A National Organization

A National Organization

The principle of service soon became the very essence of all club activity, and word of the new organization quickly spread. In 1913, a group of businessmen formed their own Exchange Club in Toledo, Ohio. Soon there were Exchange Clubs in Cleveland, Ohio, and Grand Rapids, Mich., as well. In response to the growing interest in Exchange representatives of the four existing Exchange Clubs met in Toledo in August 1917 and formally incorporated The National Exchange Club as a nonprofit, educational organization under Ohio laws. A month later, on Sept. 18, 1917, the new organization held its first convention in Toledo. Only 22 Exchangites attended that first national meeting, but the basic tenets of club organization and purpose which they established were to serve as guiding principles for tens of thousands of members across the nation I-or decades thereafter.
It was during that first convention that the motto, "Unity for Service," was adopted. In the words of its originator, Mr. Berkey, who was named the first national president, the inspiration for the motto "came from the One Hundred and Thirty-Third Psalm, where it says, 'Behold how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.' "

Mr. Berkey continued, "When it was left to me to design an emblem for the Exchange Club, at the time it became a national organization, I thought how much better it would be for brethren to dwell together in unity and in service in unity for service for themselves, their community and their country. On that occasion Mr. Harter the national secretary, and myself debated as to whether it should be 'United for Service' or 'Unity for Service.' We decided in favor of 'Unity for Service.' It simply means the 'Golden Rule' in three words. 'Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,' is exemplified in our motto."

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