Lincolnland Club and District Leaders,
There's a lot to cover in this edition of "Lincolnland Update", so here we go!
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and many Exchange Clubs and CAP (Child Abuse Prevention) Centers across the nation have special events planned to heighten awareness for family wellness. Please consider participating in the National Exchange Club's "Believe in the Blue Project" Project on Saturday, April 17th. "Believe in the Blue" promotes strong, healthy families through positive parenting, and hundreds of Exchangites will distribute parenting tips at shopping centers and public locations across America. For more information on "Believe in the Blue", please visit the national website at www.nationalexchangeclub.org.
April is also Club Officer Training Month, and District President-Elect Kathy Johnson has scheduled the following sessions across Lincolnland:
- Saturday, April 10th: Division 4 at Town and Country Library in Elburn, 1 PM
- Wednesday, April 14th: Divisions 3 and 5 at Cornerstone Service at 777 Joyce Road in Joliet, 7 PM
- Saturday, April 17th: Divisions 7, 8, and 9 at the 1st Presbyterian Church in Mattoon, 10 AM
- Saturday, April 24th: Division 11 at the Belleville Clubhouse in Belleville, 9:30 AM
- Wednesday, April 28th: Division 6 at the Homestead Restaurant in Woodhull, 6 PM
- Thursday, April 29th: Beardstown at the Community of Christ Church in Beardstown, 12 PM
Please have your club officers, board, and interested members participate in these informative session on Exchange!
April is also a great time to register for our 84th Annual District Convention, which will run from Thursday, June 10th (for early birds) through Sunday morning, June 13th, at the Holiday Inn Select in Naperville. The next edition of our Lincolnland Link will include convention information, but I've also attached a registration form and hotel information to this e-mail. The convention begins with a trolley ride and band concert for those arriving early on Thursday evening, June 10th. The Friday schedule includes a Town Hall Meeting with lunch, the opening convention business session, and "Come to the Cabaret" entertainment with songs from the 40's, 50's, and 60's. Saturday features our One Nation Under God Breakfast, the Memorial Service, the second business session including elections, and the Installation Banquet. The convention concludes on Sunday, June 13th, with the Youth Recognition Breakfast. Please pass this information to your club members and include the convention registration and hotel information in your club newsletters. By the way, first time attendees receive $10 off the full convention package if registered by May 15th. We're looking forward to a great convention in June!
Did you know?: Exchange's Mission Statement was updated in January after approval by the National Board of Directors. Our new mission statement is "Exchange, America's Premier Service Club, working to make our communities better places to live." The concise phrasing more effectively communicates our mission to members, potential members, and the general public.
Awards Time: District Youth of the Year Chair Paul Zollner reminds all clubs that the deadline for submitting entries is Saturday, May 1st. In order to win the Youth of the Year Award, the candidate must agree to attend the Youth Recognition Breakfast at the District Convention on Sunday, June 13th. (Please note: The original information distributed to Club Presidents incorrectly identified the Youth Recognition Breakfast date as June 6th. It is Sunday, June 13th.) If you have any questions, please contact Paul at zoll547@charter.net. … The deadline for submitting All-American Volunteer nominations is also May 1st. Contact Chair Marge Keenan-Denniston at margekd101@yahoo.com.
Some Good News and Some Not-So-Good News: First, the not-so-good news. After an unsuccessful attempt at revitalization, the Plainfield Club is being closed down. Although the club had helped coordinate several impressive community events, the membership had not met regularly for quite some time. We hope to return to Plainfield in the near future, and their situation reminds us all of the importance of keeping our valued members engaged in club and community activities. ... Now, for the good news. Those Exchange Club builders in Lake County are at it again. The next meeting for the potential ALL Club (Antioch - Lake Villa - Lindenhurst) is scheduled for Wednesday evening, April 14th. Stay tuned.
Exchange Trivia: Can you match the following clubs with the years in which they were chartered? The clubs are 1) Bloomington, 2) Galesburg, 3) Gurnee, 4) Rantoul, and 5) Shorewood, and your choices are a) 1924, b) 1936, c) 1970, d) 1975, and e) 2007. The answers are below.
Lincolnland Faces and Places: Round Lake Area is holding its Rose Special Fundraiser on Administrative Professionals Day on Wednesday, April 21st. For only $20, you can have a dozen roses personally delivered by an Exchangite to an administrative professional. Robert Frank and Bob Wegge wear tuxedos as they deliver flowers, and Bob also sings a special song to each recipient. … Charleston's Annual Tour De Exchange cycling event is on Saturday, April 24th. Routes of 10, 25, and 50 miles are available for bicyclists, and start times run between 6:30 and 9:30 AM. … Gurnee Noon and Grayslake members showcased Exchange at the SpringExpo in Lake Villa on March 27th and 28th. … Gurnee Noon's 7th Annual Golf Outing will be held May 25th at Bittersweet Golf Course in Gurnee. … Belleville held their Youth of the year and ACE Program on March 25th and hosted children for an Easter Egg Hunt at their clubhouse on April 3rd. ... At their March 16th meeting, Joliet distributed four $1000 checks to the following local not-for-profits: NAMI, Lambsfold Women's Shelter, Cornerstone, and Trinity. … Sara Abner was named Rantoul's March Exchange Student of the Month. …Champaign will present their Annual Nursing Scholarship during their May 17th meeting. …Tri-Cities' Annual Draw Down Event will be on Tuesday evening, May 4th, at the Royal Hawk Country Club. … Aurora's "Taste of Aurora" fundraiser will be on May 11th from 5 to 9 PM. … Greater Kendall County members will distribute "Believe in the Blue" parenting tip cards at the Jewel-Osco in Yorkville on April 17th. … West DuPage County Club President / Wheaton Mayor Michael Gresk donned an apron and served as a "Celebrity Grillmaster" at a recent event to support the Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans.
Trivia Answers: 1-b, 2-a, 3-d, 4-c, 5-e.
April anniversary congratulations go to Beardstown (18 years) and Lockport (27 years). Thank you for many years of service for your communities!
And finally, I'd like to thank the Exchange Club of Waukegan for their camaraderie and hospitality during their Annual Bowl-a-Thon on Sunday, March 21st. I had a great time knocking down a few pins (and I do mean a few pins) to help support their community programs. Thank you, Waukegan!
Thanks for all you do in the Spirit of Exchange.
Scot
<<Lincolnland 84th Annual District Convention Registration Form 100330.pdf>> <<Holiday Inn Select Information 100329.pdf>>
Scot Warren
Lincolnland District President, 2009 - 2010
The Power of Exchange - Be Inspired!
Home: (630) 527-9130, swwarren@att.net
Work: (815) 609-2137, scot.warren@veoliawater.com
