The NASA Space Fair Project was conceived, sponsored, organized, constructed and operated by the Canton Jaycees to arouse the interest of the youth and the citizens in the community in all phases of space science. The project was aimed at meeting the challenge of the times to get Americans on the Moon. More than 26,000 students from grades 6 to 12 from five counties visited the Space Fair, with their teachers and were given brief lectures on each of 30 space exhibits by college narrators trained as space instructors by the Jaycees.

Many projects started in the 60’s continued into the 80’s. The Jaycees continued to average around 60 external projects a year, including such young people projects as Junior Champs, Junior Tennis, Pass Punt and Kick, Teen-Age Rodeo, Soap Box Derby, Fairmount Children Christmas Shopping Tour and others.

Many large-scale projects overlapped the terms of several presidents. One such project was the Highway Beautification Project which ran from 1961 to 1963. Using trees provided by the State of Ohio at little or no cost, the Jaycees provided the manpower to plant the sides of I-77 and US-62 from Mother Gooseland Park north to Market Avenue. Upon completion of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, The Timken Company provided the funds to complete the beautification project up to the off ramps leading to the facility.

The Jaycees of the 60’s also committed themselves to the service of the unfortunate and began the Christmas Kettle Campaign to raise funds for the underprivileged and which continues to the present day.

The Jaycees further secured a permanent place in the relationship between the young men in Canton and area businesses. Perhaps the best compliment given to the Canton Jaycees came from the noted commentator, Paul Harvey, who wrote "I tried to analyze over the years why some Jaycee organizations are spectacularly active, as is the one in Canton. And why others coast. I can’t find any common denominator among the successful ones expect ‘leadership’… In Canton, Ohio, being a Jaycee is important. Industry considers it important. City officials and news media consider it important. Most important, Jaycees consider it important."

The Jaycees of the 60’s also had some unusual things happen to the chapter. Who could forget the chapter President finding 50 pounds of raw meat marinating in his bathtub at the convention? Or, who would be more eligible for a "Blunder Mug" award than the Jaycee who lost the entire project entry books for the national competition by entrusting them to the local railway carrier? Further, who else could forget the attempt to extend a chapter over 75 miles in Midland, Pennsylvania, requiring multiple 150-mile round trips in order to establish the chapter?

The events of the 1960’s spanned the terms of many presidents and active project chairmen. It is not possible to mention the contributions of every one of them. It is evident that projects like the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Highway Beautification, Mother Gooseland, Outdoor Living Show, and the Snowball Dances are successful because they were pursued vigorously by president after president from year to year.

The times changed and the faces and names on the Canton Jaycees Board of Directors changed. But the commitment to the long-term improvement of the chapter, the community and the individual members continued.

The transition from the 60’s to the 70’s in the Canton Jaycees came at a time of international conflict, in particular the war in Vietnam. At a time when many potential Jaycees were either fighting or actively opposing the war, the Jaycees could have been trapped in between these two opposing forces to the ultimate destruction of the chapter. Instead of falling to the potential problems, Canton Jaycees organized a new project which everyone could support regardless of their political ideologies. Southeast Asia Leave Program called SEAL was begun in 1970 with the purpose of the project to provide an opportunity for area servicemen and women to come home from Southeast Asia during a two-week "R&R" while on active duty in Vietnam. The Jaycees raised funds to permit these service people to fly from Hawaii to Stark County in order to spend a short time with their family and friends.

Through a series of fundraisers, including a formal dance, a Mayor’s breakfast, tag day, a "Whopper Weekend", and a spaghetti dinner and others, the Canton Jaycees, along with Jaycee chapters in North Canton, Louisville, Alliance and Massillon, were able to raise sufficient fund to fly 17 servicemen to the area. The coordinating committee had to screen possible applicants, make arrangement through the military for leaves, and even get a brass band to the airport. Although not created for the purpose of receiving recognition, the project won both state and national Jaycee honors, was recognized by the Governor’s office and received a citation from the Department of the Army.

The charities in community action areas of the Canton Jaycees had always been of primarry importance. The phrase of the creed, "Service to humanity is the best work of life!", is more than just words and was evidenced by the activities of the Jaycees of the 70’s.