Frequently Asked Questions
WHEN DO YOU MEET? IS ATTENDANCE REQUIRED?
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO JOIN?
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES THE CLUB PARTICPATES IN?
WHEN WAS EXCHANGE CLUB OF INDIAN RIVER FOUNDED?
HOW CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION?
Exchange Club is a national service organization. Indian River County is home to five Exchange Clubs, including Exchange Club of Indian River. Each club has its own personality and activities. Membership includes men and women from a variety of professions who share one common goal: The prevention of child abuse. Exchange also has a strong commitment to promoting Americanism and developing leadership skills among its members.
Q: WHEN DO YOU MEET? IS ATTENDANCE REQUIRED?
The Exchange Club of Indian River meets every Wednesday from noon to 1pm at Culinary Capers in Vero Beach. Attendance is not required, but most members find this lighthearted break in the work week a meeting they do not want to miss.
Each meeting includes lunch and a guest speaker. We hear from speakers who have a many interests in the community, and they are always interesting and informative. Announcements of upcoming events and a few jokes are generally part of the program.
Q:HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO JOIN?
Dues are $150 per quarter which includes lunch each Wednesday.back to top
Q:WHAT ARE SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES THE CLUB PARTICIPATES IN?
The club works to assist local children’s organizations. Sometimes that means spending a Saturday participating in special activities with children. Sometimes that means working at a fundraising event so we can make the money to provide grants that support efforts to benefit children in our community.
The club’s major fundraiser each year is our annual Blue Water Offshore Charity Fishing Tournament held Memorial Day weekend at the Fort Pierce City Marina. The Tournament has been held every year since 1976. Besides being a lot of fun and a real team effort, it provides much-needed funding for community projects that focus on the prevention of child abuse.
Efforts to promote Americanism include the installation of Freedom Shrines in public locations, Get Out the Vote, and Project GiveAKidAFlagToWave. We recognize the accomplishments of our youth by presenting ACE (Accepting the Challenge of Excellence) Awards to students in the Performance-Based Diploma Program at Vero Beach High School and the Alternative Center for Education and Student of the Quarter awards to Indian River Charter High School students. We also present the Book of Golden Deeds award each year to honor an exceptional individual who provides exemplary service to the community at large.
Some of our activities are just for fun. We hold an Installation Banquet each spring, a festive party at Christmastime, and four Fifth Wednesday evening social events each year. Most of these evening parties include entertainment by our resident comedians.
Q: WHEN WAS EXCHANGE CLUB OF INDIAN RIVER FOUNDED?
Exchange Club of Indian River was founded in 1973 by John Schlitt and Bill Wodtke as an expansion club of the Vero Beach Exchange Club. For a long time it was known as “The Young Men’s Club.” Two charter members are still members of the Club. National Exchange Club voted to accept women into membership on July 4, 1985, and the first women joined Exchange Club of Indian River shortly thereafter.
The Club adopted prevention of child abuse as its primary goal in 1979. It formed Exchange Club of Indian River Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization, in 2001 exclusively for charitable purposes; its sole mission is to aid in the prevention of child abuse. The Foundation holds two major fundraisers each year and awards annual grants to community agencies in support of our mission.
Come to a club meeting! We meet every Wednesday from 12 noon to 1 pm at Culinary Capers, 727 22nd Street, in Vero Beach (behind the Maryland Fried Chicken on Miracle Mile).
Q: HOW CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION?
Email us at clubinfo@exchangeclubofindianriver.org to get more information about the Club.