FLORENCE-More than 490 members and guests representing 159 Exchange Clubs from the United States and Puerto Rico gathered in Greenville, SC for the 104th National Exchange Club Symposia and Convention, July 14-16. 2022. At the convention, NEC President Kathy Mize and CEO Tracey Edwards presented nine awards to members and individual clubs in the Alabama District Exchange Clubs (ADEC) for outstanding leadership and service to their communities during the 2021-2022 club year. The Alabama district is composed of 23 clubs, including Collegiate, Excel (high school) and Junior Excel (middle school) clubs as well as traditional Exchange Clubs. Dr. Maureen Murphy of the Exchange Club of Florence, AL led the ADEC as President during 2021-2022
Alabama was one of three districts to receive the 2021-2022 Outstanding District Award, one of the top awards presented by the National Exchange Club. To receive this coveted award, at least 50% of all clubs in the state must have earned the National Service Award, 50% or more of all Alabama clubs must have conducted at least one child abuse prevention service project, the district must have shown at least 3% positive membership growth in the year, a district newsletter or website must be published at least quarterly, reporting of projects and honorees in the state to NEC must be timely, and the district must have built at least one new club. Alabama, Texas, and the West Virginia/Ohio districts received the Outstanding District Award for 2021-2022.
Alabama District Exchange Club (ADEC) delegates celebrate the 2022 Outstanding District Award, given only to three of 26 districts in the National Exchange Club at the 104th National Exchange Club convention in Greenville, SC. From left to right are Billy Jones (Troy), Donna Jones (Volunteer Field Representative, Troy), John Schoen (ADEC Treasurer, Irondale), Linda Schoen (ADEC Secretary, Irondale), Alex Vainstein (Montgomery), Dr. Maureen Murphy (Florence, ADEC President 2021-2022), Carolyn Chandler (Florence), Hannah Hendon (NWSCC), Quinton Davis (NWSCC), Patricia Spafford (Mobile), and Tim Spafford (ADEC President 2022-2023, Mobile). Not pictured are delegates from the Exchange Club of Montgomery: Derrick Cunningham, Gayle Atchison, and Lisa Crenshaw.
Alabama District Exchange Clubs (ADEC) completed more than 137 service projects during the 2021-2022 club year and built the Collegiate Exchange Club of Northwest-Shoals Community College (NWSCC), the first Exchange Club built on a community college campus in Alabama. Hannah Hendon, Charter President of the Collegiate Exchange Club of NWSCC, participated in the national convention and commented, “It was an opportunity of a lifetime to participate in this national convention. I made professional connections and have networked with professionals who can serve as mentors as I enter UAH to pursue a Mechanical Engineering degree next fall.”
The nine national awards presented to Alabama District Exchange Clubs and members include:
Outstanding District Award (Requirements for 2021-2022:50%+ clubs earned NSA, 50%+ clubs did at least one CAP project, published newsletter quarterly, had district website, built new club and had at least +3.0% membership growth)-One of three in the nation-AL, TEXAS, and OH/WVA. ADEC had 52.5% of clubs earn the National Service Award (NSA) and 69.7% of clubs conducted at least one CAP project, built a new club-the Collegiate Exchange Club of Northwest-Shoals Community College, and had +6.2% membership growth for 2021-2022.
National Service Award (NSA)– 12 clubs in state earned this. Each club performed six or more service projects, at least one in the four areas of youth, community service, Americanism, and the prevention of child abuse:
Exchange Club of Florence
Exchange Club of Irondale
Exchange Club of Jacksonville
Exchange Club of Mobile
Exchange Club of Opelika
Exchange Club of Shoals
Exchange Club of Troy
Exchange Club of Tuscaloosa
Excel Club of Jefferson Christian Academy, Irondale
Junior Excel Club of Jefferson Christian Academy, Irondale
Collegiate Exchange Club of Huntingdon College
Collegiate Exchange Club of Northwest-Shoals Community College
Distinguished District President Award–Maureen Murphy, Exchange Club of Florence, AL
New Club Building Award–Maureen Murphy and Kiersten Cramer, Collegiate Exchange of Northwest-Shoals Community College-built 2/16/22, 19 members
Club Membership Achievement Award (+8 members and 90%+ retention)–Exchange Club of Mobile and Excel Club-Jefferson Christian Academy, Irondale
Club Superior Membership Achievement Award (+10 members and 96%+ retention) – Collegiate Exchange Club of Huntingdon College
Club Excellence Award–Collegiate Exchange Club of Huntingdon College
Club Hat Trick Award-(Built a new club, added 8 or more members and had 97%+ retention) Collegiate Exchange Club of Huntingdon College
Lifetime Member Recruitment Award Pin (10 members)–Linda Schoen, Exchange Club of Irondale
New ADEC Leaders for 2022-2023 (left-to-right): Gayle Atchison (Div. 5 Dir., Montgomery), Carolyn Chandler (Div. 1 Dir., Florence), Mickey McDonnell (Div. 8 Dir., Mobile), Donna Jones (Div. 6 Dir., VFR, Troy), Lisa deShazo (Div. 4 Dir., VFR, Mobile), Diana Cline (Div. 2 Dir., Clay County), Joe Dudek, NEC Region 12 VP, Tim Spafford (ADEC President, Mobile), Derrick Cunningham (ADEC President-Elect, Montgomery), Maureen Murphy (ADEC Immediate Past Pres., Florence), John Schoen (ADEC Treas., Irondale), Linda Schoen (ADEC Sec., Irondale). Not pictured above: Judy Friday (Div. 7 Dir., Selma) and Tommy Holliman (VFR, Montgomery). VFR-Volunteer Field Representative. Media Release/ Dr. Maureen Murphy, Secretary of the Exchange Club of Florence, AL
