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Our Team To Improve America
Methuen Councilor Ken Willette
 This month I wish to discuss an
outstanding organization that is near and dear to my
heart: the Methuen Exchange Club. The Methuen Exchange
Club has exhibited a proven legacy of service to our
community since 1983.
The Methuen Exchange Club is an all-volunteer,
service-oriented group for business and professional men
and women who want to prevent child abuse through a
national campaign. In addition to promoting child abuse
prevention programs, the Methuen Exchange Club is also
dedicated to the following goals: fulfilling a variety of
community service projects, celebrating America, and
honoring heroes, seniors and leaders in our city.
Why Join the Methuen Exchange Club?
We accomplish so much during the year. Besides the good
natured interactions and lasting friendships Exchange
members have shared for so many years (and sometimes
decades), our organization has utilized its diverse
energy to improve our surrounding community. Some of the
charity and patriotic projects we complete each year
include the following:
Child Abuse Prevention
Our children are our nation’s future. Our club
assists the Blue Ribbon Campaign of Child Abuse
Prevention and Awareness. We donate funds to the Michael
B. Christensen Family Support Center in Lawrence. We
reach out to the children of Saint Ann’s Home, who
have often been the victims of abuse. The club hosts an
annual cookout for the children, donates recreational
supplies, takes them to Spinners baseball games and
invites them for a free round of mini-golf and a sundae
at Jay Gee’s in Methuen. What a tradition!
Community Service
We reach out to hundreds of deserving children through
our annual partnership with the Toys for Tots program and
our involvement with the Methuen Arlington Neighborhood.
Our members provide holiday presents to needy children
and deliver food baskets at Thanksgiving and Christmas.
We raise thousands of dollars every year through our
exciting and entertaining fundraisers, including the
increasingly popular Taste of Methuen and the mini-golf
tournament.
We maximize every dollar in our charity account for those
less fortunate. When you witness the smiles of poor
working families who receive food baskets and hear the
wonderful voices of children who open holiday presents
with our charity, it brings a wave of happiness to our
hearts.
Americanism
We love this country, and we love to show it. We pass out
hundreds of American flags to parade goers during
Memorial Day. We honor the bravery of our dearly departed
veterans every Veterans Day. Every November the club
officially recognizes residents and business owners who
proudly and properly display the American flag. We
dedicate Freedom Shrines in public buildings, with
historical documents signifying our journeys to achieve
independence and our sacrifices to extend liberty to our
nation and the world. God Bless America!
Honoring the Heroes Among Us
At our annual recognition dinner and awards night,
the Methuen Exchange Club publicly celebrates the often
unsung and heroic measures of police officers and
firefighters who have risked their lives to save others.
We publicize the good deeds of community leaders, the
volunteerism of seniors and the academic excellence of
our scholarship winners. We are always at the forefront
of recognizing our everyday heroes!
What Can You Bring to Exchange?
Your compassion. Your love of this nation. Your
commitment to a better community. The Methuen Exchange
Club has served as a successful vehicle for constructive
and positive cooperation among a diversity of business
owners, elected officials and retirees — just to
highlight a few groups associated with our club.
We need people who are charitable, sociable, creative and
driven. Do you resemble any of those qualities?
Give us a call at 978-683-0606. Hundreds of deserving
people are depending on you!
Ken Willette is an at-large City
Councilor in Methuen. You can email him at kennethwillette@comcast.net
*Send your questions comments to ValleyPatriot@aol.com
The September, 2006
Edition of the Valley Patriot
The Valley Patriot is a Monthly
Publication.
All Contents (C) 2006, Valley Patriot, Inc.
We publish 9,000 newspapers and distribute in Andover,
North Andover,
Methuen, Haverhill, Chelmsford, Georgetown, Groveland,
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Beach, and Lowell.
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