The Olympia Washington Kiwanis members and their friends have cost the Washington State taxpayers over $50 million dollars (so far), because of their willful ignorance of long term, merciless and well known, child abuse that occurred at the Olympia Kiwanis Boys Ranch.

October 2006 note: This Olympia Kiwanis stuff is old news. I've left this information on the web, because I like the thought that someone will say to one of these Kiwanis friends or members: "Grandma, (Grandpa), are you still friends with those Olympia Kiwanians?"

Back to the2001 or 1999 or 1997 or 1995 Washington State Employees Salaries List
Back to the beginning OKBR Home Page(http://lbloom.net/indexok.html)

Cornelis H. Bakker was an Olympia Goeduck Broker
Thomas M. Ball was director of probation for Thurston County
Robert M. Barron was a former Federal Highway Administration employee
Marla M. Bass (Kentfield) works for the state treasurers office
Walter Bowen was a DSHS program manager
Brian Burgett was a KMAS radio ad salesman, and a marketing instructor at Trent College
David J. Carnahan was a Dept. of Corrections administrator for education and recreation programs
Harvey C. Childs was an architect on the Olympia Design Review Board
Gary L. Christianson was an administrator of the Wa. Health Care Authority
Ed Davis was chief of the Office of Disability Insurance for DSHS
Douglas De Forest was Executive Director for Olympia Master Builders
Robert J. Denning was director of King County 911 system
F. Mark Dowdy was senior pastor, of The United Churches of Olympia
Donald D. Ernst was a state maintence person and accident "expert witness"
Sandra Everett was a Port of Olympia lease administrator
Robert E. Fairchild was a certified public accountant
James L. Foote was an operations director of Intercity Transit
H. Eugene Forester was director of agriculture education for the St. School Superintendent
James M. Foss was an insurance agent
Hector X. Gonzalez was director of the St. Commission on Hispanic Affairs
Griffith I. Griffith was a real estate and insurance agent
Steven R. Hall was an Olympia assistant city manager

OKBR Director Tom Van Woerdan said in his February 13, 1990 Certified Statement, that; "I can produce, if required, at a minimum 100 different people, parents, local officials, Kiwanians, judges, caseworkers, who would testify that the O.K. Boys Ranch ranks high in the state in terms of the services it provides for the boys who, come there. The staff I have acquired over the years, I am extremely proud of. They do work far and above that require by the numerous WACS, contract provisions and manuals of the State of Washington. These boys are well cared for and, in fact, even though it is a cliche', loved by all members of our staff. If the State of Washington were operating its own group home, it would do well to provide as good service as we do."

Thurston County has a commissioner form of government, guided by a three-member Board of Commissioners and seven other independently elected officials.

Thurston County Board of Commissioners/Board of Health
Judy Wilson , District One
Diane Oberquell, District Two
Richard Q. 'Dick' Nichols, District Three
Kevin J. O'Sullivan, Assessor
Sam Reed , Auditor
Betty J. Gould , Clerk
Judy Arnold, Coroner
Bernardean Broadous, Prosecuting Attorney
Gary Edwards, Sheriff
Robin Hunt, Treasurer
District Court Judge Susan A. Dubuisson
District Court Judge Clifford L. 'Kip' Stilz
Superior Court Judge Daniel J. Berschauer
Superior Court Judge Paula Casey
Superior Court Judge Richard A. Strophy
Superior Court Judge Wm. Thomas McPhee
Superior Court Judge Richard Hicks
Superior Court Judge Christine A. Pomeroy
Superior Court Judge Gary R. Tabor

Below is an e-mail I received from a former Olympia, Washington resident.

From: ~~~~~~~~@aol.com
To: Louis Bloom manaco@whidbey.net
Sent: Wednesday, July 28, 1999 11:34 AM
Subject: OKBR
Just came across your pages and felt the urge to respond... In the early 80's (81-83) I was at the OKBR frequently as a young kid walking to/from school, I became friends with some of the boys. At one point a small boy confided to me that he was being raped by another boy in the home. The abusing boy talked about it openly!
Days later I walked the victim to OPD where we both gave statements. Later that evening I began to receive these incredibly threatening phone calls from a woman employee of the ranch who's name I believe was Paulette at my home. She kept calling over and over screaming at me calling me names. It was horrible. I thought I was helping someone. Nothing came of it. Then all these years later, it all comes out ... one of the boys that I had known there left as a young adult and still couldn't get it together, he eventually killed himself. As an adult now I don't often think back to those times but it still saddens me. All those boys that needed a safe nurturing place to be, and how many of them were better off for having been taken there? It's not about money. It cost these boys their lives, their souls, their trust. Those people who knew, who didn't care, they should feel such shame. Just my opinion.

From: louis a bloom manaco@whidbey.net
To: ~~~~~~~@aol.com
Sent: Wednesday, July 28, 1999 7:30 PM
Subject: Re: OKBR
thanks for your e-mail. from what i've read, dshs, the olympia police department, and other "authorities" didn't consider child on child rape to be against the law. it was considered "normal experimentation". The "paulette" you mention, may have been Collette Queener who was an assistant director at the OKBR. Collette, OKBR Director Tom Van Woerdan, and OKBR counselor Laura Rambo Russell were ineptly charged by Wa. St. with "criminal mistreatment for failing to stop abuse". The charges were dismissed by Thurston County Judge Daniel Berschauer on technicalities. The lawyer who represented Collette Queener said, (Nov. 14, 1996 Olympian), that it was a "witch hunt", and that " a more innocent person (than Queener) you could not have for a client. She's an ex-nun ..... I don't see how you could view her in an evil or negative light."
I congratulate you for doing the right thing, when all those adults looked the other way. I repeat on most pages that the " OKBR has cost the Washington State taxpayers over $35 million dollars (so far)", because I think most people don't care about the kids involved, but they may care that it has cost them (taxpayers) money.
louis bloom

There were many obvious and long-term warnings about the 1970-94 child abusing Olympia Kiwanis Boys Ranch.