The All Bethel Community Day was a raving success,” according to Terry Belieu of the 723 Networking Group. The group meets at JR’s Whistle Stop in Elk Plain every Thursday morning at 7:23 a.m. More than 20 Local businesses organized as 723 had a group of tables at the back wall of the gym sharing their pride of building business in Spanaway. People were lined up all day for the opportunity to learn what 723 is about, spin the wheel and of course, win a flat screen TV. 723 will draw winners at this Thursday mornings meeting and invite the winners to a presentation ceremony the following Thursday morning meeting.

Activities were everywhere. There were Zumba and karate demonstrations and JROTC drills in the gymnasium. District staff members wearing bright green ABC Day T-shirts were around everywhere to offer assistance. At the event, there were over 120 vendors filling the ground floor of Bethel High School; this included non-profit groups with fundraising products and services, local crafters and local businesses, all there supporting the Bethel School District.

Candidates running for elected office this year were on-hand and took the time to have true conversations with many of their neighbors. Compliments of Home Depot, there were projects for the younger kids to glue together. 

Demonstrations included the school catering class serving delightful goodie samples. Bob Davidson was encouraging kids to learn the art of pinstriping. The JROTC members were all in their dress uniforms providing baked goods and being helpful to all.

Although it rained, the outside events provided a great time for visitors too. Ice cream bars, go carts, camels, and even the FISH foodbank truck was there to distribute food for families. Because there was a shortage of parking and the events were spread out over a large area, horse drawn covered wagons shuttled guests to and from the high school and the brand new beautiful Bethel Learning Center.
Bethel School district is over 200 square miles and serves more than 100,000 south sound residents. The district student population has grown to almost 18,000 this year.  It runs from 136^th Street of Parkland near Gonyea Field in the northwest corner to Kapowsin in the southeast, just past the town of Roy in the southwest corner and Frederickson in the northeast. With all the growth in the area over the past 10 years, district organizers felt there was a need to create an event to get the schools, businesses, non-profits and community members together. Everyone certainly seemed to appreciate the time to be together.