Tuesday was a beautiful crisp almost fall day. We were prayed for by the always articulate JAY CARROL, our guests were Galen Sigars and Wendy Culver from Selah Kiwanis and Larry Hull guest of STEVE SOELBERG. BETH KLINGELE was your greeter. JOHN WARREN called bingo and our speaker, Sean Hawkins won the $5 and once again, BOB BROWN won, and then lost the 50/50 raffle (the pot is now over $500!).

Congratulations to new member PHYLLIS MEYER who is officially welcomed into our club. Phyllis is an accountant with Alegria & Company, CPA’s.

KIRSTEN DANIELSON, as our sergeant, quizzed us all on Bingo rules and regulations and BINGO MEISTER ROGER BELL put up the Bingo Sign up Sheets. Remember Fair Bingo is one of our biggest fundraisers and is held Sept 26 – to Oct 5. This year, “Bring a friend to the fair and Bingo is our theme! “. Bring your spouse, kid, friend to help out and get a free admission. Remember each club member is strongly encouraged to sign up for two sessions. Contact Roger Bell if you have questions. STEVE PICKET announced that a worn in, beer soiled recliner will be available at the fair for the day captain among other amenities. (Now if that isn’t incentive, I don’t know what is.) Day captains are meeting at the Yakima Sports Center next Tuesday at 5:15.

LINDA HACKETT asked for drivers at 7:45pm for Sept 9th Aktion club. Sounds like we have an interclub with JO MCLAIN, JOHN BENSON, STEVE PICKETT and new member ENRIQUE JEVONS. PRESIDENT WENDY is our backup.

Remember the board meeting this Thursday!

Put Tuesday October 7th on your calendar. We will not have a noon meeting but will have an evening dinner meeting at the Clarion (6pm social and silent auction, 7pm dinner) honoring incoming president RON ZIRKLE. STEVE EMHOFF passed around a sign up sheet for the dinner (Salmon or Chicken) and would like help with Silent Auction items and decorations. This dinner is free for members, guests are $25. Silent Auction proceeds benefit the Presidents Project which will be a continuation of funding for playground equipment at the new YWCA facility.

Selah is also having their installation banquet honoring their one remaining charter member ROY LEWIS who is 80 years old. Sept 18th at 5:30. Cost is $20, Prime Rib or Chicken. Contact Roger Bell or Steve Emhoff if you would like to attend, they’d love to have you.
Selah is also sponsoring Women to Women Diva night on Nov 1st and Safari night for men on November 6th.

Kirsten Danielson introduced our speaker, Sean Hawkins, who is the director of the Committee for Downtown Yakima’s Operation Renaissance. Sean originally hails from Kentucky and loves his job here. Yakima needed to move away from asking our politicians to revitalize downtown and move towards business development. Sean and his crew of purple people have done just that. New businesses are opening downtown every month, with several new restaurants opening soon. 50 new downtown businesses have opened since Sean and his group started work. Sean noted that 4 years ago it was illegal to put tables on our sidewalks, crazy given our great weather. Now we have over 15 places to dine outside. Sean says he is amazed that locals don’t see how good we have it sometimes, small town values with big city potential. One thing that is needed is a brew pub given the status of our hop growing region, and now one is now in the works. Sean’s group advocates for downtown, helps make downtown a safe experience by maintaining the area, painting out graffiti and having a presence. Sean noted that Yakima will be features in a 9/11/08 Seattle Times article about the transformation taking place. We are looking back and embracing our wonderful historic architecture, something most all successful downtown revitalizations end up realizing is key.

Next week’s program will be the Perry Tech Medical Coding Program.

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