January 19, 2010
Pat Danielson The meeting started off on a sad announcement read by Vice President PAT ANDREOTTI. President CHRIS COTE had sent the message to the Club that Past President WENDY AGUILAR and husband Joe's son, Joseph had died early in the morning in a tragic accident in Portland. Joseph was a student at Perry Tech. The funeral is Saturday.
Then the normal routine of the meeting was handled very well by VP PAT. PAT DANIELSON greeted guests, KARL CORPRON did our invocation and returning JULIUS GLOVER led us in song after LYNN BUCHANAN led the Pledge to the Flag.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: STEVE EMHOFF gave a glowing report on the Father Daughter Dinner/Dance with net proceeds around $2800. There were 160 attendees at the Clarion hotel. There are already 32 signed up for next year. Go to www.dancewithdad.com to check out the great time.
KARL then gave a Rock the Gap report which is coming June 5 with Vicki Martinez and her band.
SGT. RUSS ROBERTS then got most of us with his routine and CHRIS CHRISTMAN called Bingo. And no one won the 50/50, right LYNN?
Our program was Dave McFadden from New Vision and a report on the Blue Print Economics for our area. We have several challenges for success including lack of economic diversification, lack of education which becomes a skill gap and lack of high tec employees. We need to build from within to develop people for high tec jobs to get the high tec companies to locate here. It is very important to keep our young professionals within our community (Kiwanians are you listening?) We need to spruce up our commerical entrances to our community and we need more industrial sights. Our area used to be cheaper and would attract companies for that reason, but there are other cheaper places now and our advantage is no longer there.
Young people are our biggest export; we need to keep them here by beautifying the region, developing the workforce; expand school to work programs and don't forget the basics and keep improving. Education equals economic development and is the key to our success. We have big possibilities in the green and sustainable development areas. Check out the two new web pages: www.liveyakimavalley.com and www.workyakimavalley.com
Program next week is the new Yakima School District Superintendent with a report of the Eisenhower High School project.
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