Noon Exchange Club gets Sprague Award
McMinnville Noon Exchange Club has received one of the highest honors conferred by the national organization, earning the E.W. Sprague Award for the best club in the Tennessee district.
The award, presented to Noon Exchange President Carrie Huckeby at the district conference at Fall Creek Falls this Saturday, recognized the service club for its accomplishments in the community over the past year. It marks the second time in the club’s 10-year history Noon Exchange has earned the honor.
“We’re thrilled to win this award,” Huckeby said. “We’ve had a great year and feel like we’ve made an impact on our community, and helping others is what Exchange is all about.”
The club won the award over scores of other clubs in the Tennessee district, many of which had dramatically larger memberships. The Evening Exchange of McMinnville, which is home club to National Exchange President Ken Roberts, has also earned the award in past years.
“It’s great to know we have so many strong Exchange Clubs right in this area,” said Evening Exchange member Leda Roberts.
Among the programs accomplished by the Noon Exchange over the past year was the children’s Christmas shopping spree for 80 underprivileged children. The club also conducted programs including service to seniors, re-dedication of the Hickory Creek freedom shrine, circulating informational pamphlets on shaken baby syndrome to new mothers, providing stuffed animals for children who are victims of trauma, providing cell phones for Families in Crisis for women at risk, honoring youths of the month and giving the ACE Award for exceptional students, giving scholarships, conferring the Humanitarian Award, promoting crime and fire prevention, passing out flags to promote Americanism at community events, and promoting the Exchange’s national project which is the prevention of child abuse.