Introduction
In 1936 five local businessmen decided to create a local club chartered as one of the now more than 1800+ clubs that make up the National Exchange Club throughout the United States. We are proud to be part of this outstanding organization whose motto is "Unity for Service".
Our club participates in many worthwhile projects to promote assistance in the prevention of child abuse in our area, promote recognition for a job well done in the areas of fire and crime prevention, worthwhile community projects such as the Ogden River Parkway and to recognize outstanding high school students who have excelled academically and/or overcome personal challenges in their lives.
The Exchange Club also has an award known as the Book of Golden Deeds given annually to an individual in our community who through selfless service has enhanced those less fortunate. We are also proud of our heritage in leading the way in the raising of funds during the annual "Bell Ringing" for the Salvation Army to provide assistance to those in need.
Throughout the years we have given literally hundreds of thousands of American flags to school age children along the parade route at the 24th of July Pioneer's Day parade in downtown Ogden (the GIVE A KID A FLAG TO WAVE program). As Exchangites we are proud of our citizenship in this great country and believe it an honor to live in this great land. We respect the flag of our nation and recite the "Pledge of Allegiance" each week at our noon lunch meetings. By providing flags to the youth of our nation we hope to instill in them the love and pride not only in our flag but in what this symbol represents.
The Exchange Club has erected what we call Freedom Shrines, a group of representations of many important historical documents pertaining to the founding and progression of the freedoms we enjoy in our country. Freedom Shrines are generally erected in public buildings such as schools, court houses and civic centers so that the public might be able to view and read the works of, not only our founding fathers, but documents written by those who have helped to progress our country through the years such as the Gettysburg Address and Emancipation Proclamation by Abraham Lincoln and the "I Have a Dream" speech by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
We have placed Freedom Shrines in the new court building and Weber County Complex in downtown Ogden in addition to many others throughout the Weber County area. Additionally we hope to continue in adding documents to the Freedom Wall/Flag Court that we have built at the Ogden River parkway adjacent to the Big D Park.
At noon on Tuesday of each week we meet at the Ogden Golf and Country Club in Ogden for our luncheon meeting. During this meeting we receive a report on the activities of the various committees of the club, upcoming social events, enjoy lunch together and hear speakers arranged by our monthly speaker chairperson. These speakers come from all walks of life and from all different backgrounds. I believe that part of the benefit of membership in the Exchange Club is the edification, education and information that we receive from our attendance at our weekly meetings.
The Ogden Noon Exchange Club's success is contingent upon all members taking an active role and participating in it's progress. Credit for our longevity is through diligent efforts of our past presidents, officers, board of directors, committee chairmen, vice-chairmen, committee members, monthly program chairmen, special events chairpersons and all members who have so generously donated time and resources to the accomplishment of our collective goals. We hope that you will give serious consideration to joining with us in doing all we can to achieve the future goals of this organization by becoming an involved member. For together we can achieve great things (By Tom Davidson, President, 1997 - 1998).