University Kiwanis switches to mornings

The University Kiwanis Club will change to morning meetings beginning June 5. This change in meeting time, the first since the club's inception in 1927, will offer an alternative to the noon meetings of other service clubs in the area. The club's weekly meetings will continue to be held at the Edmond Meany Hotel, NE 45th and Brooklyn, 7 a.m. on Mondays. Continental breakfast will be served. The University Kiwanis, which serves Northeast Seattle, is part of an international service organization of businessmen and women. Interested persons are invited to attend any Monday meeting of University Kiwanis. For more information, contact club president AJ Skurdal at 525-2524 or e-mail him at Askurdal@aol.com.

'Big Planet' moves to Lake City

Lisa Papp, former president of the Green Lake Chamber of Commerce and a former part-time employee of the Greenwood/Phinney Chamber of Commerce, recently moved with her husband Jim to Lake City, where the couple are proud first-time homeowners.

Jim works in the shipping industry while Papp now devotes most of her time to her growing home-based business, working as an independent representative for Big Planet, a company that sells Internet service and other technology products.

Papp described her work as introducing people and businesses to technology that can simplify their lives. While not a computer expert, Papp offers nearly 20 years experience in graphic design, sales, and marketing. This comes in handy when helping clients determine their need for Web sites.

Papp looks forward to being part of the Lake City community. She believes that her Big Planet services can help local businesses. And with her history of volunteerism, don't be surprised if she dedicates time to neighborhood causes.

For more information, log on to www.planetpapp.com or e-mail: lisapapp@bigplanet.com.

Green Lake Chamber members ponder future

Due to loss of board members and declining membership, the Green Lake Chamber of Commerce is again on the verge of dormancy. The Chamber was inactive for 12 years before being revitalized in 1997.

A special meeting was held April 26 to discuss the future of the Chamber. Although 1,000 notices were sent out, only a half-dozen people attended the meeting. Without more help, the Chamber may be forced to go into hibernation.

Outgoing president Lisa Papp recently moved to Lake City, but will continue to be a Chamber member. Other board members have either moved out of the area or are unable to continue due to time conflicts.

Papp said that it has been hard getting enough volunteer support to even plan meetings or send out a newsletter. She also said that the Green Lake area is unique in that there are different business clusters, but not a central core.

A template for a Chamber Web site does exist at www.gogreenlake.com, but no one has stepped in to complete its construction. Papp believes that a Web site would help provide information and enable the Chamber to grow.

Chamber Treasurer Rick Milsow said that there are no plans for any further meetings right now, but there are a handful of people trying to keep things alive. "We haven't folded. I don't know if we will," said Milsow.

To comment or receive information call 523-0405 ext. 3 or write to Green Lake Chamber of Commerce, 401 Ravenna Blvd., #P109, Seattle, WA 98115.

PROVAIL plans return to Fremont-Wallingford area

The organization formerly known as United Cerebral Palsy of King and Snohomish Counties plans to move its headquarters back to the Fremont-Wallingford area this summer, four years after vacating its longtime facility just off Stone Way.

Now known as PROVAIL (Life Opportunities for People with Disabilities), the organization has 400 employees and served more than 1,000 individuals last year. It is the Northwest's largest privately-owned not-for-profit organization providing comprehensive services to people with all types of disabilities. The agency recently changed its name when it dropped its affiliation with United Cerebral Palsy Associations, a national organization.

PROVAIL will move its headquarters operations into a 60,000-square-foot complex located at 3670 Stone Way N, on the border of the Fremont and Wallingford neighborhoods, in either August or September. The building, which formerly housed the Golden Rule Bakery, is being renovated to include new office space and a covered parking garage.

The new facility will allow PROVAIL to consolidate its services. The Fremont/Wallingford location will have therapeutic, assistive technology, employment, and community living services. PROVAIL's headquarters is currently located at an interim site in Shoreline.

Established in 1942, United Cerebral Palsy of King and Snohomish Counties was originally known as Washington Spastic Children's Society. From 1954 to 1996, the agency occupied a Wallingford area building located on Interlake Avenue N, directly west of Lincoln High School.

Lesa Haakenson, director of communications for PROVAIL, said that the new facility will integrate services and help with communication within the department. "It's kind of like one-stop shopping," she said.

PROVAIL can be reached at 363-7303 or log on to www.provail.org.

Health Excellence Chiropractor collects donated clothes for Treehouse

Health Excellence Chiropractic, located in Wedgwood, will be a collection site for the Treehouse clothing drive. The collection will begin on July 10 and last two weeks. Treehouse is a local non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of foster children as well as abused and neglected children in King County. Clothing is needed for children, ranging from infants to 18 years old. The clothes can be any type and should be in good condition. This is the second year that Health Excellence Chiropractic has been a collection point for the clothing drive. Health Excellence Chiropractic is located at 9425 35th Ave NE. For more information, call 524-6335.