This edition of "Around Lincolnland" features recent events at the Exchange Club of Belleville.  For more information on these events, please contact Belleville President Ron Wodarczyk at ronwoody@charter.net.

The last few months have been very busy for the Exchange Club of Belleville.  In addition to their weekly Friday Night Bingo Fundraisers, the club has been very active as usual in the community.  Belleville served 1600 bratwursts and 18 cases of pancakes during the community's annual Oktoberfest.  Belleville's Family Picnic featured face painting and an inflatable house with a slide, and the club had a free trick-or-treat candy booth downtown for Halloween.  For National Day of Service, the club stocked the local Interfaith Food Pantry with $1,200 in groceries and cash.  Belleville's Firefighter Appreciation Dinner had approximately 100 active and retired firefighters in attendance.  The club distributed approximately 500 American Flags at Belleville Square during the Veteran's Day Ceremony, which featured inspiring speeches and an Air Force flyover.  The November 12th "One Nation Under God" dinner included Pastor Richard Berset's thought-provoking comments regarding our country's need to do the right thing and people's need to get involved and to vote.  Club members attended a "Thanks-for-Giving" event for the Southwestern Illinois College Foundation in response to the club's scholarship gift and also the Gustave Koerner 200th Birthday Celebration event as a result of the club's generous donation for restoring the historic Koerner House.  Belleville's December 3rd Christmas Party was highlighted by the announcement of Alice Warren as their Exchangite of the Year.  On December 18th and 19th, the club filled and delivered gift baskets for 218 needy families.  In addition, the local newspaper recently featured pictures and a glowing article about the Belleville Club's over 30 year dedication to setting-up the Christmas display on Belleville Square.

Thanks for all you do in the Spirit of Exchange.

Scot

Scot Warren
Lincolnland District President, 2009 - 2010
The Power of Exchange - Be Inspired!