Presiding – Chris Plack

Invocation – Tim Frame

Attendance – 80

Guests – Eden, Greg Burger

Greeters – Jeff Servies, Dave Morgan

Announcements –

• Need two bell ringers for Salvation Army @ South Doors of Wal Mart, December 3.
• Club dues will be sent January 1, 2023

Birthdays – Ann Sweet

Membership – Susan Armacost, Randee Robson, Jim Brennan were all inducted as members

50 – 50 – $41 to Joe Sutton

Sergeants – Members were encouraged to donate “Thanksgiving” dollars for personal celebrations.

Program – Sherry Searles, Launchpad, updated us on the state of Child Care in Kosciusko County.

• Currently, in Kosciusko County, there is a shortage of 1,500 childcare spots.
• A single parent in Kosciusko County spends 46% of his/her income on quality childcare.
• Low and moderate income families cannot afford the cost of care, which can be $10,000 or more per year for one child.
• Just over half of Kosciusko County’s childcare spots are considered high quality according to Indiana’s rating system, called Paths to Quality.
• Early childhood education is one of the lowest paying professions. While regulations call for more education for teachers, wages are low and benefits are negligible.

• The current model of childcare is flawed. If programs want to pay their teachers a living wage, they must raise their childcare rates.
• When businesses invest in programs:
  • Quality goes up
  • Care becomes affordable
  • Teachers receive a living wage/benefits
  • Employees are able to work and productivity goes up
  • Children receive what they need to succeed!