Our chapter works not only in Sistersville, but also throughout the entire Tyler County. Some people simply call us the Tyler County Jaycees. Our history dates back almost 60 years, and it largely started with the event “The Child's Christmas,” an event created by Gene Chute.

     This event is very important to us because it also started the “Sistersville trophy” (an event designed to be a project of the year with a reward of a 6ft high trophy). During this event, we work with our sponsors and donors to buy toys for impoverished children. Typically, the Tyler Star News donates weekly space next to the editor's column from the beginning of October all the way to Christmas to ask for donations and toys for the Christmas event.

     Our sponsors and partners for this event includes not only the Tyler Star News, but also Community Resources Inc and local WIC programs. We bring the donations of cash and toys to CRI and WIC in addition to local Salvation Army stations and some schools, such as Tyler Consolidated. This school has not only agreed to sponsor us for this event but also has granted us a partnership in education because of it! This event is so important to us that all money that we earn that we earn that does not go towards chapter maintenance goes directly to this charity directly.

     But what is the Sistersville Award? Mr. Chute, started it around the mid 1960's. It has been an award that multiple chapters throughout the state have competed for on a yearly basis. We consider it a motivational tool for others chapters as it is looked at very seriously throughout the state. Simply, we believe that chapters engage in it to show that “they compete for it because they care.”

     What else is our chapter known for? We helped to start the Oil and Gas Festival, and we started the Regatta. We're also well known for our assistance in county fairs across the state.

     We operate game booths at local fairs and festivals – around 8 per year – and we do them all over the state of West Virginia, including Wetzel, Tyler, Dodridge, and Wood counties. At times we even head to the Marietta OH fair in Washington county. We also have a Labor Day festival that any and all are welcome to. These fairs are how we raise money for our chapter to function throughout the year and to contribute to the Child's Christmas project. We even support the local veterans by helping out at the memorial park on memorial day in any capacity we're asked.

     Another activity our chapter participates in throughout the year is the Senior citizen day in Tyler County. What we do here is to go out and buy door prizes and hand out to seniors during the day; the fair provides the event, the chapter hands out the door prizes, also gets some involvement for the veterans. We also participate in a Halloween Safety Patrol, where we work with local city police to ensure that children in the county are able to enjoy a safe, happy holiday.

     Lastly, Mike Steel works with local probation officers to help the people on probation a second chance, uses the chapter to do so, and some of those people come out and help out for the chapter - community service. Have helped more than 30 kids off of probation and put them back into the mainstream, and have even recruited members from them that are outstanding and huge helpers for the chapter that have turned their lives around because of their help.

     Who our are partners and sponsors? Last year alone we worked with 4H Community groups through 3 fairs. Our general partnership with the 4h Groups encourages other chapters to do the same with younger children. We also try and work with local churches (musicals, puppet shows, ect) – and we will help general support for community giveback; local police department, county commissioners, work force America Our corporate sponsor are Coca Cola and Domino's. These two outstanding companies help us through the through the entire year and are the official sponsors of the SV area JCs.

     Finally, as a side note, we do wish to honor Pam Steel:. She worked with the child's Christmas for 86-03 as the chairman of the project. She revitalized the chapter in the chapter and turned us into who we are today, may her soul be blessed.

     If you're interested in joining the Sistersville Area Jaycees, please contact Mike Steel through his website or his phone number on the left.