Exchange is an all-volunteer, national service organization for men and women who want to serve their community, develop leadership skills and enjoy new friendships. Exchange is made up of nearly 1,000 clubs and 33,000 members throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. Exchange is known to millions as America’s Service Club, and with good reason. 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 thus enhancing the lives of countless men, women and children across the nation. The principal areas of Exchange’s National Program of Service are Youth, Americanism and Community Service, with Child Abuse Prevention emphasized as the national project.

The first local Exchange Club was formed in Detroit, Michigan in 1911. Charles A. Berkey is the man who is credited with the founding of this great organization. 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. 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.

The Florida District is one of 29 Districts that are designated by the National Exchange Club. We currently have 1147 members with 36 clubs throughout the state. The State of Florida was organized in 1924 and it became an official District in 1966. The earliest club to join National Exchange was the Exchange Club of Quincy, The Exchange Club of Tampa, and the Exchange Club of Tallahassee which all chartered in 1923. The Tallahassee club is still meeting with 98 years of active community service. The Florida District has had six National Presidents:

13th National President            Thomas C. Imeson         Jacksonville, FL

28th National President             M. Allen Barth                  Miami, FL

40th National President             B. Edward Wood             Miami, FL

66th National President             William C. Wodtke, Jr.    Vero Beach, FL

69th National President             W. James Brown             St. Petersburg, FL

100th National President           Kathy Brown Mize          St. Petersburg, FL

The current Florida District President is George Mann, a member of The Exchange Club of Jacksonville. The current Board of Directors includes the following

President Elect                             Ken Sweeny                       Harbor Exchange Club of North Pinellas

Immediate Past President        Steve Rawlins                     The Exchange Club of Jacksonville

Secretary                                       Shirley Sims                        The Exchange Club of the Emerald Coast

Treasurer                                       Julie Perkil                           Harbor Exchange Club of North Pinellas

Due to the size of the District it is set up into eight divisions that is lead by the following Division Directors as members of the board:

District 1                                         Alan Duke                             The Exchange Club of Ft Lauderdale

District 2                                         Laurie Collings                    The Exchange Club of Treasure Coast
District 3                                         Ken Sweeney                       Harbor Exchange Club of North Pinellas

District 4                                         Shirley Sims                         The Exchange Club of the Emerald Coast

District 5                                         Gem Mann                           The Exchange Club of Jacksonville

District 6                                         John Messal                        The Gator Exchange Club

District 7                                         Rene Van De Doorde          The Exchange Club of Sebastian

District 8                                         Veronica Huzzard               The Manatee River Business Masters Exchange Club

The Florida District has been recognized many times by National Exchange with the Outstanding District Award. The District has also been recognized innumerable times for their Distinguished District Presidents as well as many receiving the Star District Award.