Regular Meeting, Feb. 21, 2008

Early birds were treated to the full moon setting over Mauna Loa. What a rare site!

Don Hughes announced that the interviews for Hawaii Rotary Youth Foundation were completed by Mililani Hughes, John Tyler and Dick Behenna. Five names were selected!

There was some last minute cancellation of the Bake Sale, but it was reinstated because Marie brought up dozens of beautifully wrapped baked goods. Dick did some scrambling and Helene stepped in to handle the sale.

Some upcoming dates to note:

March 8, Road Cleanup, meet at Kilaeua Lodge at 9am

March 23, KMC Easter Egg Hunt

May 4, Hilo Huli Tastes of the Grill

Happy Birthday to Lani Glory on Feb. 25!

Rotary Moment

Albert Jeyte presented our Rotary Moment. He gave us a crash course on becoming a Paul Harris Fellow. Basically, you give $1000 to the Rotary Foundation and receive a Paul Harris medal and pin. One way you can do that is to commit to giving $100 a year for 10 years. He also noted that this year is Rotary's 103rd birthday. And Feb. 23 is World Understanding and Peace Day (February being World Understanding and Peace Month).

Albert also brought up that Rotary encourages a Club Leadership Plan, and is helping by offering Vision Facilitation meetings. Maybe we should get in on this?

Guest Speaker--Lorna Ahi of Island Title

Marie arranged for Lorna to visit us today and give us a quick course on Title and Escrow in the State of Hawaii. Very interesting how each property must be investigated back hundreds of years to make sure it has been properly passed on from owner to owner. The reason we need to pay for Title Insurance is to protect us (the buyer) from a person claiming they own the land after we have purchased it. If that happens, and the person can prove the land is in fact theirs, the Title Insurance pays back what we paid.

Lorna, Brent and another friend also formed a business running events. They planned the recent Bachelor auction which raised $8,500 for Habitat for Humanity.

Happy Dollars

Dick Behenna had to unexpectedly go out of town, and was happy Helene agreed to takeover the Bake Sale; Marie Alvarenga was happy for the speaker; Rosemary Stancampiano was happy for the speaker and the beautiful morning; John Tyler for the speaker and morning too; Brent Macabio for the speaker and the fact that he didn't have to drive this morning; Helene Buntman was happy for all the support and cooperation for the Bake Sale; Albert Jeyte says "Happy Birthday Rotary!"

Filling the Morgado's Shoes

Like this could ever happen...but it's true they were responsible for a lot. Thank you Brent for stepping in and heading up the Golf Tournament. There are still many areas we've got to fill. So at the next meeting, take some time to find out how you can help!

Happy Valentine's Day, February 14 Regular Meeting

All fourteen of us got an early start on this Valentine's Day. Wade Park paid us a visit, it was nice to see him again. Jack Lockwood managed to convince his wife, Martie to attend.


All of the "Got Lobster" T-Shirts were available today. For $10 each, payable to Rotary Foundation. Get a great shirt promoting our annual Lobster Fest, and make a donation to RF at the same time. Many thanks to the Morgado's for buying the shirts and giving us this opportunity!


Dick Behenna is collecting DVDs to send to troops in Iraq. Please get those to him soon.


We need hosts to house Rotary Foundation guests visitign May 21-22 in Volcano. If you can serve in this way, please tell Don Hughes.


Golf Tournament Update
At this date we have 24 golfers signed up, with a limit of 50.


Rotary Moment
In our Rotary Moment, Jerry Shimoda reminded us that Article 11 of the RI Constitution states we must not endorse a candidate as a club, and must give candidates an equal opportunity to speak. So, on that note, we'll be seeing Bob Jacobs sometime soon no doubt.


Vocational Speaker-Marie Alvarenga
Born in 1954 in San Diego, CA, Marie came to Hawaii in 1967. On her Irish father's side, she is the descendant of William J. Hooper, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Her mother, of Spanish and Middle Eastern descent, boasts a grandfather who was president of the Mexican state of Jalisco. One of seven siblings, raised in California, her father decided to transplant the family while Marie was in 7th grade. They moved to Oahu and loved it. Later they moved to the hustle and bustle of Ka'u, where Marie (in a terrible state of culture shock) spent her teenage years at Ka'u High School. She has since lived in Hilo for 35 years, and early on even worked at Volcano House before eventually deciding on a career in mortgage banking.

Happy Dollars
Paul Ducasse was happy for Valentine's Day; John Tyler too and also for our speaker; Jack Lockwood for having his wife as a guest; Marie Alvarenga announced her boss is sponsoring a hole in our golf tournament and paying for 3 golfers; Brent Macabio was happy for Valentine's Day and the speaker; Tal Magno happy for Valentine's Day; Jerry Shimoda was happy for the beautiful thick snow on Mauna Loa; Helene Buntman was just happy we're us; and Frank Box topped everyone with $10 for Marie's talk, Valentine's Day, the Lobster T-Shirts, and his step-son's successful surgery.

Regular meeting - February 7, 2008

On a beautiful, sun-filled morning we welcomed Guy Enriques who is running for Hawaii County Council, David Goodman from New York who reminded us that the Olympic motto is “Higher, Faster, Stronger,” former Volcano Rotarian Alisa Vega who is a McKinney by birth, and Skip & Dee Locklitz, friends of the McKinney’s, who hail from Kentucky.

Our first order of business was the sale of t-shirts. We have beautiful red shirts advertising Labor Day Lobsters and now available in women’s sizes medium and large as well as all the other sizes, men’s and women’s. We also have a limited supply of “Rotarian at Work” shirts. Please see Frank Box for lobster shirts and Charlene Meyers for the Rotarian shirts.

President Don Hughes noted the Bake Sale on February 24 and sent the sign up sheet around again. Please remember to have your “goodies” ready for Farmer’s Market at Cooper Center that morning!

Mili Hughes reports that we have seven students signed up for RYLA! That’s a great turn out! Now we just need volunteers to stay over night as chaperones.

Charlene Meyers will be attending the President Elect Training Seminar (PETS) in San Jose, CA, as our new president-elect replacing Don Morgado. Don and Dianne are moving to South Carolina soon. Charlene and husband Amos are going on a trip to South America starting next week but would like to plan a “Sweet Send Off Party” for Don & Dianne in mid-March. Date to be announced!

After a long and happy life, Conard Eyre’s father passed away on January 30^th. You may recall that his book on Clare Booth Luce’s time in Hawaii was just published.

On a happier note, some members of our club have spouses who are having birthdays soon. Tom English (Kathy) will blow out candles on February 10^th and Amos Meyers (Charlene) gets a year older on February 13^th. And Jack & Marti Lockwood will celebrate an anniversary on February 16^th!

With flair and the appropriate dignity, Albert Jeyte conferred “Paul Harris plus One” status on Lindsay Barclay! This means that Lindsay has given $2000 to the Rotary Foundation. For his largess, he received a PH pin with a blue sapphire in it. Good job, Lindsay! Anyone else wishing to make a donation or receive recognition this year for our club at District Conference should get their check to Albert by March 1^st.

Alisa Vega introduced friends Skip & Dee Locklitz who are visiting the McKinney family from Kentucky. They were good friends of Alana and Doc and came for fellowship with Alana following Doc’s passing.

Linda Jane Irwin will be attending disaster meeting on Monday and will represent us. The actual name of the group is “Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters.” With so many Volcano Rotarians active in some form of service to the community on so many different levels, it’s important that we have a contact person who can give us information on disaster response. Thank you, LJ!

President Don thanked everyone who helped during Doc McKinney’s service at Cooper Center this past weekend and made that sad/happy occasion so memorable! Looking at all the pictures of Doc’s happy life made it a little easier to say goodbye to our old friend. Thanks to everyone for making the last minute change of venue go so smoothly, especially to Jack & Marti Lockwood who got the chairs back from the park but got soaked in the process! And thank you, Alana and family, for your indomitable spirit and for showing so much grace under pressure! Your strength and love of family are a true example for all.

Our Rotary Moment today came from Rotary International President Wilfrid J. Wilkinson who reminds us that Rotary’s influence depends on the number of communities who are exposed to Rotary’s ideals. And did you know that our District (District 5000) is part of Zone 24? Did you also know that Google.org has given Rotary International $3.5 million to help end polio worldwide?

Our guest speaker today was Guy Enriques who was ably introduced by new member Marie Alvarenga. Marie and Guy are old friends from Kau. Guy is running for the Hawaii County Council seat currently occupied by Bob Jacobson. Guy likes our Four Way Test and intends to run his campaign using the same principles. Guy was born in Kau and has seen the area from just about every different vantage point. He went to Washington State and hated it but was too proud to come home. He went into a career of teaching and coaching and is now in his 23^rd year of hosting a teen sports camp in Oregon each summer. His family owns a lei stand on the Black Sand Beach in Punaluu. That stand has put all the kids in his family through college! He has resigned his position as a coach at Kamehameha School to campaign full time for this position.

When asked why he is running, he answers that “man’s greatest temptation is to settle for less.” He feels that Kau residents have settled for less for too long and they need a candidate who represents change, who will set new goals and new directions for the area. He has three basic goals:

1. To bring true representation and constituent services to this district so that he serves all the people, even those who currently have no voice.

2. To bring balance in how we care for the land and its people.

3. To nurture community groups like this so that we can awaken the giant in our community – its community spirit! He also hopes to unite the area from Honaunau to Kurtistown so that it speaks with a clear voice on issues such as tree cutting, helicopter noise, and development. He says, “our potential starts where our comfort zone ends.” We wish him luck!

Rotarians should know that political candidates can only be invited to speak at Rotary meetings if all candidates for a position are invited. They don’t necessarily have to speak at the same time and on the same date but Guy’s appearance has triggered an invitation to Bob Jacobson to speak at a meeting in the near future.

What a lot of happiness we had today! Helene Buntman thanked Linda Jane Irwin and Kathy English for help with the food at Doc’s memorial. Frank Box gave money for Guy Enriques and for Doc’s memory. Alana McKinney gave dollars for Doc’s friends, Skip and Dee. Charlene Meyers gave dollars for husband Amos’ support on her decision to become our next president, for Doc’s memorial, and for the trip she and Amos are taking to South America. Rosemary Stancampiano gave dollars for the Giants win over the Patriots and especially for Eli Manning! Erin Gallagher was happy for Guy’s ability to articulate everyone’s needs. Paul Ducasse was happy for Guy and for the new golf logo and for Alisa wearing her old Rotary badge! Kathy English gave dollars for Erin and Charlene even though they weren’t enough for their contributions. Linda Jane gave money for Doc’s celebration and because she is going to Maui. John Tyler gave for Charlene’s “comfort zone” and her stepping to the plate! Don Morgado gave for Charlene, Doc, and Guy. Richard Behenna gave for Charlene and for his friend David Goodman, an accountant from NY. Marie Alvarenga gave for Charlene, Doc and Guy. Brent Macabio gave for Doc and Charlene.

Regular Meeting - January 31, 2008

On a spectacular day when the sun actually came out for the only time in the last month, we welcomed Randy Hart from the Hilo Club, Guy Enriques who is running for Bob Jacobson's seat on the Hawaii County Council, Sylvia Webber who was the guest of Marie Alvarenga, and Jerry & Pat Merrill, our guest speakers. We managed to do the Pledge of Allegiance without a flag! Our words of wisdom were: "All of my possessions for a moment of time." This was spoken by the Virgin Queen, Elizabeth I (1553 - 1603 AD) of England.

DUES ARE DUE! If you have not paid your second half dues, please give your check to Lindsay Barclay as soon as possible!

The Bake Sale for the benefit of Once Upon a Story, the new non-profit helping to get books and other literacy materials into the hands of people in the Kau area, will be held on Sunday, February 24 at Cooper Center's Farmer's Market starting at 6 a.m. Dick Behenna sent around a sign up sheet to get an idea of what our members will be bringing to sell at the table set up for this purpose. Any baked goods will be appreciated. You can make cookies, bread, quick breads, cakes, quiche, brownies, etc. Just make certain that your item is labeled so that we know what it is. You can bake your items at home, no need for a commercial kitchen.

David Uhlmann introduced guest speakers Jerry & Pat Merrill from Kokua Counseling Services. Their company serves people with mental health issues that spring from a variety of different causes. They provide their services even when someone has no or inadequate health insurance coverage, although they do accept most health insurance plans. Jerry & Pat brought tests for us to take to see whether stress is affecting our daily lives and how we rate with regard to wellness in general. Their counselors help clients work on development of healthy responses to life's adverse situations. While they do not serve the chronically mentally ill, there may come a time in anyone's life where it is beneficial to be able to talk to someone. They also provide educational workshops for the community on issues ranging from anger management and grieving to stress reduction and healthy relationships. Their company is in the phone book or just call 935-0222.

This was a day for quotes from people long dead. Jerry Shimoda brought us a quote from Seneca (5 BC-65 AD): "If a sailor does not know what harbor he is headed for, no wind is the right wind." This was by way of introducing the topic of Community Service. Rotary recognized Community Service as an integral part of the Rotary mission in 1924. It asks Rotarians to consider "What is the job that needs doing?" Is there a community agency already doing that job that we can partner with and support to make the results better? If not, how can we become involved for the betterment of the community? Keep your eyes and ears open to the needs around you and let your fellow Rotarians know about worthwhile projects.

HAPPY DOLLARS! David Uhlmann gave Happy $ for the presentation by Jerry & Pat and that he is done with his duty to find speakers this month! Dick Behenna gave $ to thank our Rotary Club for its support of the Volcano Health Collaborative with the State Legislature. and also for the painting of the book store at Cooper Center. (It just needs another coat!) He was also happy to see Pat again, having known her on Oahu! Mili Hughes gave $ for the Merrill's and for the beauty of the island. Kathy English wa happy. Linda Jane Irwin was happy for the snow on the mountain. Paul Ducasse was happy that it's starting to get light earlier, for Jerry & Pat, and for Guy Enriques. Frank Box was happy for the same reasons. Marie Alvarenga was happy that her son is back at college, for inviting Guy Enriques and for her friends Sylvia Webber. Kevin LeBourdais was happy for the speakers and for the view. Erin Gallagher was happy she had a dollar to give! Jerry Shimoda was happy for the good program. Brent Macabio was happy for the speakers. Don Morgado was happy for a good trip to the mainalnd. Helene Buntman was happy to give 50 cents. It would have been more but Lindsay doesn't seem to know how to make change! Jack Lockwood jumped into a long string of Hawaiian which he didn't translate but whatever it was, he gave $ for it! John Linnaman was just plain old happy. Jerry Shimoda was happy for us (?). Guy Enriques was happy to give $ for whatever Jack Lockwood said!

Announcements!! Marie Alvarenga wants anyone who gets bonus dollars from Borders Bookstore to let her know if you'd be willing to donate them to buy books for the various literacy projects we are involved with. She'll go get the books!

The VCA will have a meeting tonight (Thursday, January 31) at Cooper Center at 6:30 p.m. There will be an ice cream social first and then election of officers for the coming year. New members will receive a gift certificate to Cafe Pesto! Community organizations will have displays at the meeting.

There will be a meeting of the Golf Tournament Committee at Pete Walburn's house on Monday at 4 p.m.