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\u201cWhy am I a member of the Exchange Club of Greater Newburyport?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIn light of the struggle to attract and keep members in service clubs nationwide, I have given my own membership some thought.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter fourteen years with the National Exchange Club, founded in 1917, I still enjoy the social aspect of attending dinner meetings, and I still enjoy providing service to my community. Why is that?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, to begin with, I consider the club members to be my friends. I like them. They like me. We share a camaraderie from sharing our time and effort to help others.\u00a0 Who wouldn’t want to have such friends?”<\/p>\n
\u201cl feel like I’m sharing a night out with my friends,” said member Nancy Mullen of our dinner meetings. “l look forward to it. Every two weeks, I catch up with friends. We don’t judge each other by how much we contribute. We accept what each member is able to give.”<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course, I wouldn’t have known that at the beginning. I was reluctant to join Exchange, as I was comfortable with my life as it was. But member Jim Noyes<\/p>\n
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Stu and Jim Welcoming New Member New Member Regina Branco<\/p><\/div>\n
was persistent in asking me to join. and my wife urged me to join to get involved in the community. I’m glad I did.\u00a0 I thank Jim for the opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen I was tossed right into service, first being asked to take over the newsletter<\/a>, then being added to the board of directors. eventually serving as president. If members don’t get involved, they don’t stay it’s as simple that.”<\/p>\n \u201cMy installation ceremony as a local club president at a hayride and barbecue has grown to legendary status over the years as a comedy of errors. Who would have known that so many members would be out of town on the selected date, that another would be called away at the last moment to pick up his son at the airport, that there would be a street and an avenue of the same name in neighboring Haverhill to confuse the attendees, that the wife of one member would be allergic to hay, that a horse pulling a separate carnage for the allergic one would plant her feet and refuse to budge, that the two riders would then take a wrong turn and got lost on the walk back to the barbecue, that the guitar player wouldn’t show up, that because of the lack of lighting we would have to move inside a stable for the ceremonies, that I would forget the flag and banner?\u00a0 But all of that happened. Still, the difficulties on this evening of a full moon would only draw us closer together.”<\/p>\n \u201cMy most important role in the club, however, has been as editor of the newsletter.\u00a0 Not only has it kept members informed. but it has become a record, a history, of club activities. I write the newsletter as I would write a letter to friends, for they are indeed that. When they express appreciation for my efforts, I am inspired to continue.<\/p>\n \u201cThe purpose of a service club, of course, is the service. A club must provide service if it is to have any meaning. We are a small club of about twenty members. As new members trickle in. a few others drop out \u2014 \u00a0for a variety of reasons. Usually, it is the result of a lack of involvement, though we have lost a few good members because of job changes or moves. Still, we have maintained our core of “workhorses,” and we provide a solid program of services. The benefit is to those we serve, but the good feeling is felt on both sides.”<\/p>\n \u201cAt our annual holiday party for a group home of adults who are mentally challenged, a resident was asked by his mother the name of the group giving the party.”<\/p>\n \u201cIts the Friendship Club,” he explained, unable to think of our official name.”<\/p>\n \u201cI think that sums it all up,” she would say later. “He considers you as friends coming to a party. People will give money and drop off gifts, but very few people will come and spend an evening. My son and the others look forward to it. It was absolutely wonderful.”<\/p>\n \u201cWho wouldn’t feel good about that? Who wouldn’t want to offer that sense of satisfaction to a friend as a potential member?”<\/p>\n \u201cIn addition to that party, our direct service includes taking senior citizens to an outdoor philharmonic concert, serving food to the runners in a road race fund-raiser in memory of a slain high school cheerleader, putting teddy bears in police cruisers for use with children at the scene of accidents or domestic disputes, escorting children from a women’s crisis center to buy gifts for their families, and serving as waiters and waitresses for a banquet at a senior citizens’ housing complex.”<\/p>\n \u201cThe concert involves transporting seniors to a local state park, Maudslay State Park<\/a> arts center, listening to a free rehearsal concert, serving a light lunch, conducting a tour of the park’s flowering rhododendrons, and then returning to the housing complex in a restored steam mill. At our first outing, we realized that we had too much food so we invited the orchestra to partake of the luncheon, and thus was born a tradition.”<\/p>\n \u201cThank you so much.” commented more than a few. “We had a wonderful time.”<\/p>\n \u201cThe road race is to raise funds for a scholarship in the name of Pentucket Regional High School cheerleader Beth Brodie<\/a>, who was slain by a classmate who wished in vain to pursue a romantic relationship.”<\/p>\n \u201cI have never seen an outpouring like this before,” commented then-U.S. Rep. Peter Torklldsen<\/a>, “Without the Exchange Club, we would never have been able to do this,” said father Steve Brodie. “You’ve helped us immeasurably. Today is as much a tribute to the community as a tribute to Beth by the community.”<\/p>\n “In another annual project, the teddy bears are packaged with coloring books and crayons in Exchange-monogrammed canvas bags for use as ice breakers in police emergencies. The national focus of Exchange is on the prevention of child abuse.”<\/p>\n “We had two children running naked in the street,” commented Greg Frappier of the Newbury Police Department. “Added committee chair Jim Byrne of his coloring-book-and-crayon-buying spree, “l was standing in the check-out line with forty coloring books and forty boxes of crayons, and the lady behind me said, ‘That’s one heck of a party you’re having.’ When I explained to her what I was doing, the lady behind her said. ‘I’ve got some teddy bears I’m going to donate to my police department.’ Then the lady behind her said. ‘l make rag dolls. I’m going to donate some of those.’\u201d<\/p>\n “It’s funny how one thing leads to another.”<\/p>\n “The holiday season brings out several projects. The Kmart-sponsored shopping trip for children from the\u00a0Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center<\/a> involves helping the children buy gifts, not for themselves, but for members of their families, then helping them wrap and label the selections.”<\/p>\n “We couldn’t do this without Exchange,” said Regina Lensky, the coordinator of human resources for the Newburyport Kmart. “We really appreciate what you do. I just wish we could thank each one of you individually. There are no words to express what you do. You’re the tops.”<\/p>\n “This gave me a boost,” agreed one member. “Whatever the children got from the morning, I got more.”<\/p>\n “The holiday party involves serving food and beverages to residents of the Senior-citizen complex at the steam mill as they listen to holiday music and speakers, then cleaning up afterward.”<\/p>\n “We would like to thank you for a wonderful evening,” wrote the social director later.\u00a0 The food was wonderful, the service great, and the clean-up amazing.\u00a0 Never has our kitchen been so spic and span in such a short time. We should tell you that not a morsel was wasted. The following evening thirty-three residents were fed delicious chicken dinners, and the next day twenty-eight sliced chicken sandwiches were served.\u00a0 Thanks again for all you do in service to the residents of Newburyport.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe also raise money for a variety of causes, including two college scholarships, and support, along with the other Exchange Clubs of the Merrimack Valley. the regional Family Support Center in nearby Lawrence, Mass.\u00a0 Financial support is important. but, it is the direct service \u2014 person-to-person \u2014\u00a0 that is most meaningful. As one member said, \u201dYou can only hand out so many checks.”<\/p>\n \u201cFor the spirit with which we provide these services, the Newburyport club was recognized with the New England District President’s 1999-2000 “Top Club Award\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIts recognition of heart, soul, and spirit,” said past district director John Chamberlain. “It is a coveted award.”<\/p>\n \u201cSure. we could do more. but at the same time, we have to take satisfaction in what we do.\u00a0 \u00a0Always telling members that they are not doing enough is discouraging to the spirit and therefore to membership numbers. Why belong to an organization in Which you are not appreciated?<\/p>\n \u201cWhat we do, whatever and how much that might be is appreciated by those we serve. Writer and motivational speaker Mark Victor Hansen tells us the following story in Chicken Soup for the Soul<\/a>, here abridged:<\/p>\n \u201cA man was walking along a lengthy beach when he spotted another man In the distance approaching from the opposite direction. Every now and then the stranger appeared to stop. stoop, pick up something from the sand and throw it out into the ocean. As the two got closer and closer. the man could see that the stranger was picking up starfish stranded by the receding tide and tossing them back into the water. “Why are you doing that,” he asked when they were finally within speaking distance “Don’t you know that starfish are stranded on beaches all over the world? What you’re doing can’t possibly matter.” The stranger stooped again, picked up another starfish, and tossed it into the water. “It mattered to that one,” he said.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd so, too, does it matter to those whose lives we touch. We can’t do every. tt\u00fcng. but we can do something.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBeing among friends. Making a difference in the lives of other human beings. Why am I in Exchange? I can’t imagine not belonging.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"![\"\"](\"https:\/\/exchangeclubofgreaternewburyport.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/PeterTorkildsen.jpeg\")
on hand for the pancake breakfast. “This has been a tremendous show of community support and caring. That’s a lot of what makes this a great country. We’ve made a positive out of the tragedy of Beth Brodie. Through this scholarship, her memory is kept alive.”<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/exchangeclubofgreaternewburyport.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/OfficerGreggVFrappier-226x300.jpeg\")
“Upon investigation, we found the house to be unsanitary and unsafe. We even found a rifle and ammunition. We had to call the Division of Social Services. It was quite a drama, quite taxing. But we had the bears to calm the children down. The things Exchange does don’t go to waste. I personally appreciate what you are trying to do.”<\/p>\n