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.