PRESIDENT WENDY started us off with a welcome and BECKY SCHOLL led us in singing and in praying -- she is a multi talented lady! PAT DANIELSON was the greeter but had no guests to introduce to the club.

A sympathy card was passed around to all members to forward on to AUDREY and Glenn RICE on the death of Glenn's mother. Our thoughts are with their family.

SPENCER HATTON then shared his sign up sheet for Rock the Gap and the silent auction that he and wife Leslie are teaming up for great success again this year. Think about where you can get one donated or even do one yourself. I am thinking of doing a big flower pot with many living flowers (hopefully!).

Our Sgt was JOHN WARREN who got a few brags: Becky was proud to receive the Golden Acorn Award from the Yakima Schools Foundation (and we are proud of her). And then John fined us all for not having anything to brag on!

RICHARD ENSEY then won Bingo and BOB BROWN attempted to win the 50-50. We are getting close to a winner in 50-50 so buy a ticket next week for big bucks.

Becky then introduced our guest speakers for the day. Joining us were Steve Hill, "the DSHS of Yakima County", and Rhonda Hauff, primary care administrator from Yakima Neighborhood Health. Together they gave us the alarming statistics of where Yakima ranks in the state on various social issues. Just a few are Yakima County has twice as many children living in poverty, has a higher rate of domestic violence offenses, has 1/2 as many people who completed B.A. degrees and almost 1/2 as many who have completed an advanced degree, 1 out of 15 residents commit a crime, 17% of the population is foreign born, has a negative migration rate, has almost half as may physicians per capita and the sad statistics go on and on. They told us that poverty is the largest problem in Yakima County and families trying to survive that poverty takes on many activities: health care shuffle, prioritizing education and safety with making ends meet. Education and safety usually end up on the short end. It is normal to take children out of school to work and having 9 year olds babysit. Yakima is well known for is stong partnerships in helping and creative use of working with each other but there is no relief in sight. Better paying jobs are needed from the non service area. What can service clubs do? Help the children! Start with the kids. Step up to the plate and volunteer.

And that is what our Club tries to do with the MLK Playground equipment project, Blue Jeans Basketball, keeping Camp Roganunda available for children, helping with the highschool football games Chaingang, Father-Daughter Dance, Santa program, and our new YWCA Playgound equipment project and many more.

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