Fill in President RUSS DIX was the official greeter as well the official meeting runner.

J. BLAKE did invocation duties and MARYBETH WRIGHT introduced guests. Joining us was perennial guest Lynn Buchanan (his name should probably be in all caps, he has better attendance than a good part of our membership) and two co-workers brought by BECKY SCHOLL, Bernie Bryant and Iida Perra. Becky was celebrated Secretary’s Day a week late.

Becky also announced that Clergy Day will be held on May 13th. Bring your favorite clergy person, at a cost of $9.50, to the other Red Lion on that Tuesday. School Superintendent Ben Soria will be the guest speaker.

SPENCER HATTON gave us the rundown on the upcoming Kiwanis Yard Sale. Everything is in order for this weekend, but he is a bit nervous about the number of items for sale. Check your closets, check your basement, check your garage, bring those unwanted items to big blue building on Tieton Drive and 12th Avenue Thursday or Friday. The big event starts Saturday morning promptly at 7:00 AM and will run until 4:00 PM.

Gap to Gap, Gap Family Fair, Rock the Gap
The other new Kiwanis fundraising event(s) are progressing as well. VENETTA MILLER, LINDA HACKETT, and BRIAN BLOUNT talked about their respective parts of the upcoming Gap2Gap event at the Yakima Greenway May 31st. Our club will be responsible for the Gap Family Fair under Venetta’s leadership and the Rock the Gap party under Linda’s direction. Signup sheets will be circulated next week. Brian also asked if anyone can help volunteer during the actual race itself. There are many spots available, no skill necessary.

STEVE EMHOFF is looking for spectacles. No he did not loose his, but needs your old, no longer needed glasses to pass along to those who can use them.

Russ stood in for AUDREY RICE as well, reporting on Clean Sweep Saturday. Despite rain, eight intrepid Kiwanians; Audrey, AMY NEAL, BARB GRECO, MAC PORTER, SALLY BALDWIN (as well as husband Jim), WENDY AGUILAR (along with son Anthony), Steve Emhoff and Brian Blount spent the morning cleaning up Kiwanis and Sherman Parks.

New member JEANNE THOMPSON called a rather lengthy game of bingo and MEL LIGHT lightened many of our pockets as Sergeant.

Sally introduced speaker Jeremy Dufault an experienced Kiwanis speaker. He is a former Key Clubber at Davis High School who never thought he would be attending a meeting at the "old (wo)man's club". He spoke very eloquently about his project of putting a statue of Justice William O. Douglas on the grounds of Davis High School. As Jeremy informed us, Justice Douglas could serve as inspiration to the many students who would pass this seven foot bronze casting every day. Douglas rose from an impoverished childhood to be the longest serving Supreme Court Justice in American history. He ruled on over half of the decisions ever made by this body, yet continued to return home to Yakima to promote education and nearby wilderness systems. Douglas attended and later taught at North Yakima High School, now Davis High, and Jeremy feels should be memorialized in a place that students will pass regularly.
Of the approximately $60,000 needed, Jeremy has raised $21,000 since campaign kick off March 4th (with a front page article in the Yakima Herald-Republic). He feels that when $30,000 is reached Whitman College Alumni will offer matching funds to put him over the top.
Significant local donors so far include: Yakima Federal Savings and Loan, Argus Insurance, and Junior League.
Jeremy also thanked Becky Scholl for her help in getting petitions signed by students at both Eisenhower and Davis supporting this project. He has hopes that this statue will spur discussion of Douglas’s life and accomplishments and instructors at Davis will use it as a reason to teach about Douglas.

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