Lincolnland Club and District Leaders,

We'll start with a few business reminders regarding the Lincolnland District Convention to be held June 10th - 13th at the Naperville Holiday Inn Select.  First, please ask your club delegates to make their hotel reservations as soon as possible.  There's a triathlon event in Naperville that weekend, and many participants will stay in the hotel.  Naperville Holiday Inn Select information and a convention registration form (for individuals) are attached to this e-mail.  Secondly, please remind your Club Secretary to fill out and return the Convention Club Delegate Registration Form (not attached) by Friday, May 28th.  The forms were prepared for each club and distributed last week, and we need the information to properly register your club's voting delegates.  Thirdly, please confirm with your Club Treasurer that your club accounts are in good standing with National and District.  Delegates of clubs with accounts that are past due will not be able to participate in the convention voting.

Now, for the fun side of the convention.  How would you like your club to be officially introduced during our Inaugural Parade of Banners on Friday afternoon, June 11th?  Please e-mail me an introduction in the form of "The Exchange Club of … , home of …".  You can highlight one of your special programs, events, fundraisers, a club member, or a combination of items.  Keep it brief, but also keep it unique.  By the way, make sure your delegates bring a stand to proudly display your club banner after the parade.

Awards, Awards, Awards:  We currently have 10 Lincolnland Clubs who have qualified for the National Service Award.  Who's next?  Please keep reporting your club's activities and programs of service to National Exchange at www.nationalexchangeclub.org, and receive the awards that your members have earned.  Also, our district award applications are currently being evaluated, and the winners will be announced during the Installation Banquet on Saturday night, June 12th.  Finally, as a reminder, 5As applications are due on Tuesday, June 1st.  If you have any comments or questions, please contact 5As Co-Chairs Janet Jacobs (jacobs.janet@comcast.net) and Sandy Southworth (sandysouthw@yahoo.com).

Exchange Trivia: You may know that there are 22,215 Exchangites and 716 Exchange Clubs across the United States and Puerto Rico, but can you identify which of Exchange's four largest districts has the most members?  Your choices are 1) California-Hawaii-Nevada, 2) Georgia, 3) Lincolnland, and 4) Tennessee.  Good luck, and the answer is below.

Lincolnland Faces and Places:  North Chicago is planning a fundraiser with the Harlem Ambassadors, who have entertained on basketball courts in 48 states and 20 countries.  In addition to displaying their basketball talents, the Ambassadors deliver their message of "Stay in School, Stay off Drugs."  The event will be held at North Chicago High School beginning at 7 PM on October 8th, and sponsorship packages are being prepared. … Breakfast Gurnee held their Annual Soup and Salad Fundraiser on Tuesday, May 11th.  Over 600 community members enjoyed great lunches and desserts.  About 80 Exchangites (including members from host Breakfast Gurnee, Gurnee Noon, Grayslake, and LMV) and 20 Great Lakes Marines volunteered their services to help make the event a success. … Grayslake Exchangites will be cleaning their streets on Saturday, May 15th.  Prizes go to those who pick up the most interesting garbage (yes, seriously). … The next meeting for the Lake County Exchange Clubs' Foundation for the Prevention of Child Abuse will begin at 5:30 PM on Wednesday, May 19th, at the Teen Center in Gurnee. … As part of its Proudly We Hail Program, Mattoon recently honored six families and business firms for regularly flying the American Flag.  The recipients each received an engraved plaque commemorating their commitment to Americanism. … The Quad Cities' Garage Sale on May 28th and 29th is being coordinated by Bob and Lois Dixon. … Champaign will hold its Club Development Meeting on Monday, June 14th.  Club goals will be established for 2010 - 2011, and committee chairpersons will be appointed. … Urbana's board approved the purchase of a case of paper to be donated to Urbana School District #116 to help reduce the burden on the school budget.  The club also had their highway clean-up event on Saturday, May 8th. …On April 9th Beardstown served lunches to 32 city employees as a gesture of appreciation for their service.  Also, Beardstown Exchangites handed out 150 blue light candoliers with packets of information to Walmart shoppers for "Believe in the Blue" on April 17th. … Quincy honored Mrs. Phyllis Smith with their Book of Golden Deeds Award on Friday, May 7th. … Belleville held their Annual Campaign for Kids Golf Tournament at Tamarack Golf Course on May 13th.    

Trivia Answer: Georgia is Exchange's largest district.  Here are the district membership numbers as of April 30th: Georgia - 2294, Lincolnland - 1282, Tennessee - 1246, California-Hawaii-Nevada - 1213.   

And finally, I'd like to thank seven clubs for their great hospitality during my mini-tour of Lincolnland during the last two weeks.  I enjoyed visiting with Exchangites at Tri-Cities' Drawdown Event on Tuesday, May 4th; at Beardstown's Youth Recognition Lunch Meeting and Alton's Evening Meeting on Thursday, May 6th; at Quincy's Book of Golden Deeds Luncheon and Belleville's Bingo Night Fundraiser on Friday, May 7th; at North Chicago's Evening Meeting on Tuesday, May 11th; and at DeKalb-Sycamore's Lunch Meeting on Wednesday, May 12th.  As always, our clubs' programs, meetings, and events were very impressive, and a good time was had by all.

Thanks for all you do in the Spirit of Exchange.

Scot

<<Holiday Inn Select Information 100329.pdf>> <<Lincolnland 84th Annual District Convention Registration Form 100330.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