2015 April Bulletin
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month.
The following is taken directly from our National Exchange Club website.
“Child abuse prevention became Exchange’s National Project in 1979, at the 61st National Exchange Club Convention.
To uphold its National Project, Exchange provides a variety of public awareness materials designed to help inform and increase awareness of child abuse and how it can be prevented. Such projects are implemented through Exchange Clubs and Exchange Club Child Abuse Prevention (CAP) Centers across the country.
Through the Exchange Parent Aide home visitation model, child abuse prevention experts work directly with at-risk families. To date, Exchange Club CAP Centers have helped more than 691,120 families break the cycle of violence, thus creating safer homes for 1,727,800 children.
Exchange was the winner of a Presidential Award from the White House Office of Private Sector Initiatives, is a charter member of The National Child Abuse Coalition, and is a Partner in Prevention with the Children’s Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.”
For additional information about the organization’s child abuse prevention efforts, please visit Exchange’s CAP website.
– See more at: http://www.nationalexchangeclub.org/programs-of-service/#sthash.ABOdSmym.dpuf
The Butte Exchange Club also designates the month of April to Child Abuse Prevention Awareness by having guest speakers who do weekly education and awareness on various Child Abuse Prevention topics. This year our topics included how to recognize child abuse and what to do about it; and child abuse statistics and local services for victims and their families. We also did a Blue Ribbon tree at the local mall and a Fun Run to bring continued awareness to Child Abuse.
District Update
District President, Jim Stilwell, has provided updated schedule information for the Yellowstone District Convention. The convention will be held at Big Sky on June 26th and 27th. More information will be provided as it becomes available. Hold these dates open for an exciting District Convention. ( Exchange Club members only.) For a complete agenda go to http://butteexchangeclub.org/wp-content/uploats/2015/03/Convention-Agenda.pdf. Jim asks that you please make your reservations as soon as possible.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Speakers
April 28th – Kara Richardson and Melissa Bryant – Child Protection Specialists from Montana State CPS
May 5th – Sheriff Ed Lester will join us with a Law Enforcement Month topic.
Events
Reminder: The monthly meetings for the 2015 Field of Honor have begun. The date has tentatively been scheduled for September 11 -13, 2015. Stay tuned to our weekly reminders for dates and times of the FOH Meetings.
July 4th – Give a Kid a Flag and 4th of July Parade
PAST EVENTS
Fun Run
Saturday, April 25th the Butte Exchange Club hosted the second annual “Be a Hero for Kids fun run”. This event is designed to bring awareness to Child Abuse. The run started at 10:00 am. Many racers dressed as their favorite super heroes including many of our local Exchange Club members.
The weather for the run was sunny, cool and windy. There were walkers and runners of all ages participating in the 5k and the 1 mile run/walk around uptown Butte.
Race organizers Marie Kagie-Shutey and Angie Hasquet said we had about 130 total runners with about 15 to 20 Exchange club members and families. This race generated approximately $1300.00. This fun run is becoming one of our fastest growing events. A great time was had by all.
Special thank you to Marie, Angie and to the CAP committee and to everyone who volunteered and participated in the Be a Hero for Kids Fun Run.
Elyse Lewis was on-site snapping a few photos. She also took the time to set up a FLICKR feed. Click this link to see a few shots: https://www.flickr.com//photos/129114234@N02/sets/72157652166654822/show .
Run, Roll and Stroll Participants 2015
Blue Ribbon Tree
Members of the Butte Exchange Club Child Abuse Prevention (CAP) Committee met it early April to decorate the tree at the Butte Plaza Mall with Blue Ribbons. The tree is a visual reminder that Montana has many cases of family and child abuse. The blue ribbons will remain up for the month of April to bring awareness to Child Abuse. Two banners were also displayed; one explained the meaning of the Blue Ribbons and the other promoted our second annual Run, Roll and Stroll on April 25th.
Special thank you to Linda Corr-Mahugh, Jim Stilwell, Dawn English and Lorrie Gates.
- Blue Ribbon Tree, Butte Plaza Mall
Community Service Project
Members of the Butte Exchange Club met recently to weed local garden spots in uptown Butte. The club has been responsible for planting, pruning and weeding the gardens as one of our many community service projects. Special thank you to Tom Daniel, Jim Stilwell and club members who worked so hard on this project.
NEWS
Elyse Lewis, Communications Chair, said that on “Sunday, April 26, 2015, 10 students of the new Excel Club of Butte High School met to make plans for the future of the Club. Also attending were Exchange Club members, Jim Stilwell, Dale Mahugh, Linda Corr-Mahugh, Leo Prigge, Marie Kagey-Shutey and Elyse Lewis. The students set dates for their next three meetings in May. They came with some ideas for projects. Over pizza they shared their passions. Many of the students are interested in helping disadvantaged youth, others want to work on conservation and outdoor recreation, and there was interest in Americanism projects like the Field of Honor. It appears that there is no shortage of enthusiasm or good project ideas and the new club is off to a good start.”
Members of the new Excel Club – 2015
PRESS RELEASE: (Provided by Elyse Lewis and Jim Stilwell)
Subject: National Service Organization Charters New Club to Serve Butte, MT
The National Exchange Club is proud to announce a new service club in the Butte community. The Exchange Excel Club of Butte High School was officially chartered on April 8, 2015 with 28 members. The new club will serve the community through projects selected by student members and aligned with the Exchange’s Programs of Service – Americanism, Community Service, and Youth Programs – as well as the organization’s National Project, child abuse prevention. Officers of the Excel Club are Gunther Clark, President; Talia Nicholls, President Elect; Joby Rosenleaf, Secretary; and Sean Staples, Treasurer.
The new Exchange Excel Club is sponsored by the Butte Exchange Club and was organized under the leadership of Jim Stilwell, a Butte Exchange Club member and the Exchange Yellowstone District President. “The National Exchange Club has found that many of today’s youth are interested in volunteering and making their hometowns a better place. This new Exchange Excel Club at Butte High School provides additional opportunities for our local students to work towards solving the problems that they see in our community.” said Jim Stilwell. “Also, as members of Excel Clubs, youth have fun, make new friends and expand their leadership skills.”
For additional information about the Exchange Excel Club of Butte High School, including details about how to become a member, please contact Eric Mankins, Senior Counselor at mankinsEa@butte.k12.mt.us. More information about the Exchange Club of Butte may be found at www.butteexchangeclub.org or by calling Leo Prigge 406-723-3243.
For additional information about the Exchange Excel Club of Butte High School, including details about how to become a member, please contact Eric Mankins, Senior Counselor at mankinsEa@butte.k12.mt.us. More information about the Exchange Club of Butte may be found at www.butteexchangeclub.org or by calling Leo Prigge 406-723-3243.”
COMMUNICATIONS
Update and Reminder
The Communications Committee would like to remind you that we rely on committee chairmen and all club members to send us meeting announcements, stories and photos since we cannot be present at Club events. Please use your cell phones and capture some fun photos to send us.
Please send all details on upcoming events & speakers to: info@butteexchangeclub.org
If you have taken photos at Club events that you want to share, please send them to:info@butteexchangeclub.org (cell phone shots are OK)
Need help? Call: Elyse Lewis –Public Relations Chairman – 565-0801
Bulletin Editor – Penny McElroy
Mobile: (406) 490-1946 Home: (406) 494-2731
E-mail: pamcelroy7@gmail.com
