December 19, 2014

All the news that's fit to print...and a lot that isn't

Jeff Dorsey, Editor

Paul Clarkson - Editor Emeritus John Tripp - Editor Emeritus

Club Meets at Noon each Friday at Stoney Creek Inn, 3809 Broadway in Quincy
2012-2013 Lincolnland District Exchange Clubs Best Bulletin Award Winner

This Friday

This week's program is the Shiloh Christian Children's Ranch located in Shelbina. Shiloh opened in 1977 as a result of the vision and efforts of Don McCain and Stan Way. Join us this Friday for the story of how Shiloh has grown and expanded over the years and its mission in helping young people throughout Northeast Missouri.

Friday Last

Last Friday, the club held its 51st annual Hearing Impaired Christmas program. Started in 1964, the program features the students of Quincy Public School's hearing impaired program. Katie Stegner, an itinerant teacher who coordinates the program, introduced the professional staff - Kate Sanders from QHS, Anna Whaley another itinerant teacher, Lori Hilgenbrink, an interpreter at Washington School and Rachel Tenk, an interpreter at QHS. Also in attendance were Mr. Dave Boster, Director of HR for QPS and Dan Sparrow, Principal at Quincy Junior High, as well as a number of other staff members, parents and grandparents.

This year's program featured the students signing the words to several Christmas songs, dressed in their finest reindeer antlers. After the program, that jolly old elf himself, Santa (who resembled a certain bulletin editor we know) arrived through the kitchen doors. With the assistance of Katie Stegner and Art Awerkamp, all of the students had the opportunity to sit on Santa's lap and receive a gift, provided by the club. In addition, Art presented Katie with a check for $1,000 which will be used to update the program's library of instructional videos from VHS to digital.

After the last student - Zack Bradley, who was attending for his 19th and final Christmas Program - Santa had Art sit on his lap. Fortunately, whatever Art told Santa he wanted for Christmas was kept between them, as Santa wasn't able to stop laughing.

A big thank you to Art Awerkamp and Jeff Dorsey for putting together one of our oldest and best programs!

VIP Dates

12/17 - Andy Asbury celebrates his 33rd birthday

12/18 - Board meeting at the Pier - 11:45 (we're on the second floor this month)

12/19 - Kent Anderson turns 64

12/20 - Mike & Gerri Elbe celebrate their 27th anniversary, Jim Schlepphorst turns 62 and Cory Watson turns 41

12/21 - Dan & Susan Niemann celebrate their 1st anniversary

12/23 - Randy Frese turns 56

12/31 - Club Christmas party - Quincy Boat Club at Noon (Note the change in date)

This & That

Rich Lavery led us in prayer while Sonny Christner got the pledge going.

In addition to our many guests for the Christmas program, the lovely Cindy Awerkamp (wife of Art), was our guest. One of the students in the program is in Cindy's early childhood class.

President Curt presented our waitress, Jen with her Christmas tip collected from the club, resulting in the customary peck on the cheek. Curt also read some thank you notes from Shiloh Children's Ranch, Junior Achievement and the Salvation Army for recent contributions made by the club totaling over $2,000.

Charlie Ledbetter reported that more than 100 children and foster parents attended the Give-a-Kid-a-Chance Christmas party on December 5th at the Senior Center. Charlie reports that a good time was had by all.

The card draw and tail twister will resume this week, with the jackpot approaching $700. A disappointed Dick Wentura was ready to buy his tickets. Just think Dick, you "won" $20 this week. I'm guessing that somebody better bring a little extra for the tail twister this week (see line of the week for details!)

Please note that the club Christmas party has been changed from January 2 to December 31 at noon. There was a scheduling conflict with the boat club for the 2nd, so we'll get New Year's Eve started off a little early! There will not be a regular meeting on December 26 or January 2. Also, the board meeting on December 18 will be held on the second floor in the main dining room instead of our usual haunt on the third floor as the Pier has a party scheduled for that afternoon.

Thanks to everyone who made it out for the spousal Christmas party on Friday evening. There is no truth the rumor that Smoked Salmon from the Patio was served. Some great fellowship, a fantastic performance by Aspen Gengenbacher, the 16 year old niece of Rick, and a little adult beverage made for a great evening.

Like us on Facebook

The National Exchange Club is trying to increase its presence on social media sites. One way to do that is to "Like" a site on Facebook. If you go to these links and click "Like", it will help the club, district and National Exchange Club promote the programs of service of Exchange to others. If you are on Facebook, please support Exchange by clicking Like! Here's the links:

National Exchange Club

Lincolnland District Exchange Clubs

Quincy Exchange Club

Quincy Gus Macker Site

Smoke on the River Site

In This Issue

Club Information

Curt Moore - President

Jared Haugh - President-Elect

Brian Koch - Vice President

Chris Parker - Treasurer

Cullan Duke - Secretary

Chuck Venvertloh - Immediate Past President

Board of Directors:

Steve Labs - 2015

Joel Koch - 2015
David Adam - 2016
Alan Musholt - 2016

Josh Klitz - 2017

Cory Watson - 2017

Lincolnland District

President - Bill VanKeuren, Mattoon

Division 10 Director - Joel Koch, Quincy

Board meets second Monday every month 11:45 at the Pier Restaurant

Office of the Secretary:

Cullan Duke

PO Box 1173

Quincy IL 62306

National Exchange Club

President - Lou Molitor

Region 3 Vice President - Katie Smith

Line of the Week

Tradition has it that when Santa arrives for the Hearing Impaired Christmas program, he points out (picks on) a few of the good (and not so good) little Exchangites. In the middle of his routine, Santa looked straight at Bruce Broemmel and exclaimed -

- "I thought I left all of you at the North Pole"

Web Pages

Catch more news and Pictures for the club on our webpages at www.quincyexchangeclub.org and

www.smokeontheriver.net

Or on our Facebook page at

https://www.facebook.com/quincyexchange

Exchange Education

With Editor Dorsey off playing Santa Clause this week, it's time for a little trip down memory lane with the old Indian Fighter, Paul Clarkson.

For those that didn't know Paul, he penned this "rag" as he called it from the inception of the club in 1946 until turning it over to John Tripp 37 years later in 1983. That's over 1,900 weekly bulletins and nearly as many bad jokes.

Paul had many friends in Exchange, not only in our club but throughout the District. After he retired, a District award, now given by the Lincolnland District, for excellence in communications was named after Paul and two other long-time great communicators in the district - Felix Kremer of Madison Wisconsin and Charles Kraus of East Moline.

There are about as many Paul Clarkson stories in this club as there are members that were around at that time. Ranging from his favorite brand of hooch to the time that the club got him a new set of teeth - there will never be another Indian fighter like Paul Clarkson.

Paul would close each of his bulletins with a joke or two and his signature - Ex-Side Saddle Schmoe. Here is the closing from his New Year's 1985 bulletin:

Party Time

Bank robbers arrived juct before closing time Christmas Eve, ordered everyone in the bank to disrobe completely and lie face down on the floor. One nervous gal lay down on her back and a friend whispered "Turn over, Maybelle. This is a stick-up, not an office party"