This morning was another perfect summer morning, except I forgot the cheque book (I know Ken, you left me one job, and I forgot) so I had to run home and get it. Thank goodness for my VP and partner in crime Peter for bailing me out there! On the positive I was only 4 minutes late!
This morning we had Mike Ayers from the Ann Davis Transition Society as our guest speaker. We have been avid supporters of the Ann Davis House and Society since we came to be as a club! The Ann Davis gardens I have come to learn was one of our very first projects we took on as the Kiwanis Club of Sardis. This service in Chilliwack is critical, and we so lucky to be able to support them with monetary donations every year. We learned today that they have hired a child counselor to help with their backlog of over 100 children on their wait list. Mike also outlined some of their additional services that the Ann Davis provides. You can check out their website (Ann Davis Transition Society) to learn about all of these different services. As you all may remember, we have been collecting soaps and basic toiletry items for Ann Davis since late May. I currently have a dozen or more shoe boxes full of soaps, shampoos, brushes, wash cloths, dental hygiene products and all the other essentials waiting for us to sort into kits. Mike informed us that we do not need to make hundreds of kits but rather just a few 'family packs' and then they will take all of the rest of our donation and distribute them as they need. This is wonderful news, so we will get the family kits packed up and I will deliver our donation in the next few weeks.
That means if you have any more soaps, etc, please bring it in sooner, rather than later!
Other club updates that were shared included:

• A wrap up report on the 9th Annual Pig Roast and Installation, Abbotsford, Clearbrook, Bellingham, Chilliwack, Sardis and Golden Ears were all in attendance, a lovely night full of laughter, fun and good times. Check out Facebook for pictures including our own Dennis being Installed as the new Lt.Gov!
• Hogan Park car show was a success, sounds like it was a great time! Thank you to all those who were there.
• Do not forget to bring you Bubbles and Stickers for the Pediatric Observation Unit to next meeting so we can make a special delivery to Jessica and the nurses up there to bring a little extra cheerfulness to the ward!
  

We wrapped up with a good round of Happy Bucks and wishes of safe travels to all our members heading to Kennewick, WA for the Kiwanis conference.

Yours In Service,
Michelle

How Did This Happen?

Oh wait, we're awesome!
This morning was another full house! Al brought a guest, and Chilliwack joined us for an Inter-Club, aka 'Social Networking', that of course meant a morning of laughter and fun!
Rod, President of Chilliwack, presented stats and a very thorough update on our Saturday Manna Soup Kitchen we host at the Chilliwack United Church. To date the Soup Kitchen have served 1620 clients this year, that is up from 1430 last year. We have 1170 volunteer hours invested and through generous donations and super savy shopping cost have been decreased to $2.33 a client. Rod outlined some areas for improvement too, hopefully we can put our heads together and problem solve together. That being said, we look forward to continuing the partnership with the Chilliwack club in making sure our Saturday Soup Kitchen continues to be a source of comfort and stability for all our clients.

As for our regular communications:

1. Super Reader: No surprise, still busy, 1969 kids celebrated to date, Arley is fully expecting to hit over 2000 this year.
   
2. Courtney is back from Mexico, even survived the bus ride.
   
3. Thank you for the boxes of soap and other wash stuff for our drive to make wash bags for Anne Davis Transition House. Keep them coming, we will soon make packages up for delivery.
   
4. Nominations for elections can now be made to Ernie, please consider being a member of the Board to make sure our club keeps running smoothly.
   
5. Reminder the Walk and Knock is on May 3, sign up coming next week.
   
6. Also on May 3 is McHappy Day, talk to Arley if you can help.
   
7. Inside Ride, in Abbotsford is May 4, let Dennis know if you can ride for the cause.
   
8. GWG Key Club has they Bottle Drive! If you can help them out, please do.
   
9. Sardis Sec. Key Club held elections, 21 individuals going for positions! It is exciting to see the youth movement be so involved.
   

We wrapped up with Happy Bucks and some Happy Birthday shout outs and celebrations to Brian Cleaver and Al Price! While Happy Anniversary wishes go to the Kalaus this week!

That's all for now, for the good of Kiwanis,

Michelle

 Busy day in the neighbourhood this morning!

We were visited by Pat and Daphne from Riding for the Disabled, some GWG Key Clubbers (Zoey, Leah, Gillian and Jordan) and Natalia Porro.
Natalia delivered a bagful of Komfort Dolls.

• Thank you Natalia!

Zoey, Leah, Jordan and Gillian came to give us an update from DCON 2017 in Portland (Presentation, some photos removed to fit, Sorry Gillian, below). The GWG ladies said it was "... an amazing opportunity with amazing spirit..."

• Don't forget Key Club needs help Saturday 10am at GWG for their Bottle Drive.
• Also if you have bottles the Sardis Bottle Depot has an account for them, #123.

Pat and Daphne from Riding for the Disabled were on their farewell tour, and celebrating their 34th breakfast with us!

• See the images above of their card to us.
• After 34 years, the Pacific Riding for the Disabled is closing. Hoping for the best, but closing. The ladies brought albums of all the adventures since 1983, it was touching and amazing. A wonderful flashback from many of our members.
• These ladies have done amazing work throughout our community and estimate thousands of children have been supported because of their program, Chilliwack is blessed to have women like Pat and Daphne.

Other updates included:
- Moments and information from the Bahath fundraiser Monday night (check out the Facebook page for photos)
- Super Reader, assemblies under control and Arley with all the details, he shared some great photos too, check out Instagram for them.
- Nominations for elections open next Tuesday, April 18, Ernie will have the nomination sheet.
- McHappy Day is coming up on May 3rd.
- Knock and Walk is on May 3rd.
- Inside ride at W.J. Mouat is on May 4th, Dennis has all the information.
- Soup Kitchen on Saturday past served 139 meals.
- Going to start collecting toiletries for Ann Davis, the specific list will be in your emails.

Of course, we are coming up on the busy season!
Talk soon, and have an amazing one!

Michelle