A cold, sunny day and our PRESIDENT WENDY greeted us by ringing the bell and welcoming us to another great meeting of the Kiwanis Club of Yakima! JOHN BENSON was the stand in greeter and our ever faithful treasurer. I guess we did not have any guests since we had no introductions!

ANNOUCEMENTS: STEVE EMHOFF and PRESIDENT WENDY thanked member, PAT GILMORE for the beautiful diamond pendant that Dunbar Jewelers donated for the Father/Daughter dinner dance. The wonderful pendant has a retail value of $795.00. Thank you, Pat! The numbers are good for the event but if you need tickets they are available until tomorrow (Wednesday). Steve will be on Clear Channel tomorrow with 30 second spots arranged by SHANNON BIRD to promote Saturday's event. Some of the silent auction items are a rafting trip donated by Shannon and Dick Bird, Cabin weekend donated by Steve Emhoff, various baskets of special treats donated by members all total about 20 auction items. Please come on down to help out and learn about the event.

THERESA VITELLO then again announced Camp Fire's annual dinner and fund raiser with a 50's Theme for February 28. One of the silent auction items will be 50 yard line tickets for the Apple Cup along with hotel room for the evening.

PAT DANIELSON representing the nominating committee announced that there are vacancies for two President positions (after RON ZIRKLE)and Board of Director positions. Please let STEVE PICKETT or Pat know if you are interested in either. They will be meeting and coming up with a slate.

SPECIAL PRESENTATION: Then President Wendy called to the front: CHRIS CHRISTMAN, AUDREY RICE, STEVE EMHOFF, STEVE PICKETT AND MAC PORTER. A very special presentation of the George F. Hixson awards were given to MAC and to CHRIS for their past service to our club and to the community. The Hixson award is a special award made available through Kiwanis International. The awards represent a gift to Kiwanis International
Foundation in the amount of $1,000 each and are presented by our club to only those who are selected by the Board of Directors for their special service. Our club has had several thousand dollars available for these awards since we raised over $30,000 for the IDD campaign back in 86-87, the year that Audrey was president.

Sgt. CHERIE ERGESON then almost came up empty handed since the Club had great knowledge of Martin Luther King, Jr. She then came through by fining those that had the day off! But there were several that came through with brags and Anniversaries. Sometimes Kiwanis can remind us of those anniversaries that we are supposed to remember!

BINGO winner was MARGARET FILKINS. (How did she do that when I only had 3?). The 50/50 with a prize of $48 was WON by LYNN BUCHANAN. He called it and he won it.....Now we start over.

KIRSTEN DANIELSON then took over for President Wendy who had to leave for her new job orientation. Some people will do anything to leave early!

Kirsten then introduced Nancy Leahy, executive director of Circle of Success. Nancy is a repeat presenter and gave us a wonderful update of Circle of Success' "Let's Read" program which provides books to over 2751 children under age 5 every month. The dollars donated in Yakima stay in Yakima, but "Let's Read" is now in Kittitas County also and in other states and places supported by the Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic.

The goal is to prepare children for kindergarten. With over 90% of brain development occurring by the age of 5, providing books to these children and to their parents will get these children prepared for school. The books are hard bound and age appropriate. Other things that Circle of Success does for those young children are Story Hour at the old YWCA building, Yakima Bears special promotions, McDonald special events, KDNA radio presentations and Cinema Circle at the Yakima Theaters. The cost is $60 per child for a year which goes to 50% for books, 10% administration, 20% for the newsletter, 20% for the resource guide. There is no state or federal funds for this project. Moneys are from donations and grants. There are 3 staff members supporting Circle of Success.

Yakima Kiwanis was the first service club that made a donation for the "Let's Read" program and since that time many other service clubs have followed.

Program next week is EPIC.


RON ANDERSON was left out of the Roster and his info is as follows:
Ron Anderson
(Mary)
Associate Broker Creekside Realty
Co-owner Pacific Panelized Homes LLC
1112 S 20th Ave 98902
Phone 961.6482
Fax 966.9904
ron@creeksideres.com


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