Peoria Jaycees: 1990's - Page 1
In 1990, the Vietnam Memorial Moving Wall made its
lone Illinois stop in Peoria. The Peoria Jaycees were instrumental in manning
the wall and assisting onlookers as they hunted for familiar names of the war
heroes and listened to General Westmoreland address the audience.
On September 1, 1990 the Peoria Jaycees held their "50th Anniversary
Banquet" at the Peoria Civic Center.
In 1992, the Peoria Jaycees got involved with Peoria's "Tri-Centennial
Celebration." The Jaycees sponsored a "Mardi Gras" at the
Cornerstone Building.
In 1993 the Jaycees began a new project called the "International Beer
Fest" which has quickly become one of the most popular and profitable
projects the chapter has run in recent years. The event features beers from all
over the world along with brews from the emerging American microbreweries. By
1999, the IBF offered over 240 different beers.
In 1994 the chapter began meeting at the AMVETS Post #64 on Monroe Street.
In 1995, Rick Owens took the office of newsletter editor for the chapter's
newsletter, The Charge! By May of 1998, it had won 5 state awards and continued
to be a personal favorite among members, state board members and others outside
the Jaycees organization.
In 1996, the Peoria Jaycees entered the world of cyberspace by establishing an
Internet site. The concept took shape when newsletter editor Rick Owens was on
the phone with fellow member Dan Schmidt. They were discussing Internet
addresses and questioned whether another chapter had acquired www.jaycees.com.
Since Schmidt was employed with an Internet service provider, he quickly
investigated the prospect and discovered that the address was available. He
immediately acquired the copyright of www.jaycees.com for the use of the Peoria
Jaycees. In less than two years with Rick Owens as webmaster, it became one of
the more visited Jaycee web sites in the US.
Next page
|
