Exchange leaders seeking to heighten awareness of our rich religious heritage adopted the One Nation Under God project on July 30, 1964. November, observed nationally as One Nation Under God Month, is a special time of year when Exchangites join together in increase public appreciation of the important roles religious faith and freedom have played in our nation’s history. Traditionally a Prayer Breakfast is held where Exchangites invite a keynote speaker to talk about One Nation Under God and invite the entire community.

PROUDLY WE HAIL

No symbol better signifies our nation’s greatness or inspires respect and love of country than our American flag – the Stars and Stripes. That is why Exchange encourages all Americans to properly fly the flag as an ongoing, highly visible expression of that respect through the Proudly We Hail program.

Proudly We Hail honors those Americans who do display the nation’s banner properly and regularly. Recognition is in the form of a beautiful plaque specially designed for this purpose and usually a new American flag. The recipient of the awards is invited to join the local club for breakfast/lunch/dinner and the award is made very ceremoniously.

GIVEAKIDAFLAGTOWAVE

Just as its tongue-twisting title suggests, this popular project involves the distribution of small American flags to youngsters at parades, fairs, picnics, school events or other community happenings that generate large crowds. The flags are absolutely free to the children and can make a great souvenir of the occasion.

GET OUT THE VOTE

Americans are given the freedom of choice – to choose which candidate to elect or whether to vote at all. When compared to the number of eligible voters in America, those who actually vote are alarming. Unfortunately, only a handful of Americans exercise their right to vote and decide the leadership and direction of our country.

Adopted in 1996, the Get Out the Vote (GOTV) Program educates and encourages American citizens to register and vote in political elections. The focus of the program is to have Exchange Clubs join together with chapters of the United States Junior Chamber of Commerce (Jaycees) and provide voting services to the general public. Services may include voter registration, staffing voting polls, and providing transportation to and from polls for eligible voters.

Exchange and the Jaycees have designated the month of September as Voter Registration Month. This is an excellent time to kick-off your joint GOTV campaign, which has two objectives. The first is to organize a month-long voter registration drive project between Exchange Clubs and Jaycee chapters, where possible. The second is to organize Election Day voter services, including transportation, childcare and general education.

   In your hands, my fellow citizens, more than mine, will rest the final success or failure of our course. Since this country was founded, each generation of Americans had been summoned to give testimony to its national loyalty. The graves of young Americans who answered the call to service surround the globe.

   Now the trumpet summons us again – not as a call to bear arms, thought arms we need – not as a call to battle, though embattled we are – but a call to bear the burden of a long twilight struggle year in and year out, "rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation" – a struggle against the common enemies of man: tyranny, poverty, disease and war itself.

   Can we forge against these enemies a grand and global alliance, north and south, east and west, that can assure a more fruitful life for all mankind? Will you join in that historic effort?

   In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility – I welcome it. I do not believe that any of us would exchange places with any other people or any other generation. The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our county and all who serve it – and the glow from that fire can truly light the world.

   And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.

John F. Kennedy 1/20/61