Wednesday, February 8, 2017

December 22, 2016 - Lt. Gov. Marty Phanco spoke to us about Kiwanis district and division projects and updated us on future regional and district conference dates and locations.  Fourteen members were present.  We also had a report on our participation in setting up the Gifts for Cheney Kids and  a report on Betz K-Kids activities.


December 15, 2016 - Fourteen members attended and heard a presentation by Elsy, who is organizing the Gifts for Cheney Kids done through Cheney Outreach.  She told us of her background and how she was selected to take over the gift event.  Tonight the set up will happen from 4 to 6 pm and the distribution is scheduled for tomorrow from 8am to 1pm.  We took up a collection for the event and several members planned to help tonight.

We agreed NOT to meet on December 29.


December 8, 2016 - We did not have a speaker; the eighteen members at this meeting discussed the presentation we heard the week before.


December 1, 2016 - Eighteen members and one guest attended.  The club heard a presentation from PJ Watters of the Inland Northwest Community Foundation.  She explained that it administers funds for a large number of charities in a 10 county area in Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho.  The foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization and our scholarship fund could have the benefit of 501(c)(3) status through them.  They would invest our funds for a fee and would administer the scholarship award and verification.  We could participate in selecting the recipient.


November 24, 2016 - Thanksgiving day; no meeting.


November 17, 2016 - Our eighteen members heard a presentation from Cheney School District administrators regarding the bond issue that is being developed for a vote in February 2017.  They explained that the high school was build for 900 students but currently 1225 attend it and enrollment is expected to climb to about 1600 by 2026.  They distributed a handout showing how a total proposed bond of $55 million would be used to provide additional facilities at the high school, 3 elementary schools, one alternative high school and provide money to purchase land for an additional future school.

November 10, 2016 - Seventeen members and two guests heard a winter weather update from our newest member, Bob Quinn.  He said the weather patterns indicate we should meet our average annual snowfall of 45 inches and he expects strong snowfall in the mountains.  He said there is global warming - 8 of the warmest years in history have happened in the last decade.  The question is what is the cause?  There can be natural causes that are reflected in huge variations over very long geologic time; there are unnatural (man made) causes also.  Atmospheric carbon dioxide has increased 30% since 2000.  He noted both carbon dioxide and water vapor contribute to the greenhouse effect.


November 3, 2016 - we did not have a guest speaker.

Sunday, February 5, 2017

October 27, 2016 - Chief Walters of the EWU police department spoke to 16 club members.  He has been in police work for 38 years, with 25 years as a state patrolman before coming to EWU.  He explained that EWU police are fully commissioned and can make arrests; the department handles 50-75 service calls a day.  They use a community policing approach - getting out of the car to interact with students and others on campus.  There are student cadets that work in the department and 3 of the officers are former EWU students.  He explained that terrorism and violence are the major issues facing police departments and talked about the department's role in new student orientations.

The club voted to donate the October 2016 through February 2017 quarter cup donations to Camp Comia and the March through September 2017 quarter cup donations to Friends of the Cheney Library.


October 20, 2016 - We did not meet in the morning since our officer installation dinner will be on October 21.


October 13, 2016 - Thirteen members attended.  Catherine Nero Lowry, supervisor of the Cheney Branch of the Spokane County Library District (SCLD) talked about the children's programs offered at the library.  They include STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) after school activities and  a Jr. Achievement program for grades K-5.  There is also a financial literacy series being offered on Saturdays.  Tami Chapman, also from SCLD, spoke about employment and business resources available at the library.  Employment resources include resume and cover letter coaching and review.  People can enhance their skills through GALE ( up to 5 free classes) and Lynda.com.  Imagine Microsoft Academy includes training, testing and certification; apprenticeship and college application resources are also available.  There is a 'business card' that gives immediate access to small business related resources including SCORE, SNAP women's business center and information on how to direct online search results to your business.

Clara reported that 27 students were at the last Betz K-Kids meeting.  They are working on skits about respect and reading to younger students.


October 6, 2016 - Eighteen members and one guest heard an encore presentation by Dave Wall on the women's programs at Union Gospel Mission Spokane (UGM).  He explained that Anna Ogden Hall ( a former convalescent hospital) was opened in the 1970's.  It has 18 rooms and averages 88 occupants a night; there has been as many as 122 occupants a night.  He bought two women from the programs to speak about their situations.  Cindy was a nurse, came from an abusive relationship and became addicted to alcohol.  She has gone through the crisis center several times.  Deb also had an alcohol addiction and was in abusive relationship.  She is working to be able to help others at the shelter. 

We also heard updates on the rest stop fundraiser, the upcoming officer installation dinner, Betz K-Kids and the Cheney Coat drive.


September 29, 2016 - Twenty-one members heard Gesha Thupten Phelgye speak about his Buddhism and life experiences.  He was 3 when China invaded Tibet and his family fled, was caught and put in a refugee camp.  He fled it and got to India where he hard the Dali Lama and decided to follow a religious life.  He explained that Buddhism is humanism which leads to compassion and a belief in the sanctity of all life .  A goal of Buddhism is enlightment and becoming a Buddha.  Buddte is wisdom and knowledge and a person who has accomplished Buddte is a Buddha. 

Clara reported that Betz K-Kids had 22 students at their last meeting.


September 22, 2016 - Fourteen members and one guest heard a presentation by Dave Wall, Director of Community Engagement for Union Gospel Mission Spokane (UGM).  He said that the fastest growing homeless population is women and children.  UGM focuses on 3 things to help women and children:  emergency rescue (food, clothing and shelter); addiction recovery (drug, alcohol and relationship) and restoration (independent housing and job training).  These are part of an 18 month program that also includes parenting training.  Later this year the women's shelter will move into a new location - a former nursing home.  The current women's crisis location on East Sprague will become a youth shelter.  UGM receives no federal money. 

We also heard updates on the rest stop fundraiser for late September and the Harvest Festival on October 31 at EWU.