Mission Statement
Exchange, America's Service Club, is a group
of men and women working together to make our communities better places to live through programs of service in Americanism,
Community Service, Youth Activities, and its national project, the Prevention of Child Abuse.
Covenant of Service
(Adopted as the philosophy which characterizes an Exchangite)
Accepting the divine privilege of single and collective responsibility as life’s noblest gift, I covenant
with my fellow Exchangites:
To consecrate my best energies to the uplifting of Social, Religious, Political and
Business ideals;
To discharge the debt I owe to those of high and low estate who have served and sacrificed that
the heritage of American citizenship might be mine;
To honor and respect law, to serve my fellowmen, and to uphold
the ideals and institutions of my Country; To implant the life-giving, society-building spirit of Service and Comradeship
in my social and business relationships;
To serve in Unity with those seeking better conditions, better understandings,
and greater opportunities for all.
Our History
Charles A. Berkey is credited with the founding of this great organization. At his suggestion, the name
“Exchange” was selected because the group wanted to exchange ideas and information with like-minded individuals
about how to better serve their communities.
The first local Exchange Club was formed in Detroit, Michigan in 1911. The second was the Exchange Club of
Toledo, Ohio formed in 1913. Subsequently, two others were organized in Grand Rapids, Michigan and Cleveland, Ohio. These
four clubs were the first to be chartered by the National Exchange Club after it was organized as a nonprofit, educational
organization in 1917. Since then, hundreds of clubs have been chartered in the United States and Puerto Rico, with nearly
28,000 members making a positive difference in their own communities everyday. We are America's Service Club. From our organization's earliest days, Exchange Clubs have
been unselfishly serving their communities and improving the quality of life. The diverse array of Exchange-sponsored programs
and projects has made a considerable impact on America, enhancing the lives of countless men, women and children across the
nation.
The National Exchange Club headquarters is located in Toledo, Ohio. Our chief objective is to help Exchange
Clubs realize their full potential of community service.
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