March 5, 2015 meeting notes


We had 19 members plus 2 visitors from the Deer Park club and 2 visitors brought by Benji.  Tony won the 50/50 drawing.  Bob, from Deer Park, spoke about the Kiwanis International Eliminate project to provide tetanus vaccinations to 3rd world countries.


Our next 2 projects are the Easter Egg hunt which will be on April 4 and preparing a Ronald McDonald House Easter gift basket.  Bob is organizing the hunt and displayed a sample of the signs he will have at the park.  Margie is organizing the basket and asked members to think about donating money, restaurant gift cards or items when she knows the age of the child will receive the basket.


Our speaker was Steve Allen from Family Promise of Spokane.  Family Promise is a  nationwide organization of over 180 locations and works to keep families together and to help them become sufficient by providing temporary housing, food, transportation and other assistance.   They only serve families with kids and do not accept adults with felony records or recent drug/alcohol abuse.  Homeless families are assessed by the Salvation Army and referred to Family Promise which works with 34 area churches to provide the assistance.     The program also continues to give guidance to families after they get their own homes.  Of the families served in the last 6 years, about 82% are still in homes.  Their annual budget is about $195,000 and about 70% of the money goes to programs.    They are starting an online art sale program as a fundraiser.   

February 26, 2015 meeting notes


We had 20 members and 5 guests (including our speaker) attending.  John T won the 50/50 drawing.
Jeff Roberts, assistant Principal at Cheney High School, presented our students of the month.  Caleb participated at several events at state swimming; he is a senior and plans to attend EWU.  Michael participated in the state wrestling tournament.




Our speaker was Carol Beason, the director of Cheney Outreach.  She explained that Outreach was established 25 years ago to provide emergency assistance to needy people.  The people it serves go through a needs assessment and receive assistance with such things as bus passes and  energy and rent assistance.  Assistance amounts usually range from $75 for an individual up to $150 for a family.   It serves part of the Cheney school district and helped 1964 households in 2014, including 2099 kids under 18.  Assistance for children includes school supplies and parks and rec fees for sports or pool access.


Outreach has an annual budget of approximately $55,000 and has 1 paid employee and another employee funded by a community grant.  It does not hold fundraisers but receives donations from 10 community churches, service clubs and sororities and fraternities.   


Additional volunteer help is needed.  Volunteers are asked to commit to 3 hours a month; they have a 4 week trial period and receive training for 3-6 months. 

February 19, 2015 meeting 


There were 20 members, one guest and one guest speaker at the meeting.  Our guest was is the assisted care resident who organizes the plastic egg preparers at the Cheney Care Center.  Bob reported that 5 members will visit the Medical Lake club at noon on February 25 at the Pizza Factory. 




Our speaker was Chris Cargill from the Washington Policy Center (WPC).  The WPC is a non partisan, state wide public policy research group.  He gave a legislative update and also spoke about an upcoming vote on increasing sales tax for STA services.  He said that the voters have repeatedly approved a required 2/3 vote to implement any tax increases; the legislature is debating a 2/3 vote for 'brand new' taxes only.  He reported that the Governor is proposing a gas tax hike of 11.5 cents per gallon (current state tax is 37.5 cents and federal tax is 18.4 cents) and the transportation budget he proposed with this tax would fully fund the North/South freeway in Spokane.  The legislature is also debating implementation of a higher minimum wage (either $12 or $15 per hour).  The average minimum wage earner's household income is approx. $47,000 due to other family members' earnings.




 Regarding the vote on sales tax increase for STA:  he said the increase is expected to provide $300 million and about $76 million would be used for an electric trolley line from Brown's Addition to Gonzaga and continuing on to SCC (6 mile distance).   The WPC questions whether the trolley would generate significant increased ridership and also questions STA assertions that the trolley would enhance business development.  When an electric trolley was implemented in Portland, Oregon economic development only happened in conjunction with government subsidies.

February 12, 2015 meeting 


The meeting was attended by 18 members, about 6 visiting Kiwanians and two guest speakers.  Jack Russell of the Spokane Valley club won the 50/50 drawing.  Steve reported on Cheney High Key Club activities and Keith reported that the assisted living residents at Cheney Care Center are ready to help prepare the plastic eggs for the egg hunt in early April.




Our guest speakers were Dawna Reed and Debra Wheatly from H + R Block.  Dawna gave background on the company - it is international; has existed since 1955 and the seasonal Cheney office has been open for 19 years.  Debra is an enrolled agent and spoke about personal income tax return changes due to the Affordable Care Act.  For 2014 there is a check box to indicate if taxpayers and dependents had insurance coverage in 2014.  If someone has insurance through the Washington Health marketplace, they will get a form confirming 2014 coverage.  For taxpayers who have other health coverage, they will get a confirming form starting in 2015.  She explained that a taxpayer can be subject to penalties if any household member doesn't have coverage for the entire year.  This applies to anyone under 21 who resides in your home and is supported by the taxpayer; it also includes anyone the taxpayer can claim as a dependent even if the taxpayer doesn't actually claim that person as a dependent.  The penalty increases in 2015 and again in 2016.

February 5, 2015 meeting


There were 16 members plus the guest speaker at the meeting.  Margie won the 50/50 drawing and donated her winnings to Feed Cheney.  John Taves won the membership drawing. 




Our speaker was Derrick Cutlip who works with two organizations to recruit foster parents in Washington.  He explained that there is a great unmet need for foster parents.  The State of Washington program includes background checks and two training sessions; there is some compensation for the parents and many times the foster parents adopt the children. The other organization is Safe Families for Children -- this is a church based volunteer organization.  Foster parents are referred by member churches, go through background checks and self training; they are not compensated and fostering can range from just overnight to one year.  Average fostering time is about 40 days. 

January 29, 2015 meeting notes


The meeting was called to order at 7am by President Tom Whitfield.  There were 18 members, 2 guests and 2 speakers present. 




Our speakers were Debby Dotson and Chief Holloway from Spokane County Fire District 3.  The district covers almost 560 square miles in southwest Spokane county.  Within the district are many commercial businesses, farming, several large lakes and portions of Interstate 90 and State Route 195.  District resources include about 7 full time staff, 120 volunteers, 10 stations and about 45 vehicles.  They respond to over 1,350 calls a year; about 80% are emergency medical calls.  To help contain costs, the district buys vehicle chassis and builds their own vehicles; they have also built 9 of their stations (for about the price of 6 commercially built stations).  Stations are typically equipped with 1 command vehicle, 1 pumper tender and 1 emergency medical vehicle.  Members asked how firefighting is coordinated between county districts and with DNR.  Chief Holloway explained that DNR has responsibility for treed land and provides air and heavy equipment for firefighting.  Both District 3 and DNR respond when appropriate and set up a unified command.  The county fire districts have one dispatch center and one person is placed in charge of all county resources; the districts do not charge each other for their assistance.


The meeting was adjourned at 8 am.

January 22, 2015 meeting notes


The meeting was called to order at 7am by President Tom Whitfield.  We had 17 members, three speakers and one guest attending.


Fred won the 50/50 drawing.


Margie reminded us that there is one more week for the membership drive. 

Tom announced that there will be a membership campaign to try to get interest in reviving the EWU Circle K Club.  The goal is to get the club started in spring quarter.


Our main presentation was by an instructor and a student from Moody Aviation.  It has existed since 1946, is the largest training program in the world for missionary pilots and since 2005 about 50% of the pilots are trained in Spokane at Felts Field.   They offer a 5 year program with religious study the first year, then 2 years for airframe and power plant maintenance and 2 years of pilot training.  Graduates receive a 4 year Bachelor of Science degree, have FAA certifications for airframe and power plant maintenance and have private and commercial pilot's licenses.  It is a strenuous program:   the student who spoke is in his final term; he began in a class of 40 and only 4 are still in the program.  The cost to students is just over $100,000; there is some financial assistance available.


Carol Kreigh from Feed Cheney spoke about their "Souper Bowl of Caring" fundraiser.  Feed Cheney needs about $500 a month to operate; they feed an average of 130 people on the last Monday of each month and give out food to about 65 families. 


The meeting was adjourned at 8 am.