“Lordy, Lordy, Regatta is 40” |
| Posted: 05 Sep 2010 09:41 PM PDT LOCK HAVEN - A crew of long-ago Lock Haven Area Jaycees were brought back on active duty this weekend to assist in the 40th annual Lock Haven Area Jaycee Labor Day Regatta. The old-timer Jaycees are collectively known as "Exhausted Roosters," a title bestowed on Jaycees upon reaching the age of 41, the age of Jaycee retirement. Beyond the idea of bringing the crews back on active duty for a time accompanying the 40th anniversary of the regatta, Jaycee spokesman Scott Johnson said there was a genuine need for the additional manpower. "Hope Hose Company of Lock Haven opted out of the hot dog stand this year, and what's a regatta without hot dogs?" Johnson asked. "We decided to take over the responsibilities, but we already run the hot sausage and pizza concessions, and we were working two soda stations, so we needed extra hands." Enter Exhausted Rooster Dan Decker, who volunteered to contact the former Jaycees and organize the schedule and manpower. In the end, more than a dozen retirees of the civic organization decided to help out. "It feels great," said one of the volunteers, Bob McCool. "The Jaycees are all about family and these guys are family to me ... It's hard being exhausted out because when you're in, you devote a lot of time to the Jaycees and the events. You also make a lot of friends." McCool said another good thing is coming out of the chance opportunity. "There's talk about getting a group of Exhausted Roosters together on a regular basis," he said. "We could meet about once every three or so months and the older guys might find something to help out with, if they're asked." That's not a stretch of the imagination. The Jaycees with an emphasis on youth and enthusiasm, have long been considered a training ground for citizens, volunteers and civic-minded individuals. The character built via Jaycee participation in civic responsibilities frequently attaches itself to these men and women and the giving of time and expertise becomes a lifetime pursuit. Check the local Moose, Sons of Italy, Lions, Elks or Rotary clubs, or any local nonprofit organization needing volunteers and you'll likely find one, two or more former Jaycees serving in some capacity. Other retirees who are helping out this weekend include Tony Guerriero, Tom Stevenson, Dave Weaver, Larry Batterson, Wayne Allison, Mike Hanna, Bump Brungard, DuWayne Kunes, Doug Wenker, Ken Wert, Lenny Wensel, Jeff Walker, Art Sanders, Mike Hoy and Frank Kramer, to name a few. "I was here in the early years," said Guerriero, Jaycee president in 1976 and 1977, as he removed a frankfurter from the cooker and nestled it into a bun. "It's nice to come back and see all these friends ... It's also nice to give us old-timers a chance to give back to the community. Stevenson was also manning the cramped quarters of the hot-dog station, serving out the condiments and shuffling from work station to work station. Guerriero and Stevenson were sharing duties with their wives, Jeannine and Becky respectively. Apparently, behind every Exhausted Rooster, there's also an exhausted spouse offering an additional pair of helping hands. "I was in the Jaycees in the middle 1970s," Stevenson said. "When it came to the regatta, it was basically camping out and working all weekend, morning to night. You spend a lot of time with these people ... All the members I knew are still good friends today." The crews are organized by four-hour shifts, and are being helped out by other volunteers, but the 40th anniversary is special to these Retired Roosters. Beyond the hard work, long hours and often times chaotic moments of cookery, the toil provides a golden opportunity to walk down memory lane. This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php |
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