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.