 |
|
|
|
Assistance League of Hawaii helped Farrington Complex with their Project Hope food drive that they set up on April 28. Donations will be distributed on May 2nd. Details in Laurelyn Berger's article at the end of this newsletter.
|
|
Assistance League of Hawa
ii - May 2020
Transforming Lives - Strengthening Community
|
As We Move Forward This Year
|
|
Still Helping / Always Caring....
This has been an unprecedented time in our lives with an array of new challenges and a wide spectrum of emotions. As we wrap up another year of giving back to the community, significant changes on how we do things have occurred. We had to alter our plans and expectations this year, but the strength, resilience and spirit of our Assistance League of Hawaii Ohana has remained constant. We all value and believe in the good things that Assistance League of Hawaii does in serving the children and families of the community.
Looking back at this year's accomplishments, there are three prominent events that come to mind.
-
The first item was that we have moved toward "Going Green" and uploaded documents and articles to the website. Members can now access resources more easily.
-
The second item is that the mortgage was paid off on February 10, 2020. This was a feat considering the property was purchased in 2002 for approximately $900,000, with a loan from American Savings Bank for $560,000. By being mortgage free, Assistance League of Hawaii will be able to increase the Philanthropic Programs and improve our assets.
-
Lastly, we cannot forget the COVID-19 outbreak which is changing the way we conduct Assistance League of Hawaii Philanthropic Programs as well as operations. We will not be meeting in person again for the month of May. Instead, we will be preparing electronic voting where you will be able to vote on the Proposed Budget for 2020 - 2021. Your vote is needed to allow the Board to continue doing business as Assistance League of Hawaii.
Although we are at a time of social distancing we are also reminded about the importance of staying connected. Our events were canceled but there are still many ways to join in from wherever you are. I encourage you to continue reaching out to share your experience and offer support to those who need it.
I send you and yours my very best! Aloha.
|
|
Sherie Sunabe
Vice-President
|
|
|
Aloha everyone!
Hoping to find all of you healthy and doing well. How I miss the busy days at the Thrift Shop enjoying the camaraderie of our volunteers, interacting with our customers and helping students and their families with Operation School Bell. I find myself watching a lot of Netflix, attempting to clean house and eating my way through this craziness. Life is so different now.
We are in a new normal and must distance ourselves in order to keep our families and others safe. This new life is not always smooth sailing. If there is anyone who may need help or may like a phone call or would like some company via Zoom/Facetime, please feel free to reach out to myself or any one of our Board members.
Each and everyone of you are so precious to us. You are the heart and soul of Assistance League of Hawaii and are the reason why our thrift shop and programs are so strong.
Take care. Stay healthy.
|
|
2020 - 2021 Board of Directors Elected
|
|
|
|
Assistance League of Hawaii membership elected the new Board of Directors for the 2020-2021 fiscal year in the first-ever, electronic voting process taken due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks to all who stepped forward to take on the following leadership roles. They will be leading our chapter through this most trying of times in decades.
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 -
Still open
Strategic Planning -
Helen Taufa'asau
Thrift Shop -
Sharon Ehrhorn
|
|
LaVonne Holmberg
Outreach
|
|
|
|
Outreach Donates to Youth Program
The Outreach Program swung into action for the first time since the volcanic eruption
on the Big Island.
We provided Youth Outreach (YO) program of Waikiki Health with donations of
underwear, socks, blankets, tarps, hygiene products and toiletries, as well
as nonperishable food items.
These are some of the items that are helpful in keeping the kids
sheltered in place during this COVID-19 crisis.
|
|
Marjorie Van Swearingen
ByLaws
|
|
|
|
Protected Persons and Named Based Search Approved by Membership in Latest Bylaw Update
The Protected Persons Behavioral and Reporting Policy which promotes a safe and secure environment for Protected Persons and the Name-Based Search and Fingerprinting Policy, which provides safeguards against abuse of financial accounts, were presented to the Membership at the February Meeting. A synopsis of the Policies was distributed to all in attendance.
At this time, a name based search, but not fingerprinting, will be required of the members with access to financial accounts. The Board of Directors approved the policies in March and the Membership approved them through an electronic vote in April.
|
|
Myrtle Ching-Rappa
Hospitality
|
|
|
|
The Regular Meeting for May is Cancelled
|
May's Regular Meeting has been cancelled due to the Governor's extension of the COVID-19 emergency Stay-at-Home Order to May 31. Voting requirements that are handled at the meetings have or will be done through the electronic process. Please stay safe and healthy.
|
|
Helen Taufa'asau
Strategic Planning
|
|
|
|
Strategic Plans Adjust for Pandemic Times
|
|
Hope you all had a chance to read over the Strategic Planning Executive Summary Report that was sent to everyone recently.
I recently received a very informative and thoughtful email from The National Assistance League Strategic Planning Chairman, Gail Winterfeld. The email stressed that there are two areas that Strategic Planning may want to address during this Pandemic: 1) the needs of our volunteer members and 2) our community needs. We would like to reach out to you, our volunteer members, to determine what your needs are during this time and identify ways to help meet those needs. We will also be assessing our current community needs in order to determine if our chapter programs should to be adjusted in order to better serve the community. Strategic Planning is an ongoing process - sometimes we need to re-look at our strategies and action plan and adjust accordingly.
Thank you for your understanding as we work together through navigating these unprecedented times. Take care of yourselves, and we look forward to the time when we can all return to our volunteer work with Assistance League of Hawaii. In the meantime, we welcome any thoughts you may want to share about your needs during this period of crisis and the future of the "new normal", which is sure to follow.
|
|
Nancy Sparacino
Treasurer
|
|
|
|
End of the Fiscal Year Business
Thanks to those of you who have already sent in your dues for the 2020-2021 fiscal year. If you have not done so yet, you can renew your membership in Assistance League of Hawaii by sending a check for $70 to 1505 Young Street / Honolulu, HI 96826 / Attention: Treasurer.
Please keep your check carbon or cancelled check as your receipt, as your dues for Assistance League of Hawaii is tax-deductible. It is helpful for our Membership Chair if we receive your dues no later than May 15, so you will be included in our membership roster for the coming year.
Please keep in mind that our fiscal year ends on May 31, 2020. All bills needing reimbursement must be given to me by May 15. I am checking the mail regularly and paying bills weekly, so you will be reimbursed in a timely manner. If you have any questions you can call me at (808) 436-5305 or email me at nsparacino_sms@yahoo.com.
|
|
Budget Voting Later This Month
|
|
The proposed budget for 2020-2021 was prepared by the Finance Committee and approved by the Board of Directors. Instead of at a Regular Meeting, the Budget Overview was presented to the membership by email via Constant Contact. An electronic vote will be required, by email. It will be sent out to voting members before the end of May 2020. This gives some
time for thoughtful review.
With the pay-off of our building mortgage, the Finance Committee had planned to greatly expand programs and services to the community. However, with the onslaught of the COVID-19, we scaled back those projections though still higher than last year. As the year progresses, the Finance Committee will review Budget expenditures and make adjustments as needed.
The complete 2020-2021 Budget is posted on the upstairs bulletin board at the Thrift Shop.
|
|
Thrift Shop Stuff
Still Happening
Even though we are officially closed, a lot has been going on at the Thrift Shop. New furniture has come in and the downstairs floor is very shiny since it was waxed. All upstairs floors were also waxed on April 22nd to the 24th.
Fortunately, donations have not been left by our front door - hope this continues. There have not been new visitors to the park.
Marty Kehoe and Mary Monohon were kind enough to take the stuff that usually goes to CP to the dump as CP is not picking up for the duration of this virus. We were able to clear out and organize a lot of the artwork that has been gathering dust for months.
Nancy Sparacino comes in every Tuesday to check the mail and pay the bills.
National Assistance League is giving guidance for the re-opening of Thrift Shops. Of course this would need to meet the rules and regulations of each state. Hopefully it will be soon.
If you find you have time on your hands now - why not go through your costume (or real) jewelry and see what you would like to donate. It would be wonderful if Arden Moore has a lot of jewelry to display when we reopen.
When the Thrift Shop reopens, we expect to be flooded with donations. This will mean that one of the daily workers will have to be stationed by the door monitoring donations and controlling the number of people who enter. National Assistance League has made some suggestions and we will set up our own guidelines/procedures for when we eventually do open.
To help control the donations situation, members wishing to donate quality items should try to do so before we open. That will give us time to price and organize and keep the bins empty.
In closing, let me tell you that April earnings set a new record - $93.00! I can't wait to reopen.
Take care and keep smiling!
|
|
Thought You'd Like to Know
|
|
I'm sorry to report that I have sad news to impart to all of you. We recently lost two former members in March; Leney Vine and and Olga Gilliland.
Leney Vine joined Assistance League Hawaii in 1993 and remained a member for over 20 years. Her daughter, Victoria Steindorf, sent us a note informing us of her mother's passing. She also mentioned that her mother was so proud to be a member of ALH and that during her last days she would reminisce about her time with the Assistance League. For those who might want to send a sympathy card to her daughter; her address is 4 Barconi Drive; Chico, CA 95928.
Olga Gilliland was not a member for long, but she definitely made a wonderful impact on us. She worked upstairs at the Thrift Shop and always had a smile for everyone. She would do whatever she could and really enjoyed the work. She will not only be remembered for her loving and caring manner, but for the delicious ginger snap cookies that she made and brought to the shop. For those who might want to send a sympathy card to her son and daughter; their address is Guy Gilliland & Jess Snow, 1934 Lua'ai Place, Kailua, HI 96734.
|
|
Mary Monohon
Resource Development
|
|
|
|
We Have One More Position on the 2020-21 Board
|
|
Can you send and receive emails? Then this is the job for you!
We need to fill the Resource Development board position for the coming year. Duties involve: Kokua With Aloha Kala (KWAK) /
Give Aloha
campaign (contacts all by email with Foodland; deliver poster to store in September and pick up poster in October); Visitor Industry
Charity Walk
(Remind members how to donate or register to walk); Encourage members to donate their change to our
Pennies for Programs coin cans
; Attend board meetings (10 meetings throughout the year) and keep members "in the know" through these newsletters.
Honestly, this is an easy way to give back to the Assistance League with minimal time required. There is even a notebook with step-by-step instructions to follow. I do hope if you are interested you contact me or anyone on the board for more information. My email is
humpohon@gmail.com
.
The Visitor Industry Charity Walk has been rescheduled for November 14, 2020. So mark your calendars!
|
|
Laurelyn Berger
Operation School Bell ®
|
|
|
|
Operation School Bell Helps Farrington Food Drive
|
|
Gerri Migita, Leilani Alcove
r. and I went to Farrington High School to deliver non-perishable goods for their Project Hope drive. These donations will be distributed on Saturday, May 2nd. We found out about their needs only a few days before the packing event. If we could have gotten more people to join us, we would have let you know.
While at Farrington High School, a news crew from
Hawaii News Now
filmed some of our organizing activities. Gerri was interviewed by HNN reporter
Jim Mendoza
for the 6 o-clock news that night. Assistance League of Hawaii got a good mention and some video visuals that you can view online at this link:
Hawaii News Now
. Yay for Assistance League of Hawaii.
If this happens again in the future, we will try to notify you, if we have more notice, which I think will happen. The money we used to fund our part of this effort came from Operation School Bell funds. Thanks so much for all your support to help make this happen.
|
|
Service Hours by Karen McClelland
We Need Your End-of-Year Service Log
|
|
Our final report of hours for our fiscal year needs to be submitted to National Assistance League. I need all hours for the current fiscal year ending on May 31 to be sent to me as soon as possible. I need reports from tardy members, those who were doing tasks up to our March closure as well as members who are still working at home or part of the time at the Thrift Shop.
Please send your completed hours to me by email to:
karenmccle@gmail.com
or call them in at
808 741-7249.
Thank you for your hours and assistance. Aloha!
|
| Assistance League of Hawaii members and everyone else are masked up these days to help prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus. While our Thrift Shop and other operations are in suspension, our member volunteers are working behind the scenes to build and maintain a functioning chapter that will be ready for action once the pandemic passes. Members can read more about COVID-19 at this link: HAWAICOVID19.COM or visit our Member section on the Assistance League of Hawaii website for additional links and information. |
|
|
| Support Assistance League of Hawaii when you buy from Amazon.com. Click here to learn more! |
|
|
Newsletter Editor & Contact: Melvin Ah Ching
assistanceleaguehimarketing@gmail.com * 801-810-7135
|
|
|
|
|
|
