Exchange’s Mission Statement was updated in January, after approval by the National Board of Directors. The new statement is: “Exchange, America’s Premier Service Club, working to make our communities better places to live.”
The concise phrasing more effectively communicates our mission to members, potential members and the general public.
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Americanism Projects
Promoting pride in country, respect for the flag and appreciation of our freedoms are the primary purposes of Exchange's Americanism programs. The tumultuous struggles of world powers in the twentieth century have done little to guarantee a peaceful future for the majority of the world’s people. However, there’s one country in modern times that people flock to for safety, freedom and opportunity — the United States of America. It is hard for Americans to imagine the horrors of modern struggles over religious and ethnic differences, the very differences we embrace.
Exchange’s Americanism programs were born in the aftermath of World War II. At that time, patriotism was unquenchable, and Exchangites joined veterans and other civic groups in heralding the rich blessings of democracy.
Child Abuse Prevention
This project guide was designed so that Exchange Clubs all across America could reach out to their communities to prevent child abuse.
It‘s difficult to know how one person can make a difference when it comes to a devastating problem such as child abuse. That’s where the project guide comes in.
The following pages include various project ideas that can help your Exchange Club make a significant contribution in the area of child abuse prevention. Whether or not an Exchange Club Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse has been established in your area, these projects still enable you to make a hands-on difference in your community—one child at a time.
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Community Service
Community service is the lifeline of Exchange. Exchange Clubs across the country spend countless hours and dollars improving their communities each year. In fact, many of the projects within the Program of Service have a common goal of serving and benefiting our communities. Then why a separate category called Community Service? Because while the programs listed under Child Abuse Prevention, Youth and Americanism focus on specific areas within the community, the following projects are more broad in scope and are designed to benefit every community member.
The history of Exchange’s community service projects is quite impressive. Since the first group of Exchangites convened in 1911 in Detroit, Mich., Exchange has been dedicated to serving its communities through various projects. Throughout the years, Exchange Clubs have been responsible for community improvements of all types such as: cleaning up highways; sponsoring cultural programs, air, art and industrial shows, state and county fairs, festivals, rodeos and athletic events. These clubs have also provided millions of dollars for scholarships, gifts, equipment, sponsorships, educational endeavors and other causes.
Youth Projects
America’s young people are its most precious resource. This is why, for many years, Exchange has sponsored an impressive selection of activities designed to benefit and encourage our nation’s youth. Many of these richly rewarding programs are among the most popular and well-supported of all Exchange Club endeavors.
There is a variety of youth-related projects in which your club can participate. Of course, your participation is not limited to the programs specified in this book. After performing your community needs assessment, a tool which is available from your National Headquarters, you will determine which programs are most suitable for your area.
Recognition of a well-deserving youth could have an impact on his or her entire future. One National Youth of the Year Award recipient put it this way:
As a young man from an almost unknown town, the award proved to me that dreams can be reached. This award helped me to gain the necessary self-confidence to cope with the many hurdles associated with the acquisition of an education. It taught me that with hard work and support of others, the sky was the limit. I knew that my career aspirations could become a reality.