October 26, 2017 – Elsy Lusk who organizes the Christmas gifts for Cheney Kids spoke to us about the program.  This year the set up will be from 7-9pm on December 13 at Wren Pierson building and distribution will be December 14.  Donation boxes will go out at Cheney businesses on November 21 and needy families can sign up starting November 21 at Cheney Outreach (hours are Monday through Wednesday 9am to noon).  Last year 183 kids were served and this included members of several families who had been burned out. 

Coats for Cheney Kids – 369 coats were collected and 134 were handed out at Salnave Elementary.  There was also distribution at Sunset Elementary in Airway Heights and remaining coats will be available at Feed Cheney and then at the Cheney Clothing bank. 

Sixteen members and 2 guests attended the meeting. 

October 19, 2017 – Julie Meadowcroft from Horizon Hospice spoke to 18 members about the signs of caregiver burnout and support that is available for caregivers.  The coats for Cheney kids distributions are happening this week and we collected donations for Cheney Outreach’s Christmas Gifts for Cheney Kids.  Kirk Madison gave the schedule for the October 31 Harvest Festival at EWU and members signed up to help set up, operate and take down games at the event.

 October 12, 2017 – There was no morning meeting since we had our officer installation dinner; fifteen members and several spouses attended.  Our officers for 2017-18 are:  President – Margie Lindner, Vice President – Mark Eckerich, Secretary – Jeri Morgan and Treasurer – Roger Hagenbuch.

October 5, 2017 – Member Bob Quinn gave a winter weather prediction (slightly more than normal precipitation, cooler than usual temperatures and strong snowfall in the mountains) and explained the theory of using sunspot activity for weather forecasting, the El Nino and La Nina weather patterns and why weather patterns are different in the Southern hemisphere.  Nineteen members were present. 

 

 

September 28, 2017 – Eighteen members heard a presentation by Suzanne Milton, EWU Dean of Libraries.  She talked about the learning commons that became part of the library in the last few years and how students are being educated to evaluate the authenticity of information they find on the internet. She also spoke about the challenges of changing to electronic journals and how electronic media is offering access to a growing population of EWU students who are not on the Cheney or Spokane campuses. 

September 21, 2017 – EWU psychology professor Russell Kolts spoke about how humans respond to threats and how anger affects how our minds work.  Regarding threats, he brought out that animals size up a potential threat and either react with a threat display if they feel they can control the situation or act submissively if the feel they cannot control the situation.  When the situation is over, the animal recovers rapidly.  After humans face a real or potential threat the recovery process can take hours or days since we tend to replay the situation in our minds and contemplate “what if…” .  With anger, a person narrows their focus on the source of anger and doesn’t look at other actions.  A person is also more likely to blindly follow an authority figure who expresses the anger that person feels.

September 14, 2017 – Fourteen members attended and heard a presentation from incoming Cheney Food Bank director Jerry Stewart.  He explained that most food comes from Second Harvest/Fair Share and a large amount also comes from Grocery rescue which collects short or some outdated food from area grocery stores, Pizza Huts and Starbucks. Additional food is provided by several community food drives.  Financial and residence eligibility for food bank use is handled by Cheney Outreach.  A typical box of food contains 47 pounds of food and the food bank purchases toiletries, toilet paper and laundry soap to provide to their clients.  They receive no federal funding; the city provides free rent and utilities.  The food bank is run by 12 volunteers.

September 7, 2017 – Larry Krauter, CEO of Spokane International Airport spoke to 13 club members.  He spoke about federal budget proposals to cut funding for contract weather observers and the possibility of having contract air traffic controllers at Felts Field.  Regarding security, he spoke about the Read ID act and how standard Washington driver’s licenses are not compliant.  A feature coming in 2018 will be a gas station and convenience store located between the connector roads to provide fuel and other items to travelers.

August 31, 2017 – Fourteen members attended and we did not have a formal speaker.  We discussed plans for the upcoming coat drive, the club officer installation dinner and our planned club liaisons to Betz K-Kids and Cheney High Key Club.  Bob Quinn presented information on hurricanes and typhoons that have recently occurred and explained that hurricanes typically do not happen in our area since they develop over warmer water and the northern Pacific water has usually been colder. 

August 24, 2017 – Todd Ableman, Cheney Public works director, spoke to 17 club members.  He explained that the state maintains First Street (SR 904) until the city population exceeds 20,000 then the city would maintain it.  He also spoke about the solid waste plan that is being developed and possible ways to mitigate the water restrictions that have been required during summer in recent years. 

August 17, 2017 – Thirteen members heard a presentation from new EWU head football coach Aaron Best.  He told us that in the last year EWU football coaches visited all but 2 Washington state high schools and also traveled as far away as northern California.  He talked about how prospective players are evaluated and how a typical prospective player’s campus visit is structured.  Final plans for the club’s summer picnic were discussed and we continued to have member sign up for working the September rest stop fundraiser.

August 10, 2017 – Augie Hernandez, assistant EWU athletic director for equipment services spoke to 18 club members.  He explained that he and one other full time employee work with 10-12 student employees to set up practices and insure that needed equipment is available for home and away games.  For football, System Transport has donated the use of a 53 foot truck trailer that is used to haul about 7,000 pounds of equipment.  He uses truck drivers who’ve done the transportation in the past to make the deliveries and set the transportation schedule. Uniforms and some other essential equipment travel with the players.

August 3, 2017 – Fourteen members attended and we did not have a speaker.  We discussed having a club picnic and also a possible fundraiser.  We also had trivia questions related to Cheney history and facts about the month of August.

 

 

July 27, 2017 – Fifteen members attended the meeting.  Chris Grover, running unopposed for Cheney mayor, spoke about his vision for Cheney.  He is focusing on keeping the small town feel of Cheney along with having a vibrant downtown and keeping city government fiscally responsible.  Water availability is currently priority one for him.  The city is issuing a request for proposal to get and outside engineering evaluation of the water system and wells.  The water supply problem is triggered by summer irrigation and possible solutions include expanding reservoir capacity, reclaiming waste water for irrigation and developing a better routine maintenance program.  He was asked about the 50 acre park, which was funded by a grant but has become an eyesore.  The problem is that the parks and recreation maintenance staff have been cut back so the park has not been well maintained. 

Margie reported that 4 club members spent about 45 minutes last week packaging dry dog and cat food for distribution with Meals on Wheels.  She hopes to make this an annual service event.


 July 20, 2017 – Fifteen members and Lt. Governor Marty Phanco heard Mayor Tom Trulove talk about his years of service.  He said he is both the youngest and the oldest person elected to the office.  He reviewed the water situation:  there are 8 wells, one of which is dedicated to irrigation only.  About 80% of housing in the city is multi-family but he doesn’t feel those residences are the reason for the draw down on the water supply.  He also discussed the recent rezoning for the Parkside development near the city pool.  The area had been zoned R3 (multi-family) and the developer was requesting R3H (high density multi-family).  The city felt that they would lose if the issue went to court and agreed to the R3H designation in return for the developer agreeing to install more on-site parking than currently required.

We had a preliminary report on the golf scramble – since the Cheney High athletic director resigned in June there wasn’t any support from school district staff and the level of participation was about one-third of what it was last year.

July 13, 2017 - Dave Reagan spoke about his experiences as an engineer for the local short line railroad.  It is operated by the Eastern Washington Gateway and the state owns the railroad.  He explained that many of its loads are grain that is brought to the Highline grain facility for blending and then shipped to customers in the Pacific Rim.  Each grain car carries the equivalent volume of three semi-trucks, so rail transportation is more efficient.  It takes 6- 8 hours to typically load a full train of wheat; sometimes cars have to be unloaded if the wheat is tested and doesn’t meet the buyer’s specifications.  He said that federal law allows a train to block a road for not more than 15 minutes but that time period starts when the train has stopped moving; if it is moving very slowly the 15 minute time limit has not begun.

Eighteen members attended and discussed plans for a club picnic and for volunteering to package dry pet food for distribution through Meals on Wheels. 

July 6, 2017 -   Fourteen members heard John McCallum, editor of the Cheney Free Press, talk about the challenges the paper is facing.  Most of their revenue comes from display ads, classified ads and legal notices.  Many of these have dropped off because there are no-cost alternatives on the internet.  There are also about 2400-2500 subscribers to the Free Press.  They have to be careful to separate editorial and news content from advertising to avoid appearance that advertisers are influencing the newspaper reporting.  John explained that the parent company also publishes the Spokane Valley Herald, Davenport Times and Ritzville Adams County Journal.  Al Stover, who has been at the Free Press for several years will relocate to Ritzville to fill a vacant reporter position there.  That means there will be only 2 full time editorial staff and one intern at the Free Press.  They may have to rely on free lancers to help cover community news and may ask community organizations to submit information on their events.  He was asked why the Free Press does not have any marijuana ads – it cannot publish them because the paper is distributed by US mail and marijuana is still an illegal drug under federal law.

June 29, 2017 - Guest speaker Josh Potter spoke on what you might be missing by not letting your kid play youth football (for 10-12 year olds).  He coaches youth football and talked about the life lessons that youth football offers:

•    engaging in new and  uncomfortable activities:  running into another person is counter-intuitive; the sooner they learn how to deal with being uncomfortable the sooner they can have fun
• he treats 5 day a week practices as 'work' and the game as 'payday' - this mirrors the work world.
• the first month of practices is like going to school - there is a lot to learn, the kids need to be stretched to grow and then have fun
• it is more inclusive than other sports - it takes 20-22 kids to have a team and this means that a broader variety of backgrounds are represented.  A participant does not have to be from the 'right" family or have the 'right' physical characteristics to be on the team.

Concern about concussions - Concussion rate is very low and coaches receive extensive training on how to recognize symptoms and proper follow up.  Helmets are primarily designed to prevent skull fracture and building neck strength and knowing how to safely tackle are the main ways to reduce concussions.

Anna Payne, our scholarship recipient, spoke about her involvement with Key Club and her education plans when she attends the University of Washington.  Her mother also attended the meeting.  Sixteen members attended the meeting.

Club business:

   Rodeo parade cotton candy sale on July 8- the machine will be set up around 9:30am and sale will be from 10am until about 11:30 when the parade starts.
    Blackhawk/Kiwanis golf scramble on July 16 at 8am - fee is $75 for round of golf, cart use, lunch and chance to win prizes.
    Looking for a treasurer for 2017-18:  probably involves about 1-2 hours of effort a month to track incoming money and money paid out and update the budget. 

June 22, 2017 - We didn't have a formal speaker; member Bob Quinn spoke about the weather.  An El Nino is developing but is not very strong.  The entire North Pacific is warming up and that may generate some thunderstorms.   He expects summer to be warm but not blazing hot.  A question was asked about people surviving lightening strikes.  Strikes are the highest mortality weather event and lightening bolt temperature is about 50,000 degrees.  About 90% of people 'struck' by lightening survive - this is because most people are not directly struck but are very near the strike.  Of the people directly struck, about 50% survive because the are struck by a smaller branch off of the main lightening bolt.  Trees that are struck are heavily damaged since they are mostly water and the water expands and vaporizes due to the heat of the lightening bolt.  Fifteen members and one guest attended.

Club business:
     At Betz Elementary recognition event, Clara and Paul were recognized for being the Kiwanis K-Kids liaisons.
     Pat donated $41 to our scholarship fund in recognition of his 41st wedding anniversary.

June 15, 2017 - Member Bob Quinn was our scheduled speaker.  He explained that when there is an El Nino winter about 50% of the time the storm track splits around us and we have a dryer than usual winter.  Most of the rest of the time we may have a warmer and wetter winter due to being on the edge of the storm track.  HE said that short term forecasting (up to 10 days) is becoming more accurate but beyond 10 days the forecasts are still not very accurate.  He discussed global warming:  it exists but it isn't certain how much man has contributed to its development.  Levels of carbon dioxide, which holds in infrared heat, have doubled since 1900.  Fossil fuels are a source as are natural causes such as vegetation decay.  Fifteen members and one guest attended.

Club business:
     Roger reported that Cheney Outreach hasn't received their usual level of donations and have had to cut back on assistance provided to needy residents.  Outreach provides up to $100 to assist with rent and utility bills, provides bus passes and pool passes among other assistance.  The club has a donation budgeted and Jeri will find out if it has been paid.
     Golf Scramble - attendance and donations may be down since the athletic director left.


June 8, 2017 - Sixteen members attended and we did not have a scheduled speaker.  We continued with members sharing their personal histories, including when they came to Cheney and why.  Rande talked about his time in the military and about the ongoing development of Camp Comia.  Carl talked about growing up in South Dakota and how he came to Spokane after working in Sheridan Wyoming.  Jeri talked about growing up in western Washington, coming to eastern Washington to go to college and then coming to Cheney when she got at job at EWU.  Sixteen members attended.

Club business:
     Krista Delaney will return as Key Club staff advisor next year.

June 1, 2017 - Members Gary Shamblin and Tom Whitfield provided a concert of country and old time rock and roll music.  Seventeen members attended.





    

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.

April 27, 2017 - Nineteen members attended and heard a presentation by Keith Fauerso.  His father was a navigator on a B-17 that was shot down over Germany.  He was captured and became a POW at Stalag Luft III, the camp where the Great Escape occurred.  He was a member of the escape committee and lost over half of his weight before the camp was liberated.  Keith was able to visit the camp's site and showed pictures of it and shared mementos from the camp.

On May 20 starting at 10am we will plant flowers at the Care Center and then have a pizza party for the assisted living residents who placed wrapped candies into the 5,000 plastic eggs that were set out at the egg hunt.  Some Daisy scouts and their mothers will also join in the planting and pizza party.


April 20, 2017 - Twenty members attended and heard a presentation from Jamie Van Wormer, the volunteer coordinator for the Spokane County Library District.  The library district is becoming active in a number of community related programs and she focused on the reading buddies and the tutoring programs it organizes in conjunction with Cheney area schools.  Currently there are reading buddies at Salnave and they plan to offer buddies at Betz in the near future.  Buddies meet for about 1 hour a week after school.  The students are usually in the 2nd or 3rd grade.  During the hour there is a snack, then 25 minutes of reading and a 10 minute academic game at the  end.  Volunteers receive training by video, are interviewed before being accepted and also have to pass a Washington State patrol background check. 

The egg hunt was a success - good turnout, good weather and about 6 Key Club members volunteered.


April 13, 2017 - Twenty-one members attended.  Final plans for the egg hunt were discussed as well as plans for the May 6 Special Olympics lunch packing. 

Our speaker was Maggie Crabtree, from one of the  Spokane Kiwanis Clubs.  She is public relations and communications professional.  She spoke briefly about the change in public relations from being one-way (organization uses media) to two-way communication with feedback from the public.  Currently public relations focuses on whether the public is aware, have they formed and attitude and have they acted as a result.  She illustrated how this could apply to our egg hunt event.


April 6, 2017 - Seventeen members heard Dick Donley speak about Abraham Lincoln and the Gettysburg Address. In Lincoln's day the President didn't speak to the public but Lincoln did, asking the people to rededicate themselves to the cause of democracy.  The first paragraph of the Gettysburg Address focuses on the past, the second paragraph focuses on the present and the final paragraph focuses on the future. 

Club members were given an update on the plans for the egg hunt which will be on Saturday, April 15 starting at 11am.  Volunteers should arrive by 9am.  We had interclub visitors from Medical Lake Kiwanis. 

March 30, 2017 - Nineteen members heard Julie Meadowcroft from Horizon Hospice speak about brain health.  She explained that 'dementia' is the umbrella term for mental decline and about 70-80% of dementia cases are actually Alzheimer's.  Alzheimer's is the 6th leading cause of death.  The first symptoms are recent memory loss and in late stages the patient talks in 3rd person.  The patient loses peripheral vision and should be approached from the front and people should identify themselves.  She explained that Medicaid can cover memory care after the first 18 months in a facility.


March 23, 2017 - Twenty-one members were present and we continued to share our backgrounds. 
The Betz K-Kids rummage sale will be on May 20; proceeds go to Second Harvest and unsold items will be donated to Goodwill.

March 16, 2017 - Eighteen members attended and we did not have a formal speaker.  Instead, several members spoke about themselves and shared where they born and where they grew up, what brought them to Cheney and something we probably didn't know about them. 

The egg hunt will be on April 15 and Bob has contacted our event partners and beginning to organize it.  Betz K-Kids will hold a rummage sale later this spring with proceeds to go to Second Harvest.


March 9, 2017 - Seventeen members heard Chuck Richardson speak about Kiwanis Childrens Cancer Program.  It raises money to fund children's cancer research fellowships at 3 locations in the Northwest (including one in Victoria, British Columbia).  Larry Barringer, who works with the local Aktion club explained that it gives adults with disabilities a service club so they can help their communities.  One of their programs is to collect and package donated cat and dog food for distribution to people who receive Meals on Wheels.  They distribute 500-600 packages a month.  He also contacts Kiwanis clubs to see if they will help fund member jackets for the Aktion club participants.

March 2 , 2017 - We officially welcomed Gary as a new member.  Our sixteen members heard a presentation from Jana Beals who has started a non-profit organization called West Plains Youth.  She learned that her granddaughter was giving some of her clothes to fellow students who didn't have clothes to wear.  She is focusing on providing teens with clothes, toiletries and school supplies.  She has a physical location where teens or families can pick out donated items.  She also hopes to set up a 'store' where teens can shop and would like to offer life skills classes such as cooking, interviewing and personal finance. 

Betz K-Kids will donate last year's car wash money to UGM on March 18 and they are helping set up a book fair at their school.


February 22, 2017 - We had our 2nd annual Sweetheart dinner.  Fourteen members ( including 2 couples) and 12 guests attended.

February 16, 2017 - Chris Cargill from the Washington Policy Center (WPC) spoke to 15 club members.  He talked about the state budget for the next biennium; it may increase by $2.6 billion and the legislature the following taxes are being considered:  state income tax, state capital gains tax, carbon tax and increase in the B&O tax.  Education spending is a major issue; the GOP favors spending a minimum of $12,500 per student statewide and having a statewide levy to replace district levies.  Voters have defeated a state income tax 9 times and the WPC favors  a constitutional amendment prohibiting and income tax.  If the Affordable Care Act is abolished, there may be many  people going onto Medicaid and it's not clear if the federal government will provide any financial support for that increase.

Last Saturday the Betz K-Kids took 400 valentines to the Veterans Care home in Spokane.



February 9, 2017 - Thirteen members attended the meeting; we did not have a speaker.

February 2, 2017 - Dave Gorton from the EWU entrepreneurship program spoke to 10 club members and one guest.  The entrepreneurship program developed about one and half years ago, opened in fall of 2016 with 21 students and has 30 students in winter 2017.  He said the entrepreneurship minor may enroll more students than the major program since science and art majors may have entrepreneurship interests.  Program participants have prepared "Shark Tank" type pitches and participated in business plan and model competitions.Funding for prizes and events are provided by family, friends, the Jones foundation and other parties.

He distributed copies of an "idea napkin" and a "sketch pad".  The idea napkin helps determine if the person has the intensity to make the idea happen; the sketch pad pulls together key features of the idea and rates the strength of its impact and its feasibility.

January 26, 2017 – Sixteen members and one guest heard a presentation from Cheney School district administrators Rob Roettger, Sean Dotson and Kassidy Probert.  They distributed the final plan for the district levy that will be on the ballot in early February.  The dollar amount has increased;  all elementary schools and the high school would get additional classrooms and all schools would have re-designed, more secure main entrances.  Some money is also expected to go to purchasing additional land for a future school.

 

January 19, 2017 - Icy roads impacted our meeting; only 11 members and one guest attended and our scheduled speaker did not come out from Spokane.  We shared stories about past bad winters that we experienced here or elsewhere.

 

January 12, 2017 – Cheney Police Chief John Hensley spoke to 16 club members and one guest.  He began by thanking us for our support and helping to pass the 2016 levy lift.  About $46,000 was applied to the purchase of 3 fully equipped all-wheel drive cars.  In 2017 they plan to execute a lease-to-purchase for 2 or 3 additional vehicles.  New body armor and vests have been purchased.  One officer has been added and the goal is to have no officer alone on any shift. 

In 2016 code enforcement responsibility was transferred from the fire department to the police department.  Since June there have been 680 code enforcement cases leading to 400-500 letters.  Only 3 tickets were issued and 4 cases are still outstanding.

He discussed 2016 crime statistics.  Thefts were up 8% over the previous year due to a rash of car theft/break-ins done in June by 3 people.  If those crimes were removed from the count, there would have been a 22% decrease in thefts.  He said they are able to recover some car theft items by checking Craig’s List. 

He was asked if there were any open carry gun issues in Cheney and also about concealed carry permits.  He said there were no service calls related to open carry. Concealed permit application process information is available at the police station and the number of applications has increased in the last year.

 

January 5, 2017 – Sixteen members heard a weather update from member Bob Quinn.  He reported that we had 6.9 inches of precipitation in October, which made it the wettest October in history.  The oceans are warming which leads to more moisture and more precipitation in winter.  The arctic air is here and will bring snowfall that will bring us to average snowpack in the mountains. 

He said that another ice age is due, geologically speaking  and will be rapid (less than 100 years long).  Ice age triggers include the relationship of sun and earth, tilt of the earth, etc. 

Member John Taves has started “Snow Angels” to recruit volunteers to help clear walkways for citizens who are unable to do it for themselves.  He can be reached at 509-559-5670.

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.

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.

September 15, 2016 - Sixteen members attended and heard a presentation from local meteorologist Bob Quinn.  He described weather prediction as a combination of science and mystic art.  His prediction for this winter:  significant snow pack in the mountains and mild winter at lower elevation.  While there is global warming, we can still have cold, nasty winters.  This year we are experiencing a La Nina weather pattern.


September 8, 2016- Seventeen members heard updates on the officer installation dinner, planned for an interclub visit to Medical Lake and signed up to collect or distribute coats for the Community Coat drive. 

Tom Capul, EWU professor in computer science spoke about the computer science program.  It has been nationally accredited since 1987, has 13 full-time faculty and about 400 students.  Some senior capstone projects have student teams build software for free for local groups.  Past projects included rebuilding the Spokane County crime check web site and an EWU advocacy website directed to state legislators.  If a capstone project is built for a business and money is earned, a percentage goes to the department.  One guest was also present.


September 1, 2016 - Seventeen members attended; we had updates on the proceeds of the Blackhawk/Kiwanis golf tournament and information on Kiwanis dues for 2016-17.  We agreed to have no meeting on October 20 since we will have our officer installation dinner on Friday, October 21.

Member Mark Eckerich brought a WW2 Jeep for us to see.  Before we looked at it he gave some history of the development and use of the Jeeps.  The federal government gave 4 companies a one-month timeframe to design a vehicle for military use.  A total of over 600,000 Jeeps were built by Willys and Ford.  Some unique features of a WW2 Jeep:  it had blackout headlights and the headlights could swivel to light up the engine for repairs; the instruction manual included extensive instructions on how to destroy it if it was in danger of being seized by the enemy and it had an 11 gallon radiator.  Civilian use Jeeps had a tail gate and outside gas filler; military models had no tail gate and the gas fill was under the driver's seat.


August 25, 2016 - Seventeen members and one guest attended the meeting.  We got preliminary information on the officer installation dinner and learned that the Community Coat drive collection period will be September 12 through October 7 and distribution will be at Salnave Elementary on October 15.

Todd Ableman, Public Works Director for the City of Cheney gave a presentation on water usage, supply and future plans to reuse water for irrigation of city parks and school district property.  There is a major green belt from the city pool past the high school and Betz Elementary to the 50 acre park.  During irrigation season the system's maximum capacity is almost completely used and that is why residents have been asked to follow an alternating day irrigation schedule, based on house number.
New housing and apartment construction may require drilling an additional well to provide adequate water supply.  He also talked about sidewalk disability ramps being changed to comply with federal requirements so the city can request federal grants for future street and paving projects.  The city is also updating water mains crossing First street so the work is done before the state does a new surface overlay in 2017.