MEETING LOCATION CHANGE: MARCH 11 AT PERRY TECH AND MARCH 18 AT RED LION YAKIMA CENTER (THE OTHER RED LION FORMERLY KNOWN AS WEST COAST).

From the "unhead table" PRESIDENT BARB welcomed us all and opened the meeting ringing the bell with her own gavel. We will see how long she has it! BRIAN BLOUNT brought guest Paul Piete, a former member and hopefully a new member. Paul is the controller for Congdon Orchards.

PRESIDENT BARB also again thanked our Bulletin sponsors: Wilson Chiropractic, Superior Asphalt, Children's Miracle Network and Stoffer Learning. If you are interested in being a Bulletin sponsor, contact PAT DANIELSON or KIRSTEN STOFFER.

NEW MEMBER, JEANNE THOMPSON, was welcomed into the Club by President Barb and Jeanne's sponsor BARBARA POOLE. Jeanne is a CPA with LeMaster and Daniels but will soon be going to work for the City of Yakima. She is from the West Valley area and has 2 children. We will get to know her better when she does her classification talk. WELCOME, JEANNE.

AMY NEAL, as Camp Fire Director, accepted a check from the Kiwanis Club of Yakima Trust in the amount of $25,000. This was an anonymous gift to the trust just for Camp Fire. This should really help on the Camp Roganunda remodel of the dining hall which is now stable and warm with structural supports, new windows, insulation, lighting and heat.

INTERCLUB'S are planned for next week to CleElum, Wednesday at lunch with Brian, President Barb and PAST PRESIDENT RUSS ACKLEY. They will meet at 10:45 a.m. at the Chamber office.

Next Monday, one is planned at 7 p.m. at Wide Hollow School where West Valley meets. Those signed up are LINDA HACKETT, DON DAVIDSON, STEVE EMHOFF and RON ZIRKLE.

MARY BETH gave a not so accurate report on Blue Jeans Basketball (she said that Monday night went smoothly?) but she was correct that we all had fun except for maybe JOHN BENSON. Good work John on taking all that money and getting photos, too.

BECKY SCHOLL passed around the Invocation volunteer list and Brian reminded us of the upcoming May 31st fund raising event (more on that later). There is a special meeting this Thursday after the Board meeting at the Market Place Deli on the fund raiser and everyone should attend that is interested in helping. This is going to be a great fun thing so be there.

JULIUS GLOVER passed around the Songfest (which is our 15th annual) crew list and reminded us that 10 area school choirs will be there and that SPENCER HATTON has promised not to tell any choir director jokes at the event. Songfest is March 15th at the Capital Theatre. Evening workers are to be there at 5:45 p.m. See workers list at the right of the Bulletin.

PRESIDENT BARB announced that we might be interested in doing a garage sale which she says is an easy money maker the first weekend of May but we need a couple of people to help Spencer with the details. SPENCER suggested this fund raiser after his Father's group did so well with one.

ZONE CONFERENCE: Just a reminder that the Zone Conference is April 12 in Pasco and those wishing to attend should contact VELMA CRAWFORD.

DOUG COCHRAN gave his Wall of Fame/Shame report and important updates and changes will happen soon!
President Barb also reminded us that Committee chair persons need to report all meetings to Velma.

SERGEANT CORKY MATTINGLY then brought in big bucks for the administrative fund since many club members had been misbehaving and we also had a few brag bucks for those that have been doing good things.

PRESIDENT ELECT DIRK MARLER then introduced Ken Ray, Director of the County Department of Corrections since 1994. Ken gave us an update on the jail situation. Ken is a great speaker and entertained us throughout his very knowledgeable and informative presentation. He shared that the jail is a therapeutic community concept where the inmates do hard labor for most all the area youth camps and the city. They also do their own food, laundry and clothing. The area gains $2,000,000 worth of labor from these inmates using a minimum wage value. It is a work facility. He explained how the renting of beds has kept our costs from rising even though we have the highest incarceration rate and a very high crime rate. He also predicted with the state budget problems more costs will come back to the County since the State won't be able to handle those costs which makes it more important for us to rent beds and keep our costs low. Ken mentioned how our own member, RON ZIRKLE, was extremely important in getting the contracts with the other 35 cities to bring in $80 million for these outside inmates. It costs the County $45.78 per inmate per day to house them and the contract is for $60.00 per day plus an increase of 5% per year. In King County it costs them $85.00 a day plus booking fees. We are less expensive because our labor is a little less expensive, there is a huge difference in the cost of running our facility due to the design of the complex, we have a large community volunteer core and food costs are less expensive. Ken also confirmed that no contract prisoner is released in this area unless they are picked up by someone and then taken back to their "home area". The County Correction Services also provides 186 jobs which are very good family wage positions and that number has just been approved to be increased to 196. Thank you, Ken for a great program.

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