Nationally affiliated community service clubs have found it more difficult than ever to remain active in recent years.

The Northampton Exchange Club has bucked such a trend. Chartered in 1927, the borough-based service club boasts a membership of 33 people. Among the ranks are 13 are women, including both the current and past presidents, Kim Belletti and Sarah Schaffer, respectively.

Kristy Mae Douglas, Mid-Atlantic District Exchange Club president visited the club recently at the Northampton Memorial Community Center. In addition to serving as cheerleader for promoting new membership initiatives, she said she was impressed with the club's recruitment efforts.

She gave a speech on the topic of new recruitment programs following the theme "Stand Up, America."

Douglas said the national and Mid-Atlantic District Exchange Club organizations are tools community based Exchange Clubs such as Northampton can tap into in order to find innovative methods for recruiting new members.

Communication is also key and can be accomplished through a club newsletter. Sending local members to regional and national Exchange Club conferences, at which many topics are on the table, is another idea Douglas said Northampton Exchange Club should put into practice.

The organization could form new clubs or sponsor Excel Exchange Clubs at the middle and high school levels. Becoming involved with national programs such as Cleanup America gives the Exchange Club visibility.

The Northampton Exchange Club has youth involved in its affairs, honoring a Northampton Area High School boy and girl as "Youth of the Month" as part of its Service to Youth project. The Northampton Exchange Cub took over the Northampton Rotary Club Top 30 dinner recognizing graduating seniors from Northampton Area High School.

When the Northampton Exchangette Club folded several years back, the remaining mostly male club attracted more women as members.

The club has not been successful thus far in enlisting new members from the Whitehall Exchange Club, which shut down last June.

A Catasauqua Exchange Club also folded but its members remained active in the community, joining with the Northampton Exchange Club for the annual Bury the Hatchet dinner program.

Upon learning the Palmerton Exchange Club is folding, Douglas suggested the Northampton group attempt to recruit some of it as members.

Other programs Northampton Exchange sponsors include the Freedom Shrine presentation, coin toss for Prevention of Child Abuse, Book of Golden Deeds Awards, Little Miss Northampton at its summer Community Days, Jack Frost Parade, One Nation Under God program, Proudly We Hail program and recognition of borough fire and police personnel/programs.