Falcon Exchange Club excelsThe Rocky Mountain District Exchange Club Convention was held in Colorado Springs at Hotel Eleganteí May 1 and May 2. The Exchange Club of Falcon, one of 18 clubs in the district, soared above all in several categories: îBest Club Awardî for the most club projects (38 projects divided equally among the four areas: Americanism, Community Service, Child Abuse Prevention, and Recognizing Youth); one of the best in growth (30 percent increase in this fiscal year); ìBest President Awardî for President Bob Millerís dedicated service; and ìBest Public Relations Awardî for exceptional service in this area by Leonore Misner.Wilene Lamport, director of Safe Passage in El Paso County, and key note speaker, said, ìThere is something every adult in our community can easily do to stop child abuse: When you suspect that a child has been harmed, report to law enforcement or child protective services right away.îThe meeting also featured the District Youth of the Year, Lydia Trotter from Utah, and ACE (Accepting the Challenge of Excellence) award winner, Hillary Niyema, also from Utah. Lydia read her inspiring essay ìMaking the Community a Better Place to Live.î Exchange National Vice President Phil Howard offered congratulations to the Rocky Mountain District for its contributions toward a new vision, ìInspiring communities to become better places to live,î through building a strong America, safe communities and a unified people. Retired Maj. Gen. David J. Scott, in his talk, stressed, ìOne nation under Godî is what our forefathers wanted us to be.Auction to help hearing impaired veteransThe Exchange Club of Falcon hosted the district meeting, and included a silent auction, with a large number of donated items, including a beautiful quilt by Marge Gentry, member. The quilt was originally designed by Vida Wilhite and constructed with civil war fabric reproductions. The quilt brought in $1,000. Proceeds from the auction will equip veterans at Laurel Manor Care in Colorado Springs with hearing aid devices.Golf tournament for charity!The Exchange Club still needs golfers for the annual fundraiser to be held June 18 at the Antlers Creek Golf Course in Falcon. Funds raised will support programs to stop child abuse, promote Americanism, recognize youth and for our community. The cost to golf is $100, including a buffet and an array of prizes. Call Bob Miller 719-641-0752.You can stop child abuseEvery year, Safe Passage is helping to stop and prevent child abuse. As a clear effort to do this, the ìNot One More Child Task Forceî was formed after January 2005. Helping one child at a time every single day is their mantra. ìUnfortunately, we donít see the child until the abuse has already happened,î said Wilene Lamport, director of Safe Passage. But for that child, she said, ìThe abuse will stop, so we do have a part in the prevention of child abuse.îAlso, the good news is that there is something every adult in our community can easily do to stop child abuse: When you suspect that a child has been harmed, report to law enforcement or child protective services right away. The hotline number to call is 719-444-5700.
