"The difficulty lies not so much in developing new ideas as in escaping from the old ones."

Happy New Year! It sounds pretty fun for us in October, but indeed a brand new Kiwanis year started yesterday and we are looking forward to building an even better year then last! Our Board for 2018/19 was elected in May and we are looking forward making sure Sardis Kiwanis is well represented in Chilliwack and beyond.
Today we had Councillor, Executive Director of the Chilliwack Hospice Society and Sardis Kiwanis friend, Sue Attrill at our meeting to talk updates from her last visit, and the upcoming election on October 20. We had some very in-depth questions for her, and it was a real treat to help celebrate the successes within the City of Chilliwack.
If you want more information about her specific successes, and platform, visit her website: Sue Attrill.
It is a very exciting time this election so it is nice to see individuals taking the time to talk to the service groups of Chilliwack.

Club Updates:

• Board Meeting T.B.A.
  
• Soup Kitchen - October 6 - All hands on Deck
  
• Operation Red Nose - Getting geared up again, applications coming mid-October
  
• Inside Ride - Build your team October 26 at Sardis Secondary, help raise money for Kids Cancer Programs at BC Children's Hospital
  
• Lt. G. Update - DCM October 22, in Sumas @7pm
  
• Plowing Match - trailer is in Rosedale October 6 for this year's edition of the plowing match
  
• Super Reader - It has begun, Arley will keep us posted weekly, if you are available, please help support our youth and literacy
  

That's all for now Kiwanians, see you all soon and Happy Thanksgiving!

Yours in Service,
Michelle

"Without reflection, we go blindly on our way creating more unintended consequences... and failing to achieve anything useful."
~ Coach Wooden

What a week!
I hope everyone is staying safe and minimizing their exposure to all this wildfire smoke that has engulfed the Fraser Valley and much of the Pacific NorthWest. A little rain, minus any thunderstorm action, would be greatly appreciated right now.

This morning we had 2 guests.
Jack Covey from the Valley Huskers and Carol Tichelman Governor Nominee from Rotary.
Jack attended this morning because we approved his request for funds for the Valley Huskers team, and it is spectacular to see the Huskers on the winning side of the table to start the season this year. We also asked Jack if he has a few players who are available to help us spruce up our two Kiwanis road signs and give them a new paint job. #KiwanisIsCommunity comes through and we will be working with a few athletes to get those signs freshened up and looking spectacular again! Be sure to tune in and support the Huskers, their link to their website is included!

Other club highlights:

• Don't forget Installation Picnic this Saturday (Aug 25) at Gwynne Vaughn Park starting at 3pm, contact Dennis to add your request of steak or chicken if you have not already. Hope to see you all there!
  
• Pat M. brought forward the fact that October 20 is civic election day, he is looking for 30 volunteers to help in polling stations that day, if you can help, let him know.
  
• There is a form, for submitting recipes to the PNW to create a cookbook that will benefit SIGN and KCCP programs this year - to get the form contact Margie at maswanson1@aol.com
  
• Hogan Park car show went very well, thank you to everyone who supported the trailer crew
  
• Spokane conference was fun and exciting. Dennis, Barry and myself all had a great time networking and sharing the amazing things we are doing for Chilliwack
  

We wrapped it all up with a round of Happy Bucks and the countdown is on to Back-To-School!
Make it a great week everyone.
In the Kiwanis Spirit,
Michelle

"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