Reston is home to dozens of high-rise buildings, emblazoned with names like Accenture, TRW and Oracle. And, because of such companies, Reston is also home to thousands of young professionals. But, until now, Reston has never had its own chapter of the Jaycees (Junior Chamber International) a service organization geared toward young professionals.
In the past few months, though, Chad Davis has been working to get Reston’s first chapter of the Jaycees off the ground. He’s been recruiting at professional organizations and volunteer fairs and, around a month ago, he reached the 20-member mark, making the group an officially chartered branch of the Jaycees.
The group meets twice a month, with one formal meeting and one social meeting, usually at a bar or restaurant.
"We’re a very big networking organization," said Davis, who is employed as an accountant. "You can meet with the 500 other people in our region. There are four other regions in the state. And you can go to national meetings. There are 70,000 members nationwide."
BUT THE MAIN THRUST of the group is to encourage volunteerism in its young members, between 21 and 40 years old. The leadership skills members learn in the Jaycees are meant to transfer over into their professional lives.
"With the economy being like it is, there is not as much money for professional development," said Meredith Eisenberg, director of the Jaycees in the Northern Virginia region. "The Jaycees gives people the opportunity to develop some great skills in a risk-free environment. If you mess up on a project here, you won’t lose your job over it."
Davis’ group is hoping to get involved in the planning of both the Reston Festival and the Herndon Festival. Davis would also like to set up a Jaycees team for Reston Relay for Life, an annual event to benefit the American Cancer Society. The Jaycees regularly host professional development speakers, as well.
"We do individual development that is more focused on our age," Davis said. "Financial planning training for a 30-year-old is different than it would be for a 60-year-old."
Davis, a two-year resident of Reston, was previously involved with a Kentucky chapter of the Jaycees. Last December he responded to an advertisement Eisenberg placed on RestonWeb.com. She was looking for someone to head up a Reston chapter of the Jaycees, and Davis was up to the task.
"[Reston] was a big empty spot," Eisenberg said.
DAVIS WAS LOOKING to become involved in the community when he responded to Eisenberg’s ad. Recently, Davis was a candidate for an at-large seat on the Reston Association Board of Directors. But two weeks ago he dropped out, in part to focus on his work with the Jaycees. Currently there are 22 members in the group. Davis hopes to eventually have 50 members.
On a recent Sunday afternoon members of the Reston Jaycees met at a local bowling alley. Pam Stuart, a senior manager at Accenture, came bowling with her son, Cameron, who is 16 months old.
"He’s my good luck charm," she said.
Stuart read about the chapter in a local newspaper and her cousin, a lifetime member of the Jaycees, encouraged Stuart to join.
"I like the idea of getting experience outside of work," she said.
Christine Long, a first grade teacher, said she got involved in the Jaycees for the community service opportunities, but also to meet people.
"I’m a teacher, but most of the other people in the group are in the business world," Long said. "I’m interested in being involved in a group of people that are not necessarily the same type of people I see everyday. It’s also good just to talk to adults."
Although the Jaycees is often characterized as a group for professionals only, Davis said that is not the case.
"You hear that we are ‘young professional,’ which sometimes gives the connotation of white collar," Davis said. "But it’s not that. We’re looking for anyone who handles him or herself in a professional manner. We have accountants, small business owners, government employees and even a professional clown."
For more information on the Jaycees, contact Davis by e-mail at chaddaviscpa.com or visit the regional website at www.novajaycees.org.