On August 18, 2016 new Cheney District Superintendent Robert Roettger spoke to 17 club members.  He was at St. John Endicott district for about 5 years then became superintendent of the Lind-Ritzville district for 5 years before becoming Cheney superintendent.  He told us about his 10 educational beliefs and talked about the growing student population and that the administration will be looking at how to deal with increases in elementary enrollment, enhancing security features at the schools and how to deal with the overcrowding at Cheney HS.

At our August 11, 2016 meeting we did not have a speaker. Tom gave an estimate of our proceeds from the Kiwanis/Blackhawk golf tournament and Margie presented information about the upcoming Cheney Coat drive.

Sixteen members were at our August 4, 2016 meeting and heard Aaron Best, offensive lineman football coach at EWU.  He talked about coaching and said his biggest accomplishment was helping a player work through tough circumstances and eventually complete his masters' degree in five and a half years.  He characterized offensive linemen as "most trusted but least recognized " because they support the offense but don't "make" the plays.  He said that EWU does more with less resources than any other school in the Big Sky and talked about the 2016 schedule. 

On July 28, 2016 fourteen members heard a presentation from Charity Rotinski regarding 4-H and her home-schooled 4-H Club, West Plains Kidz and Chickz.  She explained that 4-H stands for Head, Heart, Health and Hands.  Clubs focus on STEM education, political awareness and arts as well as livestock and other activities.  There have been 4-H clubs in Spokane County since 1902 and 81% of the kids who stay in 4-H through high school go on to post-secondary education.  She explained that project management is one of the skills that 4-H members learn:  they keep records, do budgets, give presentations about their projects and learn goal setting and develop confidence through their activities.  She also spoke about her own special needs kids and how she worked to have the Spokane Interstate Fair modify its rules so special needs kids could participate in livestock showing.  She also talked about the Junior Livestock show and how its sale provides funds for 4-H members; unfortunately it is struggling financially and its future is uncertain.

July 21, 2016 - Eighteen members heard a presentation by Tom Davis, who was a telegrapher for a brief time at the Northern Pacific railroad station in Cheney.  He spent two years learning Morse code and other telegrapher duties but only worked about 6 months because telephones and computers were eliminating the telegrapher's role. Amongst other duties, the telegrapher was responsible for taking and delivering train orders, selling tickets and changing switches and he demonstrated how train orders were 'handed' to the engineer as the train slowed down while passing the station.

Members were told that the plan is to move the station to another location along First Street and near the downtown.  They envision using the station for some small businesses.  

On July 14, 2016 nineteen members heard a presentation by Charles Mutschler, President of the Cheney Depot Society.  He explained that the current station was an upgrade requested by Clarence Martin, who owned the flour mill and also was Governor of Washington.  It is one of about 3 mission style stations in the Northwest.  He also talked about the types of service available in the past:  package delivery by Railway Express Agency, first class mail service via mail cars and passenger service.    He explained how train orders and time tables worked and said that Cheney once had a 24 hour station agent who handled all items at the station. 

The most notable visitor to Cheney by train was President Truman who stopped in 1950 to see Mr. Martin who had campaigned for the building of Grand Coulee Dam. 

At our July 7, 2016 meeting 19 members heard presentations by Miss Rodeo Washington and Miss Rodeo Florida.  They explained that Florida has more rodeos than Washington and is number 5 in the nation for number of PRCA rodeos.  They  explained that the Miss Rodeo USA pageant is a week long event and includes public speaking about current events, extemporaneous speaking, interviews and testing on horsemanship and horse health.

We also heard that eh Golf tourney donations are going well; the event will be July 17.