December 12, 2019, Volume 26, Issue 5

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December 12, 2019, Volume 26, Issue 5

Our Vision – A strong America, safe communities, and unified people.

Our Mission – Exchange, inspiring communities to become better places to live.

Our Motto – Unity for Service

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NATIONAL CANDIDATE FILING DEADLINE Regarding the national candidate filing deadline for positions on the NEC Board of Directors and the NEC Foundation Board of Trustees, Section 2 of Article XIII (Nomination and Election of Officers and Directors), of the National Bylaws, states: “All suggested candidates for the office of National President-Elect, National Treasurer and Regional Vice Presidents must be endorsed by the candidate’s club and by the candidate’s District Board of Directors, which must be forwarded in writing, on the Suggested Candidate for National Office Form provided by The National Exchange Club, to the Executive Vice President not less than one hundred-twenty (120) days prior to the date designated for the annual convention. Members of Excel Clubs and Junior Excel Clubs are not eligible to be candidates for any elected office.” This year, completed forms must be received at headquarters by March 25, 2020, 120 days prior to the Opening Session of the 102nd National Convention in Colorado Springs, CO. Convention delegates will elect individuals to fill the position of National President-Elect. Delegates in even-numbered regions will also elect a Regional Vice President. The March 25 deadline also applies to candidates seeking an at-large position on the NEC Foundation Board of Trustees. At the time of election, no current National Board member, District President, District President-Elect or Past National President is eligible for the at-large position; and no candidate for the at-large position can be a candidate for another office at the same convention. Delegates will elect one (1) At-Large Trustee for a three-year term. Further nominations may come from the convention floor, and must comply with provisions in the NEC Bylaws and NEC Foundation Code of Regulations, respectively. Candidates must submit their intention to run in writing to the CEO/Executive Vice President prior to 9 p.m. on the first day of the convention. All candidates must be endorsed in writing by at least three Exchangites from three different clubs within the person’s region, other than the candidate’s own club, who are entitled to vote in the convention. If you are interested in running for office, please contact headquarters to request the appropriate candidate form. Contact: NEC forms, [email protected]; NEC Foundation forms, [email protected].

#ExchangeStrong #ExchangeFits Share photos and videos of your club on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, NEC Facebook

and email to: [email protected]

Currents A bulletin for Exchange Club leaders, is published monthly by The National

Exchange Club, 3050 Central Avenue, Toledo, Ohio 43606-1700. 419.535.3232

Website: www.nationalexchangeclub.org Email: [email protected]

Editor Publisher Gail Weller Tracey Edwards Executive Manager Chief Executive Officer

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NEC POLICY STATEMENT 1.1 ACTIVITY OF CANDIDATES FOR NATIONAL OFFICE The National Board of Directors has adopted the following policy pertaining to candidates for national office:

POLICY STATEMENT 1.1 THE NATIONAL EXCHANGE CLUB

REGULATING THE ACTIVITY OF NATIONAL CANDIDATES FOR NATIONAL OFFICE

RESOLVED that it be the Policy of the Board of Directors of The National Exchange Club that the following guidelines will apply to the conduct of political campaigns for National office: That no Exchange Club, District, Region or Exchange member may allocate funds for the sole purpose of advancing the candidacy of any person for election to a National Office or as a Member of the Board of Directors of The National Exchange Club. That in the allocation of Club, District or Regional funds, they are to be used for their National Convention attendees, and that such be limited to travel, hotel, hospitality suites and meal reimbursement. That at the National Convention, use of banners, posters, photographs, brochures, cards, letters or other printed or written materials, electronic media, pens, or other materials showing the name or theme of any candidate to promote his/her candidacy for office, be restricted to any private hotel room or any hospitality suite. Campaign pins, buttons and badges may be given out by anyone in any hospitality suite or personal hotel room of the convention hotel. A candidate may personally give out his or her campaign pins, buttons and/or badges anywhere except in the room where polling and tallying will take place. The wearing of pins, buttons and badges, showing the name or the theme of a candidate by anyone, is permitted. However, no member of the National Board of Directors, Elections Committee, Tellers, or staff may wear any candidate’s pin, button, badge, or anything with a candidate’s name or theme in the room when voting and tallying takes place. Under no circumstances may material be displayed in public space at the convention hotel(s) and/or facilities, or placed on tables or chairs at any convention events. That a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the President and Secretary of each Exchange Club, to all National and District Officers and Directors, and to each candidate seeking election to any National Office. Violations of this Policy will be reported to the Chairman of the National Committee on Elections, and the person responsible will be given a hearing before the Elections Committee Chairman, the National President, and the Immediate Past National President. That Committee will then recommend the disciplinary action, if necessary, to the National Board of Directors. Adopted: National Board of Directors Amended: National Board of Directors Jacksonville, Florida Detroit, Michigan January 10, 2009 July 6, 2011

NATIONAL DUES

Please be advised that effective January 1, 2020, national dues will be $19.50 per member per quarter for Exchange Club members (including Active, Active-Honorary, At-Large and Business Members). District leaders will want to work with clubs to be sure they are informed and prepared.

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NEW CLUBS CHARTERED – 2019/2020 No. DATE NAME MBRS SPONSOR DISTRICT BUILDERS

1 10.16.19 Exchange Club of North Mecklenburg, NC

23 Mooresville/ Lake Norman, NC

North Carolina Cotton and Vickie Ketchie Barbara Orr Beth Packard Paul Summerville

2 10.17.19 Exchange Excel Club of Stamford High School, Stamford, CT

26 Stamford, CT Connecticut Joe Dudek Vince McClean Bill Solder

3 11.1.19 Crescent Exchange Club of Charleston, SC

22 Charleston, SC South Carolina Victor Apat Brandon Cole Robert Snow

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SUMMARY OF DISTRICTS Highest YTD% Growth: 5.00% North Carolina District

Highest YTD% Retention: 97.40% Mid-Atlantic District

Most Members Added in November 2019: 75 Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast District

Most Members in the District November 2019: 1822 Georgia District

Most Clubs in the District November 2019: 39 California-Nevada District and Georgia District

Most New Clubs Built in 2019-2020 Club Year: 1 North Carolina District, Connecticut District, and South Carolina District

HOLIDAY SCHEDULE AT NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS Your National Headquarters will close for the Christmas and New Year Holidays at 5 p.m., Eastern Time, on Friday, December 20; and will reopen for business on Thursday, January 2, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time.

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FILING REQUIREMENT – 990 FORM Filing Deadline – November 15th – Annual Electronic Filing Requirement for Exchange Clubs and Districts Exchange Clubs and districts are required to electronically submit Form 990-N, also known as the e-Postcard, unless they choose to file a complete Form 990 or Form 990-EZ. Clubs/districts that do opt to complete Form 990 or Form 990-EZ, should also submit a scanned copy to [email protected]. Any club or district that fails to file required e-Postcards (or information returns – Forms 990 or 990-EZ) for three consecutive years will automatically lose its tax-exempt status. The revocation of the club or district’s tax-exempt status will take place on the filing due date of the third year. The e-Postcard is due on November 15, the day of the fifth month after the close of Exchange’s tax year on June 30.

Filing the e-postcard is simple by accessing the following site: www.irs.gov/990n; click on the link in the first paragraph to login and start filing – Form 990-N Electronic Filing system (e-Postcard). When you access the system, you will leave the IRS site and file the e-Postcard with the IRS through its trusted partner, Urban Institute. The form must be completed and filed electronically. There is no paper form. You will need the following items of basic information handy:

1. Tax Identification Number

2. Tax year 7.1.17 – 6.30.18

3. Confirmation of annual gross receipts

4. Legal name and address (typically shown as:

The National Exchange Club, DBA The Exchange Club of [club name])

5. Name and address of primary officer

6. Website, if any

CALIFORNIA EXCHANGE CLUBS – Please use the following number when filing with the State of California Franchise Tax Board: 3657592. Contact: [email protected] SHARE THE HOLIDAY CHEER Exchange Club Centers for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Exchange Clubs become even busier during the holiday time of year with projects for children and families who are struggling to put food on the table and may have little left for gifts. Many Centers also use this season to host fundraisers that bring in much needed funds for families and program expenses. It is a wonderful time for clubs and districts to be involved in the prevention of child abuse. Please take a few extra minutes and check in with your local Exchange Club Center. Could your club or district become involved in a Center fund raiser? For example, The Family Tree Center in Billings, MT, holds the “Festival of Trees”, and Aware Central Texas in Belton, TX, hosts “Christmas on the Farm”. The Exchange Club Center in Livingston, TN, has a Christmas party in each county they serve. They provide a full meal, Santa, and a gift containing clothes and a toy to each child. Santa photos are taken and presented to the family. Is there a project for children or families that you would like to support? Many Centers put much effort into providing food and gifts to families in need. Exchange Clubs and Districts can help financially or with volunteer hours. There is great need for both. Please call or contact the Prevention of Child Abuse Services Department at National Headquarters if you are wondering how you can become involved or which CAP Center to support. Let’s celebrate the season! Contact: [email protected]

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PLAN NOW FOR APRIL – NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH Start planning now to make April 2020, National Child Abuse Prevention Month, your best yet! This is a great time to partner with local Exchange Club Centers for the Prevention of Child Abuse in projects that support children and families and expand efforts in communities to raise awareness about child abuse. Clubs should consider proclamations or public awareness campaigns. Organize a Blue Ribbon or Blue Pinwheel display in a prominent location in your community. Start a Blue Mondays challenge within your district for the best groups dressed in blue. And don’t forget Exchange’s Believe in the Blue campaign. You will receive resources from National Headquarters that you will be able to share in your communities. You can spread information that strengthens families, keeps children safe and shares the work of Exchange! Contact: [email protected] EXCHANGE PARENT AIDE SUCCESS! Project H.E.L.P, of Naperville, IL, recently shared an empowering story of a mother involved with their Exchange Parent Aide program. They celebrated a Project HELP mom, Brandy. Brandy spoke in front of over 1,000 people at the center’s YWCA Leader Luncheon. She was the sole, in-person testimony, to advocate for Exchange Parent Aide, and the difference it has made in her life. She was poised, confident, and powerful in sharing what the Project HELP program has meant for her as a mother and woman. YWCA leadership was incredibly kind and supportive of her and the courage it takes to get on that stage and advocate for crucial services. A moment like this can undoubtedly change the life of the woman who learns she is valued, her voice matters, and she can change lives. Brandy brought people to tears and brought the center’s work home to peoples’ hearts. Thanks are shared with Estefania Palafox, lead bilingual social Worker/ parent aide for her excellence, and building this relationship and Brandy’s confidence. Thanks also to Brandy for being a hero to her daughter, Exchange Club Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse, Project H.E.L.P., and the YWCA of Chicago. Contact: [email protected] FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST …

December Club Anniversaries

(25 years or more, 5-year increments) Caro, MI 12.11.29 90 Greeneville, TN 12.20.29 90 Scotts Valley, CA 12.12.69 50

December Prevention of Child Abuse Center Anniversaries

(25 years or more, 5-year increments)

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EXCHANGE UNIVERSITY Exchange University is a valuable online training resource available to all Exchange club-level officers and district directors. The submission of officer election reports each year (due by April 30) to National Headquarters, initiates the automatic enrollment of a club's president, secretary, and treasurer, as well as district directors. Check your membership records to verify National Headquarters has accurate email addresses for these individuals. Not only is this educational opportunity an important training tool designed to assist in leadership roles, it is also a requirement for many national awards, including:

Distinguished Club President Award Distinguished Club Secretary Award

Distinguished Club Treasurer Award Distinguished District Director Award

Although these courses may be taken anytime throughout the year, completion of a course was required by August 1 if an officer desired to achieve any of the above awards. Certificates are sent upon completion. For more information on Exchange University, visit the Exchange University section through the Member Resources page of Exchange's website. Contact: [email protected]

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IN SYMPATHY – W. James Brown, Jr., 1989/1999 National President, passed away Saturday, December W. James Brown, Jr.

14, 2019. Arrangements are still pending at this time. Any additional information will be made available when arrangements are finalized. Above all, please keep Jim’s wife Kay, daughter Kathy Mize and his entire family in your thoughts and prayers for peace and comfort during this difficult time. Messages of condolences may be sent to: Kay Brown Kathy Mize 6711 15th Avenue North 48 Harbor Lake Circle St. Petersburg, FL 33710 Safety Harbor, FL 34695

Fay Caroline McNulty – Fay Caroline McNulty (nee Schwartz), 86, of Plainfield, IL, mother of Region 3 Vice President Dawn Portner, passed away on Thursday, November 21, 2019. She was born on October 24, 1933, in London, England. Fay is survived by her loving children, Donald (Terry) McNulty, Jr., Dawn (John Beyler) Portner, Kathleen (Kurt) Taylor; grandchildren; Kathryn (Daniel) Crawford, Jamie (Sean) Donelson, Carolyn Portner, Zachary Beyler, Hannah Beyler, Nicholas Portner, Grace Beyler, Joshua Beyler, Sarah Beyler, Karisa Taylor, Kayla Taylor and great-grandchildren; Eleanor Crawford, Judah Crawford, Avery Donelson and Evelyn Donelson. She was preceded in death by her parents, Samuel and Jeannie (nee DeLaFuente) Schwartz and her husband, Donald McNulty, Sr.

A Funeral mass was held November 25, 2019, at Holy Spirit Catholic Community in Naperville, IL. Memorials in Fay’s name may be made to American House Senior Living Community at Cedarlake. Messages of condolences may be sent to Dawn Portner at: 11610 S. Marathon Lane, Plainfield, IL 60585-6779. Please Dawn’s family and friends in your thoughts and prayers. EXCHANGE LEADERS’ CALENDAR AND IMPORTANT DATES

***Requests for national representatives must be submitted to National Headquarters in writing.***

December 14 – Exchange Club of Santa Rosa’s Wreaths Across America Event; Santa Rosa, CA – National President Russ Finney January 8-11, 2020 – National Mid-Year Leadership Summit; Hotel Eleganté Conference and Event Center, 2886 S. Circle Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80906; for 2020/2021 District Presidents (Tentative schedule: NEC Board arrivals on 1.8.20; DP arrivals on 1.9.20; Training, 1.10 and 1.11; all departures 1.12.20.) An official meeting notice will be provided attendees with additional details at the appropriate time. January 24-25 – Texas District Board Meeting/Conference; Pickens Conference Center at Scottish Rite Hospital; Dallas, TX January 24-25 – Virginia District Mid-Winter Conference; Hampton, VA – National President Russ Finney

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February 6-8 – Region 1 Conference; Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino; Lemoore, CA – National President Russ Finney February 21-22 – Region 2 Mid-Year Conference; Hotel Eleganté Conference and Event Center; Colorado Springs, CO District Conventions the weekend of April 24-26: Indiana District Conventions the weekend of May 1-3: Dakota Territory; America Inn; Aberdeen, SD Florida; Safety Harbor Four Corners New England; Red Jacket Mountain View Resort; North Conway, NH District Conventions the weekend of May 8-9: Yellowstone; Billings, MT District Conventions the weekend of May 15-17: Lakes and Prairies; Downtown Old Market; Omaha, NE Michigan; Battle Creek Ohio/West Virginia; Neeley Conference Center, Terra State Community College; Fremont, OH District Conventions the weekend of May 29-31: Alabama; Tuscaloosa Northwest; Tukwila, WA Texas; Holiday Inn Midtown; Austin, TX District Conventions the weekend of June 5-7: South Carolina; Summerville Tennessee; Murfreesboro Virginia; Hampton, VA District Conventions the weekend of June 12-14: Bi-District (Mid-Atlantic and NJ/NY); Holiday Inn Binghamton Downtown; Binghamton, NY California/Nevada; Bakersfield, CA Connecticut; Bristol, Double Tree Georgia; Mountain Inn; Callaway Gardens, GA Lincolnland; Par-a-Dice Hotel and Casino; East Peoria, IL Mid-America; Osage Casino and Resort; Tulsa, OK Puerto Rico Sierra Pacific; Feather Falls Casino and Lodge

District Conventions the weekend of June 18-21: Texas/Louisiana Gulf Coast July 22-25, 2020 – 102nd National Convention; Hotel Eleganté Conference and Event Center; Colorado Springs, CO

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District Conventions the weekend of June 26-27: North Carolina; Raleigh September 30-4 – National Fall Leadership Summit; Detroit, MI – for 2020/21 District Presidents and members of the National Board of Directors; specific arrival and departure information will be provided to attendees at a later date; Court of Honor Induction Ceremony, Saturday, October 3, 2020.

January 21-23, 2021 – National Mid-Year Leadership Summit; The Peabody Hotel; Memphis, TN

July 7-11, 2021 – 103rd National Convention; The Peabody Hotel; Memphis, TN January 5-8, 2022 (date change) – National Mid-Year Leadership Summit; Hyatt Regency Greenville; Greenville, SC July 13-17, 2022 – 103rd National Convention; Hyatt Regency Greenville; Greenville, SC January 4-7, 2023 – National Mid-Year Leadership Summit; Hyatt Regency Phoenix; Phoenix, AZ July 12-16, 2023 – 104th National Convention; Hyatt Regency Phoenix; Phoenix, AZ

IMPORTANT REMINDERS …

2019/2020 NATIONAL YOUTH OF THE YEAR ESSAY THEME – “We are a nation of communities ... a brilliant

diversity spread like stars, like a thousand points of light in a broad and peaceful sky.” – George H.W. Bush

How do you intend to serve as an example, now and in the future, of a responsible American citizen?

IRS MILEAGE REIMBURSEMENT RATE FOR 2019 – The IRS has adjusted its optional standard mileage rate to $0.58/mile for 2019. The National Exchange Club’s policy is to reimburse board members for Exchange-related travel up to their budget at a rate that is half of that of the IRS, or $0.29/mile.

TELECONFERENCE SERVICES – Your National Headquarters will be happy to assist districts in setting up a teleconference call. Let us know the date and time for your meeting; we will provide you with a toll-free dial-in number and passcode each person will use to access the call. Calls are invoiced at five cents per person per minute. To schedule a call, please email Executive Manager Gail Weller at: [email protected].

FREE ONE NATION UNDER GOD BROCHURES! – The NEC Foundation will provide up to 50 One Nation Under God brochures at no cost to any club upon request! Please take advantage of this important part of any Americanism program. (Limit 50 per club per year.) To place your order today, contact National Headquarters at 419.535.3232, or [email protected].

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