Assistance League of Hawaii
Regular Member Meeting
Wednesday May 11, 2022 • 10:30 AM
Outrigger Canoe Club - Waikiki, Honolulu HI
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Assistance League of Hawaii – May 2022 |
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Transforming Lives - Strengthening Community |
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Operation Wildlife Volunteers (top to bottom, left to right): Linda Tsark showing Mary Star of the Sea School students the elephant’s tooth. Kathy Takemoto sharing North America biofacts at Waianae Elementary. Joy Corbett and Marge Fabre share biofacts on the North America table at Mary Star of the Sea School. Betty Parinas is at the Hawaii and the World table. See article below in this newsletter.
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Accomplishments of the Fiscal Year |
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As our fiscal year ends, it’s time to reflect on where we have been and the direction we are going.
Your board and program chairs have worked tirelessly to revamp programs and procedures this past year. Despite the ups and downs of the pandemic, our chapter is fiscally sound and continuing to impact our community.
Operation School Bell has provided over 18,000 logo shirts to schools throughout the state. At the same time, we have instituted a new program called Kokua Clothing Boxes, which puts needed new clothing at the schools for their use.
Our Literacy Services program has been hard at work helping students at the Pu‘uhale School Library and the Boys and Girls Club of Waianae.
Operation Wildlife started back in schools this spring, delighting the 4th graders with furs, bones, and bear claws. The revamped video and lessons have been well received by teachers.
We Care continued to expand our assistance to Youth Outreach, Domestic Violence Action Center and Hale Kipa, and Shriners Hospital. Lullaby Layettes and Malama Bears were provided to hospitals and HFD.
Share found two new programs in Waianae and Kalihi to provide items not sold in our store. Outreach was able to donate a new computer and cloud program to Waianae Boys and Girls Club for their after-school activities.
This couldn’t have been possible without the tireless efforts of volunteers both upstairs and down at the Thrift Shop. Hard work and increasing sales are the key to making all of these programs expand.
Please take some time to reflect on how you can continue to help by volunteering to keep programs going.
Enjoy your summer but do not forget that the Thrift Shop will be open!
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Photo inset: Karen Kehoe and Marty Kehoe bring Share items to the director of Kokua Kalihi Family Services. |
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Our Last Regular Meeting is on May 11 |
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Join us at our last member meeting for the year on Wednesday, May 11th from 10:30 am to 1:00 pm at the Outrigger Canoe Club. Free parking is available. The price is $35.
The menu will consist of grilled chicken, roasted potatoes, grilled veggies, house salad, dessert and beverage.
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May 31st Deadline Coming
Soon for Membership Dues
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You are invited to continue your membership in Assistance League of Hawaii for the 2022-2023 fiscal year by paying your annual dues of $70. You can mail a check to Assistance League of Hawaii / 1505 Young Street / Honolulu, HI 96826 / Attention: Treasurer OR you can bring a check or cash to the May 11 Regular Meeting at Outrigger Canoe Club. Please pay your dues by May 31 so that you will be included in the Membership Roster.
Thanks to those of you who have already paid your dues.
If you need to be reimbursed for any Assistance League-related expenses, please submit a reimbursement form, with receipts attached, no later than May 15. Call Nancy at (808) 436-5305 if you have any questions.
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Budget Up For Exam and Vote |
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The proposed budget for 2022-2023 was prepared by the Finance Committee and approved by the Board of Directors.It was presented to the membership at the April 13, 2022 Regular Meeting. It will be voted upon at the May 11, 2022 Regular Meeting.
The Overview of the Budget was distributed to all members.It is similar to the current Budget. Some changes include:
- Increased funding for Operation School Bell by $25,000 to $167,900.
- Increased funding for Operation Wildlife by $10,000. to $24,650.
- We are proud that 74% of all expenses will be spent on Program Services.
The complete 2022-2023 Budget is posted on the upstairs bulletin board at the Thrift Shop as well as posted online at this link: BUDGET (login required)
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More Than Chump Change for Change |
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This year the Resource Development committee’s goal for “Change for Change” coin collection focused on service programs that would change the lives of youths, especially less fortunate kids. The committee’s focus was to support Youth Outreach (YO!), a haven for youth experiencing homelessness.
Assistance League of Hawaii joined the team at the outreach center to provide for the basic needs, including food, clothing, and hygiene kits for numerous youth.
Mahalo to so many of you who contributed to YO! We collected $1385.08 that will support Youth Outreach’s summer needs that draw an increased number of homeless youths seeking assistance.
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OWL In-School Visits a Success |
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The Operation Wildlife (OWL) team will have visited a total of 9 schools by the time the school year ends on May 27.
Using the new HIPPO video and one streamlined suitcase full of biofacts for kids to see, going out to make our presentations was not as cumbersome as it used to be. Even though we used half the number of biofacts than we used before, the feeling was that the children got as much from their experience as they did before in prior years.
Schools that we visited consisted a mixture of Title I as well as non-Title I campuses, in downtown Honolulu and out to the Westside of Oahu. OWL volunteers will end the year with visits to two schools in central Oahu.
If you are interested in OWL and would like to visit island schools to share the program, please contact Hazel Sumile at hazelsumile@gmail.com. All are welcome to join in!
We will also begin the process of determining how we will include neighbor island schools next year.
Photo inset: Students working on their Exit Passes at Mary Star of the Sea
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When we opened the library to the students last October, we found our students, whose early years were totally upended by the Coronavirus, were left with big gaps in their learning experiences.
Thanks to all our committee members, Hazel Sumile, Carol Hasegawa, Gloria McGehee-Koel, Helen Taufa'asau, Linda Andersen and Joan Helbling who worked with the classroom teachers and tried to fill these gaps. In K-3 we read fairy-tales, fables, tall tales and other classic stories plus content area books. In grades 4 and 5 we read content area books concentrating on Hawaiian culture and place in the world, plus reading for fun with graphic novels and Newberry Medal and honor books.
Hazel sorted through boxes, boxes and boxes of unused books and gave them to all grade level teachers for classroom libraries. We researched and provided our principal a book list of Hawaiian fiction and non-fiction books to be purchased by Bess Press. OSB Literacy Services purchased many books as well.
Next year, the Tutu Tutorial part of OSB Literacy Services will start again. Please think about signing up. Our students really need help!
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Mahalo to Chairs and Member Volunteers |
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Mahalo Nui Loa to all of the chairs of the various committees as well as their members who did an outstanding job for the 2021-2022 fiscal year. Our programs made great strides this past year.
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Operation School Bell: Laurelyn Berger & Andrea Cyriacks
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Operation Wildlife: Hazel Sumile
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Share: Karen and Marty Kehoe
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We Care: Linda Tsark and Paula Allen
Thank you also for the many members who participated in supporting the committees and accomplishing all that they did!
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MidWeek Article Brings More Visibility |
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Mary Monohon was interviewed by MidWeek as she provided great information about our organization and the recent Kokua Clothing Boxes campaign.
In case you missed the article see page 5 at this link:
This article was also posted on our Facebook page and 764 people viewed the page! It was a much higher interaction than our average posts.
If you aren’t already following us on Facebook or Instagram please consider doing so. Aloha!
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To All our Wonderful Thrift Shop Volunteers |
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You all are the gears that help the mechanism (Thrift Shop) keep running smoothly, efficiently and profitably. I am very grateful for the countless hours of “blood, sweat, toil and tears” that you have offered so generously. It would be difficult to make a list of individual “Thank You’s” to all of the deserving members. So I am offering this “pat on the back”.
Thank you for the support, suggestions, and laughs over the years . The Thrift Shop has done very well and will continue to do so under our new Manager, Peggy Monell.
The Thrift Shop Committee will continue to address the homeless situation, installation of a stronger outdoor lighting system and upgrading the Kaheka Street entrance door. Your input and suggestions will always be welcome.
Many mahalos, Sharon.
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May 2022 Thrift Shop Calendar |
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Regular Membership Meeting | Wednesday May 11, 2022
Thrift Shop Days & Hours:
Tuesday & Thursdays 9:30 am to 1:00 pm
Saturdays 9:30 am to 3:00 pm
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Send In Your Service Hours |
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The Thrift Shop is booming and many people are putting in long hours, I know. Meanwhile, the Assistance League of Hawaii finishes the year at the end of May. 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!
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Newsletter Editor: Melvin Ah Ching assistanceleaguehimarketing@gmail.com
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