With help from national and district leaders, Branford Exchange Club ushered in the charter members of the first Excel Club at Branford High School (BHS) at a gathering that drew a crowd of about 60 on Thursday, Oct. 11.

The high school's newest community service club gathered 26 of its 27 inaugural members for the permanent organizational meeting of the club. The late afternoon event at BHS brought members of the Branford Exchange Club together with distinguished national and district Exchange leaders, Branford First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove, Superintendent of Schools Hamlet Hernandez and an audience of supportive school faculty, administrators and parents. Jack Mushin, president of Branford Exchange Club, served as master of ceremonies.

Joe Dudek, Region 12 Vice President of the National Exchange Club, gave an overview of Exchange's national reach. Organized in 1911 by a group of Detroit MI business leaders, and incorporated Ohio in 1917, Exchange now has 20,000 members across the country that, "...do public service in all of our communities across the United States," said Dudek.

Exchange's mission is "inspiring communities to become better places to live," by upholding programs of service supporting Americanism, Youth Programs and Community Projects; as well as Exchange's national project, the prevention of child abuse. Exchange connects high school students to those efforts as members of Excel Clubs nationwide. The BHS Excel Club is Exchange's seventh chartered high school club in Connecticut.

Cosgrove thanked Branford Exchange Club for all the group does for the Branford community and beyond, and welcomed the addition of BHS Excel Club's community support. Cosgrove said he also shared many of the sentiments provided in an opening prayer given by Rev. Bill Keane.

"If we're going to be a welcoming, compassionate community that continues to advance and move forward, we need civic engagement from the community members," said Cosgrove. "And that's something that unfortunately is a struggle -- we're seeing every community organization is facing that [membership] challenge. So to see such a number of students come out for this organizational meeting; a new club to go out and address some of the challenges and engage the community with events and community mindfulness, is reassuring. And it not only strengthens our community, but as the Reverend said, it strengthens our country."

Mushin thanked past and present Branford Exchange Club officers, including past president Bob Aceto, for helping the club stay active and grow. The Branford club was established in 1949. Mushin said in recent years, the club went from two members before 2014 to about a dozen members now who are accomplishing a lot for a small group. In addition to bringing Exchange programs and awareness efforts to the community, five years ago, Branford Exchange Club established an annual recognition banquet, "Honoring Shoreline Heroes" to honor exceptional members of police and fire departments in Branford, Guilford, North Branford and East Haven.

The charter members of the BHS Excel Club were sworn in by Dun Heenan, Madison Exchange Club member and National Exchange Voluntary Field Representative. Heenan brought a welcome from the national Exchange Club leadership before running through the official charter exercises with the students. Heenan then called up the charter officers, board members and club members of the BHS Excel Club to be sworn in.

"It's exciting to see another club form," said Heenan. "There are many benefits that accompany membership in Exchange; and I wish you success as you join together with your fellow students to work for this organization."

Alex Palluzzi, Branford's Recreation Director, noted BHS Excel Club's charter members are primarily members of BHS Dance Team and they have already been at working helping their community. This past summer, the group volunteered over several weekends to paint Branford-based designs on 12 newly placed community trash barrels.

BHS Excel officers are President Chloe Lang, President-elect Olivia Vitale, Secretary Casey Allen and Treasurer Hannah Antonino. The BHS Excel Board of Directors are Lilyana Milici, Gia Mikilike, Rachel LaBonte and Abby Robinson.

"I am most proud to have gathered a group of my peers and teachers who are willing to join me in giving back," said Lang. "I'm really proud we've brought the Excel Club to Branford High School, and I'm really excited to see where this club will go, and for it to continue growing."

As charter BHS Excel Club members, each student will receive a commemorative charter member pin, which is different from the pins most Excel members receive across the nation, Dudek explained to the students.

"They're very special pins that very few Exchangites get to have, because you're a charter member of this first club here at the Branford High School," said Dudek. "So that will be something no one else at Branford High School will ever get again; because this is the first charter meeting and first charter club...congratulations."

CT Exchange District President Vince McClean presented one of the special pins to Lang, as charter president of BHS Excel Club.

Speaking to the club, McClean told them, "...I'm really happy to see you young guys take up the mantle of community service. It's a very important calling. It's not always easy, but you guys are answering the challenge," he said, adding, "I think you'll look back on this and be very proud of what you're about to do."

To learn more about Exchange Club in Branford, or to become a member, visit Branford Exchange Club on Facebook here