Everett club leaves legacy of aiding community

By Shanti Hahler

For The Herald

EVERETT — After years of declining membership, the Everett Exchange Club is calling it quits Monday.

The club, formed in 1949, is made up of about 25 local business people and community members and has been involved in many community-based projects such as Adopt-A-Street and collecting teddy bears for abused children.

The club will hold its last meeting at the Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel, where in past years it has given away thousands of dollars in scholarships to local high school kids and been active in countless community service events.

"I’ve seen so many clubs right now like the Elks and the Legion that are having the same problem," former president and longtime member Harry Spencer said Friday.

The project the community will probably miss the most is the college scholarship program.

"There are a lot of past winners who are still in the area … Dwayne Larson was one of the original winners, and he’s now Dr. Larson … a radiologist up here in Everett," Spencer said.

Each quarter one boy and girl is chosen from Everett, Cascade, Mariner, Jackson and Kamiak high schools and honored with a plaque and a Student of the Year luncheon for their academic achievements.

At the end of each year, a boy and girl are chosen from the group of honored students at each school and awarded with a $1,000 scholarship, while the overall boy and girl chosen receive $1,500. This year the club gave out $11,000 in scholarships.

"The primary reason we haven’t been able to grow is that we give out more than we take in," Spencer said. "We’re sorry to have to quit but we just can’t finance it any more."

Shanti Hahler is a freelance writer.

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