ECHO
THE EXCHANGE CLUB OF MOBILE
July 21, 2016
ATTENDANCE: Club President Mickey McDonnell -Vice Pres. Lisa deShazo-Pres. Elect Brad Matranga-District Pres. Nita Stewart-Treasure Mickey Stewart-Secretary Janet Sutherland-Past President Dick Sutherland-Club Director Damien Langan-Executive Director Lydia Pettijon-Jere Marques-Mark Segal-Margaret Tsu-Michael Fillers-Travis Everett
The semi-monthly meeting of The Exchange Club of Mobile was called to order by Club President Mickey McDonnell promptly at twelve noon. Michael Fillers gave an invocation followed by Travis Everett who led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance to our Flag.
GUESTS: (So proudly we hail award winners) Rick Brannon & PDQ owner Chris Pfeiffer, Dean Harrison, John Daniel, & “Friend of Exchange Club” Joyce Downey
District Pres. Nita Stewart briefed the group about her trip to the exchange club national convention in Houston Last week. At the event there were 10 representatives from Alabama in including 3 collegiate club members. Over 600 people over all attended. There was entertainment by young choir singers, ballet dancers, and country singers Bill Nash and his wife playing there hit “You can make a change with Exchange”. There was good food as well as different classes about club rebuilding, etc. Next year the convention will be held in Jacksonville, Florida. The District Convention is in the works for next year. Clubs are recognized at these national conventions by different pins and pin swapping. District Pres. Nita Stewart and Treasure Mickey Stewart had one of the most popular pins due to theirs being homemade.
Executive Director Lydia Pettijon talked about the Family Center’s 25th anniversary Open House last Tuesday. The event had a great turn out with over 80 people. The next fundraiser event for the Family Center is the Trail Ride in Chatom September 24, 2016. It will include horse riding, a bbq dinner, a live auction, & a dance. From 5pm-12am admission is $15.00 a person.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Vice Pres. Lisa deShazo announced next meetings speaker will be Diane McCaskey director of Family Promise. Margaret Tsu has been elected to the Family Center Board of Directors. Also the Family Center’s PSA’S have been running on 8 I-heart stations there $25,000 worth for free.
The One Nation under God breakfast, will be on Saturday August 6, starting at 8:30am-10:00 at Morrison’s cafeteria. The cost is $7.99 plus tax. (Ask for senior discount.) The speaker will be the pastor of airport blvd. Baptist church J.T. Wright.
SPEAKER: Pres.Elect Brad Matranga opened the “So Proudly We Hail” ceremony by reading the history of U.S. flag, followed by flag facts and the reason for the 13 folds of the flag. First to receive the award was Rick Brannon (residential). Mr. Brannon is a retired Coast Guard reservist, and retired deputy chief of the Mobile city fire dept. He shared his story of his flag pole, and how he got it from a neighbor veteran who couldn’t display the flag properly. Mr Brannon took the pole down and installed it in his yard. Flying the flag comes easy for him to honor the men and women who served before him.
Next to receive the award was PDQ owner Chris Pfeiffer (commercial). PDQ is a chain restaurant, not all fly the flag. Chris says it is not a lot of effort to maintain it, based on the maximum effort that the troops over seas give to protect this country. Flying the flag goes a long way. He shows appreciation by giving discounts to those who served in the military on “Military Mondays”.
BUSINESS: There was no business discussed.
Sunshine Award: This week’s Sunshine Award was presented to Treas. Lisa deShazo who then proceeded in leading everyone in the Exchange Covenant of Service.
The meeting was then adjourned by Club President MickeyMcDonnell. Meeting time approx. 48 min 21 sec.
The schedule of our upcoming events is reflected below:
All through August Boston Butts Sales
August 6 (Saturday) One Nation under God Breakfast (Morrison’s 8:30am)
September 24 (Saturday) Trail Ride in Chatom (See Event page for more info)
Editor: B. Matranga