Club President Staci Chroninger said celebrating 100 years is a great accomplishment.

“I think it is a great honor,” Chroninger said. “100 years of friendship.”

Chroninger said she joined the Exchange Club to support the prevention of child abuse. She is a second generation club member, as her father was a member and encouraged her to join. She said the Exchange Club has been a significant part of her life for a long time, and that she feels like she is part of a community rather than leading an organization.

“I don’t feel like a leader,” Chroninger said. “I feel like I’m part of the team.”

News Photo by Kayla Wikaryasz On Thursday, members of the Exchange Club of Alpena gathered to celebrate 100 years of service at JJ’s Steak and Pizza House. Here, a table is adorned with items celebrating 100 years.

President-Elect Bob Martin said 100 years is a significant accomplishment, and the club looks forward to another 100 years of service.

“The significance, really, is to celebrate,” Martin said. “We’ve been together and unified in the same mission … and looking forward, it’s our goal to be unified with the same goals in mind.”

Tracey Edwards, CEO of The National Exchange Club, said that 100 years represents a commitment to service and community.

“It’s very significant because it takes a group of people to keep a club going for 100 years and just thinking about how clubs like this are so good at staying current and relevant today while respecting the traditions of how we started,” Edwards said. “And we’re really proud of the Exchange Club of Alpena, all the things they do to provide service to this community.”

Edwards said celebrating 100 years of the Exchange Club on 9/11 underscores her conviction to “serve more” and “love more.”

“It makes it very meaningful to be here today because I’m sure everybody’s experiencing a feeling — some sort of remembrance of 9/11, and wanting to just serve more, love more, and bring people together around our motto, ‘Unity for Service,'” she added. “So it’s very special.”

Kayla Wikaryasz can be reached at 989-358-5688 or kwikaryasz@TheAlpenaNews.com.