Early Learning Center Project

July 20th, The Bellingham Kiwanis helped out the Early Learning Center by sprucing up their yard. Participating: Nancy Larsen, George Kowlakowski, Jan Armstrong, Gary Armstrong Vaughn Hagen and Chris Neros.

Photo Gallery

PARKED CARS BOTH RAIN AND SHINE

Bellingham Kiwnanis members, Circle K members, spouses and friends spent June 3rd and 4th directing parking at the Whatcom County Highland Games and manned a "bounce house". Fund raising chair Elizabeth Bennett reported that weather on Saturday was great but Sunday wasn't so hot…literally. The project was a great success thanks to many people who worked long wet hours. The Bounce House racked up some 33 hours and the parking provided 159 hours of volunteer help for the weekend. The best part is that we get paid for doing it. A very LARGE thank you to all of you who helped!

List of Participants:

Fundraising chair noted that many members deserve recognition for their endurance. Larry, Ralph & Joyce and Bruce all worked 11 or more hours in one shot! Bill Audley, Doug, Alyson, and Vaugh worked both Saturday and Sunday!

In all: 18 Kiwanians; 4 spouses; 10 Circle Kers; 6 high school students, 1 Circle K spouse; 1 community volunteer.

Playground Clean-up

Bellingham Kiwnanis members spent May 20th, Saturday morning refurbishing the landscaping at the Bellingham Technical College Family Learning Center. Attending the project were: Nancy Larsen (Project Chair), Emily Citron, Jan Armstrong, Gary Armstrong, John Wilson, Alyson Batchelder-Bestle, Vaugn Hagen and Larry West. This hearty crew managed to clean out the play boat, weed and mulch all of the gardens, trim the bushes and pressure wash play ground equipment and sidewalks, all in two hours - great project.

The Bellingham Technical College Family Learning Center is used to train both professionals and parents the skills of raising children. Participants from all over Whatcom County come and take "Parents and Kids Together" classes there, take parenting discussion classes such as "Positive Discipline" there, and some short early childhood courses for people working in child care centers, family homes, and preschools are offered there as well.

Bellingham Kiwanis Awards Two Scholarships

Scholarship Chairperson Barb Audely presented out 2006 Scholarship winners. Manda Millman, of Mt. Baker High School won the acedemic scholarship. She will be attending the University of Washington to pursue a degree in Medicine.

Lacy Vanderveen was awarded the Technical Scholarship and will be enrolled in the Vet Assistance Program. She is also taking book keeping so that she can assist her parents in running their dairy farm.

Both Manda and Lacy were very involved in community service during their high school years. Manday worked with the Children with Special Needs program. Lacy was a day camp councilor. The scholarship will provide each with $1,500 to be applied towards their education.

Bellingham Kiwanis Collect Baby Food for Food Bank.

Poor weather did not stop a hearty crew of 25 Kiwanis volunteers, nor the generous donations made by Haggens' customers. Much needed baby food, and donations, were collected at the Meridian, Barkley and Sehome Haggens stores.

We received a thank you from Pam Spangler, Office Adminstrator of the Bellingham Food Bank, thanking us for our project. "Thanks so much for your group's work in collecting dollars and food for babies. Your Kiwanis group's dollar donation to the Food Bank totaled $375.65 and you also donated 252 pounds of baby food."

Volunteers at the Meridian Haggens: Kiwanis members Cyndy Patzman, Russ Weston and Elizabeth Bennett. Circle K members Stacey Feasel, Jessica Haugen and Brian Lau.

Volunteers at the Barkley Haggens: Kiwanis members John Wilson, Mike Onorata, Dave Proctor and Bruce Jorgensen. Circle K membsers Jessica Haugen and Mac Dolstad.

Volunteers at the Sehome Haggens: Kiwanis members Emily Citron, Larry West and Dick Zagelow. Circle K members Amanda Shaw, Colleen Fewel and Lydia Meintel-Wade. Key Club members Jenny Morton, Ashley Bice and Katrina Altona.

Jan Armstrong chaired the project, set the sites up, and floated between sites making sure everything was going well. Alyson & Doug provided refreshments to each sight & shift. Jan, Alyson and Doug closed the sites down.

Bellingham Kiwanis Assist NW Youth Services

On April 8th, 11 Kiwanis members, spouses, and Circle K-Club members assisted the Northwest Youth Services by helping set up for a "Soup Kitchen" fund raiser. Participating: Bruce and Shelly Jorgensen, Jan and Gary Armstrong, Doug Bestle, Larry West; and Erin Storwick, Ashley Thompson, Jamie Sheriff, Becky Bryant and Huy Ngugen, members of the Circle K Club.

Northwest Youth Services is a non-profit agency providing counseling, foster care, and other community based services for addressing the immediate and long term needs of at-risk children and youth, and serving as a resource for families in times of stress and transition.

Kiwanis Pocket Park Spring Clean-up

Great Weather, Great Job Accomplished, Great Picnic!

The sun was out in full glory and members of the Bellingham Kiwanis were out in full force. At the end of the day, 22 Kiwanins, family members and key club members completely weeded the the park and spread one huge truck load of mulch. Infact, the mulch spreading went so well, that next time, two truck loads will be delivered.

For the many of us who have worked on this project for years, the days events were most satisfying. The three or four projects we run each year seem to be addeding up. The park simply looks great.

The after park project hot dog feed also got a lot better. No hot dogs - instead, Dave Proctor and his son cooked "smoked brisquet, smoked baked beans, potato salid and cornbread. It was a feast!

The partispants: Kiwanis members - Bruce Jorgensen and wife Shelly, Doug Davidson, Jan Armstrong and husband Gary, Ian Willey, Russ Weston, Cyndy Patzman, Ralph Gardner, Joe Carpenter and son Lane, Willy Straub and wife Heidi and daughter Serenity, Marc Hagen and Sarah Hagen (Vaughn's wife and daughter - Vaughn did show up for the feast), Dr. Bob Olsen and guest Jose Matinez, John Eagon and wife Betty, Larry West, and Dave Proctor and son. Key Club members - Julie Guthrie, Shannon Stewart, Bobby Gass and Ken Gifau. Also, a community volunteer Miles Pools helped out.

Theatre Night Roaring Success

The Bellingham Kiwanis Threatre Night / Silent Auction was another great success! A sell out crowd roard with laughter thoughout The Bellingham Theatre Guild's presentation of "Who's wives are they anyway?" The crowd also generously bid up the many auction items. Fund raising chair Elizabeth Bennett thanks all who participated, given special note to Anita Jackson and Cyndy Patzman for managing the auction, Willy Straub for managing the ticket sales, and Ralph Garnder for managing the auction staging. Elizabeth will have a complete report next week.

Complete list of all businesses that donated to our Silent Auction. Please take time to thank them.

Bellingham Head Start Asssit

John Wilson & son Chris, Bruce Jorgensen & and son Ryan, Russ Weston and Larry West helped the Bellingham Headstart move desks and book shelves. Head Start Director, Dee West thanked the crew and offered free lessons. You can tell by the picture on the left, all but Chris Wilson took Dee up on her offer.

The Bellingham Head Start program serves disadvantaged children and their families by preparing the childern to enter school.

Bellingham Kiwanis assists Salvation Army

This years Kiwanis Salvation Army Christmas Bell Ringing Weekend was a great success. The total for all of the Kiwanis Clubs (Lake Whatcom, Kulshan, Bellingham Noon, Key & Circle K) was $6,600, which is $2,600 more than a typical weekday. The Bellingham Kiwanis (Noon), with the help from the Key Clubs raised $1,928.36.

Bellingham Kiwanis Club members participating: Barb Audley, Doug Bestle (ELF), Al Dale, Will Duplantis, John Eagon, Rich Emerson, Ralph Gardner, Vaugh Haggen, Nancy Larsen, George Kolakowski, Vanessa Oshiro, Cyndy Patzman, Willy Straub, Russ Weston, Ian Willey, Mike Yeend, and Dick Zagelow.

BHS members participating: Hilary Anderson, Julie Guthrie, Michelle Klein, Keena Mullen, Shannon Stewart. SHS members participating: Hari Choe, June Choi, Michael Cozad, Alyssa Guidon,Jenny Morton, Paul Pacini, Lauren Pepe Maggie Schmidt. SqHS members participating: Shelly Finnigan, Cortney Gillen, Natalie Schwitter, Emma Soares.

Statistics:

Total number of Kiwanis Club volunteers - 17
Total number of Kiwanis Club hours - 59
Number of Key Clubs participating - 3
Number of Sehome High Key Club volunteers - 8
Number of Sehome High Key Club hours - 18.5
Number of B'ham High Key Club volunteers - 5
Number of B'ham High Key Club hours - 13
Number of Squalicum High Key Club volunteers - 4
Number of Squalicum High Key Club hours - 11.5
Total Hours everyone - 102
Total number of volunteers - 35

Kettle $$$ - Cost Cuter Lakeway - $191.10
Kettle $$$ - Fred Meyer - Retail - $516.55
Kettle $$$ - Fred Meyer - Grocery - $864.38
Kettle $$$ - Haggens Sehome - $356.33
Kiwanis Noon & Key Clubs Total: - $1,928.36

Great Mall Project Participation!

The Bellingham Kiwanis is providing Greeters at the Bellis Fair Mall during the Christmas shopping season. The Club will earn $4,000 for our Service Fund which will all be put to use in projects serving Whatcom County.

30 volunteers, both members and spouses, worked 125 shifts. Project chair Elizabeth Bennett thanks all who volunteered.

Cara from the mall says: "I was just on your website and saw all of the great information about the greeter program. Nice job!" She said that she "can't thank enough the rest of your members who volunteered their time. I know there are ways we can improve the program for next year and am looking forward to hearing feedback about it."

Here is the unofficial list of volunteers and number of shifts each worked: Elizabeth Bennett  (28), Dick Zagelow  (9), Larry West  (7), Vaughn Hagen  (7), Alyson Batchelder-Bestle  (5), Andy Jackson  (5), Bruce Jorgensen  (5), Anita Jackson  (4), Barb Audley  (4), Doug Davidson  (4), Emily Citron  (4), Joe Carpenter  (4), Ralph Gardner  (4), Ron Bowen  (4), Bill Audley  (3), John Wilson  (3), Joyce Gardner  (3), Russ Weston  (3), Sharon Bowen  (3), Cyndy Patzman  (2), Lyla Tjoelkere  (2), Marc Hagen  (2), Shelley Jorgensen  (2), Becky Weston  (1), Bill Langstraat  (1), Heidi Carpenter  (1), Mike Yeend  (1), Nancy Larsen  (1), Willy Straub  (1).

Here is a list of the super voluteers that got us through the first weekend. Nancy Larsen, Mike Yeend, Vaughn Hagen (3 shifts), John Wilson, Russ Weston, Ron Bowen (2 shifts), Bill Audley (2 shifts), Barb Audley, Bruce Jorgensen (2 shifts), Dick Zagelow (3 shifts), Larry West (3 shifts), Alyson Batchelder-Bestle (2 shifts), Doug Davidson, Heidi Carpenter, Shelley Jorgensen, Joe Carpenter, Sharon Bowen, Cyndy Patzman, Ralph Gardner, Joyce Gardner, Janet Armstrong, and Elizabeth Bennett (7 shifts) - 17 members and 5 spouses covering 37 shifts. Take a moment to thank Elizabeth Bennett - she worked 7 shifts and gave all of us breaks.

Four more shifts completed in the second weekend. Here are the participating volunteers: Doug Davidson, Bill Langstraat, Joe Carpenter, Alyson B-B, Larry West, Dick Zagelow, Ron and Sharon Bowen, Jan Armstrong, Vaughn and Marc Hagen (2), Andy and Anita Jackson, Bruce and Shelley Jorgensen, Barb Audley, John Wilson, Ralph and Joyce Gardner, and Elizabeth Bennett (all shifts).

Four more shifts completed in the Third weekend. Here are the participating volunteers:Dick Zagelow (2 shifts), Barb and Bill Audley, Andy and Anita Jackson, Janet Armstrong, Ron and Sharon Bowen, Emily K. Citron (2 shifts), Rich Emerson, Vaughn Hagen (2 shifts), Bruce Jorgensen, Lyla Tjoelker, Doug Davidson, Larry West, Alyson Batchelder-Bestle. Take a moment to thank Elizabeth Bennett - she worked 7 shifts and gave all of us breaks.

Here's the list of names who worked forth weekend. Cyndy Patzman, Willy Straub, Doug Davidson, Vaughn Hagen, Larry West. (2 shifts), Dick Zagelow (2 shifts), Joe Carpenter (2 shifts), Emily Citron (2 shifts), Russ Weston, Barb Audley, Rich Emerson, Lyla Tjoelker and Bruce Jorgensen. Special thanks to Ralph Gardner, Andy Jackson, and Bruce Jorgensen who came in extra to split shifts! Take a moment to thank Elizabeth Bennett - she worked 7 shifts and gave all of us breaks.

Here's the list of names who worked Christmas Eve. Anita Jackson, Andy Jackson, Joyce Gardner, Ralph Gardner, Becky Weston, Russ Weston, Alyson Batchelder-Bestle, John Wilson and Dick Zagelow.

Division Council Meeting

November 14th. Hosted by Clearbrook and Chiliwack Golden K. Seven Bellingham Kiwanis members attended: Elizabeth Bennett, John Wilson, Ham Hayes, Emily Citron, Alyson Batchelder-Bestle, Larry West and Lyla Tjoelker.

Mount Vernon Interclub

October 24th. Four members visited the Mount Vernon Club's lunch meeting. Attending: Emily Citron, Vaught Hagen, Elizabeth Bennett and Lyla Tjoelker.

Kulshan Interclub

October 13th: Attending: Larry West, Elizabeth Bennett, Emily Citron and Bill Langstraat.

Over 1000 lbs Collected!

October 22nd - A couple of dozan Kiwanians and spouses and children made a difference by working on the Salvation Army Walk and Knock food collection. The 1,125 lbs collected by our club equalled 26.4% of all the food collected, and we ranked number one. The food collected helps the Salvation Army supply those seeking help with food during the holiday season.

Participating in the project: Alyson Batchelder-Bestle, Doug Bestle, Nancy Crawford, her husband Kirk Crawford and sons Neal and Reese, Alfred Dale, John Eagon, Ralph Gardner, Anita Jackson and husband Andy Jackson, Bruce Jorgensen and Key Club Daughter Janell Jorgensen, Nancy Larsen-Kolakowski and husband George Kolakowski, Dick Schmitt, Willy Straub and daughter Serenity, Larry West, Ian Willey, John Wilson, Dick Zagelow, and former member Bill Gregory and his guest Terri Ryan. 24 total participants, 15 Kiwanis, 1 Key, and 8 Guests - 96 total hours of community service.

The Salvation Army announced that they would be moving their traditional Walk & Knock to the Spring Time. A tentative date of April 1rst has been scheduled. Our Kiwanis club looks forward to helping again.
Photo Gallery

Arc House Project

On October 13th, a enthusiastic Kiwanis crew help renovate the future Arc's Dan Godwin Community Center.

The Arc of Whatcom County is a 501(c)3 agency that advocates to improve the quality of life, increase the independence, and assure the full inclusion in the community of any person with a developmental disability. It's vision is to be an effective resource, a strong advocate, and a dedicated base of support for community members with developmental disabilities and their families.

The Arc's Dan Godwin Community Center will house the Arc offices and be a family-centered place where community members of all ages and abilities can gather to share resources and participate in recreational and educational activities. It will especially welcome community members with developmental disabilities who have completed school and want to continue interacting with others. It will be a place to enjoy family-friendly activities and to appreciate diversity within our community. It will be the first community center that community members with disabilities and their families can call their own.

Participating in the project: Emily Citron, Ralph Gardner, Cyndy Patzman, Bruce Jorgenson, Dick Zagelow, Elizabeth Bennett, Russ Weston, Willy Straub, and Larry West.
Photo Gallery

Kulsan Club Interclub

October 13th: Elizabeth Bennett, Bill Langstraat, Emily Citron and Larry West visited the Kulsan Club. At the meeting, Past Lt. Gov. Elizabeth Bennett thanked Kulshan President Tim Douglas for having a terrific year of service. Lt. Gov. Harry Schmidt installed 2005-06 President Barbara Cory and her officers into their offices.

Batchelder-Bestle Takes Helm

Annual Banquet Huge Success

51 attended the Bellingham Kiwanis Annual Banquet and enjoyed a fun filled night. After dinner, Carl Allen and Willy Straub provided as entertainment a number of songs accompanied by their guitars.

Past Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth Bennett recognized and thanked the Past President Larry West and the 2004-2005 officers and directors. Secretary Emily Citron presented a Hixon awards to Russ Weston. Past President Larry West thanked all the directors and commitee chairs; presented Life Time Awards to Dick Schmitt, John Eagon, Bob Daws, Ken Nuckolls, Al Dale, Phil Rosser, and Larry Erickson; a Youth Sponsorhip Award to Carl Allen, and a Special Service Award to Bill Langstraat, who retired as our Treasurer after serving 10 years. Also, gifts were presented to Secretary Emily Citron, Lieutenant Governorm Elizabeth Bennett and Larry's wife.

Lieutenant Governor Harry Schmidt installed President Alyson Batchelder and her new officers and board. Serving with President Alyson, as this years officers: President Elect John Wilson, Vice President Dick Zagelow, Secretary Emily Citron, Treasurer Vaughn Hagen, and Past President Larry West. Serving as Board members: Bruce Jorgensen, Joe Carpenter, Lyla Tjoelker, Barb Audley, Cyndy Patzman, Rich Emerson, Will Duplantis and Willy Straub.

President Alyson Batchelder-Bestle completed the evening thanking the members of Bellingham Kiwanis for giving her the privilage of being President, and a special thanks to Dick Zagelow, John Wilson, Doug Bestle, Carl Allen and Barb Audley for putting together the wonderful banquet. Alyson also thanked all of the new board members and committee chairs who have been busy putting together the 2005-2006 program, and announced a special board meeting to be held Wed. Oct 5th at which time the budget and projects will be presented. With the business of the evening complete, President Alyson rang the bell adjourning the meeting.