The Exchange Club of Springfield, Ohio club members welcomed our Exchange district brothers and sisters Saturday May 18th, 2024, at Wittenberg University’s Joseph C. Shouvlin Center, for the 2024 edition of the annual district convention.
Congratulations to Springfield member Mark Sullivan, who was elected President of the Ohio-WV District, 2024-25!
The convention began with the Presentation of the Colors by the Color Guard detachment from Springfield High School’s Jr ROTC Marine unit.
Springfield Mayor Rob Rue welcomed the 49 attendees representing the 25 clubs of the OH-WV District Exchange Clubs, and presented a Springfield City Council Proclamation declaring May 17th and 18th Exchange Club Days in Springfield. District President Ginny Williams, (Mt. Vernon/Knox County) presided over the convention.
The Springfield club received the National Service Award, the Best New Community Service Award (CC Partners in Prevention), and the District President’s Award (Silver Level). The club’s nominee for Youth of the Year, Winston Hughes, representing Emmanuel Christian Academy, accepted his award as OH-WV District’s Youth of the Year and will be entered in the competition for National Youth of the Year. The District’s A.C.E. Award recipient was Kiarah Dodds, sponsored by the Lima Exchange Club, representing Spencerville High School, also will be entered into the National competition.
Larry Sewell received the OH-WV District’s Top Recruiter Award for 2023-24, sponsoring four new members. Larry also received recognition for designing the 2023-24 district pin, which is traded at the National Convention and given out by district directors and officers as gifts to district club members to commemorate a particular action or anniversary on their part.
Club members Bonnie, Skip, and Larry were recognized by the district as ‘Club Builders’ for their efforts with the Tigers Exchange Club of Clark County, Ohio.
Many thanks to the Host Club Committee of Skip Warner, Karen Lotz, Peg Haemmerle, and Bev and Larry Sewell, for all the preliminary tasks that no one sees, but effects the entire weekend, to Wittenberg University and terrific staff for providing a wonderful venue for our convention, to Parkhurst Catering for preparing amazing meals, and to their superb staff.
A special thanks to Springfield Exchange Member Andy Kittles for his superb photography during the convention!
Thank you to speakers from Honor Flight, Veteran’s Matter, NAMI, All Star Gaming, Mark Sullivan (Springfield), VFR Russ Finney,(Northern Cincinnati), and Immediate Past National President David Johnson, (Charleston, SC), for their excellent presentations. A large number of club members attended. All in all, our club made a great showing, so all members should take a bow!
