Showing posts with label 2013. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2013. Show all posts

Saturday, November 9, 2013

Champions for Kids Celebration

Champions for Kids

Champions for Kids

The Champions for Kids Celebration is an annual event in which TOGETHER! and its community partners recognize those individuals in our community who go above and beyond in their dedication to youth and children. We've been celebrating our community's Champions for Kids each winter since 2002!

Anyone from the community may sponsor a table, or help sponsor the event, and name a Champion. And you can buy individual tickets, too.

Champions are individuals who help us make our community one in which children and youth are supported, healthy, safe and valued. They provide a direct service to youth, are a positive role model, volunteer or exhibit a dedication beyond their employment.

2014 Celebration: March 24

Please join us March 24, 2014, to celebrate the newest Champions for Kids. We will reach 300 Champions at this event, our 13th one! What a milestone, and they all deserve the honor!

Tickets are on sale now!


If you wish to sponsor the event, please contact us at: 

Mailing Address
TOGETHER!
418 Carpenter Rd. SE Ste 203
Lacey, WA 98503


Phone
(360) 493-2230 ext 20


Send an email


Champions for Kids Celebration by TOGETHER! in Thurston County 2013 cake birdhouse
See more photos on Facebook.

2013 Celebration
2012 Celebration
2011 Celebration

List of all past Champions for Kids, 2002-2012

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

McKenna Fest Thank You

Thank you to everyone who participated in, or visited the 2013 McKenna Fest!  Anyone interested in participating in next years McKenna Fest - please contact Lion Evan Burnett at:  (360) 280-0205.  The booths are free.  A special thank you to Kay Bryant & George Johnson for staying at the fair all day Saturday!!  Great job!!!  


Tuesday, September 10, 2013

ZONE COOKBOOK



Zone Chair Donna Murr has decided to make her 2013 project - a cookbook with recipes and Lion stories from members in our district.


Please remember to send us an email with your special recipe to:  rainierlionsclub@gmail.com.  We welcome recipes, pictures and stories from members from all of the clubs in our area.  We look forward to presenting our 2013 edition of the MD-19 Lions Cookbook!  


I know many of our members have wonderful recipes to share.  Pictures & short “Lions” stories that go along with their recipes would be a wonderful addition, too!
 

We welcome more then one recipe from our members.

September 9, 2013 Meeting Minutes

Linda Lazelle brought clam chowder, salad, rolls & homemade apple pie for dinner.

George opened the meeting at 7 PM with the Pledge of Allegiance, the singing of "America" and a prayer.  He read the following quotes: 

Ashleigh Brilliant— “Not being able to do everything is no excuse for not doing everything you can.”

James Penny—“How can we expect our children to know and experience the joy of giving, unless we teach them that the greater pleasure lies in the art of giving rather than receiving.”


KL George Johnson introduced our guests:  Lloyd & Mary Anne Howell.  Lloyd & Mary Anne seemed to enjoy our meeting and were actively engaged throughout the evening.

George began by talking about why he became a Lion.  His vision is to serve God by contributing to our community and bringing it together.  He became a Lion over 10 years ago, but when he started working at Big Lots, he had to drop out because he had to get up at 3 AM to be at work by 4 AM.  It was too difficult for him to be up late on Monday nights.  He rejoined when his schedule changed and he no longer had to be at work on Tuesday at 4 AM.  

George went on to thank the volunteers for Bluegrass & Peaches Pears & Nectarines.  He updated the club on Bluegrass & Fruit.  We were short on nectarines.  We had some bad boxes of peaches & 1 bad box of nectarines.  George called the grower & Deb said that if the fruit is picked after it rains, sometimes water gets down the stem & the pit area of the peach / nectarine molds.  We may get our fruit from her again next year, or we may get it from Cherie.  (The boxes of fruit are all 28 lbs. from Cherie we can have staggered shipping.)

Linda J. discussed making a Club instruction Manual, so everyone has the information on our projects from start to finish.  This way people can "hit the floor running" with projects.

Brenda F. has all of the decorations ready for "Halloween in the Park."  George will continue to contact local businesses about having tables to give treats to the kids in the park.  Julliette Pia is going to talk to the RHS ROC students about helping decorate the park for Halloween.

Linda L. gave a Dictionary Update.  The date is Sept 23.  Art, Linda, Bud & possibly Bev Jolley will meet at the Rainier Elementary School at 8:30 AM.  (Bud will go to work after RES) Then the remainder will go to Eagle View Elementary School at 10:30 AM.  We have the dictionaries, letters and labels.  Linda will put the dictionary packets together.

We discussed Christmas Caroling at local Nursing Homes.  We still need a chair / gifts / pick dates.  Bud Green said that the Cub & Boy Scouts would be interested.  He remembers making ornaments at a nursing home with patients when he was a scout.

Christmas Caroling for Cans - do at Christmas Tree Lighting or Door to Door?  Chair / Co-Chair.  We may do both.  They discussed using a trailer and bales of hay, so the carolers don't have to walk all around the city.

Essay Contest. Peace Poster Contest & Scholarship.  Teri Chair.  Brenda/Kay co-chair.  We will get the information about these projects to Teri, Brenda & Kay.  We need to work with both schools on the Peace Poster Contest, as the middle school students are eligible to enter that contest, too.

Road Clean-up.  Evan set a date for Saturday October 5th.  We'll meet in the church parking lot at 9 AM.

Health Van is available Jan 2 – 9.  George is confirming date with School.  The dates that work for the school are between Jan 6 - 9.  George is waiting to hear back from the school nurse to set the final date.

Apples Update:  Linda L chair / Bernice co-chair.  The Scouts, Rainier Community Gardens & Yelm Lions are going to partner with us on Fuji apples sales.  It's looking promising.  We have 
2 dates that we can pack apples.  The strange thing about the packing dates we were given, is they are both on a Wednesday.  Usually we pack apples on a Saturday.  We were given October 16 & 23 for packing dates.  We'll get back to Linda Lovely-Wright about the packing dates.

We voted on the Christmas Party.  Brenda made a motion to have the party held at the Rainier Chapel.  Bernice (& 2 others seconded the motion)  It was voted unanimously to have the party at the Rainier Chapel.  Brenda with Chair.  Julia G. & Linda J. will co-chair.  The date is set for Dec. 13, 2013 (a Friday).  We will invite all of the people who've helped us this year.  It should be a huge party.

Linda J. gave a brief presentation on the MD-19 Zone 6 cookbook.  She asked everyone to email her recipes with pictures and brief stories.  The cookbook is this year's project of our Zone Chair, Donna Murr.  It will be put together and put up on Amazon in both the Kindle edition and a print form - through Amazon's Create a Space.

INFORMATION:

City Council meets 2nd & 4th Tues. at 7:00 PM

Senior Center Lunch:  Mon & Wed at noon $2.50 each
Together:  1st & 2nd Wed 5 PM City Hall

Rainier Food Bank: Food available Wed & Sat 9 – 12

UPCOMING EVENTS

Sept 13 – 15:  Project New Hope

Sept 16:  Board Meeting at 6:00 PM

Sept 18:  Harborview Lions (Bellingham) Casino Night Fundraiser.

Sept 24:  Zone Meeting 6:30 PM Hawks Prairie Restaurant

Sept 26:  LERC at 6:00 PM

Sept 28:  Lacey Lamplighter Garage Sale

Sept 28:  Lacey Midday Medicine Creek Wine Tasting Party 6 – 9 PM

Sept 28:  Tacoma SE Lions – Soup Frenzy 5 – 8 PM

October 1:  Apple order deadline

Oct16:  Packing apples @ Fairgrounds

Oct 23:  Packing apples @ Fairgrounds


Support Our: Rainer Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts & American Heritage Girls

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Rainier Lions Club Minutes for February 11, 2013




Members in attendance:  Linda Lazelle, Shirley Gibson, Evan Burnett, George Johnson, Linda Johnson, Brenda Flaherty, Art Runyan, Bernice Beck, Ron Lind, Rodney Mitchell, Kay Bryant

Guests in attendance:  Tim Garchow (Superintendent of Rainier Public Schools), Jerry Sproffski (President of School Board for Rainier Public Schools), Julia & Bud (Gracie & Damion) Green (Boy Scouts), Randy S (Mayor of Rainier), Kelly (Cub Scouts)

George went over the items on our agenda while we were eating dinner.  Bernice Beck handed out flyers with information on the results of our Texas Ruby Red grapefruit sales this year.
We said the pledge of allegiance, sang America and George said a prayer.

George introduced all of our guests.  Tim went into great detail about the progress our schools have made in their 5 year program.  He's excited about the progress of the staff and students.  If you get a chance to hear him speak, I encourage you to attend.  He's a very enthusiastic and inspiring speaker.

The notes from Tim's speech have corrections that he made, now.  Notes below:


Tim Garchow: 

·         Rainier Elementary School has started offering full day kindergarten to all families. 

·         All of the funds lost during the economic melt-down have been pretty much recovered.  The Rainier School District has added an instructional coach and some new staff.  Rita Meldrum is there to help support teachers in the work they have to do.

·         They’ve been able to expand positions. 

·         Expanded programs:   Expanded offerings to kids.  Tim credits the staff with their help in working with the budget and costs. 

Teacher evaluation system:  Passed through house and senate.  Rainier is one of a handful of school districts in the State that are piloting this new evaluation system.  It is a joint venture with the teachers union.  We are partnering on this.  Evaluations are no longer a satisfactory, or unsatisfactory.  It is objective, rather than subjective.  It is a 4 tier program with clearly laid out rubrics.  Rainier has adopted the Five Dimensions of Teaching and Learning as our instructional framework. 

Research based instructional strategies:  teachers are always training.  Children deserve the best trained teachers possible.  Teach the teachers the new system.  (Professional development  side of things.) 

Textbook cycles:  Switching to the common core – doesn’t make sense to buy new books that may not be acceptable to the new standards, so they are waiting to buy new textbooks as they are aligned with the new standards.  The basics are still there, but it’s a matter of what is being taught at what year.

Treats and gifts come out of the teachers pockets.  The teachers get about $350 per year for these expenses. 

Teachers wanted iPads, so they could do a better job with their students.  Teachers wanted to give back their $350 and forego submitting receipts, so they could get iPads.  Now students need iPads.  The cutting edge textbooks are automatically updated when electronic books are used.  The kids can take their own notes, using an iPad.  They weigh much less than conventional textbooks and don’t wear out, or become outdated. 

When children become excited about learning, it changes their life.

Formative assessments:  We do not test our kids to death.  They have charts when they give tests to their kids.  Less than 10 days out of 180 for the HS students struggling to finish their senior year of HS. 

·         Sticky notes:  Green – 0.K.  Red – need help

·         Khan academy – shows several different ways to solve a math problem.

·         State & Federal required testing. (7% school revenue is Federal funding.)

·         USA is one only a handful of countries who try to educate 100% of their citizens.  (under 18)

·         Our focus is on the question … Did our kids make greater than one year’s educational growth?

·         Part of the new teacher evaluation is based on whether or not students are making academic growth.  The solution is to come up with multiple measures of student growth.  Pre-test and post-test for a subject.  What do we have that can demonstrate student growth?
Collaboration Successes:  Strong.  The Rainier Schools are ahead of schedule on the 5 year program. 
  1. ·         83% of third graders made predicted growth in math. 
  2. ·         84% of fourth graders. 
  3. ·         80% of fifth graders. 
  4. ·         69% of sixth graders were increasing reading scores. 
  5. ·         # of students who improved in writing was 35% in seventh graders.  (The last time they took a writing test was in fourth grade.) 

·         Eight grade science (last test 5th grade) Made 44% jump in their knowledge base. 
·         There has been a phenomenal jump in growth for all of these students.

ESD out of 44 school districts – there are 6 that are using variations of our district’s school house program.  The Rainier School teachers are sharing the “Read Write” program with other teachers.  It is a difficult job. 
Paulette is teaching others how to evaluate teachers in the new state program.  (She does this in her spare time.) 
Rainier has a new online high school called RVL.  It was started to assist students who have fallen behind in credits required for graduation.  (This online school was started by our high school counselor and administrators.)  One example of courses available to students is that there are 40 different languages online that the students can learn.  They can take all kinds of classes that they can’t get in regular classes – by going to school online.  (Classes are taken during school time.  There are adults in the classroom to help the students with questions.) 
Online teaching is one of 3 programs that they’ve started. 
1.    Full day kindergarten.
2.    More elective choices in Middle School.
3.    Effective means of addressing missing credits for HS students.
This has helped increase the enrollment in the schools.  Now there are more kids enrolling in kindergarten then graduating from HS.
There is a lot of hard work left.  There are definitely results for their efforts. 
Our “School House” model is based on The Four Questions:  Richard DuFore –
  • 1.    What do we want students to learn?
  • 2.    How do we know they learned it?
  • 3.    What do we do if they did?
  • 4.    What do we do if they didn't?

One additional program that is being looked at is called  “After the Bell”.  When it starts, the computer lab will be open in the evenings so that Rainier citizens can come in and work toward earning an associate’s degree online.  The cost is projected to be about 60 cents on the dollar for the classes, as opposed to the cost of attending one of the local community colleges in our area.

WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO DO GOOD THINGS FOR OUR KIDS.





Saturday, February 2, 2013

Highway 507 Road Clean-up Date Changed


Hi Lions,

We have changed road clean up day from  Feb 9th to Feb.16 because of a scheduling conflict with the arrival of our grapefruit . More info to follow about help needed  and times

We will meet at Rainier Chapel at 9 AM rain or shine.
 
Thanks
 
George

Monday, January 28, 2013

Rainier Lions Club Minutes January 28, 2013



Members in Attendance:  George Johnson, Linda Johnson, Brenda Flaherty, Shirley Gibson, Bernice Beck, Kay Bryant, Art Runyan, Ron Lind, Rodney Mitchell, (Evan Burnett, Charlotte Runyan, Chris Beck, Linda Lazelle, Chris Fanton excused absence.)

Guests in Attendance:  Juliette Pia (Together & Rainier Community Cares), Renee Wilson (Guest of Rodney Mitchell)

Minutes:
CORRECTION:  First order of business:  Brenda Flaherty mentioned that she is not responsible for collecting membership club dues.  This responsibility belongs to our Treasurer:  Linda Lazelle.  King Lion, George Johnson will send the correction to Linda Lazelle. 

Pledge of Allegiance
America
Prayer

Juliette:  BINGO was fun last week.  (Rainier Community Cares is the new name of Rainier Community Coalition.)  Renee helps with the Family Fun night dinners and monthly get-togethers.  Strengthening Family Classes will begin again this spring.  They will be in the Annex building at Rainier Chapel.  They will help students with homework, too.  They are hoping to start after spring break and continue through the rest of the school year. 

There is a poster campaign in the schools and a newspaper campaign directed towards parents, so they will not give alcohol or drugs to their kid. 
They meet twice a month.  One meeting is just a planning committee meeting for the organizers at Rainier City Hall February 6, 2013.  (Local Advisory Team) The group meeting is on the second  Wednesday, February 13, 2013. 
Together / Rainier Community Cares is in need of more volunteers to help them with their projects.  They are short of volunteers. 
End presentation.
KL George:  Linda Lazelle is supposed to be working with Chris Fanton to see if he will work the pot luck phone tree.

Discuss having 2 meetings a month and make every member a member of the board.  The board meeting will meet from 8:00 – 8:30 PM on the second Monday of the month, after our regular meeting.

ESD grant classes.  Americorp.  Juliette will send us information on grant writing classes. 

Grapefruit: We have sold: 145 boxes.

White Cane Days:  Promoted on the first weekend in May.  We may decide to do it another time of year, if we choose to.  We may do it again in September as well.  Jim Bob’s Restaurant will donate 15% of their proceeds to any non-profit group that schedules and promotes having a fundraising event in their restaurant.  Her father, Leo, was a Lifetime Lions Club Member.  We’re shooting for having our promotion on May 2, 2013 at Jim Bob’s Restaurant in McKenna.

Papa Murphy’s card sales:  Talking to the Cub Scouts about having a card sale.  They’re interested in selling these cards.  (We may want to sell Papa Murphy cards at Bluegrass.)  George will have more information tomorrow night.

Question:  The Rainier Schools annual auction will be on Saturday, March 23, 2013 at 3:30 PM.  Do we want to have an auction on that day for the Becky Waldren College Scholarship Auction on the same day? 

Answer:  Yes.  Brenda will donate two bird houses, built to scale, of the Old Church in Rainier, WA.  Brenda’s husband, who is now deceased, made them by hand.  They are one of a kind and very intricate.  Each shingle was cut by hand.

Rainier Family Fun Day:  Kite Flying.  May 12, 2013  Afternoon.  Together may join us, along with the Boy (Cub) Scouts.

Concession Stand:  Discussed building it by the restrooms and covered picnic area.  We have the support of the Mayor of Rainier and the Rainier City Counsel.

Mayor Randy, of Rainier, told George that the City of Rainier’s website should be working in February.  There will be a community calendar on there that we can access and add our events to it. 

Our sight and hearing van needs to be scheduled for next fall.  We’re talking about opening up the afternoon for adults in Rainier, so that they can have their sight and hearing tested, too.  George will have Evan schedule the van.

Coming Events: 

 1-Road clean up Feb.9th A.M. rain or shine

 2-Feb.11th meeting speakers
Tim Garchow
        Scholarship candidates
        Essay entrant

 3-City calendar EOM

 4-Sec. training June 6-12-25

 5- Zone dinner Hawks Prairie Rest. Feb. 6th 5:30 P.M.

 6-City council meeting 2nd and 4th Tuesdays

 7-Rainier Community Cares meeting 1st and 2nd Wed.

 8- LERK Wed. Feb.13th

 9-Re-submit two NSF checks for Christmas Trees.  George sent letters to these people asking    them to call him, but he received no call, so we will have to try putting them through the bank again.- Linda L.

10-Senior Center meals at noon on Mon. and Wed.

PIE BAKING CONTESTThis will be run by the Senior Center.  There will be a $5.00 entry fee.  They will need to turn in 2 pies:  One pie to judge, the other to be auctioned off at Blue Grass.  All proceeds go to the Rainier Senior Center.

CUB SCOUTS YARD SALE:  Rent tables and take a percentage of garage sale sales to be set up along the trail down at the end by the Lions Burger Den.

CUB SCOUTS SING FOR YOUR SUPPER FRIDAY NIGHT:  They used to run this dinner.  George will update us on this.  They may be interested in taking this over for Blue Grass in 2013.

Together / Rainier Community Cares: Feburary 21, 2013 will be having CPR training for the Family. 

RHS Senior Class to do fundraiser:  Seniors have so much going on, that they may not have time to do this during their school year.  It much time, but maybe the music (Band) department might be interested in a fruit fundraiser. 

We’re going to contact Bev Jolley to see if Thurston County Hooved Animal Rescue come to Blue Grass and have a booth.

Rod's Jokes:

“When you find yourself in deep water, remember who walked on it!”  

The chicken said, “Ah, book-it, book-it, book-it.”  “Ah, book-it, book-it, book-it,
The frog said, “Read-it, read-it, read it!”

The frog said, “Read-it, Read it!”



NOTE: Victoria Fanton returned the Rainier Lions Club Tail Twister supplies and has not attended a meeting in several months, so we’ve asked Chris Beck to be our Tail Twister.
We will still need a Membership Retention Chairperson. If you are interested in this position please call George or Evan. Thanks.



Monday, January 14, 2013

RLC General Meeting Minutes for January 14, 2013




MINUTES





January 14, 2013  Rainier Lions Club  6:30 PM @ Rainier Chapel

Frank Villanuega from Cub Scouts of America:  

Moral & Ethical choices throuout their lifetimes  Cub Scouts Boy Scouts & Co-Ed group.
  
A dozen families showed up in September.  Linda Cooper will be making the 
presentation tomorrow night at Rainier Elementry to organize Cub Scout Group.  
Looking for 
Non-profit "Charter Partners."  

Cub Scouts of America provide liability insurance.  Tim G will be the "Unit 
Commissioner."  (Superintendent of Rainier Schools.)  He won't be a leader - 
but will work with adults once a month to help make sure they meet the CSA 
standards.  Tim's arranged for the meeting place at the school.  

BSA are asking everyone to ask for Charter Members to become registered leaders 
to join and get a background check.  The cost is $15.00 per person.  Form goes to 
Dallas TX, Rainier Pack.  Approve leadership.  Need a minimum of 5 leaders.  There 
are 12 families interested in the troop.  There are 5 members that have 
 committed to becoming leaders in the troop.  

There is a committee that organizes behind the scenes.  There are people who work 
directly with with club members.   


SCOUTING is not a platform to promote "hidden or personal agendas."

There is a $40.00 yearly charter membership fee.
There are several people willing to help for the first three months.

  
Rodney Mitchell motioned to become a sponsor for the Cub Scout Troop.  
Linda Johnson seconded the motion.  The motion carried.  (All six members a
ttending voted "yes.")  We will look over the paperwork that Frank V gave us 
and continue to discuss becoming charter members at next week's Board Meeting.
Suzanne & Butch  From Spanapark Lions:  Bowling Fundraiser - 
"Bowling Classic"  16th annual fundraiser. Daffodil Princesses will be there.  Pacific
Lanes this year.  This is a larger bowling alley, so it will be easier to run the fundraisers.  
9 Pin No Tap.  This is their major fundraiser for eyeglasses, hearing aids, Camp Leo, 
Adopt a Family, Food drive to feed the hungry. 
Bernice Beck Grapefruit Update:  We have 2 more weeks before we turn our 
orders in
Rodney Mitchell on Kite Flying:  Sticks are cut.  Cub Scouts may be 
interested in helping. 
Linda J on Banner & Reader Board:  Linda Lazelle will take over the 
reader board.  Banners in 2 weeks. 
KL George on yearly Calendar:  Rough Draft
KL George on Yearly Budget:  Rough Draft will be sent out before  Next 
 Weeks Board Meeting
KL George on Communication:  We have several members who have not 
shown up for meetings or events.  Emails and phone calls have not been responded to.  
We need to communicate with all of our members to see if they are alright.  
Linda Lazelle mentioned going to 2 meetings a month rather then 3 meetings per 
month.  We will discuss this at next week's board meeting





 Attendance:  

Members:  Rodney Mitchell, Bernice Beck,  Linda Lazelle, Brenda Flaherty, 
George Johnson, Linda Johnson.  

Guests:  Frank V., (Boy Scouts of America), Suzanne & Butch from Spanapark Lions.






NOTES:

Other items:  Any old business that anyone wants to bring up from last year.  

Senior Center:  Contact someone about pie baking contest and membership.  

Meeting Adjourned.