Who are the Jaycees

The Cedar Rapids Jaycees chapter focuses on individual development through leadership training and community service. We believe that in order to create positive change, we must take collective action to improve our community, the world, and ourselves. We are young business professionals aged 21-40 who seek out opportunities for leadership development, individual growth, networking, friendship, and community service.

The goal of the Jaycees is to provide leadership training through community service. What sets the Junior Chamber apart from other organizations is a focus on individual development. While most volunteer groups offer community service and social activities, the Jaycees offers its members the opportunity to improve themselves. By chairing a local project, a young person can practice organization, delegation, time and resource management, public relations and motivational skills. Training programs are usually offered by the Jaycees at local, state, and national conferences that also teach these skills.

The Jaycees organization starts with a local chapter serving one or more communities (JCI Cedar Rapids). Chapter members are then automatically members of the state organization (JCI Iowa), as well as the United States national organization (JCI USA) and the International organization Junior Chamber International (JCI).

 

Cedar Rapids Jaycee Members

Junior Chamber International (JCI)

JCI is a worldwide community of young active citizens ages 21 to 40 who are dedicated to creating positive change in our respective communities around the world. We empower young people by developing their skills, knowledge and understanding. These young people have the confidence to stand up, make informed decisions and lead their communities to take concrete action towards sustainable impact.

In 5,000 communities across nearly 120 countries, our members are recognized for embracing new ideas, collaboration and diversity, and are equipped to address the most critical challenges of our time. As we empower and inspire young active citizens, our global network will grow and create a better tomorrow.

Board of Directors

Cedar Rapids Jaycee President Lindsey Graham

Lindsey Graham

President

Lindsey joined the Jaycees in April 2021 and has helped with Uptown Friday Nights, Safety Fest and Toys for Tots. She became the Media and Marketing Director in September of 2021. Lindsey received the Outstanding New Member Award for her first year in 2021 and Top Local Vice President of the Year in 2022.

Lindsey works as the Marketing Manager at Hyatt Regency Coralville Hotel & Conference Center for Marcus Hotels & Resorts. In her free time outside of the Jaycees, she enjoys spending time outside, kayaking, cooking, going to local sporting events and concerts, traveling, and fostering dogs for Last Hope Animal Rescue.

Cedar Rapids Jaycee Vice President Devin Lawson Bio Picture

Devin Lawson

Vice President

“New” to the Cedar Rapids Chapter in 2020 and a member since 2015, Devin has served on a past State Board (2019) and is Iowa Jaycee Governor #471.

For work, Devin is a Sales Representative for The Sherwin-Williams Paint Co. He likes Iowa Hawkeye Football Saturdays, the Kansas City Chiefs and taking his dog Chief to the Dog Park when the weather is nice.

Cedar Rapids Jaycee Chairmen of the Board Christopher Hoffman Bio Picture

Christopher Hoffman

Chairman of the Board

Raised in central Iowa, CJ has called in Cedar Rapids home since 2008 and has been a member of the Jaycees since 2011. He has served in several roles at all levels of the organization including local president, state president, national Vice President, as well as a member of JCI’s International Skills Development Committee.

Professionally CJ works in the human resources field, specializing in learning and organizational Feldman development. He’s currently employed with CRST The Transportation Solution, Inc., Inc. As the Organizational Development Training Manager, responsible for several training programs including management and leadership development.

CJ is married with three stepchildren. He enjoys traveling with his family, getting out to local festivals, biking, kayaking and is excited to try his hand at sailing.
Cedar Rapids Jaycee Treasurer Sarah Buehler Bio Picture

Sarah Buehler

Treasurer

Sarah joined the Cedar Rapids Jaycees in 2015 and has served various roles on the local and state level including chapter treasurer (2017-2018), Chapter President (2019), Chairwoman of the Board (2020), and State Vice President (2021). In 2017 she was named Top Local Treasurer of the Year for JCI Iowa. She received the Above & Beyond Award in 2018 for dedication to the Cedar Rapids chapter and the Everyday Hero Award in 2019 for her involvement in the community. She is Iowa Jaycee Governor #485. 

Sarah is a Chartered Financial Consultant at Securian Advisors MidAmerica and resides in Cedar Rapids with her husband Brian, son Adam and their two cats Xander and Shiloh. Outside of the Jaycees, Sarah enjoys the outdoors, camping, gardening, biking, car shows, baking, visiting family, and cheering for the Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Brewers, and Colorado Avalanche.

Registered representative and investment advisor representative with Securian Financial Services, Inc. Securities and investment advisor services offered through Securian Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC.  Securian Advisors MidAmerica, Inc. is independently owned and operated. Securian is a trademark of Securian Financial Group, Inc. and it has been licensed for use by Securian Advisors MidAmerica 1327 Boyson Rd Hiawatha, IA 52233. Securian Advisors MidAmerica and Securian Financial Services are not affiliated with the Cedar Rapids Jaycees. ADTRAX5546958 03/23

Join the Board of Directors

The Board of Directors are elected by the General Membership each fall. Officers serve one-year terms, which start January 1st.

The Board of Directors is responsible for overseeing aspects of the chapter such as:

  • Administration and programming
  • Regional and state award nominations
  • Billings for renewal dues
  • Chapter programming affecting the community at large
  • Individual Development, including self-improvement courses
  • Encouraging young people to join the Cedar Rapids Jaycees as well as the retention of existing members​

 

Officers typically meet once a month for Board Meetings to vote on matters pertaining to the organization. General Members may attend Board Meetings, but only Officers are allowed to vote.​​

Past Presidents

Year     Name     Term

2022  Kyle Kloft (93rd)

2021  Nathan Meyer (92nd)

2020  Matt Overmann (91st)

2019  Sarah Buehler (90th)

2018  Ashley Brambila (89th)

2017  Mindi Bucklin (88th)

2016  Chris Demmer (87th)

2015  Cathi Merritt (86th)

2014  CJ Derlein-Hoffman

2013  CJ Derlein-Hoffman (85th)

2012  Cory Goldensoph (84th)

2011  Jenn Draper (83rd)

2010  Amy Slater (82nd)

2010  Justin Rogers (81st)

2009  John Chargo (80th)

2008  Andrew Niemann (79th)

2007  Nicky Stansell (78th)

2006  Kirk Wilkie (77th)

2005  Brendan Murphy (76th)

2004  Chad Bisinger (75th)

2003  Steve Sartori (74th)

2002  Dave Flatjord (73rd)

2001  Jason Koepnick (72nd)

2000  Kirk Wilkie (71st)

1999  Jim Farrier (70th)

1998  Eric Bohnker (69th)

1997-98  Mark Clark (68th)

1996-97  Tammie Bohnker (67th)

1995-96  Webb Wassmer (66th)

1994-95  Barb Thede (65th)

1993-94  Carl Hein (64th)

1992-93  Shelly Erger (63rd)

1991-92  Barb Tepley (62nd)

1990-91  Steve Eiler (61st)

Year     Name     Term

1988-89  Mark Jordan (59th)

1987-88  Randy Bauer (58th)

1986-87  Ted Nelson (57th)

1985-86  Connie Stewart (56th)

1984-85  Bruce Hamous (55th)

1983-84  Rich Stolba (54th)

1982-83  DJ Smith (53rd)

1981-82  Kenn Pettit (52nd)

1980-81  Tom Pence (51st)

1979-80  G. Scott Ovel (50th)

1979-80  Gary Grussing (49th)

1978-79  Charles Kacere (48th)

1977-78  Keith Erickson(47th)

1976-77  Mike McNamara (46th)

1975-76  Mike Krause (45th)

1974-75  Bob Bishop (44th)

1973-74  Hal Walters (43rd)

1972-73  Pat Cobb (42nd)

1971-72  Bill Carmichael (41st)

1970-71  Carl Tronvold (40th)

1969-70  Lloyd Humpreys (39th)

1968-69  Ron Roberston (38th)

1967-68  Roger Clarke (37th)

1966-67  Bob McGannon (36th)

1965-66  Richard Rehman(35th)

1964-65  Bob Schladetzky (34th)

1963-64  David Johnson(33rd)

1962-63  Ed Moldt (32nd)

1961-62  Ken Holvenstot (31st)

1960-61  Dick Jordan (30th)

Year     Name     Term

1959-60  John “Demmy” Battin (29th)

1958-59  Harry Whitehead (28th)

1957-58  Jack Hatt (27th)

1956-57  William Duvall (26th)

1955-56  Milton Kapp (25th)

1954-55  Harlan Dobry (24th)

1954  Robert Ettinger (23rd)

1953  Dick Fetzer (22nd)

1952  C. Robert Jones (21st)

1951  Ted Ruffin (20th)

1950  Kenneth Moon (19th)

1949  Ken Hastie (18th)

1948  Gerald Hiland (17th)

1947  Ray Speilman (16th)

1946  Frank Nye (15th)

1945  Peter Bezanson (14th)

1945  H.I. “Cub” Bair (13th)

1944  Marvin Cobb (12th)

1943  Richard Buresh (11th)

1942  John Beck (10th)

1941  Russell Knapp (9th)

1940  Erwin Wasta (8th)

1939  William Crissman (7th)

1938  Alvin Keyes (6th)

1937  Harry Boyd (5th)

1936  Ervin Stepanek (4th)

1935  William Quarton (3rd)

1934  Don Hines (2nd)

1933  Robert Bickel (1st)

The Cedar Rapids Jaycees has a long history of local philanthropy success, as well as an impact on state and national events. Below is a brief glimpse of our storied past.

2019

  • Chris Demmer of the Cedar Rapids Jaycees serves as JCI USA National Vice President.

 

2018

  • Chris Demmer of the Cedar Rapids Jaycees serves as the 90th State President of JCI Iowa.
  • Uptown Friday Nights breaks their own single night record with 4,658 in attendance with The Pork Tornadoes.

 

2017

  • C.J. Derlein-Hoffman serves as 2017 JCI USA National Vice President.
  • Uptown Friday Nights breaks a single night record of 3,832 attendance with The Pork Tornadoes.
  • Festival of Trees moves to a new location at Hawkeye Downs and has over 11,000 in attendance and donated over 2,400 lbs of food.
  • Cedar Rapids brings back the Scholarship Program with proceeds from Festival of Trees.

 

2016

  • Uptown Friday Nights breaks several records with 3,301 single night attendance and over 17,800  season attendance over 11 Uptown Friday Nights.

 

2015

  • C.J. Derlein-Hoffman of the Cedar Rapids Jaycees serves as the 87th State President of JCI Iowa.
  • Cedar Rapids Jaycees partner with The Gazette to bring back Cedar Rapids Festival of Trees draws over 9,000 people to the DoubleTree Convention Center.

 

2014

  • Uptown Friday Nights moves to the McGrath Ampitheater located at 475 1st St SW, and draws nearly 2,000 people each week.

 

2011 

  • New Cedar Rapids Jaycee Center completed due to flood of 2008.

 

2010

  • Ground breaking ceremony for new Jaycee Building.

 

2009

  • Jaycees hit $330,000 mark in donations back to community.
  • Jaycee Building/ Frank Nye Center is demolished to prepare for a new 4,100 sq. ft. facility.

 

2008

  • Flood hits Cedar Rapids and Jaycee Building / Frank Nye Center, is inundated.
  • Chapter awarded the Harold Marks Memorial Award for Number One Chapter in the United States.
    • Awarded to Chapters demonstrating excellence in Programming, Management, and Community Development. Only two other Chapters in Iowa had received this award to date: Des Moines and Clive.

 

2007

  • Building fund hits $175,000.

 

2006 

  • “Dream Makers” hits the $200,000 mark in donations back to community.

 

2003 

  • Troop Dinners for departing 500 Iowa Guard Troops going to Iraq.

 

2002

  • Senior Christmas dinners begin at Witwer Senior Center.

 

2001

  • Uptown Friday Nights hits 2,000 attendees and starts “DreamMakers”.

 

2000

  • New Building Fund established.

 

1998

  • Raised all money and built first Habitat House in Genesis Park Development winning top state and national awards for our population group.

 

1997

  • Uptown Friday Nights moves from 2nd Street, to Green Square Park, but forced to the pavement, but still hits the 1,000 attendee mark.

 

1996

  • Jaycees begin Bluesmore partnership for beer service.
  • Jaycee state convention at CR Marriott shown on Good Morning America.

 

1988

  • Uptown Friday Nights begins at the Ground Transportation Center.

 

1985-1986

  • Connie Stewart elected as first female Cedar Rapids Jaycee President.

 

1984

  • CR Jaycees are “kicked out” of the Jaycees for about 6 months due to admitting women. They were forbidden from using the Jaycee name and were known as “Young Leaders of Cedar Rapids” until the US Supreme Court rules that the US Jaycees can’t ban women from being members of the group.

 

1982

  • CR Jaycees file a complaint with the Civil Rights Commission charging sex discrimination by the national organization.

 

1981

  • Jaycees purchase their building at 225 5th Avenue SW and named it the Frank Nye Center after the first State Jaycee President from Cedar Rapids.
  • Cedar Rapids Jaycees admit the first 5 women into the organization in defiance of US Jaycee bylaws.

 

1973

  • Cedar Rapids Jaycees extend 4 chapters. Ely and Swisher were extended in only 3 hrs. CRJCs ranked #1 in state for the first time.

 

1972

  • National Jaycee President Sam Winer went on record as being in favor of allowing women members to join the Jaycees which was a VERY controversial stance at  the time.
  • Jaycees sponsored the Stock Outboard National Championship Boat Races with 700 drivers. Largest boat race in the world at the time.
  • Jaycees helped pass a bond issue to build a new airport terminal, which is still in use today. Don Hines son in law chaired that project.

 

1971

  • Jaycees started “Pee Wee” football. Now known as the “Metro Youth Football Program”.
  • Jaycees sponsored first “Challenge Cup” stock-car race at Hawkeye Downs. Now known as the Miller 100. Richard Petty was in attendance and helped with promotion.
  • First Jaycee Haunted House ran in town. Clark McLeod was a member at the time and wired the building for sound.

 

1970’s

  • “Playboy” casino’s started.

 

1962

  • Cedar Rapids Jaycees petition State of Iowa for state wide daylight savings during summer months.

 

1960’s

  • Cedar Rapids Jaycees sponsored an Air Show at the airport featuring the Blue Angels. In 1970, one of the Blue Angels crashed, ending the show.

 

Early 1960s

  • CR Jaycees establish a free medical evaluation clinic for children.

 

1955-1956

  • Bob Jones of Cedar Rapids serves as Iowa Jaycee State President.

 

1954

  • CR Jaycees hit the 700 member mark, making them the 8th largest Jaycee group in the Nation.

 

1953

  • “Cedar Rapids Young Men’s Bureau” officially changes name to “CR Junior Chamber of Commerce”.
  • CR YMB run their first Christmas Parade.

 

1947-1948

  • Frank Nye serves as first Jaycee State President from Cedar Rapids.

 

1944

  • Don Hines and Karl Blaise of the CR YMB pushed a bond issue to establish the Cedar Rapids Airport at its current location.
    • Don served as Airport Commissioner for first 28 years.

 

1942

  • Cedar Rapids “Toy Shop” started 5 years before the “Toys for Tots” program by United States Marine Corp began.

 

1941

  • CR YMB raises $8,500 for bond issue to fund the first municipal pool known as Ellis Pool.

 

1937

  • Cedar Rapids group joins the Iowa Jaycees, but maintains the name “Cedar Rapids Young Men’s Bureau” (CR YMB).

 

1936

  • CR YMB establishes “Golden Gloves Boxing Tournament” as a fundraiser.

 

1933

  • Cedar Rapids group starts as Young Men’s Bureau of the Chamber of Commerce with an age limit 35 years old.

 

1932

  • First Cedar Rapids group activity was the Cedar River boat races, drawing 15,000 people and raised $1,100.

 

1928

  • Iowa Jaycees organization was first formed.

 

1920

  • National Jaycees first formed with 12 chapters.

 

1918

  • First Jaycee Chapter established in St Louis by Henry Giessenbier and 32 other members.

Stay in the loop

News & Events - Check back regularly for updates

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Programs

Trash Bag Drive

The Cedar Rapids Jaycees participates in a semi-annual Trash Bag Drive provided by Charity Services Inc (CSI). Twice a year, CSI will call previous patrons

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Programs

Business Supporter Program

The Cedar Rapids Jaycees are pleased to announce our new Business Supporter Program. The Cedar Rapids Jaycees will provide an excellent training opportunity for leadership

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Events

Membership Nights

Membership Nights are created around community or individual development opportunities and will vary each month. Our Membership Nights have a small cost to attend, depending

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