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 _______________ ______________ ______________ ________________
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