Kiwanis Club of Cheney - November 13, 2014 meeting notes


The meeting was called to order at 7am by President Tom Whitfield.  Attending were 20 members, three guests and our speaker.


We recognized Annemarie Pollard's birthday and Gail Pollard won the 50/50 drawing.


Club business:
   1.  Margie passed around a thank you from Coats for Kids.
   2.  Margie reminded us to try to bring guests who might become members.  The membership campaign will continue through the first meeting in December.
   3.  See's candy fundraiser - we will sell at Cheney Trading company on December 6 and 7; still need volunteers for 1-5pm on December 6. 
   4.  Bob attended the district meeting and brought a flyer announcing Paint a Helmet which will be on April 25, 2015 at the Spokane Fairgrounds. 


Speaker:  Our speaker was Tony Lamanna, director of Inland Northwest Honor Flight.  He explained that the first Honor Flight was in 2005 and the national organization now has 130 groups, including one in Alaska.  The Inland Northwest group started in 2009 and has made 27 flights. 
Honor flight serves veterans (including merchant marines) who were active during any war era whether they were served in a war zone or not.  Priority is given to WWII vets and vets with terminal illnesses.  Vets who need assistance are accompanied by volunteer guardians.  All trip costs are paid by Honor Flight.  They take charter flights and the trip usually takes two days.  They visit the WWII memorial, the Korean memorial, the Viet Nam wall, Arlington National Cemetery and the Army, Navy and Air Force memorials.  There are local groups that see the vets off when they depart and a high school band and other groups welcome them on their return. 
He said that many veterans and their families have said the trip is a 'life changing' experience and sometimes helps relieve survivor guilt or nightmares that veterans still experience.


The meeting was adjourned at 8 am.