Past Auxiliary Presidents

Even though the Jaycees were an all-male organization when it was started back in 1920, Women have played an important role all along the way. In Michigan, the Jaycee Auxiliary was officially started in 1944. The local auxiliary organizations names varied including the use of: Women of the Jaycees, Jaycettes, or Jaycee women. The organizational meeting of the Michigan Junior Chamber of Commerce Auxiliary was promoted and arranged for by interested Jaycees, who foresaw the virtues of forming a state auxiliary. This meeting was held in the Aviation room of the Rowe Hotel, Grand Rapids, in May, 1944. The charter member organizations were Adrian, Highland Park, Holland, Kalamazoo, Muskegon and Saginaw. Mrs. Betty Sexton of Muskegon was elected to serve as Charter President. Added to the membership rolls that first year were Battle Creek, Bay City, Detroit, Grand Rapids, Lincoln Park, Pontiac and Ypsilanti. In 1984, when the United States Jaycees voted to give women full membership rights in the Jaycees, the Auxiliary was disbanded. During its 40 year history, the Michigan Jaycees Auxiliary was guided under the leadership of the following Presidents: