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The Fort Smith Noon Exchange Club boasts a rich history
of service to our nation and our community. |
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Welcome to the official website of the Fort Smith Noon Exchange Club.
Organized in 1925, our club is one of the largest of the more than 1000
Exchange Clubs in the US and Puerto Rico -- and the largest civic club
in the region. Please read on to find out more about this exciting
organization.
Paul Rivaldo,
President
President@FortSmithNoonExchange.org |
Above: Incoming president Paul Rivaldo (left)
accepts the gavel from past president Tommy Fowler.
Below: The 2009/2010 Noon Exchange Board and Officers. |
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Exchange History
Learn More
More about Fort Smith Noon
Exchange Club...
MEMBERSHIP
Unlike some civic clubs, ours has no quota system to provide for limited
representation of various occupations. Members wishing to invite acquaintances
to join the club should obtain a membership application from the secretary, and
return it when completed. Any club member who has a bona fide objection to
granting membership to any applicant must submit that objection in writing to
the board of directors.
PROGRAMS
A key to the success of the Noon Exchange Club is excellent programs, for which
we are noted. Members who hear of good program ideas are encouraged to pass them
on to the president-elect, who appoints quarterly program chairs, who in turn
ask members to arrange programs for an assigned month. Club tradition and policy
discourage political programs that might generate controversy. Candidates for
public office are generally not invited to speak during campaigns. Charitable
groups may present programs, but no solicitation of funds is permitted at the
meetings
GUESTS
Any member may bring guests to a noon meeting. If the guest is a prospective
member, the club covers the cost of the meal; otherwise the hosting member pays
for the guest.
DUES
Quarterly dues are $100.00. This covers the cost of Friday noon meals and
National and District Exchange Club dues. We meet approximately 41 times per
year, bypassing holiday and special club event weekends, so a member who attends
all meetings is in effect paying only for meals, and dues are free.
OFFICERS
The administrative year begins July 1, and new officers assume their duties at
that time. A board of directors, who meet each month to set policies and plan
activities, provides leadership for the club. It is composed of a president,
president-elect, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, seven members at-large
and the immediate past president. One new board member is elected each year. He
or she rotates upward in seniority over a period of ten years, serving as
president in that 10th year. The secretary and treasurer serve on a continuing
basis with approval of the club.
TRADITIONS
At noon meetings, when a member rises to speak, whether to introduce a guest or
for any other purpose, the member always begins by stating his or her name.
Anyone who forgets to do so is sure to be loudly interrupted with calls of "Who
are you?" Another tradition is a monthly drawing for a birthday cake, usually at
the last meeting of the month, where any member having a birthday during the
month is eligible to enter by standing before the group and providing name and
(usually) birth date. A staple of noon meetings for many years has been the
"Noon News" and "Exchange Club Philosopher" reports delivered by former mayor
and veteran broadcaster Jack Freeze. Our club is noted for informality and the
good times we have at our meetings.
PUBLICATIONS
Each week, the Exchange Club newsletter is sent to each member, by e-mail if
possible. It includes a summary of the week's activities, information on
upcoming events and interesting facts about the club. The secretary serves as
the newsletter's editor. Members also receive the bi-monthly "Exchange Today"
magazine from National, and a periodic District newsletter.
SERVICE/EVENTS
Since 1942, the club annually has named an outstanding area person to receive
the Book of Golden Deeds award. The surprise presentation is made at a banquet
in January to an individual who has quietly served the community in an
exemplary way. Members and spouses are invited to this event, which requires
the purchase of tickets in advance.
Every year since 1947, club members have contributed funds to pay for the
summer camp program of Girls Inc. of Fort Smith. Most of the girls who attend
could not afford to do so without the club's help.
An effort is made to get each member to participate, and cooperation is
excellent. In 2007, the Noon Exchange Club raised $11,000 to help send the
girls to their summer camp at Dwight Mission, Oklahoma.
Each year, the club sponsors an evening Steak Fry and an evening Fish Fry for
members, spouses and prospective members. Much of the funding for these events
is gathered from weekly "50-50" raffle drawings at Friday meetings, where a
lucky member receives half of the jackpot, and the other half goes to the club.
Named in honor of a long-time club secretary/treasurer with over 70 years
membership, the Pat Gillespie Invitational (PGI) Golf Tournament is held each
summer. It provides handsome trophies to winners, both by scratch scores and
through the wildly convoluted Callaway scoring system, which perhaps only Pat
Gillespie himself actually understands!
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