Noon Exchange Club inducts officers, presents funds

By LYNETTE SOWELL

Cove Leader-Press

The Noon Exchange Club of Copperas Cove, along with members from the Killeen and Temple Exchange Clubs, gathered Friday evening to induct their chapter’s officers for the upcoming 2015-2016 service year and look back on the past year’s accomplishments. Besides a delicious meal and good conversations, club members anticipated the opportunity to share with local organizations some of the fruit of their year’s labors—presenting $15,000 total in funding to local organizations. President Sandor Vegh outlined the past year’s accomplishments and activities of the group, to include, the Feast of Sharing in November, Blue Santa, Meals on Wheels, Relay for Life, senior scholarships, Sunshine Apartments and the National Day of Service, the Get Out and Vote initiative, along with supporting a number of groups like the Boys & Girls Club via the recent Music at the Gap. The outgoing president of the Texas District Exchange Clubs, Dick Young, was present for the event and said a few words about Exchange and the Noon Exchange Club of Copperas Cove in particular. “I can honestly say I point out all the things the Noon Exchange Club of Copperas Cove does, when asked about what clubs are doing,” Young told those present. He also said inducting the 2015-2016 board members was a great way for him to begin and end his term as district president. Last year, Young had inducted board members as one of his first duties as president, and Friday night found him doing the same thing, with his term set to expiring on June 30. He talked about how the district has 1,017 members, and rebounded from an almost 100-member dip with the closing of four clubs last year. He also mentioned the efforts of Cara The Club honored some of its own Friday evening, to include the Senior Citizen of the Year, Dr. Parker Bogue, and Exchangite of the Year, Susan Ayres. Bogue was honored for his support through the year and his display of the spirit of Christian love to all he encounters in the community. Ayres was given the award due to her work in rejuvenating the group’s website and exposure in the community via local media. The club also recognized five of its seven charter members who were present Friday evening. The group was first chartered in 1996. Local organizations receiving donations Friday evening from the Noon Exchange Club of Copperas Cove included: S.M.I.L.E. (Special Memories in Life Everyday), $1,000; the Children’s Advocacy Center of Central Texas, $2,500; Communities In Schools, $3,000; AWARE Central Texas, $3,500; Hope Pregnancy Center, $5,000. The 2015-2016 officers for the Noon Exchange Club are: President, Dennis Ayres; Vice-President, Susan Ayres; Immediate Past President, Sandor Vegh; Secretary, Patricia Thomas; Treasurer, Sandy Blount; and board members Dr. Parker Bogue, Norma Crawford, Ron Hutchinson, J.T. Tatum, Jim Glowinski, and Angela Fields.