The Exchange Club of Farmington Honors Retiring Member, Invites New

The Exchange Club of Farmington honored member Russell Hunter at a surprise ceremony Thursday at the Stonewell Restaurant. Russell will be retiring after serving as secretary of the Farmington Foundation for 43 years. 

Foundation member John Grocki spoke, giving a brief background of the Foundation and explaining its main purpose — to provide low interest loans to students. This was followed by an entertaining and educational story about the Exchange Club and the Foundation given by Russell Hunter.

Kevin Ray, Foundation and Exchange Club member, presented Mr. Hunter with a plaque commemorating his years of service. A Certificate of Appreciation was also presented to Russell Hunter by Joan Morin, President of the Exchange Club. Also attending the ceremony was Russell’s wife and son, Cathy and Bruce Hunter.

Recently named a , which celebrated “Farmington's favorite nonprofits serving, enriching, helping the community,” the club was founded in 1928 “to work together to make our community a better place to live through programs of community service, youth activities, and our national project, the Prevention of Child Abuse.”

Exchange Club fundraisers include: 

• Benefit Basketball Game
• Wine Tasting
• Wreath Sales
• Car Wash Tickets
• Comedy Night - March 26
• Exchange Club of Farmington Phone Book
• Good & Services Auction - April 9 at the Farmington Community Center
• The Child Abuse Prevention Golf Tournament - June 23 - to benefit the Parent & Child Center at Bristol Hospital

The Exchange Club also supports local organizations such as the Farmington Food Pantry, the Farmington Police Alcohol Awareness Fund, the Boy and Girl Scouts, Winding Trails, Farmington Public Schools, College Scholarships, and the Parent & Child Center at Bristol Hospital, and participates in many community events, including the Unionville Festival, GIVE-A-KID-A-FLAG-TO-WAVE at the Memorial Day Parade, Christmas at Winding Trails, and Lighting of the Christmas trees on the Farmington Green.

The Club named Assistant Chief Richard Higley Sr. 2010 “Firefighter of the Year” and a “Salute to CT's Finest” will be held May 26 at the Aquaturf.

It might sound like a lot of work, but President Joan Morin said energetically, “This organization is a lot of fun. It is a group effort, with everyone helping to accomplish our goals. I love helping people. I think it is so important and you receive so much gratification.”

This year is a centennial year as the National Exchange Club celebrates its 100th year of service, and in preparation, the Exchange Club of Farmington will be conducting a contest for recruiting new members with the grand prize being an LG 42" Color TV. 

The Exchange Club will also be initiating an Excel Club at Farmington High School, which is a group of high school students dedicated to improving their schools, communities, and country through volunteerism. 

Morin said “the benefits for students to join Excel are:
 -   Develop valuable communication skills
 -   Participate with groups working towards a common goal
 -   Show patriotism
 -   Apply for grants from the Exchange Club network
 -   Fulfill community service requirements for graduation and scouting.”

She encourages everyone to consider joining and to come to a meeting to see what it’s about. 

Meeting dates and locations can be viewed on the club calendar.