Sharon Forrest

Profile:

What Chapter do you belong to? Collinsville

When is your Birthday:  February 21, 1969

Where were you born? Breese, Illinois, but I was raised in God's Country, St. Rose, Illinois  

Occupation? MRI Technologist at St. Louis University Hospital 

Why did you join? Jef and I had just moved to Collinsville and we didn't know anyone who lived there.  We joined to meet people in town.

What you like most about being Jaycee?  All the people that I've met and the friends I have made.

Best advice for new members:  Don't forget the fun stuff!  Sure helping the community and learning skills is important, but sometimes you just need to unwind.

What is the very first project you remember participating in?  The Collinsville Jaycee Fishing Derby at Woodland Park.

What’s one thing you would like to accomplish this year for the Jaycees?  I want the chapters in the region to travel more to other chapter projects to show support and help.

What is your favorite movie?   An American President

Favorite food and drink? Macaroni and Cheese and Ski

Who is the most famous person you know?  Diane Rakers (The Gateway Legend)

Do you have any pets?  4 cats plus Jef. (The cats names are Les, Sampson, Hunan, and Josie)

If you could met / spend a day with any person dead or alive, who would it be? And Why?   My Grandma Wilke.  She died when I was in 3rd grade and I hear so many stories now from my parents, aunts, uncles and cousins that I wish I could have known her better.

Tell us something about yourself that you don’t think anyone knows?  My mouth is actually freakishly small.  Dentists hate me because I actually can't open it very wide.  Can you imagine how loud I would be if it could open normally?

ASSISTANT RD

Brad Huelsmann

Profile: 

What Chapter do you belong to? New Baden   

When is your Birthday: Feb 2, 1977   

Where were you born?  Belleville Memorial Hospital, Belleville, IL

Occupation?    Purchasing MGR / S ales for TBH Lumber, Carlyle 

Why did you join?  To help better my community (Aviston originally) 

What you like most about being Jaycee? Running fun projects & meeting so many new people.

Best advice for new members: Don't let an older member tell you that your idea cannot be done.  Always do your best.  

What is the very first project you remember participating in? Aviston's weekly concession stand & Softball tournaments.   

What’s one thing you would like to accomplish this year for the Jaycees?   Bring back in some form the "Winter Stag"  

What is your favorite movie? Either any Star Wars movie or any James Bond movie 

Favorite food and drink? A good steak,  Ski, & Budweiser A

Who is the most famous person you know?  I saw Pete Rose in Las Vegas 

Do you have any pets?  A dog, Shadow 

If you could met / spend a day with any person dead or alive, who would it be? And Why?   Either Thomas Jefferson or George Washington because I love American history and it would be neat to meet the fathers of the Great United Sates of America.  Also Abraham Lincoln because of how he saved our country.    

Tell us something about yourself that you don’t think anyone knows?  

DISTRICT DIRECTOR

Peter Coppens

Chapters: Albers, Alton-Godfrey, Breese, Collinsville, & Highland

Profile:

What Chapter do you belong to? Collinsville  

When is your Birthday: October 22, 1968 

Where were you born? St. Louis, MO

Occupation?   Self Employed

Why did you join?   Geno talked in into joining. Good time was had by all!

What you like most about being Jaycee? The fun times.  Helping with all the chapters, whether it's running projects or just shooting the breeze.

Best advice for new members:  Step up and run projects.  Become involved because your the next leaders of the organization.

What is the very first project you remember participating in? 4th of July Fireworks and Haunted House

What’s one thing you would like to accomplish this year for the Jaycees?  

What is your favorite movie? All John (the Duke) Wayne and Clint Eastwood western movies.

Favorite food and drink? Bud Light, Captain, chicken wings, and Crescent City Chicken sandwich.

Who is the most famous person you know?  

Do you have any pets?  Yes, GSP's (German Short Haired Pointers) -- 10!!  Must be crazy!

If you could met / spend a day with any person dead or alive, who would it be? And Why?    My grandpa Coppens.  He died at an early age.   He was very active with golf, tennis, and wiener roast in the fall.

Tell us something about yourself that you don’t think anyone knows?  

DISTRICT DIRECTOR

Greg Niehiser

Chapters: Alhambra, Bethalto, Greenville, & New Baden

Profile:

What Chapter do you belong to? Alhambra

When is your Birthday: When I was born

Where were you born?  Belleville

Occupation? Sheet Metal Workers

Why did you join? Peer Pressure (Don Maine)

What you like most about being Jaycee?  Community Involvement and helping others.

Best advice for new members:  Get involved.

What is the very first project you remember participating in?  Homecoming

What’s one thing you would like to accomplish this year for the Jaycees?  Get more Jaycees Involved.

What is your favorite movie? Slingblade and Kingpin

Favorite food and drink? Eat anything

Who is the most famous person you know?  

Do you have any pets?  No

If you could met / spend a day with any person dead or alive, who would it be? And Why?   Albert Einstein.  Conversation would probably be boring since he is dead!

Tell us something about yourself that you don’t think anyone knows? 

WEB MISTRESS 

DIANE RAKERS

Profile:

What Chapter do you belong to? The "Big Red", Highland Jaycees

When is your Birthday: March 14th (most people think I'm younger so you just pick a year)

Where were you born? Highland (didn't fall far from the tree)

Occupation?   Computer Programmer / Analyst for Best Textiles Manufacturing (formally Artex International)

Why did you join? Everyone was having fun and doing cool stuff and I wanted to be a part of it. And to be completely honest there was a boy involved!!!

What you like most about being Jaycee?  The friendships and NEVER having to be bored.   There is always something to do and new people to met.

Best advice for new members: Don't have any regrets.  Go out and get involved in everything and even stuff you don't think you will like.  Give it a try at least once.

What is the very first project you remember participating in?  An Easter Egg Hunt with the Lebanon Jaycees 

What’s one thing you would like to accomplish this year for the Jaycees?  I would like more participation in the website.  I really don't get many chapters or region board to send me updates.  I think the web page would be more well rounded if I had more participation!

What is your favorite movie? French Kiss    

Favorite food and drink? Pasta and THE Captain with a splash of Dr. Pepper  

Who is the most famous person you know?  I guess the only person I can think of is Senator Frank Watson.  Who I've met thru Jaycee meetings. 

Do you have any pets?  Just Peter and his string of dogs.

If you could met / spend a day with any person dead or alive, who would it be? And Why?  Catherine the Great of Russia 

Tell us something about yourself that you don’t think anyone knows?  The 4-H group I belonged to was called the tail waggers.  Our leader bred and raised dogs.  A lot of our stuff revolved around training dogs. (who would have thought)

SECRETARY / TREASURER

SANDY SWEET

Profile:  (answers from 2007)

What Chapter do you belong to? Collinsville

When is your Birthday: July 15^th.  In Chinese New Years, it’s the year of the Snake

Where were you born? Belleville

Occupation?   Applications Specialist II, American Red Cross Blood Services

Why did you join? Had to add one more thing to my already busy life at the time, full time job, part-time school and part-time summer job.  It’s called multi-tasking or just downright craziness.

What you like most about being Jaycee?  Being involved in things that matter, being able to make a difference.  Being able to help others when they need it and just being around the people, from not just our chapter but all chapters. 

Best advice for new members: Get involved as soon as you can, speak up if you have ideas or questions, don’t let anyone beat you down.  Make what you can of your time with the organization, make your mark.

What is the very first project you remember participating in?  

What’s one thing you would like to accomplish this year for the Jaycees?  

What is your favorite movie? 

Favorite food and drink? 

Who is the most famous person you know?  

Do you have any pets?  

If you could met / spend a day with any person dead or alive, who would it be? And Why?   

Tell us something about yourself that you don’t think anyone knows?  

Membership VP  &

POLITICAL ADVISOR  (HACK Jr)

LINDA "FEE FEE" FELDT

Profile:

What Chapter do you belong to? Alhambra

When is your Birthday: 11/26/66

Where were you born? Belleville, Illinois

Occupation? Editing Clerk   At AT&T

Why did you join? To help Leann Wilke and the Lebanon Jaycees out.

What you like most about being Jaycee?  Meeting new people and going to national convention in different states. Great projects in the Gateway region

Best advice for new members: Go out and do everything you can .

What is the very first project you remember participating in?  Jolly Rancher day for the Lebanon Jaycees. It was like chick-o stick day.

What’s one thing you would like to accomplish this year for the Jaycees?  Get the Region to 500 members and have fun at every project I go to.

What is your favorite movie? White Place ( James Spader)

Favorite food and drink? Hot Wings and Bud light

Who is the most famous person you know?  I saw Hulk Hogan at Long Horn in Fairview.

Do you have any pets?  No I'm out at to many project in the Region. They would not last long at my house.

If you could met / spend a day with any person dead or alive, who would it be? And Why?  I would like to spend the day with my Mom and my whole family. I think my niece and nephew would love to talk to her and tell her secrets. It would be great for our whole family to spend a day laugh and telling stories.

Tell us something about yourself that you don’t think anyone knows?  I love to watch people out in the public. You never know what they are going to do.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT VP

Angie Highlander

What is the very first project you remember participating in? Staring a car wash project in the community. 

What’s one thing you would like to accomplish this year for the Jaycees?  To make it through the year.

What is your favorite movie? Dirty Dancing

Favorite food and drink? Everything  and Snoot Shooters

Who is the most famous person you know?  

Do you have any pets?  2 cats and 1 dog

If you could met / spend a day with any person dead or alive, who would it be? And Why?   My mom.  She left me without a lot of questions unanswered.

Tell us something about yourself that you don’t think anyone knows?  

MANAGEMENT  VP  

Jen Jakel

Profile:

What Chapter do you belong to? Highland

When is your Birthday: 8/13/1980 

Where were you born? Belleville, Illinois

Occupation? Accountant at Frey Properties of Highland, LLC and Women's Golf Coach at SIUE 

Why did you join?

What you like most about being Jaycee?  Running projects to benefit the community  

Best advice for new members: Come to as meetings and events that you can, be active.  This is a wonderful organizations that does a lot of good for the community and assists you in enhancing you leadership abilities and can only benefit from these things if you are an active member. 

What is the very first project you remember participating in?   Schweizerfest 

What’s one thing you would like to accomplish this year for the Jaycees?  I would like to help get the chapters more involved in traveling to other chapters and helping with there events.  

What is your favorite movie? Sweet Home Alabama    

Favorite food and drink? Steak and Captain and Coke  

Who is the most famous person you know? Payne Stewart (He is no longer with us but I knew him) 

Do you have any pets?  Absolutely not!  Who has time for that! 

If you could met / spend a day with any person dead or alive, who would it be? And Why?   Tiger Woods - He is an amazing golfer!  

Tell us something about yourself that you don’t think anyone knows?  I love to Ski.

INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT VP

Lisa Huelsmann

What is the very first project you remember participating in? Kid's Halloween Party in New Baden

What’s one thing you would like to accomplish this year for the Jaycees?  I would love to have more competitors at the State  GA Competitions. 

What is your favorite movie? Dead Poet's Society

Favorite food and drink? Chinese food and  Mike's Hard Berry

Who is the most famous person you know?  I went to grad school with Hollis Thomas, the professional football player.

Do you have any pets?  Yes, we have 1 dog and some fish

If you could met / spend a day with any person dead or alive, who would it be? And Why?   Abraham Lincoln or John F. Kennedy.  Tow of the greatest US Presidents.

Tell us something about yourself that you don’t think anyone knows?  I finally earned my BA in Psychology in August 2006.

POLITICAL ADVISOR (HACK)

DONALD "DONNIE" MAINE, JR

Profile:(answers from 2007)

What Chapter do you belong to? Alhambra

When is your Birthday: May 10

Where were you born? Belleville, Illinois

Occupation? Working Foreman Service Man I with Madison County Housing Authority

Why did you join? To bring the Homecoming back to Alhambra.

What you like most about being Jaycee?  Meeting New People

Best advice for new members: Get involved and bring your friends

What is the very first project you remember participating in?  BBQ

What’s one thing you would like to accomplish this year for the Jaycees?   Bring more members into the Jaycees.

What is your favorite movie?     

Favorite food and drink? Fettuccini and captain and coke

Who is the most famous person you know? 

Do you have any pets?  NO

If you could met / spend a day with any person dead or alive, who would it be? And Why?   

Tell us something about yourself that you don’t think anyone knows?   My real name is Donald Maine, JR. and I like to go to auctions and look for deals!

AWARDS CHAIRMAN

Tricia Beuhne

Profile:

What Chapter do you belong to? Highland

When is your Birthday: 11-09-79 

Where were you born? St Joseph's in Highland 

Occupation?  Loan Officer 

Why did you join? I work for a community bank and they like us to be involved in community organizations 

What you like most about being Jaycee?  Raising money for the local city/people and having fun while doing it, and meeting great people

Best advice for new members: just have fun!! 

What is the very first project you remember participating in?  Wow, that is a good question, I honestly don't remember 

What’s one thing you would like to accomplish this year for the Jaycees?  make sure everyone has fun! 

What is your favorite movie? Dazed and Confused 

Favorite food and drink? food-pizza drink-Non alcohol-Water alcohol-Bud Select 

Who is the most famous person you know? Diane Rakers

Do you have any pets?  Full blooded German Sheppard -Tori 

If you could met / spend a day with any person dead or alive, who would it be? And Why?   Good Question, I don't know 

Tell us something about yourself that you don’t think anyone knows?  It's all about having a good time, oh wait, everyone knows that already 

Special Assistant RD: Geno Forneris

COB:  Scott Rayho