FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date:   August 19, 2008

To: News Directors, Assignment Editor

From:  Michelle Mazzei, Communications Director, the National Exchange Club, 800/924-2643, mmazzei@nationalexchangeclub.org, Web site: www.nationalexchangeclub.org

Chattanooga Resident Elected National Exchange Club Regional Vice President

Dennis Norwood was elected to a second two-year term as Regional Vice President, Region 6, at the organization’s 2008 National Convention in St. Louis, Missouri. His history with Exchange goes back to 1972 when he was accepted as a member of the Rossville High School Junior Exchange Club in Rossville, Georgia. After a 20-year career in the U.S. Air Force, Norwood returned home and, in 1999, once again became a member of the Exchange family by joining the Exchange Club of Chattanooga.

His Exchange career has included serving as Club Director, Treasurer and President. He has chaired committees on fundraising, Police Officer of the Year, and National Day of Service. He was elected as District President-elect of the Tennessee District Exchange Clubs in 2002 and in 2003-04 led the district to growth for the first time in over a decade. He has also served as District Director and chair of the Leadership Development Committee. At the national level he chairs the Program of Service Committee and serves on the Restructuring Committee. Previously, Norwood chaired the Excel Club Committee and served on the Program of Service, Leadership Development, Strategic Planning, and Technology Committees. He has received the Distinguished Club President Award, a Presidential Award and, in 2006-07, was the Keeper of the Flame Award winner for Regional Vice Presidents.

Norwood is the Operations Manager for the Hamilton County 911 Emergency Communications District where he is responsible for the unification of seven separate public safety telecommunication agencies and over 150 personnel. Prior to this role he was the Police Information Center Manager for the Chattanooga, TN, Police Department. He is a Special Deputy with the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office and a Reserve Officer with the East Ridge, TN, Police Department. Norwood has been recognized by the U.S. Marshal’s Service for his assistance with several fugitive round-up operations, most recently the highly successful Falcon III Operation.

His community service activities include serving as the president-elect of the Children’s Advocacy Center of Hamilton County; Chairman of the East Ridge, TN, Regulatory Beer and Industrial Development boards; and member of the Board of Directors for the Chattanooga Music Club.

He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Maryland University College with a major in Management Studies and a minor in Organizational Development. He is a Volunteer Field Representative for Exchange and has presented several popular seminars at National Conventions as “The Cat Herder.”

Dennis is married to Delores Beery-Norwood, formerly of Wichita, Kansas, and the father of Jonathan and Benjamin.

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