Wall Street isn't the only place looking for a rebound.
Service organizations one-time fixtures of the local business world across the country are busy drumming up plans for boosting their membership rolls after a decade of slipping participation.
The Lawrence Jaycees, for one, are in the midst of a yearlong membership drive. So far, the club's roster is at 26 members, up from 17 last year and above the 20-member cutoff for remaining an active chapter.
Today the Jaycees the common name for Junior Chamber International Inc. have 400,000 members in 100 countries, most of them entrepreneurs and professionals between the ages of 18 and 40.
A decade ago the organization had peaked at more than 600,000 members.
"These days, the economy is down," said Henry Oh, national vice president for the Jaycees, who arrived in Lawrence on Wednesday to drum up support. "The world economy's not that good. We have to work to educate people about our vision."
The Jaycees are known in Lawrence as sponsors of scholarship events and community programs, including the annual Independence Day fireworks display along the Kansas River.
But the organization also offers leadership programs for its members and plenty of networking opportunities, said Lori Saathoff, president of the Lawrence club. There are 250 Jaycees in Kansas, available to offer assistance or business references.
That's why Kezia Shine paid the $52 annual membership fee to join last October.
"So far it's not too lucrative for my sales, but it's early," said Shine, a 23-year-old sales representative for Verizon Wireless in Lawrence. "I hope it will get me more contacts."
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