Vision: A strong America, safe communities, and unified people.
Mission: Exchange, inspiring communities to become better places to live.
Motto: Unity for Service
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January 2021
Buzz Wachsteter (Rome)
Editor
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Georgia Needs Exchange NOW More Than Ever |
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Fussell's Footnotes
Fussell Hughes
President, Georgia District
I hope everyone had a safe and happy holiday and a happy new year.
As we look back on 2020 and all the challenges thrown at Exchange Clubs and their respective communities I have one thing to say about that WELL DONE !! You all did it you made adjustments and made things happen in your community. You all took a step back took a deep breath and got it done. I couldn’t be more proud to be a part of this great organization Exchange.
Ok looking back never hurts but looking forward is what we need now. Let’s all keep building on what we have accomplished and make 2021 the biggest year for Exchange. Let’s keep inviting people to come be a part of a real service club, a club that loves its community. A club that fights Child Abuse every day. A club that honors first responders a club that is One Nation Under God. Be proud of your service in Exchange tell someone everyday how much you love Exchange then invite them to a meeting.
Thank you for all you do in the name of Exchange. So long 2020 come on 2021 we are ready.
It is my honor to serve.
Thank you
Fussell
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If You Have Not
Already Done So, It
Is YOUR Duty And Your
Obligation As A Member Of Exchange
To Vote January 5th.
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Need To Replace A Fundraiser? |
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Neither the pandemic nor a heavy fog kept runners from raising over $22,000 in support of the Rome Exchange Club's Family Resource Center, Georgia's only accredited Exchange Child Abuse Prevention Center.
Sound appealing to you for your club? Rome Exchange member Gail Johnson, who chaired this project for many years, is offering to advise other clubs thinking about having their own race. Gail can be reached via email at gailj1@bellsouth.net or 706-766-8451. Or contact race chairman, Jason Sanker 706-506-6503 for advice.
Gail knows how to organize the event, advise you on corporate sponsors, attract runners who are not from your community, budgeting, and technically set up the race for organization and timing.
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This Is YOUR Map To A Fantastic
Georgia District Convention
Callaway Gardens Resort
June 3-6, 2021
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Can You Believe It...Only 153 Days Away
So Much To See And So Much To Do.
Here's A Special Message For YOU From
Kit McClung, Callaway's Sales Manager
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“We are looking forward to hosting the Georgia District Exchange Clubs at Callaway June 3-6, 2021. While you are here, don’t miss the Ida Cason Callaway Memorial Chapel and complimentary Organ Concert each Saturday and Sunday. Relax beside the lake or the gurgling waterfall as the majestic hymns drift throughout the surrounding forest. For an educational and entertaining performance, join us for a daily Birds of Prey Show at the Callaway Discovery Center. The Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center features hundreds of live, free-flying butterflies for unbelievable photo opportunities, even for a novice. There is something for everyone at Callaway."
And from Convention Chair Jess Lucas, God willing and the Covid don’t rise, the Georgia District Exchange Clubs will have its best district convention ever. The convention will be at the Lodge & Spa at Callaway Gardens June 3-6, 2021. The Lodge is a special venue. Normally, the room rate is over $200 per night, but we have it for $121 per night. We also have affordable meal prices. There are also beautiful and rustic two-bedroom cottages for $121 per bedroom per night. They would be perfect for couples who want to share a cottage.
Make your room or cottage reservation today because this rate is limited.
855-694-1330
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FORE! Here's What YOU Can Do
To Take A Swing At Child Abuse...Golfer Or Not
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Welcome Danny Hoover of the Exchange Club of Tifton as the new chairman of the Georgia District Golf Tournament held each year in conjunction with the District Convention. This is one of the most important events of our convention because every dollar raised goes straight to the Georgia Child Abuse Prevention Foundation and our CAP foundation distributes these funds to Georgia's National Exchange Club CAP centers throughout the state.
Golfers DO NOT have to be Exchange Club members. Download the form and get signed up NOW.
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This Is What We Do...Georgia's Service Club |
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Rome Club's Official Toys For Tots Program Provides Christmas For 3,000 Children This Year. Need Increases By 500 From Last Year. |
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The Toys For Tots program in a big part of Northwest Georgia was able to gear up again this year for a successful campaign and make sure over 3,000 children had toys for Christmas in spite the horrible effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and the large unemployment of the area. It wasn't business as usual for the program that has the Exchange Club of Rome as the sanctioned Local Coordinating Organization, but under the leadership of Rome Exchange member Linda Hatcher, who will tell you that there was not a better group of community volunteers in the country, children in Rome and Floyd County, as well as those in Cedartown and Rockmart in Polk County, and Summerville in Chattooga County were the beneficiaries. The drive culminated with a socially distanced drive-thru pickup at the club's Coosa Valley Fairgrounds that saw cadets from Rome High School's junior ROTC program wheeling out prepackaged bags to the waiting cars when registration numbers were radioed to them. At one point, waiting parent's cars were snaked through the fairgrounds parking lot as well as stretching over a mile down MLK Blvd, but the parents didn't mind waiting.
You would think the program volunteers would take a long break, but not so because they are out shopping super after Christmas sales for new toys that will be held for the next campaign. Collaboration with others makes it work!
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Brunswick Club Continues Tradition
Started Almost 50 Years Ago
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The Exchange club of Brunswick held their annual Powell McDonald Christmas Bicycle give away. Almost 50 years ago Powell McDonald started giving bikes away to children in his neighborhood anonymously. He did this because growing up his family could not afford to get him a bike. The number of bikes grew in numbers to a point he enlisted his friend Jimmy Hancock in helping him. The number of bikes got to the point they decided to get the Exchange club of Brunswick involved in the bike project. The club took over and asked the Glynn county school social workers to help find the children in need. The club pays for the bikes by the members being fined from a Sgt. in Arms for various (crimes) from having their picture in the paper to forgetting to silence their cell phone in meetings. The Exchange club has given 1,000s of bikes away plus over 2 million dollars away to help the needy children in Brunswick, and surrounding counties. That money is raised from their rodeo, turkey shoot, and their annual fair.
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Busy Time For Savanah Club In Terms
Of Service And Recognitions
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The Exchange Club of Savannah has presented the Exchange Member of the Year to Wade Poston (top photo) who club President Dianne Cornwell describes as a former president who continues to bring new ideas for service to the club. Also, the club presented the Student of the Month (picture left) and on the third Friday of the month they take 25 meals in collaboration with a local restaurant to the Ronald McDonald House. The club also donated toys to the Salvation Army, collected blankets for senior citizens, and coats for the homeless. Busy group those Savannah Exchange members. |
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Rome Club Collaborates With
Local Elementary School To "Adopt-A-Mile" For Beautification
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The Exchange Club of Rome collaborated with the Rome City School System and more specifically Main Elementary School to Adopt-A-Mile of Martin Luther King Boulevard. Both the school and the Rome Club's Coosa Valley Fairgrounds are each located on this major four lane highway. Working together, the Exchange Club will instill pride in the community to the students of the school as well as showing them how to accept responsibility. Exchange Club members working with Main Elementary faculty and students will maintain the roadway on a regular basis. |
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Tifton Club Helps Develop
Youth Creativity With
Christmas Tree Contest
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The Exchange Club once again sponsored the Mini Festival of Trees. All of the trees were decorated with ornaments made with the after school students in the Kids Advocacy Coalition. Each school did one tree. The trees were judged on categories like, "most adorable", "most glitzy", "most unique", "most holly jolly" as well as other categories. The trees are on display at City Hall for a couple of weeks. |
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Americanism Strong In Columbus |
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The Exchange Club of Columbus, Georgia recently held their Field of Honor.
Flags honoring all Veterans and First Responders were displayed in downtown Columbus over a span of three blocks. According to member Peggy Lambert, "t was an awesome sight to see the waving flags and to interact with the crowd. What a great event to honor Veterans!"
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Columbus also re-dedicated a Freedom Shrine at Richards Middle School. Club members and former Educators, Jennifer Allen and Cleophus Hope spoke to students and school leaders about the history and importance of the Freedom Shrine. They challenged the students to study the documents and to encourage others to do the same.
Freedom Shrines are a major project of Exchange. Do you have a school in your community that does not have one? They are available to your club through National Exchange for your club to place in that school to benefit the students study of American History.
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Brantley County...Small But Busy
The Exchange Club of Brantley County's fourth quarter was extremely busy. The club held a One Nation Under God Program at Nahunta United Methodist Church. There was no luncheon this year because of social distancing in the social hall, but they gave out the Book of Golden Deeds Award, the Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award, Firefighter of the Year Award, Medic of the Year Award and Dispatcher of the Year Award. State Sen. William Ligon was the keynote speaker.
In December, the club members took up food for Saved by Grace, a ministry to the homeless in Brantley and area counties, and recognized two Youths of the Month during the November meeting.
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Brunswick Hears
About CIA...
Not The Feds
That Is
Mrs. Jodi Benner Cofounder of the CIA ( CHILDREN IN ACTION) Sports club founded this program 13 years ago with Allen Benner to reach the children in the Brunswick community through sports and Christian principles as positive influence . - Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.the members were3 told. The program's Vision - Working alongside you, we help strengthen children. Mission - We Practice, Play, and Pray, to learn lessons, so children and families can win... CIA offers free camps to children between the ages of 7 and 12, throughout the summer. All camps include breakfast served at 8:30 am and lunch served at noon. Clarity - We lead with Truth.
Intentionality - We connect to build relationships. Activity - We play to discover passions.
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Columbus
Collaborates With FOP To Distributes Food
Every year in December, the Exchange Club of Columbus partners with the Fraternal Order of Police to provide food boxes to the needy. Exchange members helped pick up the food, pack and deliver the boxes.
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Cartersville/Bartow County Hold Annual Christmas Parade
To Raise
Community Funds
It was a beautiful night for the Exchange Club Christmas Parade. Tthe estimated amount collected during the parade (subject to a bank machine counter to get the exact total) by the Bucket Brigade was about $2,600 representing the 3rd highest bucket brigade collection total over the past 9 years! The exact total will be reported later
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Tifton Presents
Public Safety Award
The Exchange Club was able to surprise a deserving local officer with the Public
Safety Award. Carla Carlson presented Tift County Animal Control Officer Jennifer Devers with the Officer of the Year Award.
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Gobble Gobble... Turkey Shoot Time In Brunswick
One of the Brunswick's Club annual projects to fund community projects is a good old fashion turkey shoot. With the winner receiving a gift card to pick out their family's bird, this year the club had 94 markspersons. Pictured is Justin Floyd helping his grandson Jayce to set his sites on the prize, and royalty was also at the range in the person of Alyssa Beasley, Miss Georgia.
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- February is NATIONAL COMMUNITY SERVICE MONTH
- February is NATIONAL BLACK HISTORY MONTH
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March is NATIONAL NUTRITION MONTH
- APRIL IS CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION (CAP) MONTH
Now that you know, get your club to plan activities and programs around the monthly topics.
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Congratulations To Georgia's National Service Award Winners...So Far
A special "clang" of the Exchange bell to those clubs who, in spite of the pandemic situation have achieved the National Service Award for working in their communities.
(Newest in red)
- Exchange Club of Albany
- Exchange Club of Milledgeville
- Exchange Club of Tifton
National Exchange awards the National Service Award and patch to those clubs who have completed and reported one project each in the Programs of Service areas of Americanism, Youth, Community Service, and our National Project the Prevention of Child Abuse, plus two other projects from any of the POS categories including fundraising.
Curious what your club has reported? Click the link below to see the National report.
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Help Is Just A Mouse Click Away |
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