The Ames Jaycees want Iowa State students to join them.

The Jaycees, a young person’s leadership group for people between the ages of 21 and 40, are looking for ISU students to join their organization, said Jennifer Wells, a junior in advertising and a member of the Jaycees.

“They are looking for student involvement,” she said, noting that only five ISU students are members.

“This is something that once a student graduates, they can find chapters all over,” Wells said. “It’s a great resume-builder.”

She also said membership in the Jaycees has already provided her with places to stay and job offers, and she has only been a member since this summer.

Wells said the Jaycees sponsor a wide variety of community and service projects.

Their next event is a fund-raiser for the Beloit Children’s Home in Ames on Sept. 27, when they will run the “Blue Sky Ride” and other games for the children.

The Jaycees also organize the annual “Diamond Skills” run, punt and pass competition, to be held at Ames High School on Sept. 30.

During the Christmas season, the Jaycees will be running four separate projects, Wells said.

For “Christmas Kids,” of which Wells is chairperson, they will deliver presents to less fortunate children in area hospitals and youth shelters.

The Jaycees also reach the senior citizens in Ames during the holidays with “Christmas Lights,” a program that consists of driving patients around town to view the light displays and sing carols.

The third project is “Christmas Baskets,” which provides food to needy families in central Iowa. They also will be selling Christmas trees to make money for their many service projects.

The Jaycees are responsible for many other activities in Ames, Wells said.

This year, as in the past, they are putting together a haunted house fund-raiser.

Construction of the spooky spot has started, and Wells said it will be open for eight days around Halloween.

Lynn McElrath, chapter president, said the Jaycees’ Fourth of July fireworks are a 40-year tradition and were attended last year by 20,000 people.

The Independence Day events also include an all-day celebration and “family picnic” at Brookside Park.

Wells said the Ames Jaycees chapter is one of only 13 in the United States to receive the “Diamond Chip” honor, given to chapters which increase their point rating 10 years in a row.

Point rating is determined by the service and membership records of individual chapters.

The mission statement of the Ames Jaycees is “to provide young people the opportunity to develop personal and leadership skills through local community service and organizational involvement while expanding the Junior Chamber movement.”

McElrath said the Jaycees started in Ames 66 years ago, preceding other service organizations such as the Lions and the Chamber of Commerce.

Initially, the Jaycees were an all-male organization, but they began to admit females in 1982.

“It’s a great learning opportunity,” McElrath said. “You learn that teamwork is very important. It’s a terrific way to meet people,” she said.