Now, Downriver's largest city will have a chapter again in the international group of young adults who try to make a positive difference in their communities.

The Wyandotte Jaycees chapter is "parenting" the new Taylor chapter, said Steven Fappas of Lincoln Park.

He's a member of the Wyandotte group and is enthusiastic about getting a Taylor chapter going.

"The Jaycees have helped me change my life," he said. "In a very short time, I have met hundreds of really great people, a lot of whom have become very close friends.

"I have learned things that have drastically changed my career and my mindset about reaching my goals, and I know I have all the support I could ask for to help me make my dreams a reality.

"I have been able to reach out and make a difference in my community and the lives of the people in it. I owe a huge part of this experience to the Jaycees.

"To have the opportunity to help our organization grow and to be able to share the Jaycee experience with a new community is something I am very excited about."

The Jaycees also serves as a leadership training organization for people ages 21 to 39, he said.

Taylor Mayor Gregory Pitoniak can attest to that, too.

"As a former Jaycee, I am familiar with the many valuable services the organization renders to communities like ours," he said.

"Building leaders for our community is something that I feel strongly about and is very important to me and our community."

He is happy to see a new Jaycees chapter starting in Taylor, Pitoniak added.

"I am glad to see this organizing effort is under way and heartily endorse both the organization and the developing local chapter," the mayor said.

Potential members need not be Taylor residents, Fappas said, nor do they have to commit themselves to a particular number of hours a week.

They only need to be young adults interested in community service — and in having fun, Fappas said.

Typical Jaycees' service projects include providing holiday gifts for the needy, sponsoring Easter egg hunts, raising money for charities through Halloween haunted houses and city street cleanups.

Typical Jaycees' fun times include family trips to play Lazer-Tag, wallyball, visiting the zoo or going to the beach. And children are welcome.

"The great thing about the Jaycees is that as a chapter, you decide what projects you want to run and you can create new projects that help benefit the community," Fappas said.