LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring the Batavia Area Jaycees upon the occa-
sion of receiving the Special Service Recognition Award from the Genesee
County Chamber of Commerce

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize that the
quality and character of life in the communities across New York State
are reflective of the concerned and dedicated efforts of those organiza-
tions and individuals who would devote themselves to the welfare of the
community and its citizenry; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor the Batavia
Area Jaycees upon the occasion of receiving the Special Service Recogni-
tion Award from the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce, to be celebrated
at its Awards Dinner on Saturday, March 6, 2010, in Batavia, New York;
and
WHEREAS, In addition, this special event is to also celebrate the
Chamber's 38th Annual Awards Ceremony at the Batavia Holiday Inn; the
theme is "Simply Elegant"; and
WHEREAS, In 1934 a delegation from the Buffalo Junior Chamber of
Commerce came to a meeting of young men held at the Hotel Richmond and
encouraged the creation of the Batavia Junior Chamber of Commerce; the
first president of this new organization was Richard Morgan; and
WHEREAS, From the beginning, these Junior Chamber members, later to be
called Jaycees, challenged the status quo of the community; the purpose
of the Jaycees was to give young men an organization that promoted lead-
ership training through community service; and
WHEREAS, Over the years, the Batavia Jaycees extended chapters into
the nearby communities of LeRoy, Medina, Albion, Attica, Warsaw and
Dansville, to name a few; and
WHEREAS, In the years following, members of the Batavia Jaycees
proposed the establishment of Genesee Community College, followed a few
years later by the creation of the Genesee County Park in the County
Forest in the Town of Bethany; it also changed its name to the Batavia
Area Jaycees, as many extended chapters had folded; and
WHEREAS, In 1984, the United States Supreme Court ruled that the
Jaycees allow women to join, forever changing its camaraderie; although
Jaycee chapters and membership suffered drastic declines throughout the
state and across the country for a few years, the Batavia Area Jaycees
bucked the trend to become the largest chapter in New York State in
1990; today, it is one of only 12 chapters left in the state, down from
over 130 in the 1970s; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when organiza-
tions of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our atten-
tion, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of
the great State of New York; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor the Batavia Area Jaycees upon the occasion of receiving the
Special Service Recognition Award from the Genesee County Chamber of
Commerce; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Batavia Area Jaycees.