Lincolnland Club and District Leaders,
Tuesday, February 16th, was a big night for Lincolnland as we formally welcomed the Exchange Club of LMV (Libertyville - Mundelein - Vernon Hills) into our district during their Charter Banquet at Casa Bonita in Libertyville. Master of Ceremonies and Grayslake Member Robert Frank led attendees through a fine evening of great food, camaraderie, and Exchange pride. VFR (Volunteer Field Representative) Lou Molitor inducted the charter members and installed the officers and directors, VFR Frank Alberico delivered the invocation and presented the charter certificate and banner, Grayslake President Mike Deney led us in the Pledge of Allegiance and presented the LMV bell and gavel, and your District President delivered the keynote address. The LMV charter membership totaled 29 Exchangites, with four members joining during the banquet. We express special thanks to club builders Mike Oster, Cynthia Lee, and Catherine Finger as well as the Exchange Club of Grayslake for sponsoring LMV. We also congratulate and thank the charter officers and board members of LMV, which include President Mike Oster; President-Elect Ant Simonian; Secretary Mike Desko; Treasurer Sean Wepler; Directors Guy Schumacher, Holly Monger, Stephanie Smith-Howard, Bonnie Quirke, Tiffany Patterson, and Tom Schreiner; and Honorary Director Bob Ogilvie. Welcome, LMV!
ALL Aboard?: You now know what LMV signifies, but do you know what ALL means? A kickoff meeting was held on Wednesday, February 17th, for individuals interested in forming a new Exchange Club in Antioch - Lake Villa - Lindenhurst (ALL). Stay tuned.
Exchange Club Facts and Figures: As of January 31st, there are 22,277 Exchangites and 724 clubs across the United States and Puerto Rico. Lincolnland, which is the third largest of 32 districts in Exchange, has 1291 members and 32 clubs. (By the way, with a few more members, we will pass Tennessee as the second largest district. Tennessee has 1299 members, and Georgia is the largest district with 2291 members.) In addition to our new LMV club, Aledo, Champaign, Quad Cities, and Urbana have had positive growth this year. Although we have had 141 experienced members leave Exchange since July 1st, we have welcomed 81 new members into the Exchange Club family this year. (We hope to welcome many more new Exchangites during our "Stand Up with Exchange" membership program in February and March.) Lincolnland's most experienced club is Galesburg, which was chartered in 1924. The Champaign and Urbana clubs were chartered in 1926, and Alton was chartered in 1927.
Belated Presidents Day Trivia: Do you know which four US Presidents have been Exchange Club members? You'll find the answer below.
Lincolnland District Convention News: The National Exchange Club Representative at our District Convention in Naperville on June 10th - 13th will be 2008 - 2009 National President Floyd Culver from Defiance, Ohio. In my January 13th "Lincolnland Update", I had announced that 2009 - 2010 National President-Elect Margie Miller would be our representative, but her schedule has changed. We look forward to welcoming Floyd and his wife Ann back to Lincolnland. Stan Rocush and the District Convention Committee are planning for a great event, including a parade of club banners to kick off the convention. The convention registration fee has not been finalized, but we're targeting for $90 or less. More details will follow in future updates. By the way, our 2011 District Convention will be hosted by Quad Cities at the Rock Island Holiday Inn during the weekend of June 23rd - 26th.
Got Officers and Directors?: The Exchange Club bylaws stipulate that annual club elections be held no earlier than the first meeting in March and no later that the last meeting in April. After your club has held its election, please file your officer report either via mail or online at www.nationalexchangeclub.org. Reports are due to National by April 30th, which will enable the National Staff to send important support materials to your club's 2010 - 2011 leadership team in preparation for your new Exchange year beginning on July 1st.
Lincolnland Faces and Places: Mattoon held its 4th Annual Megeff / Exchange Club Double Elimination Pool Tournament on February 13th. The tournament was preceded by a luncheon social gathering with prospective members. … Alton is trying out the Moonlight Restaurant and the Sportsman's Club Dining Room as their new meeting place after the local VFW closed its restaurant facilities. … Rantoul honored Bridget Schlueter as its January Exchange Student of the Month. … The Lake County Exchange Clubs Foundation for the Prevention of Child Abuse Fundraiser will be held at Rink Side Family Entertainment Center in Gurnee Mills Mall from 10 AM to 7 PM on Sunday, February 28th. … Naperville will have its annual "One Nation Under God" Community Breakfast beginning at 9 AM on Saturday, March 20th, at the Naperville Holiday Inn Select, which will host our 2010 District Convention. … The Lincolnland Board of Directors will welcome back Belleville's Teresia Mueller as Division 11 Director during our teleconference on Saturday, February 27th. Teresia has returned to the position after Division 11 Director Bill Jones moved to Maryland.
Trivia Answer: Presidents Calvin Coolidge, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Harry Truman, and George H. W. Bush have all been Exchangites.
And finally, I'd like to thank the Exchange Club of Greater Kendall County for their camaraderie during their Community Blood Drive on Saturday, February 13th, in Oswego. I've never had so much fun donating a pint.
Thanks for all you do in the Spirit of Exchange.
Scot
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
