It’s a great day to be an Exchangite. While we never take ourselves too seriously, our commitment to the Principles of Exchange are as serious as our commitments to our God, our families, and our country. By Shining the Light of Exchange we can offer our communities those services and programs needed to make them stronger.

The communication tools we have available are awesome. We are as cool as PEPPERMINT PATTY. We have National, district and local club websites, email, Face book, Twitter and local bulletins.  We have the Lincolnland Link, Exchange Today and the Exchange Currents, a district directory, job descriptions and a protocol manual. We have dozens of publications from National. Our District Leader’s Monthly Planner alone provides all the tools we need to have a successful year. Of course, reading it is recommended. We learn little just carrying it around. Lincolnland’s own Inter Club Fellowship Committee publishes a plethora of ideas and best practices in our clubs during the year. And, as any good Exchangite knows, stealing, ah, that is, preserving and using the ideas of others saves us the time of reinventing the wheel every time we look at new things to do.

But, no paper or email, or publication can hold a candle to our most valuable resource – our members. We have available to us men and women who collectively know everything there is to know about Exchange. These M & Ms (the mighty and merry) provide guidance, ideas, answers, and enthusiasm to whatever we need. Our National staff, incoming President Margie Miller, our Regional Vice President, Katie Smith, the Lincolnland Board of Directors, our VFRs, Frank Alberico and Lou Militor, National Foundation Trustee, Stan Rocush and our own cadre of Past District Presidents is all available and approachable. They are a galaxy of stars in our own MIlKY WAY. They all welcome your questions and concerns and will work with you to make your club stronger. They are always Shining the Light of Exchange.

It will be MOUNDS of fun to work with all of you to Share the Exchange Experience as we recruit new members.  If each club sets a goal of increasing its membership by three then we can develop the 3 MUSKETEERS who can offer us new ideas and insights into meeting our goals. Every new member brings us as much as we give them. Every hour given is golden. Keep Asking!

 By building at least two new clubs in Lincolnland this year we will not be lacking in the growth department. There are dozens of communities near us who are desperately in need of having an Exchange Club. We can offer them a way to organize their efforts to help prevent child abuse. We can offer them a way to unite to make their communities better places to live. We can help them celebrate Americanism and build patriotism by Shining the Light of Exchange. Americanism requires education, dedication, and celebration. With our Programs for Youth we can offer them a way to honor our youth – our future.  They can Believe in the Blue and strengthen families across Lincolnland.

Our best PAYDAY comes from the retention of our members. We ROAR, that is, recruit, orientate, activate, and retain on a routine basis. But let’s take it beyond that. Every member needs to feel valued and useful. The real secret of retention is the activation part. Not next week or next month. Do it now. Every member should be assigned to a Program of Service or project as fits their interest. New members should be asked to lead the pledge at a meeting, to be greeters, or help with meeting set up.  Make sure each has a mentor; we old guys would welcome that task. Use name tags. Hint: pin them or place them on the right so that when we shake hands it is not awkward to read the name – we naturally look that way as we reach out.

As for awards and recognition, that’s our $100 GRAND reward. Every club in Lincolnland completes Programs of Service and projects that would qualify for 5As, the National Service Award, the Big E, distinguished officer awards, and Club Excellence awards. So how come less that 50% of us are Shining the Light of Exchange? Practically every form, report, or award application is available on the National or District website. Are we dazzled? NO? Are we shy? I think not. Are we too technically challenged to fill out the forms? Listen, as the slow lane driver on the information highway, I can do it. So, no excuses. Ask an 8 year old to help you. It will be done in seconds.

Despite a few SNICKERS, I am not on arrrrah.net, the Pirate network, as I once sent to out half the world. I guess I could wear my glasses, or proofread, but what’s the fun in that?  Maybe I’m just a BUTTERFINGERS.  Feel free to email me with any questions or concerns. My email is easy.  kjj43@att.net. K for Kathy, J for Jean, J for Johnson, 43, year I was born—I’ll wait while you do the math-- at att.net. I will answer you as quickly as possible, and if I can’t answer your questions, I’ll find someone who can.

I believe we will make hundreds of memories as we go through the year. Our dedication, diversity and doggedness will make us successful. We will be Shining the Light of Exchange on everything we do.

Through the National Foundation and now our own Lincolnland’s Foundation for Youth we have served more than 690,000 families and more than 1,727,000 children. WHO KNEW? Every family helped, every child saved from further abuse has the opportunity to become a productive citizen. One family, one child, is worth every hour we work. We are LIFESAVERS.

But just think. Thousands. THOUSANDS!  Wow! Goose bumps. That’s great personal and collective service to others and tons of ALMOND JOY for all of us.

Right here in Lincolnland a conservative estimate of our worth in our communities as volunteers is more than $135,000 a year. This is above and beyond the actual money contributed through our hundreds of projects. Every hour from every volunteer is the equivalent of $20.50 in governmental or private sector monies. WHO KNEW?  It’s time we were Shining the Light of Exchange.

By Shining the Light of Exchange we will go make something happen in our clubs and in our communities. It only takes one person to make a difference in the life of another. United, just think how many lives we can touch. Be a STAR BURST. Go explode on the scene. Together we can achieve anything we want.

So, thank you for allowing me the opportunity to serve. I look forward to working with you to achieve our goals, to expand Exchange, and to having a great deal of fun as we do so.

Hugs and KISSES.