First Person
Linnea Campbell, a life-long resident of Princeton, has worked since 1999 as an administrative assistant to the vice president of clinical services at Perry Memorial Hospital in Princeton. For the last 19 years, she has also been actively involved with the Princeton Jaycees and has served on the state level with the Jaycees.
In today’s First Person, Campbell talks about her commitment to the goals and purpose of the Jaycees’ organization.
When and why did you decide to join the Princeton Jaycees? I’ve been a member of the Jaycees since February 1989. I had returned home after college (Eureka College) and started working at Citizens First National Bank. Joining the Jaycees helped me to get reacquainted with my hometown and meet new people. It also gave me something to do with my spare time. I credit Dale Rod and Joe Bates for getting me involved in the Princeton Jaycees. I’ve hung around because I just haven’t wanted to quit yet.
What have been some of your leadership roles and responsibilities as part of the local Jaycees? Since joining the Jaycees I have served as assistant treasurer (my first position), treasurer for too many years to remember, director, secretary and president for four separate terms. I am currently helping as secretary/treasurer of the Princeton Jaycees.
What are some of the things you’ve enjoyed most about being a part of the organization? There really isn’t a project that I haven’t enjoyed. I look at most of our projects as not being work. It is fun for me to shovel sand, cook pork chops, or work a beer garden until 2 in the morning. I have also enjoyed meeting so many individuals both locally and across the state. There are two highlights that do come to mind: Winning a state award for a Membership Night that I was in charge of in 2005 and receiving a senatorship two years ago. A senator is the highest honor that can be presented to a Jaycee.
When did you become involved on the state level with the Jaycees? Sadly, not until 2005. I missed out on a lot of fun, meeting fellow Jaycees from across the state and nation, and a lot of training opportunities. But I’m making up for it now. When I joined in 1989, our local chapter did not focus on the state activities.
What are your different responsibilities at state level? Currently, I serve as the political advisor for the Northwest Region of Illinois which encompasses nine chapters Aledo, Belvidere, Cherry Valley, East Moline/Silvis, Prince-ton, Freeport, LeWin, Parks New Generation, and Sterling/Rock Falls. I am also the state newsletter chairman (editor) for two publications, The Lincoln Ledger, which is published monthly, and The Illinois PRIDE, which is a quarterly newsletter. The Lincoln Ledger is sent to the state board, political advisors and local chapter presidents. The PRIDE goes out to the entire Illinois Jaycee membership.
Since you are officially past the age of the Jaycee active membership, how does that work for your continued involvement? Individuals who are past the active membership age are considered associate members. Associates can participate in the activities, but they cannot be counted on the state roster. A chapter must have at least 20 of age (which is 18 through 40 years) members on their state roster at all times to be considered a viable chapter. The Princeton Jaycees are coming close to dropping below 20.
Why do you think it is important to become involved in some sort of community volunteer organization?
Volunteers make a community tick, and it really doesn’t matter what organization you are involved in. It is SO important.
A few of the events the Jaycees sponsor include the annual fireworks display, our sandbox fill, and the Homestead Beer Garden. What will happen to these events if the Jaycees were to fold? Another group could come in and continue, but it still takes volunteers to do that.
Think of all the volunteer hours it takes to put on the local Bureau County Fair. You have to have volunteers, community involvement and support (i.e.: people that will attend these events) to make it successful, so your organization can survive and do other things for the community.
It’s a domino effect that just doesn’t happen any other way. There isn’t an organization in town that couldn’t use a few extra hands, so check out what is offered in Princeton and get involved.
How have you benefited from that involvement?
For me, personally, being involved in the Princeton Jaycees has been priceless. This is a great organization. I’ve learned so much that it is hard to express the benefits. It is pretty cool to go just about anywhere in the state of Illinois and be able to call someone for help. I have that benefit because I belong to an organization like the Jaycees which are local, state, national and international.
What would you say to the young woman who says she’s too busy with work and family to take on something else?
I’m not going to lie and say that it isn’t tough because it is. I have great support from my husband, who was also a Jaycee, and from my kids, who often help at our events. It’s all about priorities, and if you can spare two to three hours a month, you are not too busy.
There have been plenty of times where I have had to say “I’m sorry, I can’t make it that night.” That happens, and that’s OK.
When not working or doing things for the Jaycees, what other things keep you busy?
My family keeps me very busy. My husband travels with his work and is also involved in activities, so we have to coordinate our “volunteer” time with each other’s schedule. I am an independent Longaberger consultant. I am the editor of the newsletter at my church, help out with the women’s group, volunteer in the nursery and serve on the Happy Hands Commission. Through work, I am a certified CPR instructor, and I serve on the Healthcare Office Professionals (an affiliate of the Illinois Hospital Association) Board of Directors as the program chairman. We do like to travel, and we enjoy NASCAR. A very good friend of mine gave me a pillow that says “Stop me before I volunteer again.”
While it doesn’t seem like it, I do think of those words before committing to something.