Nine members from the Exchange Club of Springfield, Ohio, Jill, Skip, Mark, Karen, Larry, Bev, Peg, Jim, and Carol attended the National Exchange Club’s 107th Convention in Louisville, Ky this past weekend. They visited with over 500 fellow Exchange Members and guests from around the country, and attended seminars to learn new project ideas, met the National Youth of the Year, A.C.E. Award, and Legacy Award Winners, as well as District and National Leaders and enjoyed fellowship and fun. It being Louisville, a Derby Party was inevitable and a whole lot of fun. A number of districts entertained the attendees with a Hospitality Suite and provided food and drink representative of their district. Folks traded district pins and tales of Exchange conventions past.
A few awards were returned to Springfield. Immediate Past President Skip Warner earned the “Distinguished Club President Award” for 2024-25. Only a small percentage of club presidents earn this award! Larry Sewell was awarded the 25 New Member Sponsorship Award; the Pin is in the mail. And the moment we had all been waiting for… Yes! The Exchange Club of Springfield earned Big “E” Award for 2024-25! Well done! Only about a dozen of the almost six hundred clubs earn it each year! Truly this is a team award, and all members share in this great accomplishment!
A resolution for a dues increase passed without much discussion, and the By-laws will be so amended. The best way really, to insure the financial health of the National Exchange Club is to build new clubs and bring in new members. What if each member brought in just one new member this year? Wowzer!
2025-26 National President Joe Dudek, Connecticut, was very inspiring and his message is to get out and show each and every community how fulfilling it is to serve others. He encourages each club to find new opportunities to serve and in this manner, membership will grow as more projects mean more contacts with the people. National President-Elect Fussell Hughes, Georgia, is inspiring in his own right, and great things are in the offing in 2025-26 and 2026-27! Unity for Service!
