"There are two ways to have the tallest building in town.
One is to tear everyone else down, and the other is to build your building taller."
~Anon.

"If you cannot do great things, do small things in a great way." ~N.Hull

This morning we welcomed three special guests to our meeting. Walter Krahn- School District Trustee, Doreen Jones- Community Cupboard and Justine- Peter Brown's granddaughter from Ottawa! 
We were able to present Doreen and the Chilliwack Community Cupboard with a cheque for $1000 to help support their program in our local schools. This is a program that focuses specifically on families with school age children to make sure they have access to the necessities. You can check out their Facebook Page linked above for more details or to better understand how to help.
Next, our guest speaker, Walter Krahn, spoke about his life and times in the Lower Mainland, specifically Chilliwack. Walter was a school district employee for 35 years, and an administrator for 33 of those years. One thing he said that I think resonated with all of us was the "schools belong to their communities." As an organization that focuses on children, I think we all agree, when kids have their schools as safe places to be, an amazing environment is created. Walter also spoke to us about his work with the BC Lottery Corporation in designing the 'curriculum' for #GameSense and gambling awareness. I have included the link so you can check it out! Walter also talked a little about politics, but it was nice to get to know one of Chilliwack's own without the extras, after all it is the people who make Chilliwack awesome not the politics! He left us four nuggets in which to live our life and to think about:

1. Embrace life long learning
2. Relationships are critical
3. Hearts for Service
4. Live with Integrity
   

Today was a treat, to have two outstanding Chilliwack citizens speak to us about how they are making Chilliwack better. Thank you Walter and Doreen for all you do for the children and community of Chilliwack.

Other club updates included:

• Do not forget to fill out the Club survey Michelle sent out on behalf of Gov. Roger Bell
  
• Soup Kitchen this past weekend served 122 clients and 3 children
  
• Don't forget, the trailer committee needs help Saturday for the Hot Rod show, set-up at 3pm
  
• Dennis circulated some photos of potential branding to go on the Food Trailer, some feedback was given, but we need more insight, Kiwanis need not be "the best kept secret" so let's get out there and make our Club famous
  
• Next week information about the annual Installation and (Pig) Roast BBQ will be made available, it is the social even of the summer!
  

We ran over time this week, so we did not have a chance to do Happy Bucks, so save them for next week and make it an awesome one in the sun!
Michelle

"Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort."
~ Franklin Roosevelt

This morning we welcomed Sharon Blaker from Imagination Library. What a treat!
This program is all over the USA. Canada, Belize and Great Britain. Through community and nation-wide partnerships the Imagination Library focuses on getting books out to children every month between the ages of 0 and 5. Click on the link above to learn even more about this program. This program has a lot of potential with Super Reader and it was a lovely moment that we were able to surprise Sharon and Imagination Library Fraser Valley with a cheque for $500 to help the youngest of Chilliwackians get some books and begin to promote literacy!
To see this program develop right here in the Fraser Valley find them on Facebook.

Other updates include:

• Ernie's Memorial Thursday at 1 at Eden Mennonite
  
• Soup Kitchen coming up
  
• A motion was passed to have a scholarship renamed for Ernie (All in Favour)
  
• There will be a link coming around for a survey from Gov. Roger Bell
  

Thank you for all you do! For the Good of Kiwanis, see you next week.
Michelle

MLA John Martin was in attendance to discuss and inform us about the upcoming referendum on electoral reform. He brought up some excellent points. Some discussion followed, and great questions were asked. This is the third time this issue will come to the voters of BC, so make sure you are informed.
The following link can give you a bit more insight if you were unaware we were going to be voting on this issue.
www.news1130.com/2018/06/07/bc-closer-voting-electoral-reform/
Also here is the write up from Elections BC, you may have to scroll down a bit.
elections.bc.ca/news/
It was great to get some insight on this topic! Thank you John for bringing us up to speed.

Well here we are already, July!
A massive thank you to all those that came out for Canada Day, Pancake and Trailer festivities! One of our busiest days and we cannot do it without all of you!
Our next big event is the DCM at the Atchelitz, beside Heritage Park.
We got to read over the thank you cards from GW Graham scholarship winners, they all have big aspirations and dreams. I am so humbled we get to help them achieve those dreams.
A reminder that the Soup Kitchen is on July 14.
Pat is also looking for volunteers, 8 a day for 2 days to run parking duties on July 26 and 27 from 10-4. This is a great new service project for us, and it would be nice if we could do this. Let Pat know if you can do one, or both days. Mark your calendars, Inside Ride is on October 26, see Barry B for sponsorship information so we can help the Key Club secure sponsors.
Board Meeting on July 5, an email to Board members will go out!

Take Care of yourselves, yours in Service,
Michelle