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.