Vice President’s Message
As we enter the second half of 2025, our Club has many things to celebrate. Most importantly, we have continued the legacy of partnership that has been so important to so many of us over the years.

 

A few specifics of the First Half include:
1. We have had several members step up to positions of leadership on our Board of Directors, bringing fresh ideas and perspectives as we continue to move forward.
2. Our solid financial stewardship has enabled us to fund our club operations while also contributing to several special projects that will have a lasting impact for generations to come. These include a statue of Mr. Penney in his hometown of Hamilton, MO and enhancements to the historical district of Kemmerer, WY where the Penney Company was founded.
3. As of mid-May, we have added 44 new, reactivated, or associate members to our club somewhat stabilizing the decline of recent years.
4. We have accelerated efforts to conduct smaller, less formal get-togethers around the country to supplement our wonderful bigger and more organized regional gatherings
5. Our commitment to community service has continued through our Feeding America and other worthy service projects as well as through our Golden Rule Award for Community Service where members who volunteer can be honored and earn a club donation to their respective charities
6. Our superb Partners Magazine, national newsletters, website, and Facebook pages have functioned to keep members informed and entertained
7. Our schedule of planned national events has increased this year with the 5 th Annual Golden Rule Days in Kemmerer, WY coming in August, Dedication of the J.C. Penney Statue in Hamilton, MO coming in September, and the Penney Farms Retirement
Community 100th Anniversary near St, Augustine, FL hosted by our Southeastern RMG next April.
8. Our H.C.S.C. Foundation has continued its 65-year tradition of providing financial assistance to former associates in need of financial assistance
Obviously, as we celebrate the achievements of the First Half, we must also acknowledge the opportunities as we move forward. For the remainder of this year, we look to focus on these “Big Three” areas of opportunity.

LEADERSHIP
As you can see, we have a lot going on and none of it just happens automatically. It requires members willing to step up and serve in some way. To be blunt, we have the overwhelming majority of the work being done by a very small minority of our members. So, we need your help. There are countless ways to be of service to our club, both big and small. Several of our regional groups are moving away from a slate of officers and forming leadership committees that can work together thereby spreading the workload into smaller, more manageable bites. Please consider if you would be able to serve in some small way and make your RMG President, National President John Gresham, or myself aware of your willingness to help out. This is our number 1 challenge going forward.

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MEMBERSHIP

It is often said that any organization that is not growing is dying, so our challenge every year must be to continue to grow our membership. We need about 75 new members for the rest of this year to keep up with our natural attrition. With that in mind, our Membership Campaign offers you an incredible chance to earn an entry in our drawing for a trip for two to Kemmerer, WY (est value $2000) or the option to take a $1000 cash prize instead of the trip. As of mid-May, we only have four members that have gotten a new member referral and a chance in the drawing. So, if you can just get one entry, your odds of winning are pretty good. Please reach
out to me for ideas on how you can get your name in the hat for this great opportunity to win big!

FELLOWSHIP
Our main reason for existing as a club is to offer opportunities for fellowship through the renewal of old friendships or the creation of new ones. We have some great regional events that many of our members enjoy. But we also recognize that there are many who are unable or unwilling to travel for these gatherings. Accordingly, we are encouraging small local get-togethers around the country for a simple lunch, coffee, or whatever. We can furnish you with a list of members in your area, and all it takes is someone willing to send out an email invitation, make a restaurant reservation, show up, and enjoy. Even two or three members getting together for coffee offers a great way to stay connected. So, if your area offers you an opportunity to get together locally, give it a try. If it does not offer that opportunity, why not start one.

 

As always, we thank you for continuing the legacy of partnership that our club offers. If I can be of help in any way, please let me know.

John Chapman
National Vice President