PONTIAC -- Jaycees by their very nature are positive people. It's unlikely to find a local chapter that doesn't think highly of its members.

But only one chapter has bragging rights as the best in the state, and during the past year that honor went to the Wyandotte Jaycees.

On Feb. 7 at the Michigan Jaycees Year End Assembly, the local chapter received the C.W. "Bill" Otto Memorial Award for the most outstanding chapter in Michigan.

Wyandotte Jaycees President Joseph Voszatka said the award is the goal of every chapter in the Michigan Jaycees as it represents excellence in every phase of Jaycee involvement: chapter management, community involvement, membership development and individual development.

"It's very competitive," Voszatka said. "We were selected the best overall because we have something for everybody. We have a very well-rounded program."

Wyandotte competed with 91 other chapters and their 3,400 members. It was the first time the chapter has ever won the award, which was established in 1954 as part of a program recognizing C.W. Otto for his efforts in the growth and promotion of the Junior Chamber of Commerce in Michigan.

The chapter also was awarded the Henry Giessenbier Memorial Award, given annually by the Michigan Jaycees to the best chapter in each division based on community population.

Wyandotte, with a population of 28,006, competed against other chapters in Michigan with community populations between 15,000 and 30,000. Henry Giessenbier Jr. was the founder and first president of the United States Junior Chamber, which was established in 1920. This is the second consecutive year Wyandotte has won the award and the fourth time in its 27-year history.

In recent years, several Downriver area Jaycees chapters have folded, due in large part to declining membership. A few years ago, Wyandotte found itself in a similar position, but turned itself around.

In fact, Wyandotte finished second in the competition for Top 10 Growth Chapter of the Year. The chapter added 32 members in 2003, nearly doubling its size.

"I came from a Bay City chapter of 55 people, growing, doing great things," Voszatka said. "I came here (Wyandotte) to a meeting and it was myself and a regent director. I said, 'This is wrong.'"

Jill Kunnath, the chapter's new president in 2004, said when she joined the chapter two years ago it was on probation because it didn't have enough members, but the enthusiasm of the group helped to draw in others.

"It boils down to the individuals in the chapter, strong leadership and the will and want to bring the chapter to where it is today," Kunnath said.

Voszatka was recognized as one of the top 10 outstanding local chapter presidents with the Martin P. Luthy Memorial Award. Luthy was the first president of the Michigan Jaycees in 1925.

He also received a Presidential Award of Excellence from Michael Harris, 79th president of the Michigan Jaycees.

Kunnath, individual development vice president in 2003, and Raymond Rule Jr., membership development vice president, were selected as two of the Top 10 Outstanding Local Vice Presidents. They competed against more than 300 vice presidents throughout Michigan.

For the year, the chapter also was recognized as the Most Outstanding Chapter for its base membership group in the business, individual, management and membership development areas.

Rounding out the awards' bonanza, the chapter also was awarded the Fright Tour Cup, given annually to the No. 1 Jaycee haunted house in Michigan. It competed against 21 other chapters and was selected as the "best scare" and "best overall." This was the first time Wyandotte has won the award.

Although the awards are nice, it's not why Jaycees do what they do, Voszatka said.

What do the Jaycees offer their members?

"Real world training, as opposed to school, which is academic," Voszatka said. "Although this involves academic training, you immediately apply it, sometimes very awkwardly so. You're learning every step of the way, constantly pushing the envelope of what you know, outside of your comfort zone. It's very challenging. The more you put in, the more you get out. You become a missionary of some sort."