Talk About Clyde: Community benefits from active clubs
Clyde has two active service clubs, Clyde Career Women and Clyde Exchange Club. Both clubs sponsor youth activities, provide college scholarships and support a variety of local charitable organizations.
Committed to serving their community, the members of the Clyde Exchange Club have volunteered their time and energies to inspire our community to become a better place to live. Each year they sponsor fundraising events with the proceeds going back into the community.
In April, they recognized outstanding Clyde High School seniors at their "2023 Student of the Year" program, naming Grace Murphy as Student of the Year. Other students recognized were Rebecca Clapp, Jenna Distel, Ethan Lantz, Grayson Morgan, Jackson Rogers and Aubrey Sauseda. The club also annually names a police officer and firefighter of the year.
The club is its 86th year, said Sherry Lenhart, member.
Meetings are held the second and fourth Thursday of the month at various locations, including five annual dinner meetings. Officers are president, Mike Billings; vice president, Denny Lenhart; past president, Cindy Cullen; secretary, Jennifer Brown, and treasurer, Rob Rupert.
Exchange Club to hold picnic
People interested in learning more about the club and its mission are invited to a social meeting featuring a barbecue picnic and outdoor games at 6 p.m. Sept. 14 at Hartlen Insurance Company, 4997 CR 175, Clyde.
"We welcome persons with any level of time and commitment. Just a small amount of time can bring a lot of happiness and support to our community," Lenhart said.
To make a reservation, call Mike Billings at 419-355-3340 or Jennifer Brown, 216-287-4011.
Exchange Club was founded March 27, 1911, in Detroit, Michigan, by a group of business executives who wanted simply to exchange ideas. Those ideas grew and were shared. Currently, Exchange has more than 18,000 members in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. The organization’s National Headquarters, located in Toledo, acts as a resource to local-level clubs and its members.
Clyde Career Women assumed some Kiwanis Club projects
Clyde Career Women (CCW) was organized July 10, 1995 from former members of Clyde Business and Professional Women (BPW). Local women had decided to form their own club, working to benefit the Clyde community, with all dues and raised money staying local.
Current officers are president, Vickie Smith; vice president, Marie Taylor; secretary, Justine Warner, and treasurer, Teri Campbell. Meetings are held at 6:30 p.m. on the second Monday of the month from September through June, with guest speakers and frequent dinner meetings.
Smith said the club is always accepting new members, who must be working women. Those interested in joining should contact Marie Taylor at 567-277-0239. The club currently has 22 members.
The club's September meeting will be Sept. 11 at El Habanero Restaurant in Clyde. For reservations contact Teri Campbell at 419-217-0135 by Sept. 7.
The club annually awards at least one $1,000 college scholarship to a female Clyde High School graduate. In 2023 the recipient of the $1,000 scholarship was Krista Cook. The club presented additional scholarships of $750 to Kamryn Marcha and $250 to Alexis Mahler.
When the Clyde Kiwanis folded several years ago, the CCW members took over several of their community projects. CCW now puts up and takes down American flags, which are flown downtown and on McPherson Highway on national holidays.
The CCW members also sell 50/50 raffle tickets at all home CHS football games and the women sponsor the annual Easter Egg Hunt at Community Park.
Members also help the Clyde Exchange Club with Halloween judging.
CCW for the second year is sponsoring the Clyde-Green Springs Safety Village, held each summer at Clyde Elementary School.
Another group performing community service is the Knifty Knitters, who meet from 9 a.m. to noon the first and third Tuesday of the month at the Clyde Public Library. The group has donated thousands of knitted and crocheted items to local charities.
Museum lawn concert pulls in 100 patrons
The bluegrass concert on the lawn by "Bridge County" of Toledo at the Clyde Museum was well attended Friday night with more than 100 in attendance. A food truck parked on the street also did a brisk business during the event. Outdoor concerts are planned for June, July and August 2024, said Gene Smith, museum curator.
Jeanette Liebold Ricker writes about Clyde and Green Springs. Contact her at 419-547-8177 or by email at jeanette.ricker@gmail.com.
This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Talk About Clyde: Community benefits from active clubs
