Honoring Georganne Bruce

MEETING Roy Shlemon opened. Cynthia Strasmann gave the invocation.

She asked God to enable members, present and absent, to share experiences and serve others, and to empower government representatives to lead with passion, humility, and compassion. Ross Stewart led the Pledge.

ANNOUNCEMENTS Shirley Lashmett welcomed guests: Ron Lashmett, husband, Past National Exchange Treasurer, and South OC Exchange (“So OC”) member, Sue Case, best friend and So OC member, Dave Black, So OC President, and Eldon Baber, Raise Foundation Executive Director. Lydia Ledesma-Reese introduced her banker Tyler Meacham, a Field of Honor (FOH) sponsor who Lydia is recruiting for membership. Cynthia announced 2025 California Nevada District scholar-ship winners from Newport Unified. Nolan Payne from Newport Harbor won the ACE award; Marj, Gary, Barbara, Fran Toby Nguyen from Early College, Youth of the Year. Richard Swinney said all FOH speakers have been confirmed as well as the 2026 key note speaker. FOH will feature a new booth to recruit members that will display a WWI trunk with photos from that period provided by Barbara Kirkham. Gary TeWinkle gave the second reading of Board Member and Officer nominations for fiscal year 2026: President, Ross Stewart, President-Elect Leo Fracalosy, Vice President Programs, Mitch Mitchell, Secretary, Gina Lesley, Treasurer, Sara Weber,  Board of Directors One-Year, Michael Call, Mike Newcomb, and Lauretta Stansfield, and Two-Year, Diane Daruty, George Lesley, and Claudette Mekalian. Past Presidents selected the nominees but nominations are welcome from the floor. April birthdays were acknowledged including Marj Davis, Gary, Barbara, Fran Murphy, W.C. Fox, and Heather Ignatin.

PROGRAM Shirley introduced Georganne Bruce, Executive Director of Exchange Club’s Family Support Center in Downey (“Downey Center”). Prior to Downey Center, beginning in 1986, she served three years as Assistant Director of OC’s CAP Center and later devoted a year as Director of South Bay’s CAP Censes provided by a children’s mental health agency and the parent aide program offered by Raise Foundation. Georganne has been honored to represent Downey Center and worked hard to serve its clients and make Exchange Club proud. In preparation for closing, she was recently in storage pulling files for shredding. She found every file, even for the first client, and became nostalgic reviewing them. As she reviewed the names, she reflected on those the center served. Initially, the center provided parent aide services with the goal of eradicating the threat of child abuse and building parenting and life skills. With 2,000 plus parent aide referrals, it is remarkable she remembered the clients and ter. Georganne also worked more than seven from Newport Harbor won the ACE award; Marj, Gary, Barbara, Fran Toby Nguyen from Early College, Youth of the Year. Richard Swinney said all FOH speakers have been confirmed as well as the 2026 key note speaker. FOH will feature a new booth to recruit members that will display a WWI trunk with photos from that period provided by Barbara Kirkham. Gary TeWinkle gave the second reading of Board Member and Officer nominations for fiscal year 2026: President, Ross Stewart, President-Elect Leo Fracalosy, Vice President Programs, Mitch Mitchell, Secretary, Gina Lesley, Treasurer, years as a hospice counselor, in emergency relief services, and as Volunteer Coordinator for the City of Anaheim and Fullerton College. Shirley also introduced Martha Roja’s, Downey Center’s Administrative Assistant, and Anabel Weekly-Lima, its Case Manager and Certified Parenting and Infant Massage Instructor.

 On April 1st, Georganne celebrated her 34th year with Downey Center. She described her experience as a ride, a joy, and a gift. She opened with a staff of one (i.e., solo), peaked with a staff of ten, and currently has a staff of five. Over the years, she was privileged to work with twenty-seven women and pleased the environment was drama free. When she first learned the center was closing, she was devastated, wondering how the community, her staff, and the Exchange Clubs would handle the loss. Upon further reflection, however, she is comfortable with the parenting classes provided by a children’s mental health agency and the parent aide program offered by Raise Foundation. Georganne has been honored to represent Downey Center and worked hard to serve its clients and make Exchange Club proud. In preparation for closing, she was recently in storage pulling files for shredding. She found every file, even for the first client, and became nostalgic reviewing them. As she reviewed the names, she reflected on those the center served. Initially, the center provided parent aide services with the goal of eradicating the threat of child abuse and building parenting and life skills. With 2,000 plus parent aide referrals, it is remarkable she remembered the clients and their stories. In later years, the center added parenting classes and infant massage. Georganne was delighted when she learned Los Angeles County listed the center on its list of approved parenting classes. Anabel initiated the infant massage program that was particularly critical during the pandemic, when in person support for substance abuse was unavailable. Many relapsed and consequently more infants were exposed to alcohol and drug exposure. Weeks of massage, made obvious changes in the infants’ health. Georganne thanked our club for more than $70,000 in donations since 2018. We funded a family fun day for 150 family members with lunch, games, grocery gift cards, and professional photography (a luxury most families had never enjoyed). Our support during the pandemic was vital. We provided laptops, a vast improvement in family services via zoom as opposed to mobile phones. Georganne recognized Ken DuFour for fostering the expansion of child abuse prevention services outside OC as the support garnered was invaluable. She also acknowledged Wally Ziglar, Richard, Mitch, and George for their support. Leo noted 80% of the incarcerated grew up without a father and he appreciates how much many families need support. As a Big Brother himself, he has witnessed the benefits of mentoring youth and is thankful for Georganne’s work at Downey Center. Richard asked why Downey Center is closing. In short, support from the Board of Directors has been declining. While several of the ten members regularly attend meetings and provide great insight, only four are actively involved. Worse yet, two are moving to Hawaii, the Treasurer is retiring with no suitable replacement in sight, and a few only “like having Downey Center on their Linked In pages.” Also, Georganne is looking forward to spending time with her son and granddaughter who are moving back to OC. George asked Georganne to explain parent aide. She said most families are identified and referred as being at risk for child abuse are referred to this program, although individuals or families may apply themselves. Program participants receive weekly, hour plus visits for twelve months during which they receive parenting and life skills instruction, with an emphasis on coping with stress and improving family dynamics. Ron applauded Georgeanne for her work with CAP centers and Exchange Club officials across the country on the parent aide program and more. Georganne pulled the winning raffle tickets. Martha from Downey Center and Gale Demmer each won $41. Additional tickets were drawn and Sherri Maloff, Fran, Ron, Leo, and Gary took home center pieces.