From NewCanaanite.com  Meet the Exchange Club of New Canaan [Q&A]

Meet the Exchange Club of New Canaan [Q&A]

By Michael Dinan | August 19, 2024

Editor:

T

One of New Canaan’s most active service organizations, the Exchange Club (background here), is preparing to launch its hugely popular Annual Tree Sale at Kiwanis Park.

The sale, whose proceeds go toward the club’s grant-giving program, benefitting local charities, will open Nov. 29 in the Old Norwalk Road park. 

We put some questions to New Canaan’s David Shea, a Board member at Exchange, ahead of the sale, which runs through Dec. 22.

Here’s our back-and-forth.

***

New Canaanite: How much does the Exchange Club rely on the Christmas Tree Sale to support its grant-giving for local nonprofit organizations?

David Shea: Since 1972 the Christmas Tree and Wreath sale is the club’s primary source of revenue for our annual grants and donations. The funds earned from this sale provide over 75% of the monies we give away each year to local charities and services.

How does the Exchange Club set the prices for the sale, and what are they?

In order to meet our fundraising goal, we cannot match the bargain prices found at area retailers. We try and stay competitive with the upper end tree sales operations in our area. We sell five to ten foot Frasier Firs and Balsams with the prices ranging from $149 to just below $300 for the 10 foot trees. This year we have minimally raised the prices on only some of the trees.

What do you sell, in addition to the trees?

We sell a large array of both plain (cedar and pine) and decorated wreaths in a wide variety of sizes. In addition, we offer both cedar and white pine roping and various Christmas specialties including door charms, lights, bows and tree stands. The plain and decorated wreaths start at $49 with only the giant wreaths $100.

How many organizations typically benefit from the Exchange Club’s giving? What are some that will be most familiar to New Canaanites?

Over the past few years, we awarded each year over 30 grants to local charities including the New Canaan ABC House, New Canaan Library, Staying Put in New Canaan, Ram Council Foundation, Planet New Canaan, Help for Kids, New Canaan CARES, GetAbout, New Canaan CERT, Silvermine Arts Guild, Waveny Lifecare Network, VFW, Meal on Wheels, New Canaan Parent Support Group, Bristow Bird Center, New Canaan Society for the Arts/Carriage Barn Arts Center and our annual college scholarship to a New Canaan student.

We have many new residents in New Canaan, including those about to celebrate the holidays here for the first time. What is the Exchange Club’s message to those families?

The Exchange Club of New Canaan’s annual Christmas tree sale is a community event that embodies the spirit of the season. For more than 50 years, the Club has been selling fresh-cut Christmas trees at Kiwanis Park, raising funds for local charities while spreading holiday cheer. Families and friends gather to select the perfect tree, drop off their Christmas lists, take photos with Santa or take a ride around town on Old Faithful, the antique fire truck.

From Stamford Advocate https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/new-canaan-exchange-club-christmas-trees-2024-19906226.php

The Exchange Club is selling Christmas trees and wreaths at Kiwanis Park beginning Nov. 29.

file/Hearst Connecticut Media

From NewCanaanite.com  Meet the Exchange Club of New Canaan [Q&A]

Editor:

This month, NewCanaanite.com is publishing Q&As with local service organizations—volunteer groups that give back to the community while offering connection, camaraderie and fun.

Today we feature the Exchange Club of New Canaan.

Here’s our exchange with the nonprofit organization’s former president, Jeff Platt.

***

New Canaanite: Please give us some background on the Exchange Club. How and when did the organization start?

Jeff Platt: The National Exchange Club is one of the oldest service organizations in the country. More than 600 local clubs throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico provide individuals with opportunities to use their time and talents to benefit their local communities and the nation.

Through the Programs of Service: Americanism, Community Service and Youth Programs – members support activities that benefit youth, promote pride in our country, and honor military and public service providers, to name a few. The awareness and prevention of child abuse is Exchange’s National Project. Exchange was founded in 1911 in Detroit, Michigan by a group of business executives who wanted simply to exchange ideas. Those ideas grew and were shared, resulting in innumerable benefits to the nation. Currently, Exchange has over 18,000 members in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

Describe the Exchange Club’s membership. How many members are there and what are the guidelines for membership? How does a resident become a member? What do you think attracts people to join and participate in Exchange Club?

The Exchange Club of New Canaan was chartered in 1952. Our 120+ members represent a wide range of professions, most of whom remain active in their careers while others have retired. Members of the Exchange Club of New Canaan are drawn together by shared basic attitudes: our love for our families and our country and our respect for human dignity and for one another. If you are interested in learning more about the Exchange Club of New Canaan, please visit Newcanaanexchangeclub.com

How often does Exchange Club meet and what activities does the organization offer? 

We strive to make our community a better place to live through selected service projects, learning more about our community from our semi-monthly dinner meetings (1st & 3rd Tuesdays) with guest speakers and the camaraderie in the spirit of service that forms the basis of the Exchange Club.  Residents may notice members of the Exchange Club volunteering at community events including passing out thousands of American flags at the Memorial Day parade, and working the concession stand at the Family Fourth celebration in Waveny Park.

What project or projects can you highlight to give our readers an idea of what the Exchange Club has accomplished here in town?

This year we granted over $200,000 to local charities and community organizations.

We primarily raise funds by selling over 1,200 Christmas trees and other holiday merchandise including wreaths in Kiwanis Park in December and through our golf outing in early October. All of the monies generated by these events are distributed via our Grants & Donations Committee each spring.

What does the organization support?

The Exchange Club of New Canaan serves the community in many ways. We distribute grants to local non-profits, support local organizations with their fund-raising activities, and participate in community events. We have four main pillars: the prevention of child abuse (our primary focus), community service, youth projects and Americanism. In particular, we provide financial and volunteer support to Help for Kids in Stamford. The full list of grant recipients is at www.newcanaanexchangeclub.com

What else, if anything, would you like to tell our readers about the Exchange Club?

Two things:

1. Over the last 10 years, the Exchange Club has granted over $1.5 million to local charities and community organizations
2. The Exchange Club has been selling Christmas tree and wreaths benefiting local charities for over 50 years in New Canaan.

From NewCanaanite.com  Family Fourth 2024 Thank You

Editor:

On behalf of the Family Fireworks Committee, I would like to thank all who supported the 43rd Annual New Canaan Family Fireworks Celebration at Waveny Park by purchasing an entrance pass and attending this Independence Day celebration.

The fireworks show was spectacular. It was another memorable celebration….an outstanding evening of family fun, wonderful music, great food and a fantastic fireworks display. Your financial support makes this great New Canaan tradition possible; whether you drove in or walked in, thank you for buying an entrance pass.

We offer a big thank you to the New Canaan Family Fireworks volunteer Committee (George Benington, Jordan Cerbone, Scott Cluett, Chris Cody, Sven Englund, Wendy Dixon Fog, Win Goodrich, Sue Holland, John Howe, Suzanne Jonker, Russ Kimes, Tucker Murphy, Andrew Walsh, Maria Weingarten, and Pat Wood) as well as all of the following; the show could not have gone on without their endless energy, hard work and commitment:

• Police Department
• Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
• Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
• Fire Department and Fire Marshal
• Office of Emergency Management (OEM)
• Town Band and Mind the Gap Band
• Parking, Parks, Public Works, Recreation and Information Technology Departments

• The Exchange Club of New Canaan

• Master of Ceremonies Dan Taylor
• Our special benefactors
• The fourteen gourmet food trucks
• The volunteers who worked from early morning, to very late at night, to set up and take down all of the necessary infrastructure and equipment.

A special thank you to Walter Stewart’s Market for selling entrance passes and to the local print and on-line papers for getting the word out about the event.

As usual, the Police and CERT volunteers did a wonderful job handling the traffic flow; the park was nearly empty about 30 minutes after the fireworks ended.

And I offer special kudos, as always, to our Recreation Staff, led by John Howe, (Zack Philippas, Steve Dayton, Butch Landon, Bea Watkins, and Deborah DiMuzio) and the Parks Department led by Todd Deklyn and Ryan Restivo for their tireless efforts in creating a quintessential Independence Day celebration.

Please send any comments, thoughts and suggestions for next year to me at Town Hall.

Tom Stadler, Chairman – New Canaan Family Fireworks

From NewCanaanite.com  Family Fourth 2024 Thank You

Editor:

On behalf of the Family Fireworks Committee, I would like to thank all who supported the 43rd Annual New Canaan Family Fireworks Celebration at Waveny Park by purchasing an entrance pass and attending this Independence Day celebration.

The fireworks show was spectacular. It was another memorable celebration….an outstanding evening of family fun, wonderful music, great food and a fantastic fireworks display. Your financial support makes this great New Canaan tradition possible; whether you drove in or walked in, thank you for buying an entrance pass.

We offer a big thank you to the New Canaan Family Fireworks volunteer Committee (George Benington, Jordan Cerbone, Scott Cluett, Chris Cody, Sven Englund, Wendy Dixon Fog, Win Goodrich, Sue Holland, John Howe, Suzanne Jonker, Russ Kimes, Tucker Murphy, Andrew Walsh, Maria Weingarten, and Pat Wood) as well as all of the following; the show could not have gone on without their endless energy, hard work and commitment:

• Police Department
• Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
• Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
• Fire Department and Fire Marshal
• Office of Emergency Management (OEM)
• Town Band and Mind the Gap Band
• Parking, Parks, Public Works, Recreation and Information Technology Departments

• The Exchange Club of New Canaan

• Master of Ceremonies Dan Taylor
• Our special benefactors
• The fourteen gourmet food trucks
• The volunteers who worked from early morning, to very late at night, to set up and take down all of the necessary infrastructure and equipment.

A special thank you to Walter Stewart’s Market for selling entrance passes and to the local print and on-line papers for getting the word out about the event.

As usual, the Police and CERT volunteers did a wonderful job handling the traffic flow; the park was nearly empty about 30 minutes after the fireworks ended.

And I offer special kudos, as always, to our Recreation Staff, led by John Howe, (Zack Philippas, Steve Dayton, Butch Landon, Bea Watkins, and Deborah DiMuzio) and the Parks Department led by Todd Deklyn and Ryan Restivo for their tireless efforts in creating a quintessential Independence Day celebration.

Please send any comments, thoughts and suggestions for next year to me at Town Hall.

Tom Stadler, Chairman – New Canaan Family Fireworks