Assistance League of Hawaii Regular Member Meeting
Wednesday, April 12, 2023 • Outrigger Club, Waikiki - 10:30 am
|
|
Transforming Lives - Strengthening Community |
|
Our in-house Easter Bunny Cashiers always help our Thrift Shop customers every day that we are open for business. Pictured are Bonnie Trustin, Sheri Sunabe, Trish Kiladis and Linda McColgan. |
|
Plans in Motion for our Future |
|
Thanks to many of you who attended our small-group Strategic Planning Evaluation Meetings on March 8. We have already begun to act on some excellent suggestions made at those meetings. Special thanks to Cathy Kissel for her superb organization and fun touches to make those meetings so successful.
I hope many of you are able to attend our April 12th brunch meeting at Outrigger Canoe Club. (Details in the Hospitality article below.) We will begin with a delicious brunch, and we will need that nutrition, as we have much important business to conduct during our meeting. We will review the Proposed 2023-2024 Budget, vote on revisions to our Standing Rules and Bylaws, and vote on the Slate of Candidates for our Board of Directors for the coming year. You will meet some new members, hear about some of our new community partners, and learn about and a nation-wide Assistance League campaign, which will benefit all chapters, including Assistance League of Hawaii. Be there or be square!
Mahalo for all that you do.
|
|
Join Us At Our April Meeting |
|
The April Brunch Meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 12th at the Outrigger Canoe Club 2909 Kalakaua Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815 from 10:30 am thru 1:30 pm.
Guest Parking Garage is available (Carpooling is advised) Street Meter Parking is $.25 hour. Meters are available along Kapiolani Park, which is across from the Outrigger.
Brunch will be served before the meeting.
The menu is as follows: Fresh Seasonal Fruits, Chef's choice of Assorted Pastries (2 types), Scrambled Eggs, Breakfast Potatoes, White Rice, Bacon, Portuguese Sausage, Hot Coffee & Orange Juice.
The deadline for sign-up is on March 29th. Cost is $30.00 per person. Email or call Assistance League of Hawaii to see if there is still availability, if replying after March 29th.
|
|
We have three new faces around the thrift shop lately.
Victoria Flint - Freshman at UH, studying fashion design. Victoria had a high school friend in Contra Costa Assisteens and sought out our chapter to help in giving back to the community. She has single-handedly lowered our median age! (photo upper right)
Ginger Fujimoto - retired SpEd teacher and counselor. She was looking for a place to volunteer and give back to keiki. She has been learning the ropes at the thrift shop. Her smile is infectious! (photo upper left)
Mary Li - splits her time between Oregon and Hawaii and was looking for a meaningful volunteer opportunity. Are we lucky she chose us! She has already jumped into Kokua Clothing Boxes and is hunting for the best prices for clothing to replenish the school boxes in September.
Hopefully all three will be at our April 12th business meeting so you can introduce yourself and thank them for joining.
|
|
Membership Dues are Due
On or Before May 31, 2023
|
|
Just wanted to let you know that I am accepting your yearly dues of $70 for the coming fiscal year 2023-2024. You can mail me a check, stop by the Thrift Shop and drop it off or pay at one of our last two Regular Meetings on April 12, 2023 or May 10, 2023.
If you decide to pay by check, please make it out to Assistance League of Hawaii and mail it to:
Assistance League of Hawaii
1505 Young Street; Honolulu, HI 96826.
Attention: Treasurer
|
|
Thank You For Participating
in Strategic Planning
|
|
Many Mahalos for participating in our annual evaluation process. Our hostesses generously prepared their homes, enabling us to relax in small groups and focus on the questionnaires.
Together we heard stories of our successes and had the opportunity for fruitful discussions. Great suggestions and ideas were put forward and a culmination of the responses will help us establish both a short, one-year plan, as well as a five- year long-term goal.
A summary will be available at our April meeting luncheon. Thank you all for your dedication to our Assistance League.
|
|
New Budget Will Be
Available for Inspection
|
|
The 2023-2024 Budget will be presented at the April 12 Membership Meeting and voted upon at the May meeting.
Members have one month to peruse the Budget before being asked to vote to approve it.
|
|
OWL School Visits Successful |
|
Our OWL presentations have been fascinating 4th grade students for many years. Our most recent visits happened at 26 schools, including those in Hilo on the Big Island and on Maui. |
|
With the presentation to 45 students at Ala Wai Elementary School on March 6, 2023, the Operation Wildlife (OWL) Team finished all the school sessions for this school year.
We shared our OWL presentation at 26 schools, including 6 in Hilo and 5 on Maui, with a total of 1,787 people, including students, teachers and administrators. Sixteen OWL volunteers went out to the schools, and we even had a few non-member volunteers observing at some schools. A couple of our volunteers played critical roles of Neighbor Island advisor and biofact triage specialist!
The best critique comes from teachers. Here are some from this year's evaluations:
"The students had an amazing experience. A lot of them said that they never would have thought that they would be able to see or touch such beautiful animals in their young lives. One student said it was the best moment he ever had at a school. A lot of my students were inspired to do something and create change because of this presentation. Thank you for creating such a wonderful program for students".
"Thank you for all that you do. A lot of my kids felt the importance of taking actions to help our native species. It is an experience they will never forget."
"All of the provided teaching material, video presentation, and viewing of biofacts were above and beyond our expectations. The students loved it!"
The student with the sea turtle, in the photo above, said he had a staring contest with the turtle and lost! Comments like these make it all worthwhile!
|
|
Updated Bylaws Up For Vote April 12 |
|
The updated Standing Rules and Bylaws have been presented to the membership over the last few months. We shall vote to approve both documents at the April 12 Membership meeting.
|
|
Philanthropic Programs
Keep Members Engaged
|
|
Here are some updates - all happening this past month!!
WE CARE: In March We Care volunteers achieved many of their goals to help the keiki of Hawaii including the following activities:
Reiko Stiver purchased $257 in assorted gemstone and wood bracelets for Shriners treasure chest.
Linda McColgan purchased $100 of toilet paper for the Domestic Violence Action Center.
Linda Tsark delivered 20 Malama Bears to the Friends of the Children’s Justice Center.
On March 6, Linda Tsark, Helen Taufaasau, Carol & Larry Jones, and Pat Dixon met with Gerry Labiste at Hale Kipa, Inc. The meeting was to discuss how Assistance League of Hawaii could better provide and perhaps expand services to Hale Kipa. It was agreed that Assistance League of Hawaii would continue providing household goods to children aging out of foster care, but we would expand services to provide periodic necessities (linens, hygene products, backpacks, school supplies, clothing, etc.) for the temporary shelter. Hale Kipa is also considering receiving Malama Bears for children being removed from their homes.
Queen’s Hospital West responded to our request and expressed interest in participating in the Malama Bear and Lullaby Layette projects. They are continuing to research on their end and will let us know if and when they would like to enter into an agreement.
Mary Monohon contacted Emergency Medical Services regarding participation in Malama Bears and received a very favorable response. An agreement was drafted for EMS review.
We agreed to provide Family Programs Hawaii with Malama Bears, clothing, footwear, school supplies, art supplies, games, toys, personal hygiene items, bedding, duffle bags, back packs and other necessities as requested. An agreement was drafted and is being reviewed.
We are waiting for a date for our next Layette Packing Event. Experienced volunteers, as well as new volunteers, are encouraged to participate in this fun and productive volunteer opportunity. We will let you know the date and place as soon as everything is ready to go!
OUTREACH: A big mahalo to Marty Kehoe who brought to our attention Family Programs Hawaii's Safe Shelter House in Waianae that provides 15 beds for foster youth who are awaiting reassignment foster home placement. As part of Outreach's "one and done" program, and in order to provide for the immediate needs of these keiki, Miho Teipel has purchased and is in the process of sending bedcovers, bedsheet and pillowcase sets, rolling duffel bags, vanity kits, combs and a variety of games and art supplies for the youth who are sheltered in this program. Miho is also in the process of securing slippers from Islander Group - a resource suggested by Mary Monohon.
|
|
Pass Five Business Cards Along,
Get a Free Lunch in May
|
|
Reminder to give out 5 business cards and you might win a free lunch in May!
How to do this: Give out 5 ALH business cards to new people you meet. Then fill out the green slip with your name to enter the drawing at our April Member Meeting. (If you forget the green slip we will have paper for you to write your name.)
What if you didn’t get the 5 cards or a green slip? Business cards are located in the Ohana Room in the Marketing file drawer. Help yourself or ask someone to get them for you.
When: Give out 5 business cards before April 12th. Enter the drawing at the April Member Meeting. The lucky winner will receive a free lunch at the May Member Meeting/Lunch.
Why are we doing this? Sharing our business cards with new people will help get the word out about our organization. Be sure to point out the back side of the card.
|
|
Strong Sales and Upcoming Events at The Thrift Shop |
|
Sales have been strong and our numbers are good (even though donations seem to be down) thanks to our dedicated cashiers and upstairs workers who keep things running smoothly. Please note that once we have a new Bid Box in place it is OK to let customers know what the highest bid was on an item from the previous box. Check the Bid Box folder for this information only if you have time and the store is not real busy.
Get ready for the “Made in Occupied Japan “ event. This will be a big project with publicity. The 9 bins of priced and sorted items are ready to be displayed and Linda McColgan and her crew will take care of publicity and Nancy Sparacino will take some splendid pictures as she always does for our Bid Box.
Kudos this month to our Treasurer, Andrea Cyriacks. Not only is she good with numbers, such as correcting the mistakes in the orange folders in the daily reports, but she also finds time to help with Operation School Bell and Hospitality. However, privately she admits that her favorite task is the emptying of donation bins.
|
|
Thrift Shop Days & Hours:
Tuesday & Thursdays 9:30 am to 1:00 pm
Saturdays 9:30 am to 3:00 pm
|
|
Thrift Shop Cashiers’ Calendar
April 2023
Don't miss our April 12 Member Meeting
Outrigger Club, Waikiki - 10:30 am
|
|
Your Service Hour Report is Important |
|
The Holidays have provided nearly all of our member volunteers with many work hours to account for. Whether you work on one of our many programs, in the Thrift Shop or other at-home tasks, it is important to count your hours this month. Please send me a log of your hours, including meetings and transportation. All volunteer hours will be included in the grand total for Assistance League of Hawaii.
|
|
Newsletter Editor: Melvin Ah Ching assistanceleaguehimarketing@gmail.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
