EXCHANGE CLUB OF SEBASTIAN, FL
~~~ NEWSLETTER ~~~
Meeting 12 Noon, 2nd – last Wednesdays of the Month
Captain Hiram’s Tiffany Room, Sebastian, Florida
Guest Speaker Series
On March 9th our guest speaker was Corey Maxwell of VetDive Therapy, Inc. Corey is a US Marine Corps veteran who’s brother also served in the US military and developed PTSD. Corey founded VetDive Therapy, Inc., a 50lC(3) in 2018 with a mission to help end veteran suicide. Veterans struggle with integrating back into society. They are not who they were before serving. There are an average of 18 veteran suicides per day. Of those 10 had no VA assistance, and 8 had VA assistance. The goal of VetDive Therapy is to build a network support group of veterans to rebuild that camaraderie. Scuba diving is physically and mentally calming and helps vets help themselves. Scuba diving has been medically accepted as a benefit to veterans worldwide. The application process includes a pre-interview in which a DD214 and Awards letter must be provided. Each training session is private, and a post interview is given. Training begins in a closed water (pool) facility and graduates to open water. There is no cost to the veteran, but the cost to VetDive is approximately $795 per veteran. Funding comes from donations, sales of promotional items and money received from non-veteran students who register for re-certification classes. For more information visit www.vetdivetherapy.com.
Welcome New Members
On February 26th we inducted Diane Croteau and on March 9th we inducted Wendy Becker as our newest members. Please make sure to introduce yourself and welcome Diane and Wendy to our club.
Youth Of the Month
OUR YOUTH OF THE MONTH AWARD recognizes hard-working pre-high school and high school students who attain high levels of scholastic achievement, community involvement and leadership, and daily demonstrate good citizenship both at school and at home. Students recognized for the month of March were Rachel Disisto from Sebastian Charter Junior High School, Lilyana Wilsnack from Sebastian River Middle School, and Taylor Sturgeon and Adam Chester from Sebastian River High School.
Rachel Disisto has a kind spirit and positive attitude. She is a strong, self-advocating student who is quickly becoming someone at the top of her game. She is confident in herself and caring of others. Rachel leads with compassion and kindness. With determination and perseverance, Rachel not only strives for excellence in her academics and extracurricular activities, but also demonstrates the ability to encourage and assist those around her. She had an amazing Science Fair project this year and won several awards at the Indian River Regional Science Fair. She is an ambassador and works with students in another class to complete science labs and understand the science behind them. Rachel is an amazing young woman with a phenomenal future. She’s intelligent, hardworking, responsive to others, and embraces all six of the Character Pillars taught here at SCJH. In accepting her award Rachel thanked our club, her teachers, grandparents and parents for setting a foundation and being her role models.
Lilyana Wilsnack is a very mature, highly cooperative and hard working student both inside and outside of the classroom. Her academic performance stands within the top three percent of SRMS’ 8th grade class. Also, Lilyana has shown a remarkable willingness to participate and lead other students to perform better. Lilyana provides a great role model for other students to emulate. Based on her remarkable performance during the Indian River Regional Science & Engineering Fair her science fair project was selected to participate in the Florida State Science & Engineering Fair. She always strives to do her best and be her best. Lilyana is a true model student. She is driven, compassionate, a leader as well as a team player. she is mature and well balanced by taking her responsibilities seriously yet carrying a smile and a certain grace that shows confidence in her endeavors. Lilly is not afraid to ask challenging questions, yet she communicates them in a positive and empathetic way. She is a student who truly values education and learning. She carries herself with a demeanor of wanting to learn. Lilyana has been working incredibly hard this year to maintain an “A” average in all of her classes. Her strong character is a model for her peers and others around her. She goes the extra mile to make sure that she is successful. In accepting her award Lilyana thanked our club, her teachers and family for their support in helping her learn how to be successful.
Taylor Sturgeon is an IB Diploma Candidate with a weighted GPA of 4.391 and ranked 26th in her class. She is a member of the National Honor Society and Senior Class Secretary, Editor-in-Chief of the Yearbook and has played on Varsity Golf and Tennis teams as well as Lacrosse JV team and band. She organized the Chick-Fil-A Leadership Academy Color Run to benefit the March of Dimes, is a Peer mentor for Fellsmere Elementary students, and raised approximately $1,500 collecting pop-tops for Ronald McDonald House. Taylor works at Chick-fil-A. Although accepted to several colleges, she plans to attend the University of North Florida and study marketing. In accepting her award Taylor thanked our club, her teachers as well as all of her peers for motivating her to strive for her best, saying, “I am truly honored.”
Adam Chester is an IB Diploma Candidate with a weighted GPA of 4.386 and class rank of 27th. He is a member and former officer of the National Honor Society and Future Business Leaders of America. Adam is a member of the SRHS Band, Pride Competition Band, Section Leader of Saxophones, Band Lieutenant and Executive Leader of the band. He is a varsity starter all 4 years of the SRHS Tennis team, and Treasure of the SRHS Excel Club. He volunteers for Nathaniel’s Hope Buddy Break for special needs children and at the Environment Learning Center as a summer camp counselor. He has volunteered with Keep Indian River Beautiful beach cleanup since 2014 and has volunteered more than 350 hours of other community service. Adam works as a Front Service Clerk at Publix and his hobbies are sports, music and travel. Although accepted to several colleges Adam plans to attend the University of North Florida and study clinical science. In accepting his award he thanked our club, his parents and teachers for their support.
This and That
Please contact Ali Qizilbash or Kimball Stadler with ideas for future speakers. Suggestions are appreciated!
Eva Chapman needs to know of any volunteer work a member has done outside of Exchange Club. This counts toward credit we get from national toward year end awards. Please use her log or send her the name of the organization and number of hours you spent volunteering.
Terry Gardner is chairing the Community Involvement Committee. Karen McElveen will serve with her. They encourage members to give them ideas.
Kathy Burns and Margie Duffell are working with both Sebastian Charter Junior High School and Sebastian River High School to rebuild their Excel Club programs. Club meetings are held immediately after school at each school. Volunteers to assist with these meetings are needed! For more information please contact Kathy or Margie.
Adam Preuss reminds us that on Wednesday, April 20, 2022, our luncheon will be held at SRHS (rather than Captain Hiram’s) to recognize the Male & Female Youth of the Year students and the ACE student. Lunch will consist of: Salad, Chicken, Veggie, Dessert & Drink and will be paid for by the club. We will need to provide the culinary school a firm and final count of members wishing to participate by April 4th.
Phil Barnes says the date for our Junior Blue Water Open has been confirmed for Saturday October 29th.
Blue Water Open
Eva Chapman reports that Michelle is heading up the Blue Water Open VIP Event, Kimball is coordinating the Cheer Cooler effort and Rachel is selecting the Trip and getting tickets printed. (This year’s trip is to Napa Valley – more detail to come!) Scott will head up the trip ticket sales effort and Karen is handling raffle baskets. Items are needed for the baskets so please bring to Karen. Diana and Terry are heading up volunteers. Please let them know where you can assist. Eva will be handling boat registration. Sponsor Packets have been sent out to members to send to their sponsors. Printed versions are also available at each meeting. We need to get our requests out to them soon. Each sponsor can also add 150 items to our Captains Buckets. Thank you Kimball for sending the Save-The-Date reminder out to all of our previous sponsors and fishermen. Sponsors at $5000 or greater must submit their donation and logo information no later than April 15th in order to meet the t-shirt print deadline.
1st Qtr. Visitors – Please Come Again!
01/12 – Diane Croteau, potential member (Eva Chapman)
01/12 – Cathy Topping, Sebastian Director & Robert Ulrich, Program Director B&G Club (Laura Luettger)
01/19 – Dr. Zoey Gutierrez-Nickel, DDS, MS (Kathy Gutierrez)
02/09 – Tom Lawrence (Rene VanDeVoorde)
02/09 – Kristina Jacobs, IRSC (Ali Qizilbash)
02/09 – Bill Motta, Victory Kids (Ali Qizilbash)
02/09 – Wendy Becker (Eva Chapman)
02/16 – Wendy Becker (Eva Chapman – new application!)
02/16 – Islemy Garcia (Johnathan Rhodeback)
02/16 – Mark Renihan, American Security Foundation (Lane Solomon)
02/23 – Tami Hatten, Captain Hiram’s (Kimball Stadler)
Sebastian Police Department Community Outreach
Congratulations to officer Donald Hart for being named officer of the year for Sebastian Police Department . . . well deserved!!!
On March 2nd our COPE Unit participated in the Florida Sheriffs’ Youth Ranches Annual Barbeque at the Indian River County fairgrounds. Great turnout!
Lieutenant Finnegan and Officer Hart mingle with Youth
Upcoming Events in March Include:
03/18-03/19 – Shrimpfest at Riverview Park
03/25 – United Against Poverty Community Resource Fair
Excel Club of Sebastian River High School
An election of officers was held on September 13th. Approximately 25 students attended for the election!
New club officers are:
President Ray Temino
President-Elect Desiree White
Secretary Sawyer Held
Treasurer Adam Chester
Historian Dylan Weragoda
2021-22 Officers
Club meetings will be held on Wednesdays immediately after school at 2:00 p.m. Club members are working on a school-wide book drive collection during the month of March to benefit students at Fellsmere Elementary. (Pillars – Youth and Community). A beach cleanup was completed in February (Pillar – Community). The club has already completed at least one event in three of the four pillars of Exchange. In April the Child Prevention flag will be displayed on campus.
Club Advisor Jaime Sturgeon is very supportive of our efforts and is enthusiastic about having members get underway with activities which support the ideals of Exchange. Volunteers are needed to assist with these meetings!
Jr. Excel Club of Sebastian Charter
Junior HighSchool
An election officers was held on October 13th. New club officers are:
President Amber Fuller
President Elect Shane Corley
Secretary Teagan Keefe
Treasurer Teagan Keefe
Meetings are held on the 2nd Wednesday of the month immediately after school. The club is learning/practicing Roberts Rules of Order protocol. This club has also completed at least one event in three of the four pillars of Exchange. At the March meeting, they heard our member Officer Donald Hart from Sebastian Police Department speak about the legacy of his father and mother, Victor and Valareese Hart who were instrumental in improving the quality of life in the Gifford Community. (Pillars – Community & Americanism).
Victor & Valareese Hart
In April the Child Prevention flag will be displayed on campus and students will distribute fliers to each home room class. May will be a celebration of all the accomplishments for the year.
Volunteers are needed to assist with helping the students achieve activities which represent the four pillars of Exchange. Any member willing to assist should contact Margie Duffell or Kathy Burns.
Calendar of Events
March
03/16 – Students
03/23 – Michael Ansley, Helping Hands Community of the Treasure Coast
03/30 – Cheryl Thibault, President/CEO Sebastian River Area Chamber of Commerce
April
04/01 – Freedom Shrine Re-Dedication
9:30 a.m. Sebastian Charter Elementary
Memory Field Installation
04/02 – Memory Field Dedication
04/06 – No Meeting (Board Only)
04/13 – Zoey Gutierrez-Nickel, DDS, MS
Birthday Cake
04/20 – Students of Year and Ace Awards Sharky’s Café – Sebastian River High School
March Anniversaries
On March 9th we celebrated members anniversaries:
Scott Thiel 1 Year
Kimball Stadler (Hiram’s) 3 Years
Justin Lefebure 4 Years
Lyse McDonough 4 Years
Karen McElveen 17 Years
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND |
COVID-19 Attendance Guidelines
Our New Guidelines Effective August 1, 2021. These guidelines shall apply to all members and guests that attend our Club meetings in person in the Tiffany Room at Capt. Hiram’s restaurant:
- There shall be no more than 6 people at each table.
- Facemasks are optional.
- If any member/guest has tested positive for COVID-19, has experienced symptoms of COVID-19, or has been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19, he/she shall not attend any meetings in person until they become symptom-free or test negative. Additionally, he/she shall notify the Club President of their condition, so that we can determine if any other members/guests may have been exposed.
District Director Rene’s Corner
Rene has begun receiving scholarship applications for the 2022 graduates of Sebastian River High School. If interested in assisting with the recipient selection contact Rene
Fellsmere Club: The 2021 Shrimpfest & Craft Brew Hullabaloo was held Friday, March 19th through Sunday March 21st, 2021. This was a joint effort with the Rotary Club of Sebastian and roughly $55,000 was raised support youth sports and organizations throughout north Indian River County.
South Brevard County Club: Club members have recently packed and distributed another 25 Blue Bags with children’s items for donation to the Melbourne Police. These bags are for use when police are working with children in stressful situations.
Ron Smith a car show is planned for the future – location and date to be determined. The Junior Fishing Tournament is planned for next spring, probably in late April. Contact Ron for more information at ronlsmith45@gmail.com.
Margie Duffell