By Joan Hershberger
Growth mode.
That's the message from the head of a rejuvenated El Dorado Junior Chamber of Commerce.
Kalie Watkins recently stepped into the post of president and said she is eager and ready to revive the organization and continue the Jaycees’ provision of community activities for children.
“I truly enjoy the Jaycees and what we are about,” she said in an interview Friday. A 2008 graduate of Parkers Chapel High School and a student at South Arkansas Community College, Watkins joined the Jaycees when she was 21 and has served as treasurer.
“I knew we needed to reboot the program and start it back up,” she said.
When the previous president’s job transferred him out of the area, “I agreed take on the job and see what I can do to get us better involved in the community,” she said.
The Jaycees train individuals who are 21 to 41 years old. At age 25, Watkins has worked for three years as the personal assistant for Sewell and Sewell Drilling and in June, she became the office manager for Team Transport. She works full time, is married to Bryan Watkins and has one daughter, Brynna, 20 months.
The Jaycees focus on children with four main events locally.
• The annual Easter Egg hunt in April with 7,000 to 10,000 eggs dispersed. “In April, we had our 20th Easter egg hunt. They all know if they find the golden egg, they will get a big prize. It takes a lot of work — and in 10 minutes all the eggs are found,” Watkins said.
• In September the NFL Punt, Pass and Kick contest for 6- to 15-year-old boys and girls.
• In November the Jaycees donate turkeys.
• In March, the Hit, Pitch and run contest.
Currently, Watkins has about eight individuals dedicated to reviving the Jaycees footprint in the community. They meet frequently through the month to discuss ideas and programs.
The organization is looking for new members who also want to bring more people together to create events for the kids and adults in the community. Members can be involved part time or every month.
“There is no limit to the number of members. It costs $60 per year, and often the individual’s business will sponsor a member in order to have a representative in the Jaycees,” she said.
At this time Watkins is looking to create new community events for the winter and first of the year.
"I would like to hear from the community about what they want. Maybe there is something we do not realize we could be doing. We will take ideas,” she said.
The local Jaycees is a member of the state, national and international Junior Chamber of Commerce. According to Watkins, the Jaycees can be traced back historically to beginnings in 1910 in St. Louis. The organization came to El Dorado in 1939.
“At that time they were the Young Business Persons of the El Dorado Chamber of Commerce,” Watkins said. It is a non-profit business that connects for sponsors willing to help host the events in the community.
“We need people who will participate and work, not just pay the $60,” she said. “I would love to hear back from community members. We are really looking for younger people who are fresh, active and willing to participate as well as those 30-49 years-old who are older and have more contacts and resources.”
The Jaycees meet the second Thursday of each month at The Spot to plan events and assess what happened at an event and evaluate how to improve the events and generate new ideas.
For more information about the Jaycees, or to join, contact Watkins at [email protected], call her at 315-0302 or 862-5477, or contact Allison Butcher, vice president, at 314-1386.