high quality children's show with professional performance artists who have worked for some of the largest circuses in the country. The show is produced by Community Dynamics of Milford and tickets are given away through the Elementary School Social Worker as well as to others who have made a donation to the Shelton Jaycees through the Community Help Line. This is another Jaycee event that has become a community tradition. The performers who do these shows are simply the best! For free tickets Click Here

More Shelton Jaycees Chapter Events

The ideas for the additional event's listed below were all generated at our annual planning meeting last December. Events may change as members interests change. If you have an idea for an event you would like to help run or if you would like to help with a specific event listed Click Here.

April May & June
Support the Troops Activity, Girls/Moms Night Out, Relay For Life - Refreshment Station & Membership Booth, New Member Orientation, First Time Home Buyer Seminar, Picnic & Volleyball Challenge

July August & September
Camping Trip, Interview Techniques Training, Food Drive for CT Food Bank or Spooner House, Weird Beer Social, Effective Meetings Seminar, 20^th Anniversary Car Show & Bazaar (August 24^th), Pet ID / Animal Shelter Fundraiser, Taste of the Nations - International Cuisine, Hiking

October November & December
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk, Hay Ride, Kid Safe Halloween, Digital Photography, Charity Poker Tournament, State Convention - Hospitality Room, Xmas Tree or Flower Sale, New Member Orientation, UN Visit, Children's Wish List Night - shopping and wrapping

The Jaycees� are also known as The Junior Chamber�. We offer men & women between 21-40 opportunities to meet people and volunteer. It's hands-on Leadership Training through Community Action over and above what's available through the corporate world or other organizations. Members volunteer as much or as little as they like and only at activities that interest them. To learn more visit our web site.

Sincerely,

Katherine Jager
54th President
Shelton Jaycees Inc.