June 21, 2016

THE BULLETIN FLORENCE EXCHANGE CLUB

THE OLDEST SERVING SERVICE CLUB IN THE SHOALS BEGINNING JUNE 1921 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Celebrating the 95th Annual Meeting

If I sang out, “Born on a mountain top in Tennessee…,” that wouldn’t bring to mind our

winner of this award because he wasn’t born in TN, but in Georgia—Augusta, I believe.

Just a few years ago. He probably doesn’t keep his age in mind because he is the perpetual

teenager—in all the good ways, that is. Peter Pan “hisself”!

More clues: he’s a U.S. Air Force veteran, which probably greatly contributes to his habitual acts of patriotism,

including often heading the committee that takes care of posting of the American flags downtown Florence for

various flag occasions—Independence Day, Flag Day, etc. (Yes, everybody thinks the City of Florence does

that, but...). Taking on an enormous project, he instigated, raised funds for, helped develop & maintains

(replaces, repairs & raises & lowers flags as appropriate American flag etiquette requires) the Florence Ex-

change Club’s Deibert Park Field of Flags—

possibly regretting the designer’s choice of only

48 American flags therein. But he never fails to

offer those inquiring “Why not 50?” a chance to

contribute the dough to make that a possibility!

What a salesman, indeed. What a gorgeously

visible reminder of the service of those who

made our country great and our freedom possible

is that Field of Flags! Just a drive-by on a rea-

sonably windy day will lift one’s spirit in grateful acknowledgement of those

patriots’ sacrifice.

2015-16

OFFICERS

Adin Batson, Pres

Bert Bretherick

Pres. Elect

Brian Maples

Vice Pres.

Teresa Robert-

son,

Imm. Past Pres.

Laura Williams

Secretary

Howard Tinsley,

Treasurer

DIRECTORS

One Year

Frank Eastland

Vance Persall

Jenny Mitchell

Two Year

Joe Patterson

Doug Evans

UPCOMING

PROGRAMS

June 28

Bob Larson

July 5

Howard Tinsley

July 11

Board Meeting

George Chambers says his program Tuesday June 28 will be

“How the destruction of the dollar threatens the global economy”.

Sounds like a great program. Bring some of your financial advisors.

Adin receives his

plaque for serving 2

terms as President.

Joyce Franklin,NEC Re-

gion 9 VP, presents Adin

with proclamation for the

club’s 95th year of service.

Shown are the 2016-17

Officers and Board

members. Duties begin

July 1.

Which brings us to recall another avenue of service for this civically generous

Florence businessman, now “retired.” Can’t nobody sell “pee-cans” like this

man! Circus barkers have nothing on him! (It took those of us in the Club a few

years to understand he meant “pecans.” OOOOOhh, came out in concert when

we finally realized what he was talking about, just like when a bunch of Yankees

finally get what we mean when we native speakers say “y’all.”) .

Selling pecans is our biggest fundraiser of the year, so when he orders, tracks,

cheerleads the process & reports on the sales, as he has over many years, he’s shepherding our most valuable &

recognizable commodity for the Florence Exchange Club; everybody recognizes our traditional Thanksgiving-

through-the holidays pecan sales in the Shoals. He’s taken it to another level, empowering our Club to strongly

support many of our prevention-of-child-abuse projects throughout the year.

Furthermore, he’s taken on the role of emceeing our annual Food Run, often seen running

through the crowds to cut a race-horse deal for ticket sales during the final hour before the

drawing & generally pumping up the excitement for the run. He makes such activities fun,

just like when he participates in the Exchange Club’s drink sales at the North Alabama Fair

and the Red Beans & Rice luncheon. It’s always more fun when he’s around. He works

rings around most of us, always with a smile & can-do attitude—usually doing the heavy

lifting—literal & figurative. You can tell he believes in what he’s doing. Such passion is

priceless. Can’t be bought or faked, either!

All these activities considered, he is still not too busy to check on the elderly of our

Club, the sick & chronically ill. What a compassionate, Christian gentleman is here,

embodying the spirit of care and true friendship--to the max. And we’ve probably left

out several other important functions he heads or participates as a committee member.

It’s hard to keep up with all he does. And he takes a ribbing better than most any

other person. It’s so easy to make a good-natured guy the target of a lot of Club jokes.

He wears them well—graciously & with a quick comeback in most cases.

Oh, yes, he’s married (one beautiful, intelligent & business-savvy redheaded Linda--

lady), father of two &, more importantly, has “two of the grandest” of those who

come following when just enough years go by after your kids leave the nest that we

grandparents can fully appreciate the separation of the generations by having forgotten

all the stress & rotten stuff that happened during the kids’ teen years—and that’s even when you have the best

of teenagers! It’s a tough time for both sides…. But I digress.

All in all, he has been & is “active to the max” in the Florence Exchange Club for over 22 years, his church,

hunting, and in his family matters. Because they all do matter to him. What a friend we Florence Exchangites

have in his being in our Club!

We, therefore, heartily congratulate the deserved winner of the Florence Exchange Club’s Exchangite of the

Year for 2016—Vance Persall.

(EDITOR’S NOTE: The above article was written by Sandra Sockwell and presented to Vance Tuesday night

during the banquet.)

“Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you

with their ingenuity.” General George Patton.

Leadership: The art of getting someone to do something you want done because he

wants to do it. General Dwight D. Eisenhower.

The Florence Exchange Club 2016-17 Officers and Board Members

Top row: Bert Bretherick, President; Brian Maples, President Elect; Doug Evans, Vice

President, Adin Batson, Immediate Past President.

Second Row: Laura Williams, Secretary; Howard Tinsley, Treasurer; Frank Eastland and Joe

Patterson, Board members.

Third row: B. W. Gibbons, Parrish Riedel, Peggy O’Steen and Vance Persall, Board Members

Committee Month Chair Member Member Member

State Fair September ______________ ______________ _____________ _______________

Crime Prevention October _______________ ______________ ______________ _______________

Fire Prevention October _______________ _______________ _______________ ______________

Pecans November _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________

ONUG November ______________ _______________ _____________ ______________

GAKAFTW December _______________ _______________ _____________ _______________

Christmas Party December _______________ _______________ _____________ ______________

Nominations March _______________ ______________ _____________ ______________

Red Beans & Rice March _______________ _______________ _____________ ______________

Youth in Government March _______________ ________________ ______________ ______________

Child Abuse Prevent. April _______________ _______________ ______________ ______________

Freedom Shrine April _______________ ______________ _____________ _____________

Proudly We Hail May _______________ ______________ ____________ _____________

Annual Meeting June _______________ ______________ ____________ ____________

BOGD June _______________ ______________ _____________ _____________

Greeter Weekly _______________ ______________ ____________ ______________

Covenant Recitation Weekly _______________ _______________ ______________ _____________

Invocation/Pledge Weekly _______________ ________________ ______________ ______________

Member Induction _______________ ________________ _______________ ________________

Newsletter/PR Weekly _______________ ________________ _______________ _______________

Exchange Education Bi-Weekly _______________ ______________ _______________ ________________

Membership/

Retention Monthly _______________ _____________ _______________ _______________

Scrapbook Monthly _______________ _____________ ______________ _______________

Downtown Flags Holidays _______________ ______________ _______________ ________________

Field of Flags Monthly _______________ ______________ ______________ ________________