"March Luncheon: 'Every 15 Minutes' " Program

Officer James Canada, Kennewick Police Officer

Officer James Canada, Kennewick Police Officer and School Resource Officer at Southridge High School presented the "Every 15 Minutes" Program.  This program, designed to bring the tragedy of drinking and driving as close to the hearts and minds of our high school seniors as safely as possible, is offered in our local high schools in March. 

Twenty four students are chosen for the program then they are taken through an intensive two days of activities designed to get this critical message out to their respective student bodies.  Officer Canada also shared that in the last few years, while the official title of the program remains unchanged, the number of the average number of minutes someone is killed in a an alcohol related traffic incident has grown from 15 to something close to 55 minutes.  Officer Canada shared that this program as well as other public-relation programs are responsible for this positive change.

Jim Foster, Co-Chair of the Legislative Committee gave an update regarding what is happening in the special legislative session in Olympia with the pension budgetary issues we are experiencing.  Jim urged all members to remain vigilant and keep the pressure on the legislature to face their responsibilities to do what is right by the school retirees across the state.  (Find our legislator's email addresses in the right hand margin.) 

Thank you, Jim, AJ, and Elaine for all the work you are doing to keep us informed of these issues and taking the leadership in helping us to know what we can do to help!!

Jim Foster

Members Tom Callahan and Membership Committee Chair, Connie Bailey, enjoy lunch and the conversation at their table.