The Exchange Club of Springfield, Ohio met, Tuesday May 13, 2025, 6 PM, Park Branch CC Public Library, with 17 members and 9 guests present. Guest Speaker Clara Wiant was introduced by Buckeye Girls State program Chair Jill Parker.
Buckeye Girls State is the name given to Ohio’s Girls State program for rising senior girls, which was designed to educate Ohio’s young women in the duties, privileges, rights and responsibilities of good citizenship. By getting involved in the process, Delegates can learn more about City, County and State Government in one week than they will learn in an entire semester of high school.
Citizens are divided into two mythical political “parties”. The parties do not reflect the two major political parties in today’s system, but allow Citizens to gain a special knowledge of how the system works. Elections are held to fill city, county and state positions. Activities include government workshops, legislative sessions, campaigning, party rallies, debating, voting. The Citizens also receive instruction in Parliamentary Procedure. This “hands on” method is unique and extremely effective. Girls State affords participants an opportunity to live together as self-governing citizens by informing them about the duties, privileges, rights and responsibilities of American citizenship and hopefully encourages their participation in the democratic process as they progress into adulthood. Additional activities include: journalism, law enforcement, music, field trips, group devotions, and patriotic ceremonies.
The club’s Foundation provided the $400 in registration and fees necessary for a student to participate in the weeklong session held on the campus of Bowling Green State University.
Congratulations to Clara who intends to study law, for being selected as the first Buckeye Girls State recipient of Springfield Exchange’s newest project. Next year, the club plans to add a local high school rising senior boy’s scholarship to Buckeye Boys State to the new project.