‘It’s all going to look very similar’: Newly-formed Quincy Service Club disassociating from National Exchange Club

QUINCY — When Doug Greenwell heads to lunch on Friday to meet with friends, just as he’s done for the past 17 years, things will be different.

It won’t be noticeable to most. He’ll still share a meal and have a few laughs during the noon hour at the Elks Club.

However, he’ll be gathering with members of the newly formed Quincy Service Club for the first time. The members formerly were with the Quincy Exchange Club, which traces its roots back to 1925. The Quincy club recently voted to disassociate itself with the National Exchange Club, a service organization with more than 700 clubs throughout the United States.

The club’s name is different, but Greenwell says not much else will change for the 88 members.

“We collect dues as a club, but they’re going to be less because we don’t have to pay the national dues anymore,” said Greenwell, who just completed a one-year term as the club president and will be succeeded by John Johannes. “The meeting is going to be run very similar to what we’ve always done. We’re still going to do all the programs that we can do.

“It’s all going to look very similar. We’re just going to have no connection with the national (Exchange) organization. We’re going to still emphasize our community and continue to be a service club.”

The Quincy Exchange Club was first chartered in 1926 but disbanded during World War II. The first meeting of the restored club was held on Jan. 4, 1946, in the Lincoln-Douglas Hotel.

The Quincy Exchange Club was built around the core of its programs of service — Americanism, youth activities, community service and the prevention of child abuse. However, Greenwell said Quincy club members have been discussing for the past few years about what benefits the club received from the national organization.

“I think there were some things that precipitated (the discussion to disassociate with the national club),” Greenwell said. “Do people really understand the word ‘exchange?’ What does it mean when we say, ‘The Exchange Club is doing this?’ Does that register with anybody? Does anybody really see it as a club full of an exchange of ideas amongst businessmen?

“We’re not really just businessmen. We have public officials and servants, and now we have women in our club. We got to thinking, aren’t we more? Wouldn’t it be better just to kind of emphasize what we do here in the community as a service club? That’s kind of what started moving things.”

Greenwell said the expense of “several thousand dollars” to be associated with the National Exchange Club now can be spent locally. 

The Quincy Service Club will carry over many of the programs from the Exchange Club. Three students each from Quincy High School and Quincy Notre Dame will be recognized annually as part of the Lenny Biallas Youth of the Month program, and another local student is recognized with the Bud Willer Award. The Freedom Shrines that club members have installed at locations throughout the city now will be called Freedom Galleries. 

The club also will continue the Book of Golden Deeds (in May), the Field of Honor (in September between 14^thand 16^th on Broadway), the flag program (club members will display flags in your yard four days a year), Give a Kid a Chance (in December) and its annual recognition of local law enforcement, firefighters and emergency medical services personnel.

The Exchange Club also was the host of the Gus Macker 3-on-3 basketball tournament for 30 years, but the new club is taking on a new fundraiser next spring. The Pepsi Little People’s Golf Championships celebrated its 50^th anniversary last week under director Nan Ryan. The Quincy Service Club shadowed organizers this year and will take over the event next year.

“We’re excited about it, because it meets our obligation for events that are focused on youths,” Greenwell said. “It’s going take pressure off the Field of Honor program, which is our main fundraiser, and enhance it even more. The encouraging part of it is the people still want to be involved in it. Hopefully we can even get a bigger and broader regional participation from our youth here.

“Last week was a real encouraging eye opener for us. This is an event that’s still vibrant and can still touch a lot of people.”