Exchange Milestones

Following is a chronological list of some important Exchange milestones:

• 1911 The first Exchange Club is formed. The Exchange Club of Detroit 
• 1929 Mich., is founded oil March 27 by Charles A. Berkey. 
• 1913 The second Exchange Club, the Exchange Club of Toledo Ohio is organized on Jan. 3.
• 1917 Representatives of the Exchange Clubs of- Detroit, Toledo and Grand Rapids, Mich., meet in Detroit for the first time oil July 16 to discuss the possibility of- creating a national organization. 
• 1917 Oil August 6, in Toledo, Ohio, The National Exchange Club is organized, a national constitution is adopted, and the first officers are elected. fit attendance are representatives of' the above mentioned Clubs and the Exchange Club of Cleveland Ohio. Charles A. Berkey is elected as the first national president and Herold M. Harter is named national secretary. 
• 1917 The first National Convention of The National Exchange Club is held in Toledo, Ohio, oil Sept. 18
• 1919 The Book of Golden Deeds Award is sponsored I-or the first time by the Exchange Club of- I Huntington Ind. In 1923, it is adopted as a national program 
• 1923 The Exchange Club Covenant of Service is written by Meridian, Miss., Exchangite Thomas L. Bailey. The Covenant of Service was officially adopted in 1927 as the philosophy which characterizes the individual Exchangite 
• 1928 Aviation is adopted as a national project on July 26 at the 12th National Convention, Toledo, Ohio. Exchange begins promoting aviation and marking buildings to aid aviators. 
• 1929 The National Women's Air Derby, the first transcontinental race ever held for women, is sponsored by The National Exchange Club oil Aug. 18-26.
• 1929 The concept of Junior Exchange Clubs, as a means of teaching leadership and citizen responsibility to high school youths, is adopted at the National Convention in Jacksonville, Fla., on Oct- 9. In 1993, the name of the program is changed to Excel Clubs.
• 1930 Official Exchange emblem adopted Lt. Walter I Hinton begins national air tour to promote aviation.
• 1933 Exchange called upon by President Franklin Roosevelt to help fight the Depression. Secretary I Harter travels 40,650 miles oil National Recovery Crusade. 
• 1941 Exchange backs war effort and U.S. Savings Bond program. 
• 1942 Charles A. Berkey, file founder of' Exchange dies on Sept. 30 at the age of 72. 
• 1947 The observance of National Crime Prevention Week is adopted as a national program Sept. 28 at the 29th National Convention in Cincinnati, Ohio.
• 1948 The Boy of the Month/Year program is adopted Sept. 27 at the 30th National Convention, Wichita, Kan. The program's name is changed to Youth of- the Month/Year in 197 1. 
• 1949 The Freedom Shrine project is adopted Sept. 17 at Exchange's 3 1st National Convention, Minneapolis, Minn. 
• 1950 The first Freedom Shrine is dedicated oil May 26 at the Santa Monica High School in California. To date, nearly 11,000 have been presented. 
• 1952 The first Exchange Club is chartered in Puerto Rico. 
• 1957 The National Exchange Club building, at 3050 Central Ave., Toledo, Ohio, is dedicated in special ceremonies on July 2. National President Millard M. Beckum, Augusta, Ga., presides. 
• 1961 On Oct. 16, Dr. Porter L. Fortune Jr., I Hattiesburg, Miss., is 1981 named national secretary to succeed the ailing Herold M. Harter, who had served in the position since 1917. 
• 1964 The One Nation Under God project is adopted on July 30 at the 46th National Convention, Las Vegas, Nev. 
• 1965 Three areas of service, American Citizenship, Community Service, and Service to Youth, replace the seven study panels of education, changing the structure of Exchange's Program of 1983 Service.
• 1965 Herold M. Harter, the first national secretary of Exchange, dies on Sept. 24 at the age of 80 1966 Fire Prevention is given status as a nationally recommended 1983 project, adopted at the 48th National Convention in Now Orleans, La. 
• 1968 Lee Wells, longtime assistant to Herold M. Harter and Dr. Porter L. Fortune Jr., takes over as national secretary when Dr. Fortune 1985 becomes chancellor of the University of Mississippi. 
• 1971 The National Youth of the Year Award is adopted during the 53rd National Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah, on July 28. 
• 1972 The Milestones of Freedom project is adopted on July 20 at the 54th National Convention in San Juan, Puerto Rico, as an adjunct of the Freedom Shrine project. 
• 1973 The first National Youth of the Year Award is presented to Helen A. Meredith, Burlington, N.C., at the 55th Annual Convention in Houston, Texas. 
• 1976 Proudly We I fail is adopted during the nation's Bicentennial Year at the Washington, D.C., National Convention to encourage proper display of the American flag and to recognize those who regularly fly it. 
• 1979 Delegates to the 61st National Convention in St. Louis, Mo., adopt Child Abuse Prevention as a national project at the suggestion of Dr. Edward R. North, national president, Jackson, Miss. Subsequently, The National Exchange Club Foundation for the Prevention of Child Abuse is established. 
• 1981 On March 22, the first Exchange Club Center for the Prevention of' Child Abuse opens in Fort Pierce, Fla. 
• 1981 Project GIVEAKIDAFLAGTOWAVF is adopted at the 63rd National Convention in Las Vegas, Nev. 
• 1981 In September, the Blue and Gold Wounded in Service Award is adopted as Exchange's highest tribute to law enforcement personnel who have been wounded or killed serving their community.
• 1983 James A. Schnoering is named executive secretary of The National Exchange Club following the retirement of Lee Wells. In 1984, Mr. Schnoering' title is changed by the board of directors to executive vice president.
• 1983 The Young Citizenship Award is established at the 65th Annual Convention in Nashville, Tenn., to honor young men and women who strive to be good citizens at home, at school and in the community. 
• 1985 On July 4, at the 67th National Convention, Philadelphia, Penn., delegates amend the national constitution, thus opening membership for the first time to business and professional women. 
• 1992 The Guinness Record for the most valuable line of coins was broken by Exchangites at the 74th annual convention in Atlanta, Ga., during the culmination of the first Quarters for Kids campaign to benefit America's youth. 
• 1992 The A.C.E. Award (Accepting the Challenge of Excellence) is adopted as part of the Program o f Service The award recognizes high school students who have overcome great physical, emotional or social obstacles and gone on to achieve success.
• 1995 David A. Nershi is named executive vice president of The National Exchange Club, replacing Past National President William C. Wodtke Jr., who served as interim executive vice president.
• 1996 Get Out the Vote is adopted as a joint project with the U.S. Jaycees. The national effort encourages citizens to vote. 
• 1997 The name of Exchange's national magazine is changed to Exchange Today and the publication is completely updated. 

Back...

The Exchange Club of North Jackson thanks you for visiting our site!