The 104th Annual Alabama District Exchange Clubs Convention, held at the Hilton Garden Inn-East Montgomery on June 7-8, 2025, was a remarkable event filled with fun, fellowship, and excitement! President and Sheriff Derrick Cunningham led the convention with high energy, inspiration, and fun! 

 

Attendees enjoyed engaging activities (including a trip on the Montgomery County Sheriff's bus to Montgomery Whitewater), heartwarming connections, all while celebrating the spirit of Exchange. Youth participation was a highlight, showcasing the bright future of community. Together, we created unforgettable memories and strengthened our bonds and our clubs through education and sharing programs and ideas with Exchange Club members and guests. A silent auction and convention T-shirts were a plus!

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Julie Harman, NEC Region 7 VP, provided an update on NEC and educated us in strengthening clubs, conducted new officer and board member installation, and was thanked with an Alabama Eagle, made from Alabama clay.  Our robost youth oratory contest and awards program was inspiring, as were the messages from Court of Honor inductee, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, and ONUG speaker Sheriff Huey "Hoss" Mack, who educated us about God and country.  Congratulations to new 2025-2026 ADEC officers: President-Derrick Cunningham, Immediate Past-President-Tim Spafford, Treasurer-John Schoen, and Secretary-Maureen Murphy.  2025-2026 Division Directors are: Carolyn Chandler, Lisa deShazo, Dana Travis, Donna Jones, Tommy Holliman, Mickey McDonnell, and Kathryn Bryant.

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Joel Kelly was awarded the 2024-2025 Exchange Club Member of the Year, the Exchange Club of Tuscaloosa received the Most Outstanding Club Award, the Exchange Club of Florence won the Outstanding Membership Award (+10.5% growth), Carolyn Chandler (Florence Club) received the Top Scrapbook Award, Donna Jones received the Outstanding Division Director Award, and Maureen Murphy received the ADEC President's Award for outstanding service. Three leaders of the Collegiate Exchange Club of Huntingdon College participated each day of the convention, and are headed to the NEC national convention in Louisville, KY this July.

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The Youth of the Award  and A.C.E. awards were given and two outstanding high school seniors were awarded tops in the Youth Oratory Contest.  The ADEC Marilyn (Lisa) Crenshaw Memorial Scholarship, in memory of our beloved member of the Exchange Club of Montgomery, will be awarded in July to two high school students by ADEC President Derrick Cunningham.

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All attendees and guests enjoyed the 104th ADEC Convention and many look forward to the NEC national convention in Louisville, KY, July 9-13, 2025!

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