June 2022 Newsletter

Assistance League of Hawaii

Assistance League of Hawaii – June 2022

Transforming Lives - Strengthening Community

Assitance League of Hawaii Board of Directors for 2022-2023 (left to right): Linda McClogan, Helen Taufa‘asau, Trish Kiladis, Andrea Cyriacks, Nancy Sparacino, Mary Monohon, Cathy Kissel, Paula Allen, Gloria McGehee-Koel, Peggy Monell, Margie Van Swearingen

Mahalo – What a Year It Was!

This certainly was quite a year. Members all got a little better with computers, email and ZOOM!

Programs expanded: Operation School Bell added Kokua Clothing Boxes to schools. Operation Wildlife was back with a revised format and a lightened load of biofacts. We Care continued to serve Shriner’s kids while Youth Outreach helped young adults in Waikiki. Malama Bears made it all the way to Kona and lullaby layettes were readily available to needy new moms.

DVAC continued to receive support for moms and our foster kids of Hale Kipa received household goods to start their new lives as adults. We included our Waianae Boys and Girls Club in our literacy program with Pu‘uhale library and now Share to kids in Waianae and Kalihi. Outreach was able to help the Boys and Girls Club of Waianae with a new Mac computer and Icloud software for their videography program for children. None of this would be possible with the volunteer effort of many and the success of our thrift store. Thank you all.

I want to thank those elected and appointed Board members leaving their positions this year (Elected): Sheri Sunabe, Nancy Sparacino, LInda Tsark, Miho Teipel and Sharon Ehrhorn. (Appointed): Andrea Cyriacks, Dot Mason, Paula Allen and Peggy Monell.

For the newest members of our Board: (Elected) Nancy Sparacino, Trish Kiladas, Andrea Cyriacks, Helen Taufa’asau, Peggy Monell, and (appointed) Jane Winslow, Cathy Young, Carol Hasegawa, Linda Tsark, Jim McClelland, Miho Teipel and Jaye Devendra. Thank you for taking on an important role in leading our chapter for this next year. You will have lots of support and plenty of help in completing your duties.

Lastly, at the end of each year we try to recognize those exceptional members that prevailed and performed many different tasks to keep our operation going during this past year.

Awardees were selected by members who have received the specific award in the past. Ada Edwards Laughlin worked behind the scenes, without fanfare, to help Anne Banning, the founder of Assistance League, further the goals of the organization. This award is named for a member who works quietly in the background.

This year’s awardee is Marty Kehoe. As you may well know, Marty works diligently distributing our Share items into the community. During COVID, Marty was banging on warehouse doors and tracking down places where our unused items could be most useful.

The Martha Taylor Frensley Award was established in 1997 to honor Marti Frensley for her “abounding service” to Assistance League of Hawaii. I am honored to be recognized for this award.

It has been my pleasure serving our Chapter these past two years. While starting in the middle of our COVID shutdown, things have returned to a “normal” and programs are thriving. There is such need for our services in the community and I encourage you to serve on a committee and get involved in our programs.

Have a great summer but remember there is always something to do at the thrift store if you can spare a couple hours. See you there!

Photos from our May meeting: Top panel left - The three Cathys of Asstance League of Hawaii. Top right: Our two awardees, Mary Monohon who got the Martha Frensley Award and Marty Kehoe who was recognized for his long, unsung service with the Ada Edwards Laughlin Award. Lower left: Sheri Sunabe; Lower right: New member Fiona Manse is shown with Miho Teipel and Mitzi Murphy.

Board of Directors • Committee Chairs

Community Advisory Council for 2022 - 2023

OFFICERS AND ELECTED CHAIRS

President – Nancy Sparacino

Vice President – Mary Monohon

Treasurer – Andrea Cyriacks

Secretary – Trish Kiladis

Education – Paula Allen

Finance – Margie Van Swearingen

Marketing/Communications – Linda McColgan

Resource Development – Gloria McGehee-Koel

Philanthropic Programs – Helen Taufa‘asau

Strategic Planning – Cathy Kissel

Thrift Shop – Peggy Monell

APPOINTED PROGRAM CHAIRS

Operation School Bell – Laurelyn Berger

Vice Chair – Andrea Cyriacks

Operation Wildlife – Hazel Sumile

Outreach – Miho Teipel

Share – Karen Kehoe | Vice Chair – Marty Kehoe

We Care – Linda Tsark

APPOINTED POSITIONS

Assistant Treasurers – Margie Van Swearingen,

Nancy Sparacino, Ellen Wilson

Bylaws – Margie Van Swearingen

Parliamentarian – Dot Mason

Chapter Correspondent – Cathy Young

Circle Fund Representative – OPEN

Grants – Gloria McGehee-Koel

Historian – Jaye Devendra

Hospitality – Jane Winslow

Newsletter Editor – Melvin Ah Ching

Chapter Hub – Linda McColgan

Property Management – Jim McClelland

Service Calendar – Nancy Sparacino

Service Hours – Vicki Fay

Website Administer – Melvin Ah Ching / Linda McColgan

COMMUNITY ADVISORY COUNCIL

Wendell Brooks, Jr – Certified Property Manager

Brian I. Ezuka, Esq. – Ezuka Law Services

Ruth Silberstein – Complex Area Superintendent,

Hawaii Dept. of Education

Mary Beth Lohman – Chief Marketing and Development,

Waikiki Health

We Are Financially Sound

It has been a pleasure acting as your Treasurer for the past four years. It is because of all of your efforts that our chapter has remained financially sound, even through a pandemic. Thank you to my Assistant Treasurers, Margie Van Swearingen (my Zen Master and advisor) and Ellen Wilson, whose accounting background has been so essential to us. I especially want to thank Andrea Cyriacks, who has counted Thrift Shop money and made bank deposits every week without fail, and who has sat by my side, learning the ropes to become your incoming Treasurer. Your Assistance League of Hawaii money will be in capable hands with Andrea at the Treasurer’s desk.

Membership Approves New Budget

The proposed budget for 2022-2023 was prepared by the Finance Committee and approved by the Board of Directors.The Budget was approved by the Membership at the May 11, 2022 Meeting.

As the year progresses, the Finance Committee will review Budget expenditures and make adjustments as needed.

The complete 2022-2023 Budget is posted on the upstairs bulletin board at the Thrift Shop and online at this link: BUDGET (login required)

The Resource Development Committee members included (left to right): Sitting – Carol Hasegawa, Joan Helbling; Standing – Helen Taufa‘asau, Hazel Sumile, Gloria McGehee-Koel, Linda Valite-Andersen.

A Haiku to Assistance League of Hawaii

Assistance League of Hawaii—Yes! Yes!

Striving to do its best

Helps our KEIKI Thrive!

Com-mi-tees galore

Working selflessly! The mission

TRANSFORMING KIDS’ LIVES!

Raising funds is fun

Committees make it happen

Let’s all do our part!

Kwak is what we do

Grants & Aloha Charities

C4C helps too!

Young Street is the key

Come and see us there and share

Proceeds for Keiki

Doing what they can

Talented able people

Caring for children.

Many “Helping HANDS”

Together Making it Happen

Mahalo Nui!!

We Care Lullaby Layette Packing Party!

Still time to Make a Difference! Lullaby Layettes will be having a packing party on Monday June 13th at 9:30 a.m. If you would like to join others for a couple hours of work, please let Linda Tsark know at latsark@gmail.com. The packing is held at Mary Kay Junk's house at 461 Iliwahi Street in Kailua. RSVP if you are planning to come by.

Mahalo to Mary Kay Junk who has been hosting these parties and all of you who have participated.

The Bylaws Are Good As Is

The Bylaws of Assistance League of Hawaii dated May 13, 2020, are current and do not need revisions, as of this date.

The Standing Rules of Assistance League of Hawaii dated October 14, 2019 are current and do not need revisions, as of this date.

As the need for further changes to our Bylaws or Standing Rules are determined, our Chapter will be notified to do so by National Assistance League. The Membership may also initiate changes.

June 2022 Thrift Shop Calendar

Thrift Shop Days & Hours:

Tuesday & Thursdays 9:30 am to 1:00 pm

Saturdays 9:30 am to 3:00 pm

Send In Your Service Hours

The Thrift Shop continues to boom and many people are putting in long hours, I know. Meanwhile, the Assistance League of Hawaii once again needs to count your hours for this month. Please send me all of your hours, including meetings and transportation, promptly to be included in the grand total for our organization.

To do so, just email (vandwfay@mac.com) or call me at (808) 282-0878. Mahalo, Vicki Fay

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Once you have Assistance League of Hawaii registered with your Amazon Smile account, every time you shop at Amazon that .5% of your purchases help us!

Assistance League of Hawaii

Learn more at our website: www.hawaii.assistanceleague.org

ASSISTANCE LEAGUE OF HAWAII, 1505 Young Street, Honolulu, HI 96826

Telephone (808)946-1505 • Email: althrift281@gmail.com

Newsletter Editor: Melvin Ah Ching assistanceleaguehimarketing@gmail.com