You’re probably aware that there was a big celebration last month surrounding our nation’s 250th anniversary. But you may not have known that just a few days later, Bellevue celebrated the 50th anniversary of perhaps its longest-serving community organization.
On July 7, nearly 100 community members packed a conference room at the Bellevue Regional Community Center to commemorate the Golden Anniversary of the Exchange Club of Bellevue. Exchange is an all-volunteer organization comprised of men and women who enjoy the fellowship of their friends and neighbors, all while serving the community they’re passionate about.
Among those in attendance was Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell who presented the club with an official Proclamation recognizing a half-century of service.
Prior to the program, guests enjoyed breakfast catered by Bellevue staple, The Loveless Café. The program began with welcoming remarks from Exchange Club president Charlie Tygard, followed by the invocation delivered by Jody Duncan, the Pledge of Allegiance led by Boy Scout Troop #624 and the National Anthem sung by Jared Crenshaw.
O’Connell spoke for 30 minutes with remarks recognizing Exchange’s decades of service to Bellevue, a wide range of local issues including Metro’s treatment of Urban Service Districts and General Service Districts which dissect the Bellevue community, and a Q&A session. In addition to O’Connell, featured speakers included Exchange Club’s Tennessee District president, Jean Smith and Lawson High School football coach, Montario Hardesty.
Eight Exchange past presidents were in attendance: Mark Kafader, Doug Jahner, John Cooper, Jim Dyes, Judd Cowan, Brugh Reynolds, Chuck Naab and Sheri Weiner. There were representatives from numerous Exchange-back organizations, including Raising Resilience TN, Be About Change, Bellevue Community Food Bank, FiftyForward, Springboard Landings, Lawson High School, Bellevue Middle School, Tapestries Counseling Center and Nashville Children’s Alliance.
Exchange was founded in Detroit in 1911. Now headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, the Exchange Club of Bellevue is one of a dozen Exchange Clubs in the Nashville area. There are more than 700 clubs across the country with more than 21,000 members.
Programs served by Exchange Club of Bellevue include prevention of child abuse and neglect, Americanism and patriotism, youth activities and community activities. Exchange Club members place and maintain the American flags that line Highway 70 South at Colice Jeanne Road for major national holidays.
Other notable past-and-prest local projects include hosting a Veterans Day breakfast at the Bellevue YMCA (along with FiftyForward), sponsorship of the Bellevue Bulk Trash Drop-off & Recycling Event, sponsorship of area high school basketball and volleyball tournaments, the 9/11 Twentieth Anniversary Remembrance event and funding for Red Caboose Park and BELL Garden.
Exchange is welcoming prospective new members who want to work with friends and neighbors to help support activities that make Bellevue a better place to live, work and play. Meetings are held on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 7:30 a.m. on the second floor of the Bellevue Regional Community Center (adjacent to Ford Ice Center).
Exchange is an all-volunteer organization comprised of men and women who enjoy serving the community they’re passionate about.