Lydia Pettijohn accepts CTF grant from Jessica Jackson, CTF field director, and Paul Smelley, Deputy Director of Children's Trust Fund.

The Children’s Trust Fund of Alabama has awarded two grants totaling $40,000 to the Exchange Club Family Center of Mobile. The grants fund Positive Parenting classes and Family Time supervised visitation.  Children’s Trust Fund presented over $300,000 in grants to eight agencies in Mobile last week. Children’s Trust Fund is the State Department of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention and funds prevention programs across the state.  The Exchange Club Family Center has been a CTF grantee since 1991 and could not provide the free services they offer without these grants.

Halloween is an exciting time of year for kids, and to help ensure they have a safe holiday, here are some tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

* Plan costumes that are bright and reflective. Make sure that shoes fit well and that costumes are short enough to prevent tripping, entanglement or contact with flame.
* Consider adding reflective tape or striping to costumes and Trick-or-Treat bags for greater visibility.
* Because masks can limit or block eyesight, consider non-toxic makeup and decorative hats as safer alternatives. Hats should fit properly to prevent them from sliding over eyes.
* When shopping for costumes, wigs and accessories look for and purchase those with a label clearly indicating they are flame resistant.
* If a sword, cane, or stick is a part of your child’s costume, make sure it is not sharp or too long. A child may be easily hurt by these accessories if he stumbles or trips.
* Obtain flashlights with fresh batteries for all children and their escorts.
* Teach children how to call 9-1-1 (or their local emergency number) if they have an emergency or become lost.

CARVING A NICHE:

* Small children should never carve pumpkins. Children can draw a face with markers. Then parents can do the cutting.
* Votive candles are safest for candle-lit pumpkins.
* Candlelit pumpkins should be placed on a sturdy table, away from curtains and other flammable objects, and should never be left unattended.

HOME SAFE HOME:

* To keep homes safe for visiting trick-or-treaters, parents should remove from the porch and front yard anything a child could trip over such as garden hoses, toys, bikes and lawn decorations.
* Parents should check outdoor lights and replace burned-out bulbs.
* Wet leaves should be swept from sidewalks and steps.
* Restrain pets so they do not inadvertently jump on or bite a trick-or-treater.

ON THE TRICK-OR-TREAT TRAIL:

* A parent or responsible adult should always accompany young children on their neighborhood rounds.
* If your older children are going alone, plan and review the route that is acceptable to you. Agree on a specific time when they should return home.
* Only go to homes with a porch light on and never enter a home or car for a treat.
* Because pedestrian injuries are the most common injuries to children on Halloween, remind Trick-or       Treaters:
* Stay in a group and communicate where they will be going.
* Carry a cell phone for quick communication.
* Remain on well-lit streets and always use the sidewalk.
* If no sidewalk is available, walk at the far edge of the roadway facing traffic.
* Never cut across yards or use alleys.
* Only cross the street as a group in established crosswalks (as recognized by local custom). Never cross between parked cars or out driveways.
* Don’t assume the right of way. Motorists may have trouble seeing Trick-or-Treaters. Just because one car stops, doesn’t mean others will!
* Law enforcement authorities should be notified immediately of any suspicious or unlawful activity.

HEALTHY HALLOWEEN:

* A good meal prior to parties and trick-or-treating will discourage youngsters from filling up on Halloween treats.
* Consider purchasing non-food treats for those who visit your home, such as coloring books or pens and pencils.
* Wait until children are home to sort and check treats. Though tampering is rare, a responsible adult should closely examine all treats and throw away any spoiled, unwrapped or suspicious items.
* Try to ration treats for the days following Halloween.

©9/08 American Academy of Pediatrics

Congratulations to our big winners this year.  John and Wesley Ortmann have participated in That’s Jake Tournaments of the past but Kyle and Mike were newcomers.  Beginner’s luck might have been responsible, but their scores were so good I have to think they’ve had some practice!

Many thanks to Coach Joey Jones and the tournament sponsors: Exchange Club of Mobile, Dennis Langan Construction and Remodeling, University of South Alabama, Pesco, Dreamland BBQ, Pollman’s, U-Haul Moving Center and Steve Goraum Photography.

From Left: John Ortmann, Wesley Ortmann, Kyle Morris & Mike Fillers Photo by Steve Goraum.

The Board of Directors recently elected the following new members to the board:

Karlos Finley - Moore and Wolfe, Attorneys at Law and Leadership Mobile graduate

Michelle Jones -Regional Director, Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind and Leadership Mobile graduate

Carla Longmire - Captain, Mobile Police Department and Leadership Mobile graduate

Paul White - President, Eastern Shore Exchange Club and IT Department, Mobile Press Register

These folks bring a fresh perspective to our board which will help to attain the far reaching goals we have set for the Family Center.   The experience of the seasoned members coupled with the energy of the newcomers will no doubt create the perfect climate to support our growth.  Our goal to expand our services to more families and children in our community is underscored by our desire to strengthen families and prevent child abuse and neglect before it has the chance to occur.  Our board plays a crucial role in the successes of the Family Center programs.  Their vision and dedication provide stability and support to the staff and volunteers.

In conjunction with Joey Jones Annual Golf Classic, the Exchange Club of Mobile is selling Conecuh Sausage for $3.00 a pound. This annual fundraiser provides additional revenue for the Family Center and sausage dogs for the golf tournament. The sausage is sold in 1 pound packages and will arrive in Mobile by September 24th. Payments can be made when sausage is picked up. Please call Lydia at 479-5700 to place your order by September 10th.

The Joey Jones Annual Golf Classic is set for Friday, September 26, 2008. A shotgun start at 1:30 will kick off the tournament at Azalea City Golf Course. The tournament is sponsored by the Exchange Club of Mobile and proceeds will benefit the Exchange Club Family Center; we are honored to have Coach Jones support our charity. A Mobile native, Coach Jones will be the new head football coach at the University of South Alabama.

Coach Jones is a graduate of Murphy High School and the University of Alabama where he played football under coach Paul “Bear” Bryant. He was elected to Alabama’s All-Decade Team for the 1980s and played professionally for the Birmingham Stallions and the Atlanta Falcons according to the USA website.

This is a perfect way to meet Coach Jones if you haven’t had the opportunity yet. Come out and enjoy great camaraderie and the famous sausage dogs . The awards ceremony will follow with a fabulous dinner for players and guests.

Click to Download:

• Joey Jones Golf Tournament Entry Form
• Joey Jones Golf Tournament Sponsor Sheet

For more information, call Lydia Pettijohn at 479-5700 or Mike Langan at 478-5203.

Grandma arrested for driving with child on roof

The Young Lawyers Section of the Alabama State Bar was proud to donate $3,000 in grant money to the Exchange Club Family Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse. Over the years the Young Lawyers Section has helped fund many community projects. This year the YLS decided to pledge $3,000 in grants to an organization where Special Grants Program funding will make a significant impact.

The Exchange Club Family Center opened in 1991 in Mobile with the support of the Exchange Club of Mobile. The mission of the center is to strengthen families and prevent child abuse and neglect by providing education, training and support to parents and caregivers in Southwest Alabama. Several programs are offered such as: parenting classes, in-home training with parents, supervised visitation for non-custodial parents, monitored exchanges between parents for weekend and holiday visitation, healthy start program at USA Children & Women’s Hospital for prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and speakers bureau.

The Exchange Club Family Center’s funding comes mainly from grant money. The grant money from the Young Lawyers will be used to replace furniture and other equipment and supplies in the playrooms that are used for supervised visitation and childcare during parenting classes. If you would like to find out more about the Young Lawyers Section of the Alabama State Bar’s Special Grant Program please visit their website, http://alabamayls.org/specialgrants/indexspecialgrants.htm

To kick off the month, the Exchange Club Family Center joins with Exchange Clubs nationwide in sponsoring Casual for Kids Blue Ribbon Week in Mobile. Blue ribbons symbolize the blue bruises child abuse inflicts. Casual for Kids is a campaign which helps raise awareness of the programs offered by Exchange Club child abuse prevention centers nationwide.

Mayor Mike Dow and the Mobile County Commissioners have proclaimed April 4-10th Casual for Kids Blue Ribbon Week. Companies and schools are encouraged to allow their employees and students to purchase blue ribbon lapel pins for $1 and dress down for a day during Blue Ribbon week. All proceeds from ribbon sales will go directly to the child abuse prevention programs offered by the Exchange Club Family Center in Mobile. To have blue ribbons delivered to you or get information about our programs, please call the Exchange Club Family Center at (251) 479-5700.

For every dollar spent on child abuse prevention, six dollars are saved in foster care, prosecution, legal services, mental health services, crime and incarceration expenses. The Exchange Club Family Center receives no funding from United Way or local government. It depends on the Exchange Club of Mobile, Children’s Trust Fund and private funding for its support. Buy a blue ribbon today and show your support for child safety in this community.

Sometimes, a person never stops giving, even after their years on Earth are done. The late Sol Levin, 30-year member of the Long Beach, Calif. Exchange Club, posthumously uplifted the cause of child abuse prevention with a donation of $60,982 to The National Exchange Club Foundation.

On January 21, 2004, in Long Beach, Calif., a luncheon was held to pay tribute to Levin’s life. During that meeting, a check was presented to The National Exchange Club Executive Vice President, David A. Nershi, from the Sol Levin Charitable Remainder Trust, which he accepted on behalf of the Foundation.

"Levin took great pride in supporting organizations which promoted fair, ethical and moral values through their works. The Sol Levin Charitable Remainder Trust was his way of being able to provide an additional financial gift to those organizations that had special meaning in his life," wrote Stuart Okin, Levin’s attorney.

Levin’s family members, including daughter Gloria Glass, and over 40 Exchange Club members attended the luncheon. The luncheon featured a photo tribute and moving reminiscences by Levin?s friends and club members.

Foundation President William Ketron had this to say about the donation: "We are very pleased to accept this generous gift from the Sol Levin estate. Sol was well loved by his Exchange Club members and cared deeply about the children in his community. This gift will help us continue our important work of preventing child abuse."

Exchange, America’s Service Club, is a group of men and women working together to make our communities better places to live through programs of service in Americanism, Community Service, Youth Activities, and its national project, the Prevention of Child Abuse. To date, The National Exchange Club’s efforts have helped more than 175,000 families and 225,000 children break the cycle of child abuse.

Contact: Stacy Poca, Director of Communications, The National Exchange Club (800) 924-2643, commun@nationalexchangeclub.org, www.nationalexchangeclub.org

Debbie Baldwin, Office Manager Child Abuse Prevention Services The National Exchange Club dbaldwin61@aol.com