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Click here for Foundation Focus archive
Your
Foundation Focus May 2009
OUR MISSION
OUR VISION Make Your Plans Now! Plans are well underway for the 91st National Exchange Club Convention and the Foundation’s 26th Annual Symposium to be held in Jacksonville July 14-18, 2009. This year you can register via the Internet as well as by mail or fax. Find out more about activities, speakers, entertainment, optional tours and other information at http://www.nationalexchangeclub.org/Convention/convention.htm. Please make note of these special events:
· Child Abuse Prevention Breakfast on Friday morning, July 17, 2009, is an annual highlight. This year’s speaker is Tyler Bacon, who, at twenty-three years of age is a national public speaker and advocate for foster youth. He entered the foster care system at the age of 13 and was placed in several homes and schools during his stay in care. He aged out at the age of 18 where he has experienced homelessness. He worked for 2 years for a non-profit as a youth advocate for foster youth. He has been working with Fosterclub since 2005 when he was selected as an All-Star. He has held many positions on local, state, and national youth and adult advocacy boards. He has spoken in front of the Congressional Ways and Means subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support and spoken with several different legislators in an effort to change the foster care system. Tyler works hard on giving the youth the voice they deserve. · Berkey Dinner Will Occur! We recently polled members of the Berkey Fellowship on their preferences about the Berkey Dinner, an elegant dinner, held each year during the National Convention, to recognize and appreciate those who give to this fellowship in support of Exchange’s national project and programs of service. Respondents overwhelmingly voted to continue the event, but to have a less elaborate affair until such time as the economy improves. The dinner is our annual opportunity for those to give significant gifts to network, share ideas, and help promote the programs of Exchange. Plans are underway for this year’s Berkey Dinner, to be held on Friday, July 17, in Jacksonville, Florida. · Planting the Seed of Awareness: The National Exchange Club will host a Child Abuse Awareness Healing Field at Metropolitan Park during the 91st National Convention. These flags raise awareness and fly in memory of the 1530 children who die each year in our country from the effects of child abuse and neglect. Flag sponsorship, donations and corporate sponsorships are being pursued by the leaders of the local Exchange Clubs. Proceeds will be divided between the local Prevention Center in Jacksonville and The National Exchange Club Foundation. You can also sponsor your flag quickly and safely online at www.healingfield.org/plantingtheseed
Berkey Designations Berkey Fellows are at the heart of our efforts to strengthen families and serve America. These gifts have helped to secure the future of Exchange’s Program of Service and our national project. Through the years, many have expressed a desire for their Berkey contributions to be utilized for program expenses rather than restricted to the endowment. At the January Mid-winter meeting, your Foundation’s Board of Trustees voted to give Berkey Fellows the option of how to designate their gifts. While the endowment remains an important way to plan for our future, our current and ongoing program activity also needs strong support. Beginning this year, Berkey Fellows have a choice of whether to designate their gifts to the endowment, to programs, or as needed. Berkey Fellows also have the option of making payments over next few months to secure their 2009 Berkey Fellowship. For more information, contact Debbie Baldwin at dbaldwin@nationalexchangeclub.org or 800-924-2643.
Court of Honor Deadline is June 1! The Court of Honor was established as a way to honor and pay tribute to Exchange Club members and individuals who have shown outstanding commitment to the ideals and mission of The National Exchange Club. Induction into the Court of Honor is the highest and most lasting recognition of dedication to the ideal of "Unity for Service". Those persons nominated for induction into the Court of Honor must demonstrate, through a history of service, the highest and best traditions of Exchange. Their example will serve as the standard of excellence for future generations of Exchange Club members. The application is available online at www.exchangeclubfoundation.org.
REMEMBER THE STARFISH STORY? As the old man walked the beach at dawn, he noticed a young man ahead of him, picking up starfish and flinging them into the sea. Finally, catching up with the youth, he asked him why he was doing this. The young man explained that the stranded starfish would die if left until the morning sun. “But the beach goes on for miles, and there are millions of starfish,” countered the old man. “How can your effort make any difference?” The young man looked at the starfish in his hand, and threw it to safety in the waves. “It makes a difference to this one,” he said. Your National Exchange Club Foundation is making a difference every day - one child, one family, one community at a time. Every dollar, every donation makes a dramatic difference in our work to stop the cycle of child abuse. Donate to Campaign for Kids and start making a difference today! Make a commitment now! Demonstrate your club’s support of the programs of Exchange. http://www.exchangeclubfoundation.org/cfk.htm Yours in Service,
J. Michael Jernigan, President
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