Superior Court Judge Gary Tabor spoke at the August 30, 2010, meeting of the Olympia Kiwanis Club.  Judge Tabor, a member of the North Thurston Kiwanis Club, provided information to our members and guests about "Specialty Courts" - such as the DUI and Drug Court Programs. 

The specialty courts still require accountability, but provide an 18 - 24 month program for adult offenders to receive treatment while enhancing public safety and breaking the "revolving door" cycle of drugs / alcohol and crime.  It provides evidence-based treatment services, strict judicial supervision, and accountability and effective drug / alcohol monitoring to chemically addicted offenders so that they become responsible and productive members in the community.

Over 365 people have graduated from the program during its 10 years of operation.  The next graduation will be at 2 p.m.[More]
 

Jeffrey Killip, and Beth Walter, from the Health Care Authority, spoke at the August 16, 2010, meeting of the Olympia Kiwanis Club.  Jeff and Beth gave information about the "Health Insurance Partnership", which allows support for small businesses to provide health care insurance for their employees, by supplementing the insurance costs.  There is currently a 35 million dollar grant from the federal government to assist with this funding.

Washington's Health Insurance Partnership, or HIP, provides Washington small employers with access to the same health insurance coverage available in the small group health insurance market, but at a significant savings.  With HIP, the employer contribution rate is only 40% of the cost of coverage compared to the standard 75% in the small group market.[More]
 

Mike McGinnes, Eagle Scout and Navy veteran, spoke at the August 9, 2010, meeting of the Olympia Kiwanis Club.  He was joined in his presentation by Olympia Kiwanian Mark Johnson.

2010 is the 100th anniversary of Boy Scouts of America.  Is scouting still relevant today?  Well, think about the 9 lives saved in Washington last year by scouts.  Or, the 5 lives saved (so far) this year in Washington by scouts.

Boy Scouts teaches to do a good turn daily.  Its core values are:

* leadership

* character

* environmental stewardship

* service

* achievement

Only 3% of boy scouts ever reach the Eagle Scout level.  Yet, all the astronauts on the first moon landing were Eagle Scouts - therefore - "The Eagle has landed."

It costs $200 per child per year to be in scouts.[More]
 

It's August and the final days of summer are approaching.

With the arrival of fall will come the changing of the guard as

we start a new administrative year in October. This means that

the September Board of Directors Meeting will be held on

the evening of Thursday, September 16th, rather than its

usual time at noon on the first Thursday of the month. It will

be a dinner meeting devoted to the adoption of the 2010-2011 budget. We have reservations

at Mercato and if you are interested in attending, please let me know so I can

provide an accurate head count.

Fall also means we have our Installation Banquet coming up, set for the evening of

Thursday, September 23rd, 2010, in the Viewpoint Room at West Bay marina

(Tugboat Annies). The meal will be $25 and you will have a choice of grilled salmon

or chicken parmesan. We'll have sign up sheets at the welcome table beginning August

16th. Nancy LaPointe has kicked off the live and silent auction drive and is

collecting donations. Please help her out by making a contribution.

And finally, the coming fall means it is HAVEST TIME at our Food Bank Gardens.

Your help is needed to harvest the produce. Please let Don Leaf and Derek Valley

know how you can help. And, while harvest gets underway, construction of the new

barn is approaching completing. We are planning a Barn Raising Celebration for

11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 11th. A recognition program is

scheduled for 12:45 p.m. Please plan to join us.

On the fundraising front, we were fortunate this year to have excellent weather during

Derek Valley, from the Olympia Kiwanis Club, received the 2008-2009 Pacific Northwest District GOVERNOR'S AWARD from past Governor Wendy Falkowski at the 93rd annual District Convention on August 29, 2010, in Spokane, Washington.

Governor Wendy cited Derek's leadership in expanding the club's garden project and mentoring other Kiwanis club's to start a community garden to feed the hungry children of our communities as the reason she is providing this award to Derek.

Congratulations to our own Olympia Kiwanian Derek Valley - one who can and does make a difference!

Pacific Northwest Governor Patrick Ewing and First Lady Kristina visited Division 38 on Saturday, July 31st.  There was a 2 hour question and answer session for members of the 8 clubs in division 38 at the Salvation Army center.  Great beverages and snacks were served by Janet Summerfield (North Thurston Kiwanis) and Al Summerfield (Tumwater Kiwanis).

After the visit, Patrick and Kristina took a tour of the Olympia Kiwanis Club's main Food bank Garden.[More]
 

Rick Storvik, from the Thurston County Fair presented the program at the August 2, 2010, meeting of the Olympia Kiwanis Club.

The first fair held in Thurston County was in 1871!  It was meant to be a catalyst for commerce and to encourage immigration from the east.[More]
 

Thomas Anour and Adick Ketta , both students from Olympia High School, were recognized at the June 7, 2010, Olympia Kiwanis Club meeting for Achieving by Believing.  Thomas and Adick are from Ethopia, and came to Olympia High School with a positive attitude and a will to learn so they can help their people back at home.  Not only did they need to learn the high school graduation courses, they needed to learn how to speak English and adjust to our cooler climate.[More]
 

SHAKOHWIN BLACK CLOUD, from Olympia High School, was recognized for Achieving by Believing at the May 3, 2010, meeting of the Olympia Kiwanis Club.  Shakohwin transferred into OHS for her senior year.  She has lost some family members recently, but still reaches out to other people.[More]
 

Just as important, it enables fundraising organizations to schedule future events with minimal conflict, thus assuring maximum attendance.