MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR

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1 December 2014 Volume 88, No. 26 Editor - Tom Williams From Nancy & Tom Williams MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR

2 Coming Events 30 December 2013 No Exchange Meeting This is the second of the two Mondays that we always take off during Christmastime so that we can spend more quality time with our many friends and relatives and then hopefully recover from the holidays without worrying about missing an Exchange meeting. I'll see y'all rested on Monday, January 6, January 2014 (Wednesday) Happy New Year The United Nations has designated 2014 as the "Year of Family Farming & Crystallography." Don't ask me what Crystallography means because I don't know, but I know what 2014 means to the Champaign Exchange Club. Over the next 5 months we'll honor a Firefighter and Police Officer of the Year, honor a Champaign High School senior with the A.C.E. Award, present a Nursing Scholarship, and more. And now, as we start another year, may you and your family be healthy, happy and prosperous throughout the coming year. Will you please join with Nancy and me in trying to recruit at least one new member so we can build up the strength of our great club allowing us to be even more helpful to our community. Have a Happy New Year and don't celebrate too much Don. 6 January 2014 Harbin, China International Ice Festival Known as the "Icy City of China," Harbin is the capital of Heilongjiang Province in the far northeastern part of China. Harbin has many famous tourist sites but because of its frigid climate it is probably best known for the amazing, spectacular Harbin International Ice & Snow Sculptures Competition held there every year. 13 January 2014 Hydrogen Fuel & Hybrid Automobiles. Prof. Dr. Philip T. Krein. Nancy has lined up Dr. Krein and we will have him back (he spoke to us last year about the new $95 million Electrical & Computer Engineering building) and talk about Hydrogen Fuel and Hybrid Autos, a field in which Dr. Krein is also an expert.

3 $53,650 On the morning of December 19, 2013, Champaign Exchange Club President Thomas Williams, Jr. presented $1,350 to Jim Hires, Director of the Eastern Illinois Foodbank. This was the money raised at the Champaign & Urbana Exchange Club Christmas Party at the Champaign Country Club. Our $1,350 donation to the Foodbank allows them to purchase $13,500 in food items for distribution to needy families in our area. I'm very proud to say that over the last five years our contributions have purchased $53,650 in food. Thank you Champaign and Urbana Exchangites for your generosity. Champaign Exchange President Thomas Williams, Jr. (second from right) presents the $1,350 we raised at the Christmas Party to Jim Hires, Director of Eastern Illinois Foodbank. Also participating were club secretary/ treasurer Nancy Williams, far right, club president-elect Tom Williams, Sr. and the Foodbank's Julie Melton.

4 + Salvation Army Bell Ringing Raises $ We finally received a call from the Salvation Army last week afternoon saying that we collected $267 and change in donations. This was a decrease from last year's total of $ Thanks again to our Chairperson Nancy Williams and those who helped her ring the bells - Jan Bahr, Norma Dieker, Richard Adkins, Wally Lehman, and Thomas Williams, Jr. Although we were shorthanded it turned out to be a pretty successful program of service. Thank you everyone.

5 The First White House Christmas.With John & Abigail Adams When the second President of the United States, John Adams, and his wife Abigail, moved into what would come to be known as the White House [in November 1800], the residence was cold, damp, and drafty. Sitting at the edge of a dreary swamp, the First Family had to keep 13 fireplaces lit in an effort to stay comfortable. It is in this setting that the cantankerous president held the first ever White House Christmas party in honor of his granddaughter, Susanna. It could be said that the invitations sent for this party were the very first White House Christmas cards, though in those early days, the building was referred to as the President s Palace, Presidential Mansion, or President s House. The affair was planned in large part by the vivacious First Lady, Abigail Adams, and was considered a great success. A small orchestra played festive music in a grand ballroom adorned with seasonal flora. After dinner, cakes and punch were served while the staff and guests caroled and played games. The most amusing incident of the evening occurred when one of the young guests accidentally broke one of the First Granddaughter s new doll dishes. Enraged, the young guest of honor promptly bit the nose off of one of the offending friend s dolls. The amused president had to intervene to make sure the incident didn t take an uglier turn. Following the Adams first Christmas in the White House, they held the first presidential levee on New Year s Day. As you can imagine, the celebration was grand! Cookies, custards, and cakes, all baked in the new hearths on either side of the enormous kitchen fireplace, were served, along with all kinds of puddings, pastries, trifles, and tarts. Borrowing court etiquette from European kings and queens she had seen while John was U. S. Ambassador to Britain, Abigail regally greeted guests from a throne-like chair. Standing proudly beside her was her husband, wearing velvet breeches and lace with fashionably powdered hair. Although that reception was a lavish affair, John and Abigail preferred more basic fare, and a few of their favorite foods, which can be traced to their New England roots, included Green Turtle Soup, Indian Pudding, and Gooseberry Fool.

6 President Calvin Coolidge & Mrs. Grace Coolidge at White House in December 1927 Calvin Coolidge was the first U.S. President who issued an official Christmas message to the nation. He was also responsible for starting the custom of the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. The Tree Lighting Ceremony was instituted in 1923 and the first message was given in Calvin Coolidge s Christmas Message in 1927 to the American People: Christmas is not a time or a season but a state of mind. To cherish peace and good will, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas. If we think of these things, there will be born in us a Savior and over us will shine a star sending its gleam of hope to the world. In 1928, Coolidge gave the following message at the National Community Christmas Tree lighting ceremony: In token of the good-will and happiness of the holiday season and as an expression of the best wishes of the United States toward a Community Christmas Tree, in behalf of the city of Washington, I now turn on the current which will illuminate this tree.

7 First Family Christmas At The White House Truman's Reegan's Eisenhower's Ford's GW Bush's Obama's GHW Bush's Johnson's Nixon's Kennedy's Carter's Clinton's

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9 Tom Williams

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11 Christmas in Europe Ludwigsburg, Germany Christmas Market Dresden, Germany Christmas Market Square in Prague, Czech Republic Christmas Market Tallinn, Estonia Christmas in Switzerland Christmas in St. Petersburg, Russia

12 Christmas in Paris, France Christmas in Croatia Valkenburg, Holland Christmas Market Red Square Moscow, Russia London Eye at Christmas Christmas in Stockholm, Sweden German Christmas Market

13 Christmas In Chocolate Town Pennsylvania

14 Epcot Center Christmas Walt Disney World Orlando, Florida

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17 Merry Christmas Merry Christmas from Tom & Nancy Williams It's fun being owned by a Westie Tom & Nancy

18 Exchange, America's Premier Service Club, working to make our communities better places to live. Chartered 27 July 1926 Champaign Exchange Club 1812 Coventry Drive Champaign, IL Phone: (217) Meeting Every Monday at 12:00 Noon Except Holidays O Charley s Restaurant 730 W. Town Center Blvd. President: Thomas Williams President-Elect Tom Williams, Sr. Secretary/Treasurer: Nancy Williams Directors: Richard Adkins Norma Dieker Anne Johnston Wally Lehman Dottie Mikucki Frank Scantlebury tw1812@aol.com Merry Christmas Ridley Williams Firefighter of the Year Police Officer of the Year Nursing Scholarships A.C.E. Award Prevention of Child Abuse Time Out Teddy Crisis Nursery Eastern Illinois Food Bank Seniors Vial of Life National Day of Service Believe in the Blue Campaign For Kids GiveAKidAFlagToWave One Nation Under God Freedom Shrines Proudly We Hail Awards Book of Golden Deeds Student of the Month/Year Don Moyer Boys & Girls Club Snacks For Kids Salvation Army Bell Ringing Website: See us on Facebook - Champaign Exchange Club Champaign Exchange Club 1812 Coventry Drive Champaign, IL Child Abuse Prevention - Americanism - Community Service - Service to Youth