The 2025 Mid-Atlantic District Exchange Clubs Conference was held in Binghamton, N.Y., earlier this month. The district consists of 24 local Exchange Clubs in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey and Western New York.

Mark Steffan represented Bradford’s club. He noted that Richard Cavallero, who recently passed away, was honored in memoriam for his lifelong service to the Bradford community and decades of service as an Exchange Club member.

“It was obviously a great learning experience,” Steffan said. “The conference centered on the National Exchange Club’s focus on prevention of child abuse, as well as Americanism and community service.”

Several expert presentations were made, including by National Exchange.

Expert presentations were the deal of the day, with National President Joe Dudek stressing the challenges faced by many service groups of low participation yet remaining steadfast on our goals for a better America serving all communities.

New ideas and suggestions from the group were very welcoming. Honorees included Gen Stults, director of prevention of child abuse for the national clubs, with 66 Centers for Family Services nationwide, who lauded the volunteers who make it all possible.

Other honorees were the scholarship awards and well deserved Trooper of the Year, awarded to Pennsylvania State Trooper, Kory Wardrop, Troop “J” Lancaster. Kory’s rescue of a toddler and his grandparents from a burning car, at the risk of his own life, was simply amazing. Described by Kory’s shift commander, after saving their lives Kory took the family for ice cream as a way to ease the trauma of the day.

The Exchange Clubs holds its motto as: “America’s Service Club” for well-deserved reasons.