For our new 3rd Tuesday, bring a guest day, KIRSTEN DANIELSON, representing the Board of Directors, greeted us as we walked into the door of Howard Johnson's for our Kiwanis meeting under new PRESIDENT WENDY AGUILAR. As the meeting as called to order, JULIUS GLOVER led us in song and JO MCLAIN prayed for us.

GUESTS: Those bring guests were: TERESA VITELLO who brought Evie Thompson a new employee at Camp Fire; BOB BROWN brought previous member and Past President RICH WOODRUFF; WENDY brought Tressa Shockley from the YMCA and our speaker, John Cooper was KIRSTEN'S guest.

ANNOUCEMENTS: JO reminded us that Aktion Club meets next Tuesday and they will be decorating pumpkins. If anyone has any to donate please call Jo at 452-4312.

THERESA announced the beginning of Candy Sale for Campfire by bringing us samples that were shared at the tables. The sale begins the first week of November.

INTERCLUB: There will be an interclub to Kamiakin Thursday at noon. BETH KLINGELE is our new interclub chair.

STEVE PICKETT thanked all "men" for the over 90 hours they put in taking down a shop at Marty Verbrugge's house that is to be moved to Camp Roganunda and put back together. KARL CORPRON STEVE EMHOFF AND PAT ANDREOTTI along with STEVE PICKETT were the ones giving of their time to help in this project. There has also been a $10,000 donation to Camp Fire to help with the costs of the building and the remainder to go to the pool fixing project.

KEY CLUB: Steve Emhoff reminded us of the Key Club Project on October 26-27 at Wrays Foods at 56th and Summitview. They will be out in the elements for 24 hours gathering clothing and money. All clothing and 50% of the money will be donated to the Union Gospel Mission and 50% of the money goes to the Key Club. Remember to bring your donations.

PRESIDENT WENDY then introduced us to Ken the Kiwanian that will be going home with CHRISTINE COTE and can then come back when Chris brings a guest to the meeting. RICH LEWIS promises a guest next week so his Barbie the Kiwanian can return.

BRAGS included BECKY SCHOLL telling us about the Gates Foundation approving the proposal for the Early Learning project that will be a great addition to the community for the next 10 years and beyond.

BETH BLUM SPIKER thanked all those that helped her to raise over $1400 for the Asthma walk last Saturday. She was one of the top money raisers! Way to go Beth.

SGT. KARL CORPRON then raised alot of money from us unknowledgable members regarding all the new things going on in downtown.

LYNN BUCHANAN ran the 50-50 with no winner again this week and the pot keeps growing! The winner would have received over $200. Remember the Club also gets an equal amount for various needs of the Club.

Kirsten, the program chair for this year, then introduced her boss and the President and CEO of the Visitors and Convention Bureau, John Cooper. John has been at his post since June and came to us from the Bellingham/Whatcom County V & C. John's credentials made it clear why he was selected for Yakima.

John said that one of our own members, BOB BROWN, was a previous President of the Board of Directors of the Yakima V & C.

Cooper then told us about the involvement and importance of the work that the V & C does for our area. Tourism is a $654 billion industr world wide and $105 Billion on a national level. Locally we are the 8th county in the state for visitors just behind Chelan County. The income from those visitors is estimated at $307 million which is almost a direct new revenue with no out go from the community.

To keep the dollars coming to the Yakima area, the V & C will keep the convention center new and looking fresh. The competition is big from other cities in the state. They will be doing a study to see if it is feasible to build a campus like facility that would double the facility in size. Yakima is a extended weekend destination with visitors from Washington and Oregon. Important visitors interests are wineries, agriculture and sports events.

Next weeks program is on the Yakima Sports Commision.

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