HISTORY AND ONGOING PROJECTS OF THE EXCHANGE CLUB OF THE SAN RAMON VALLEY

On October 12, 2005, we completed the move of the small former 680/24 Exchange Club to Danville and renamed the Club as the Exchange Club of the San Ramon Valley, a chapter of the National Exchange Club. The original club met under that name at the Danville Hotel in the early 1990’s but had disbanded as officers moved out of the area. We hope that the continuing support of members in the San Ramon Valley will provide the enthusiasm and hands to spread the service activities throughout the Valley.

Exchange Club [“the Club”] members have been active for over two years creating spaces to display America’s historical founding documents in the San Ramon Valley. Tom Hawkins, Karen Stepper, Jerry Denham, and Jim Tuggle cooperated to dedicate the first Exchange Club “Freedom Shrine” on April 28, 2004 in the administration building at St. Isidore’s School, with the encouragement of new principal Julie Thomas, assistant Bonnie Kilzer, and the wonderful staff. The entire school met in the courtyard to hear the band play the Star Spangled Banner and to interact with the 5^th graders who greeted guests in colonial garb.

Two months later, the same group, in partnership with the All Wars Memorial Foundation, dedicated a custom-designed Freedom Shrine in the Danville Library on June 30, 2004. Town Manager Joe Calabrigo, his assistant Rochelle Flotten, and lead librarian Stephanie Ogtrop worked to make the library display a strong addition to the town’s community buildings. The more limited display was framed in historically “burned parchment” and walnut frames by C&H Interiors to complement the library décor. Docents, including Tom Davis, Richard Cosgren, and Betsy Chapman presented documents in a ceremony, and Boy Scouts raised a 15-star and 15-stripe “star spangled banner” American flag. Visitors can peruse the entire Exchange Club documents in a bound volume that was dedicated to the library. Blue Star Moms generously donated their time to serve an ice-cream social “on the green” for the citizens who enjoyed the dedication. Veterans of four different organizations attended the event and continue to participate and contribute in the following dedications and activities.

January of 2005, the Club kicked off its first History Club at California High School. Principal Mark Corti, school board member Bill Clarkson, and history department chair Michelle Turner, encouraged students to meet voluntarily at 7:30 a.m. on Monday (yes, Monday!) mornings. Ten hands went up for each Club officer position, and students were elected as President, Vice-President, Treasurer, and Secretary at the first meeting. The Monday morning formats included presentations of historical documents, debates about current issues, and “living history” discussions led by veterans. Presenters included organizers Tom Hawkins and Karen Stepper, Mayor Abram Wilson, school board member Bill Clarkson, Andrew Whelan (history buff from Guy Houston’s office), Lieutenant David Yuers, World War II Veterans John Goerl and Sam Abbott, Korean War Veterans Tony Carnemolla and Mac McCuskey, civil rights attorney Terry Thompson, and more.

In April, the third Freedom Shrine was dedicated in the administration wing of California High School. David Behring, president of the All Wars Memorial Foundation, participated in the partnership that made the display possible. We announced two generous sponsors to future displays--$25,000 from SBC and $5,000 form PG&E, both of whom specifically fund student education projects. Abraham Lincoln “personally” captivated the students when he concluded his presentation with the Gettysburg Address.

The PG&E contribution sponsored the first college scholarship awards to History Club participants--$1,500 first place, $1,000 second place, and $500 third place. Students competed in an essay dedicated to the All Wars Memorial theme: “Freedom is Not Free.” Ten judges, including above participants, as well as Admiral Gorman, Herald publisher Tim Hunt, and Cindy Chen (Richard Pombo’s office), ranked the essays. On June 14, winners were televised and announced at the San Ramon City Council meeting. Each history club member received a certificate of participation as well as a facsimile reproduction of “The New-England Primer,” published Boston 1777.

During the summer of 2005, we met with the principals of several schools to offer Freedom Shrines under the SBC grant. We hope to proceed very soon to install these displays at San Ramon High School, Monte Vista High School, Los Cerros Middle School, and Iron Horse Middle School.

In August, the council for the Town of Danville adopted its Capital Improvement Program (a five-year program that is updated annually). A new project allocates $25,000 to the design of a display of the Freedom Shrine in proximity to the All Wars Memorial at Oak Hill Park. The display options need to be determined (Suggestions include pedestals similar to the O’Neill site, wall displays in the new building, or a separate pagoda area….)

On September 11, 2006 the Exchange Club of San Ramon Valley produced a 5-Year 9/11 Remembrance Service for the citzens of San Ramon Valley. The service took place at the All Wars Memorial at Oak Hill Park in Danville. The program entitled Celebrating The Resilience That Is America featured emcee Mark Curtis, KTVU-2 morning anchor, guest speakers Brigadier General Eldon Regua, Assistant Division Commander for Operations 104th Division and Craig Bowen Chief San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District. The event also included welcomes by danville Mayor Karen Stepper, San Ramon Mayor Abram Wilson, approximately 300 Boy and Girl Scouts with an array of 50 American Flags, joint Fire and Police Honor Guard with Bagpipers and patriotic songs by the San Ramon High School Chamber Singers under the direction of Ken Abrams. The Exchange Club also conducted an essay contest among Danville and San Ramon high and middle school students entitled "How the September 11th Ceremony at Oak Hill Park Impacted Me". Prizes of $100, $50, and $25 were awarded to the 3 winning essays each in the high and middle school categories. Nearly 1000 people attended the event which commenced at 6:00 PM.

On October 9, 2006, The Exchange Club Of San Ramon Valley annnounced the results of its 9/11 Remembrance Essay Contest entitled How the September 11th Ceremony at Oak Hill Park Impacted Me.

The Exchange Club partnered with teachers and principals from the high schools and middle schools of the San Ramon Valley Unified School District to sponsor the contest. The finalists were selected by teachers and school administrators from among the many excellent essays submitted and the prize winners chosen from among the finalists by a panel of judges comprised of Exchange Club members.

The following were the prize winners and other finalists:

Category School Prize Prize Winner

Middle School Los Cerros $100 Laura Ashton, Gr. 8

Diablo Vista $50 Catherine Paul, Gr. 8

Los Cerros $25 Emily Hurt, Gr. 6

Chris Gailey, Hon.Mention

High School Monte Vista $100 Richard Bogolub, Gr. 9

Monte Vista $50 Will Skrip, Gr. 12

Monte Vista $25 Ariel Portera, Gr. 11

Other Finalists

Allison Samson

Shim Popat

Brit McLaughlin

Exchange Club judges were: Wayne Rice, Essay Contest Chair, Lee Halverson, Nathan Greene, Phil Lindner and Karen Stepper, Exchange Club of SRV President.

On Monday October 9 the Exchange Club announced the prize winners and finalists in it's 9/11 Remembrance Essay Contest entitled How the September 11th Ceremony at Oak hill Park Impacted Me.

Following the announcement the 2 first prize winners in the high school and middle school categories were invited to the Exchange Club luncheon at Faz restaurant in Danville on Wednesday October 11 to read their essays and to receive their awards of $100 each. First prize winner in the high school category was Richard Bogolub, Gr. 9, Monte Vista. First prize winner in the middle school category was Laura Ashton, Gr. 8, Los Cerros. The awards were presented by Danville Mayor and Exchange Club President Karen Stepper and Essay Contest Chair Wayne Rice. Other contest winners will receive their awards at their respective schools.

The award presentations were followed by main speaker Mark Curtis, KTVU 2 News Anchor and Danville resident. The students were accompanied by their principals, Becky Smith, Monte Vista and Lisa Ward, Los Cerros.