2015 July Bulletin
Exchange Club History – (Taken from the National Exchange Club Website)
Programs of Service
“During the 1940s, Exchange had organized its club activities around seven areas of service that included: education; agriculture; aviation; citizenship; commerce and industry; federal youth rehabilitation; youth and geriatrics.
Today, three Programs of Service and Exchange’s National Project, the prevention of child abuse, are lenses through which local clubs focus their energy and attention on their communities’ specific needs. The Programs of Service are Americanism, Youth Programs and Community Service.
Americanism
Promoting pride in country, respect for the flag and appreciation of Americans’ freedoms are the primary purposes of Exchange’s Americanism programs. The tumultuous struggles of world powers in the twentieth century have done little to guarantee a peaceful future for the majority of the world’s people. However, there’s one country in modern times that people flock to for safety, freedom and opportunity — the United States of America. It is hard for Americans to imagine the horrors of modern struggles over religious and ethnic differences, the very differences we embrace.
Exchange’s Americanism programs were born in the aftermath of World War II. At that time, patriotism was unquenchable, and Exchangites joined veterans and other civic groups in heralding the rich blessings of democracy.
Community Service
Community service is the lifeline of Exchange. Exchange Clubs across the country spend countless hours and dollars improving their communities each year. In fact, many of the projects within the Program of Service have a common goal of serving and benefiting communities.
The history of Exchange’s Community Service projects is quite impressive. Since the first group of Exchangites convened in 1911 in Detroit, Michigan, Exchange has been dedicated to serving its communities. Throughout the years, Exchange Clubs have been responsible for community endeavors of all types such as, cleaning up highways, sponsoring cultural programs, hosting art and industrial shows, holding state and county fairs and festivals, and organizing rodeos and athletic events. Exchange Clubs have also provided millions of dollars for scholarships, gifts, equipment, sponsorships, educational assistance, and other worthy causes.
Youth Activities
America’s young people are its most precious resource. This is why, for many years, Exchange Clubs and National Headquarters have sponsored an impressive selection of activities designed to benefit and encourage our nation’s youth. Many of these rewarding programs are among the most popular and well-supported of all Exchange Club endeavors. Through college scholarships, mentoring and guidance, and service recognition, Exchange is making a difference to America’s youngest generations.
Child Abuse Prevention
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
UPCOMING EVENTS
Speakers
- August 4th – Rick Douglas on the Montana Tech Biking Trails
- August 8th – Tim Fox, Montana Attorney Genera,l on Human Trafficking
- August 18th – Jesse Laslovich, Chief Counsel for the State of Montana
- August 25th – High School coaches discuss the upcoming football season
Events
August 5th – FOH Meeting at noon in the boardroom
August 13th – Board Meeting at noon at the Metals Bank
August 19th – Adopt a Highway, meet at the Buxton Exit on I-15 between 4:00 and 6:00 pm
August 20th – Dress a child – members are invited to assist the United Way (782-1255)
August 27th – Phillipsburg Bus Trip, dinner and show
NEWS
Any club members who would like to volunteer at the Farmers Market promoting Field of Honor and soliciting flag sponsorships, please contact Lauren Kippen (lkippen@marquiscompanies.com) or Doug Rotondi (djrotondi44@gmail.com).
The Field of Honor Website is now updated and fully functional. This year volunteers may register online; the volunteer will receive a confirming message. People will NOT be able to purchase flag sponsorships or flags on-line, however the website allows them to print a form which can be mailed in. Please take a look at the website as there is lots of great information about this important event www.ButteFieldofHonor.org. Don’t forget to volunteer. Volunteers of all types are needed.
This year the 2015 Field of Honor will include a remembrance of the tragedy of September 11, 2001. Special 3 ft x 5 ft flags will be on display and available for sale at the Field Honor. These flags have been created with the sincerest intentions of honoring the victims of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The goal of these flags is to immortalize each individual victim, to give comfort to the families left behind by knowing that their loved ones will be forever honored and remembered and to create an enduring symbol, recognized by the world, of the human sacrifice that occurred on that day in 2001.
(Thank you to Brad Cederberg and Elyse Lewis for the above information)
PAST EVENTS
Fourth of July Parade
The morning of July 4th dawned cool and clear with the promise of heat to come. A small but enthusiastic group of Exchange Club members, Excel Club members and friends met to decorate the float and hand out flags at the parade.
Exchange club has been leading the parade and handing out flags for a number of years as part of our Americanism and Community Service “Programs of Service”. This year we had three members of our newly established Excel Club help as well.
The crowd along the parade route was so appreciative of our continued efforts to provide flags to all. This year our group handed out around 7,000 flags.
Special thank you to club members, Excel students, family and friends who helped with our “Give a Kid a Flag” project. Your time and enthusiasm was greatly appreciated.
Steak Fry
The Steak Fry Committee hosted a great luncheon on July 14th at the Berkeley Pit Viewing Stand picnic area. This year’s steak fry was a rousing success. The attendance was standing room only and the weather was suburb. The steaks were grilled to perfection by Jim Stilwell, and Tom Daniel. Ernie’s zucchini stew (Dich Roche’s recipe) was outrageously delicious. The dessert was heavenly and decadently pleasing to the palate! Thank you to Janet Ralph’s for her wonderful cookies.
Club President Lauren Kippen began her tenure as our fearless leader and conducted the meeting in a true professional style starting with the invocation by Fr. Bryan followed by the pledge of allegiance and fantastic food.
Many in the crowd faced the site of the Field of Honor as they rededicated their commitment to our great country by reciting the pledge. The beer and soda’s were icy cold and as always, cleared the way for more steak.
Congratulations to the committee and all who helped bring this event to another successful outing for our Butte Exchange Club
(Thank you to Tom Daniel and Doug Rotondi for the above information)
Induction of Officers
During a regular club meeting the club inducted the 2015/2016 officers. Congratulations to you all and thank you for all you do for the Butte Exchange Club.
2014-2015 Officers:
- President: Lauren Kippen
- President Elect: Linda Corr-Mahugh
- Vice President: Doug Rotondi
- Immediate Past President.: Leo Prigge
- Secretary: Brad Cederberg
- Treasurer: Andy Durkin
- District Past President: Jim Stilwell
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