More Springtime Memories

Back in the 1950's to mid-1960's any young (under 35) man who aspired to "be somebody" in Greensboro was a member of the Greensboro Jaycees. The group had a by-invitation-only membership of bankers, lawyers, professional salesmen and mid-to-upper-level managers who were white, well-educated and well-connected. The 1960's rosters included names like Jim Melvin, John Forbis, Eddie Yost, Henry Isaacson and Doug Galyon and others like them who, with the help of their Jaycee brethren, rose to top leadership positions in the city. Business owners and managers gave their young Jaycee employees time off to lead and take part in Jaycee projects for management training they might not otherwise have been able to provide. In return, the financial rewards of networking were realized and businesses prospered along with these young executives.

As egalitarian movements arose in the 1960's the Jaycee organization began to allow any young male applicant to join, but the companion female organization of Jaycee wives, the Jaycettes, remained just that--wives of Jaycees only. No single women were allowed. Jaycee husbands strayed enough as it was--late night meetings and projects affording them excuses to play around without further explanations to their wives. (Had single females been allowed to join the fraternity it would have been an even greater temptation for the young male members to spend time on "projects" away from home and hearth.)

I don't know what has happened to the groups since the early 1970's when my "ex" and I separated and divorced and I could no longer be a Jaycette. He aged out in the mid-1970's and went on to own and run a successful (due in part to his Jaycee training) business with his second wife.

Women were invited to join as full members and even rose to top leadership roles. Anyone who wanted to join was allowed in. Membership was no longer a requirement for up-and-coming young men in town, nor was it a sign of social status.

The GGO moved to Forest Oaks, became the GGCC, then something else and then something else until it became a struggling stop on the tour for golf wannabes. A professional manager had to be hired, as opposed to a local firm allowing one of their own to take a year (or two) off to organize and run the tournament.

I miss those days of wine and...well, beer and more beer and socializing along with service to the community. As spring comes, so do the memories of GGOs and Jaycee/Jaycette activities of long ago. I miss that fun. I just don't miss being married to a Jaycee.