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Assistance League of Hawaii's operations have come to a near standstill as a result
of the worldwide pandemic known as the Coronavirus Disease 19 or COVID-19. |
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Assistance League of Hawa
ii - April 2020
Transforming Lives - Strengthening Community
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COVID-19: Our World Has Changed
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The unprecedented global Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has been at the forefront in everyone's minds for the last month and will be with us through at least the end of April. There is no playbook for what we are facing today yet we are addressing the challenges in a timely and responsible manner by adhering to the Governor's order of staying at home and keeping social distancing. We must continue to take care of family, our friends and ourselves until the spread of COVID-19 has been suppressed.
As for
Assistance League of Hawaii
, we are also focusing on the safety and well being of our members, customers, recipients and the community. Due to the current circumstances, I have sent out several bulletins on the impact on
Assistance League of Hawaii
by ceasing program operations and closing the Thrift Shop. We have also cancelled all travel and meetings (Board and General Membership) for the month of April. There are, however, several motions that are important to continue
Assistance League of Hawaii
operations that need your approval and vote during the week of April 6. They include:
- Slate of Candidates for the Board for 2020-2021
- Protected Persons
- Budget(s) for 2020-2021.
Details on these are provided in the articles on the Bylaws, Finance and Nominations below.
Strategic Planning meetings were held on March 11 with a record number of members who contributed thoughtful ideas and suggestions on the future of
Assistance League of Hawaii
. We appreciate and give a shout out to the hosts who volunteered to have their homes for the meetings. The summary report by the Strategic Planning Committee will be shared with all members for review in a separate email in April.
Our environment has changed. Let's all heed to the Governor's orders that took effect on March 25 to curb the outbreak of COVID-19 by reducing people interacting with one another (social distancing). We must be vigilant in doing our part to stop the spread of COVID-19. Our number one priority is the safety of our members, beneficiaries and our customers. We believe preventative action that includes staying and working at home is in the best interest of all. Please be safe, stay healthy and pray for those that are essential to keep our community vibrant.
We will keep you posted on any changes of our upcoming events.
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2020 - 2021
Slate of Candidates
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In April we will elect our Assistance League of Hawaii Board of Directors for the 2020-2021 fiscal year. Thanks to all who stepped forward to take on the following leadership roles for our Slate of Candidates:
Elective Officers:
President -
Mary Monohon
Vice President / Membership -
Sheri Sunabe
Secretary
-
Linda Tsark
Treasurer
- Nancy Sparacino
Elective Standing Committee Chairs:
Education -
Cathy Young
Finance
-
Margie Van Swearingen
Marketing & Communications -
Gerri Migita
Philanthropic Programs -
Bonnie Trustin
Resource Development -
Open
Strategic Planning -
Helen Taufa'asau
Thrift Shop -
Sharon Ehrhorn
Thanks to the members of the Nominating Committee who helped in securing this able group of nominees.
Nominating Committee: Chairman Nancy Sparacino, Karen McClelland, Sheri Sunabe, Kathy Takemoto, Margie Van Swearingen, and Alternates Dot Mason and Linda Tsark.
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Marjorie Van Swearingen
ByLaws
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Vote on the Latest Update to the Bylaws
The Protected Persons Behavioral and Reporting Policy was presented to the Membership at the February Meeting. A synopsis of the Policy was distributed to all
in attendance. The Board of Directors will approve the following Motion and ask the Membership to vote on it electronically or at the next meeting.
Motion: I move that Assistance League of Hawaii adopt the Protected Persons Behavioral and Reporting Policy as developed by National Assistance League, which promotes a safe and secure environment for Protected Persons.
The Name-Based Search and Fingerprinting Policy was presented to the Membership at the February Meeting. The Board of Directors has voted to accept the Name-Based Search part of the Policy as it relates to all members who have access to Financial Accounts. At this time, fingerprinting is not required. The Membership will be asked to
vote on it electronically or at the next meeting.
Motion: I move that a name-based search be required of all members, volunteers or employees with access to Assistance League of Hawaii financial accounts: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Assistant Treasurers.
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Myrtle Ching-Rappa
Hospitality
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Monthly Regular Meeting Cancelled for April
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April's monthly Regular Meeting has been cancelled. Decisions about future meetings will be made when they are closer. Some votes may need to be taken electronically. You will be notified as that occurs. Please stay safe and healthy.
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More than 40 member volunteers showed up at the various locations for last month's successful Strategic Planning Evaluation Meetings.
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Helen Taufa'asau
Strategic Planning
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A Successful Day Planning Future
Strategy for Assistance League of Hawaii
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Mahalo to all who attended one of our Evaluation Meetings on March 11, 2020. It was a great opportunity to gather in a small-group setting and share thoughts and ideas for continuing to make our programs the best that they can be. As always, feedback from the members was upbeat and constructive. Meetings were very well-attended (43 members in attendance plus 3 email responses). I think members are very interested in the continued success of Assistance League of Hawaii, and want to be sure their voices are heard.
A special thanks to
LaVonne Holmberg, Teri Fritz, Nancy Sparacino, Jane Winslow, Dot Mason
, and
Sandy Wells
who hosted at the various venues. Each venue provided a comfortable setting in which to "talk story" and share suggestions and comments for improvement and/or change. Although members were usually happy to have a meeting close to where they live, they were also offered the flexibility and choice to travel to a different location so they could interact with a new group of members. It is noteworthy that the "Aiea" group met at Pu'uhale School Library which is where our Literacy Program provides services to the students.
Our committee is in the process of writing an evaluation summary report that will be shared with all of you. This summary will help form the basis for specific actions in the coming year. Traditionally, this report is shared with members at the April Regular Meeting. However, with the uncertainty related to COVID 19, the report will be shared electronically with members the second week in April.
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Nancy Sparacino
Treasurer
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You Can Renew Your Membership Now
You are invited to continue your membership in Assistance League of Hawaii for the 2020-2021 fiscal year by paying your dues of
$70 by
May 15.
You can send a check made payable to "Assistance League of Hawaii" to 1505 Young Street / Honolulu, HI 96826 /
Attention: Treasurer.
Please keep your cancelled check or check carbon for your records, as your dues are tax deductible.
If you need to be reimbursed for any Assistance League expenses, please submit your reimbursement forms to me no later than May 15. Be sure to attach receipts for your purchases.
Assistance League of Hawaii is currently in excellent financial standing. It is fortuitous that we recently paid off the mortgage loan on our building, in light of the temporary closure of our Thrift Shop. We will weather this storm and eventually resume the operation of our programs in the community.
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We're Drafting Two Budget Proposals
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The Plan A proposed budget for 2020-2021 has been prepared and is ready for approval by the Board. If approved, it will be presented to the membership for approval.
In light of the current downturn in our ability to raise funds at the Thrift Shop, due to closure because of the Coronavirus, the Finance Committee may develop a more frugal second Plan B Proposed Budget for 2020-2021. Plan B is currently being developed.
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COVID-19 Shutters Thrift Shop for Now
The Thrift Shop doors are shuttered - but that does not mean everything shuts down for us.
Sandy Wells
donated some of her very nice furniture to the Shop and Blake Choo, our mover, delivered it on Wednesday, March 25. Blake returned on Saturday, March 28 to pick up the wicker bedroom credenza set and large chest. He delivered them to the recent buyers. We are even making money when closed due to people coming in to get Bid Box items or members purchasing items.
You will all be pleased to see the new glass countertops in the jewelry area - thanks to
Arden Moore
. The desk and area around our new shiny counters have been super organized by
Peggy Monell,
who has been in an organizing and cleaning frenzy for several days.
We plan to have our downstairs floors waxed on April 6 and 7.
Due to the closure, the Thrift Shop calendar is not being published in this newsletter or subsequent ones until we open for business again.
So, yes we are closed but making the most of this opportunity to get things done. Someone checks the shop on a regular basis and we take trash home. Hopefully we do not become a "dumping center" for donations.
Please take care of yourselves and remain healthy - and let us know if you have special needs or need help. We will be super busy and ready when this crisis is over.
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Mahalo for Supporting Share
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To date the Share Program has donated $8,564 worth of goods to the community serving 5,900 individuals.
We will no longer providing items to the Kahumanu Community programs as they no longer donate items to their participants. However, River of Life is again a going concern. Apparently there was some miscommunication as they were not accepting clothes for only a two week period of time. They had a large number of one-time donations from several sources and had an overflow. The Executive Director was delighted when I called and deliveries were started again.
I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone in the Thrift Shop that has given time to gather donations for Share. Without your efforts the program would not be a success.
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Photo above: We bid a fond aloha to our Share Chairman and Assistant Treasurer, Sandy Wells. She will be moving to Oroville, California on April 3. Pictured with Sandy are Shirley Rebello, Cathy Young, Peggy Monell and Margie Van Swearingen on St. Patrick's Day.
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Kathleen Takemoto
Operation Wildlife
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Notes of Praise on OWL Program School Visit
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We recently visited Voyager Public Charter School and these are a few notes of thank you from the students and a teacher below.
Student Comments:
"Thank you Assistance League for coming to our school and showing us very exotic furs and a very good talk about our environment and how we can stop polluting our planet and endangering our animals."
"Thank you Assistance League of Hawaii for teaching us about why we need to protect our native animals in Hawaii, and what we can do to reduce trash. My favorite part was when we got to touch all the animals. My favorite was the brown and white rabbit."
"Thank you for teaching us about the wildlife. I never knew that there was that much trash in the air, water and land. I promise I will clean the earth and care for the earth."
"Thank you so much for volunteering to come teach us about the animals that need our help in our world. I never knew so many endangered species were from Hawaii. Thank you for showing us what we can do to help. Animals are a big part in our world so we have to take care of them."
"Thank you so much for teaching us to care more for our island and world. I was very sad to learn that elephants are endangered because they are one of my favorite animals. I was happy to learn that Hawaiian hawks are not endangered anymore."
"Thank you for educating us about what's happening to all the plants and animals in the world. Thank you for showing us and helping us realize that we can make a difference in the world around us. Lastly, I'd like to thank you for putting in your time to come here and set up your great presentation and animal collection."
A Teacher Commented:
"All of you are great role models and show great pride and passion in what you do. I hope we can meet again and all of you go on teaching amazing things to amazing children. Thank You!"
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Service Hours by Karen McClelland
Your Monthly Service Hour Log is Appreciated
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| Thank you for your diligence in submitting your service hours every month. It is very important for National Assistance League use and to demonstrate the good work that we do. Please send your hours to me at the end of every month so I can enter them onto the spreadsheet. Only the total is necessary. For those of you who worked during the summer and forgot to give them to me, please include those. Let me know if you need assistance in submitting the hours. Thank you, Karen McClelland 808-741-7249. Your hours can also be sent by email to: karenmccle@gmail.com |
| Representatives from the Farrington High School chapter of the FCCLA, which adopted Assistance League of Hawaii for their service project, were recognized for their service at the recent FCCLA Hawaii State Conference. Donations from the 15 Hawaii chapters were given to Assistance League. |
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| Support Assistance League of Hawaii when you buy from Amazon.com. Click here to learn more! |
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Newsletter Editor & Contact: Melvin Ah Ching
assistanceleaguehimarketing@gmail.com * 801-810-7135
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