May 25, 2017 - We were unable to schedule a guest speaker. Club member Kirk Madison gave an impromptu presentation on shrimping on Hood Canal.  He explained that shrimping is only allowed for 4 days a year, for 4 hours on each day and the limit is 80 per person per day.  Their shrimp trap was bated with a combination of wet cat food, oysters and oyster juice.  Traps are set out about 100-150 feet from shore, about 40-60 feet apart and about 220-250 feet deep.  They are marked with buoys and left in place for about one to one and a half hours.  Twelve members attended.

Club business:
     Betz K-Kids trunk sale was cancelled due to rain; on May 26 they will have a participation celebration and then will be recognized on June 16 at an end of the year event.
     Care Center flower planting, part 2 will be this Saturday at 9am.  Five members plan to attend.
     The Blackhawk/Kiwanis golf scramble is July 16 at 8am.  Tom and Mark are soliciting sponsors and prizes.


May 18, 2017- Dustin Flock, recently selected as a Fire District 3 division chief, spoke to us.  The district was started in 1945, covers 565 square miles and also handles medical and wildlife events.  There are 125 personnel and 45-50 apparatus in the district.  In 2016 they handled 1,517 calls and  expect to handle over 1,600 calls in 2017.  The highest call volume is at Four Lakes due to SR 904 and I-90.  A ladder truck is being added to this station due to increased industrial plant development in the area. Average response time is 14 minutes which includes time to go from volunteers' homes to station to event.  Recruit training happens year round:  about 120 hours of structure fire training happens in fall, wild land fire training is in spring and about 60 hours of emergency medical responder training (EMS) happens in winter.  The EMS training prepares recruits for a national test.  If they pass the test EMT training and certification is the next level.  Eighteen members attended.

Club business: 
     Betz K-Kids will have a trunk sale this Saturday.  Money raised goes to Second Harvest; unsold items go to Goodwill.
     Care Center flower planting will be at 10am and will be followed at 11:30 with pizza party for the assisted living residents who put candies into plastic eggs for the egg hunt.  Daisy scouts and mothers will also join in both activities.


May 11, 2017 - Mike Flansaas from the Christian Motorcycle Association spoke about the organization and its international efforts to spread Christianity.  They just finished holding their Run for the Son ride to raise money to provide transportation to missionaries.  Provided transportation has included motorcycles, bicycles, boats and camels.  The organization began in 1975 and is present in all 50 US states and 18 foreign countries.  Eighteen members attended.

Club business:
   We have received the applications for our scholarship.  Roger and Vonice will review and select the winner; Carl will make the presentation.
   Margie asked for club volunteers to work on July 20 packaging dry pet food to be delivered to Meals on Wheels recipients.  Five members volunteered.

May 4, 2017 - Mike Doggett, the after care director at Union Gospel Mission (UGM) spoke to us about the after care program.  UGM has a 18 month addiction recovery program and then after care is available for life.  Nationwide, 65% of recovery participants relapse within 3 years; if a participant does not relapse in 3 years they have a good chance of staying addiction free; if they go 5 years without relapse they will probably stay addiction free for life.  After care also includes help in getting GEDs and vocational education; seminars on how to be a good employee and about 110 businesses offer practicums for participants to get experience.  About 65% of practicum participants are hired by those businesses.  Sixteen members attended.

Club business:
     Special Olympics lunch packing will be this Saturday starting at 7:30am.  EWU women's soccer team will help pack.  Club members will lead the packing and help set up on Friday morning.
     Mayfest, May 13 - Kiwanis will have an information table and silent auction for 2 - $50 restaurant gift cards.  Tom and Mark will work the table from 9-2.