The town of Pahoa is alive and well following the recent scare from the lava flow that threatened the town during the past year. 

Starting Saturday, August 8th 2015, and continuing through the present times, on the Second Saturday of each month Pahoa Town will  light up and host a Music & Art Walk through the town. Many new venues spring up with eclectic foods and drink as well as the music and the arts.

The whole town participates with several music and art venues sponsored by the various merchants and businesses .

            Hauoli Makahiki Hou ! - welcome another year of Rotary service to the community

Rotary Fellowship Month

June is designated Rotary Fellowships Month to recognize the importance of international fellowship and goodwill among Rotarians with similar recreational and vocational interests, promote increased participation in fellowships, and increase understanding of this program. The RI Board encourages these groups to celebrate Rotary Fellowships Month through projects, activities, and events

https://www.rghfhome.org/

What are the benefits for Rotarians in joining the Rotary Fellowships? Fellowship provides opportunities for Rotarians to make lasting friendships outside their own Club, District or country. There are many Fellowships that would be of interest to our members, and they are detailed on www.rotary.org/fellowships. You may find many extensive activities of the Rotary Fellowships that your profession, business or industry area has already established. If not, why not think about starting one yourself! Fellowships contribute to the advancement of world understanding and peace. Interested Rotarians can join a Rotary Fellowship by clicking: Rotary Fellowships Handbook (729) or even start a prospective Rotary Fellowship if their recreational or vocational interest is not in the list of approved Rotary Fellowships. The Rotary Fellowships are expected to facilitate communication among their members and maintain regular communication with RI.

Fantastic series of events in May in Hawaii  May First is May Day / Lei Day and May 5th we celebrate Cinco De Mayo

However we have our District Conference in May :

May is the month we look forward to celebrating the joys and accomplishments of our Rotary year so far – the amazing projects that clubs have accomplished in our local community and in our international community.  We celebrate the new friends we have made in the form of new members.  We celebrate our Foundation giving – knowing that every dollar will go towards improving the lives of men, women, and especially children in Kakaako, Waianae, Palolo, Chinatown, Pahoa, Waimea, Cambodia, Thailand, Nepal, South Africa….. the reach of Rotary is limitless.

The Rotaract Club East Hawaii

...........and it all can begin with our club engaging action with students and helping them to attend  RYLA.. which ourclub accomplished every year since our charter

February is World Understanding Month!

Did you know the first Rotary meeting occurred on February 23, 1905? Since that day, Rotary has grown into an international organization helping to launch, complete and sustain numerous service projects worldwide. Rotarians promote and enjoy international friendships which help to broaden our commitment to helping others, no matter where they may be. While some projects and services have an immediate impact, all are excellent foundations for the future and continue to build peace and goodwill.

As Pahoa Rotarians, I encourage you to think back during this month about all the things we do, and have done, that have an impact worldwide. Our continued support of the Hawaii Rotary Youth Foundation and The Rotary Youth Leadership Awards Program are both excellent examples of how we reach out locally to influence globally. We are confident that we have learned as much from the individuals we have sponsored as they have learned from us. Another good example is the number of assistance projects that we have assisted with financially. A special thank you to everyone who has assisted with securing and completing the paperwork and grant applications that have resulted in helping those whose lives have been altered during the aftermath of Hurricanes and the ongoing PunaLavaFlow event

This year is flying by, and I can’t believe how much we have done! Thanks for all you do to make Pahoa Rotary such a success!

Pres Craig

Holiday Season in Pahoa Town

December 6th was the Holiday Parade though Pahoa ~We, of course had our "float" and as has been our tradition, our eclectically costumed dancing marchers..~ we marched over a new route due to the Lava Flow protections encroachment  - much more on the story and pictures to follow the flow                    

                Parade photos by Pres Craig Watkins                                                                                  also click the "more" link for photos of the participation with Kua O Ka La field trip

The Rotary Foundation transforms your gifts

As if we didn't have enough disasters in our lives....

The main highway to Pahoa is not only a vehicle access, but also a backbone for electrical & water transmission, and concerns are mounting that these services will be disrupted for the many thousands of residents who would be cut off by the lava flow. Businesses are worried about big losses and local schools and government are making contingency plans should the community be divided. Emergency repairs to wells and road construction to create alternate access are also under discussion. This area was the hardest hit during Tropical Storm Iselle just one month ago, and many residents are still on edge.

The lava warning has created an “edgy” mood in Puna, the rural region on the southeast side of the Big Island that is at risk from the lava, said Bill Parecki, a real estate agent who has lived in the area for 42 years. The area is still recovering from the damage from a tropical storm about a month ago.

“Everybody’s a little concerned,” he said. “Everybody’s a little worried. We just have to see where the lava goes. There’s no control. It’s Mother Nature.”

A big concern is lava crossing roads and blocking Puna off from the rest of the island, or becoming “lava-locked,” he said.

Business has been quiet since Tropical Storm Iselle made landfall over the region last month, said Mary Bicknell, owner of Big Island Book Buyers, a bookstore in downtown Pahoa.

“We’re always watching it, but we’re not usually threatened by it,” she said of the lava.

Rotary Club of Pahoa Sunset is formulating plans for a community service project partnership to assist with Albizia Mitigation !

HILO, Hawaii – Hurricane Iselle left her mark in Puna, where the damage was made worse by the many fallen albizia trees. In Puna, albizia – or Falcataria moluccana – line highways and fill vacant subdivision lots. They can look pretty, forming scenic canopies across the land, giving Puna the shaded, rain-forest character that many have come to cherish in recent decades. But Iselle was a reminder to residents that the tree is a statewide ecological and public safety problem. Albizia are known for their “rapid and pervasive growth, which destroys native forests by shading out native plants and improving conditions other invasive flora, such as strawberry guava,” according to Ecologist Flint Hughes, with the U.S. Forest Service, whom we interviewed in the video above. Even in minor wind storms, the brittle branches and shallow roots of albizia easily break. Iselle left a tangled mess of thousands of albizia on homes, roads, and power lines.

Volcano 2014

Saturday August 16^th was one scant  week after we were "slammed dunked" by a Hurricane – Tropical Cyclone “Iselle”  did much damage to the infrastructures of the rural community where we live  and inflicted much frustration onto our population.-It was stull continuing as we honored our pre made commitment to the race organization   Although It was a rainy and chilly 5;30 AM morning at the 4000 ft level where we have volunteered for manning of an aid station for traditional Volcano Rainforest Runs

The pictures of our cold and wet crew and the snippets as seen

The Four-Way Test

The Four-Way Test is a nonpartisan and nonsectarian ethical guide for Rotarians to use for their personal and professional relationships. The test has been translated into more than 100 languages, and Rotarians recite it at club meetings:
Of the things we think, say or do

1. Is it the TRUTH?
2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?
3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
5. Will it BE FUN

August is the Membership and Retention Month

Rotary International has set aside this month to focus on membership. Membership development and retention are the most important elements in securing the future of Rotary and to continue the Rotary’s mission of humanitarian service.

As DG Laura mentioned during the visit with our club on August 5, RI President Gary Huang emphasized that we will Light Up Rotary reaching our goal 1.3 million Rotarians, bringing in new members while working to keep the members we have. To do this we’ll need to approach membership in new ways, and try new ideas.

With the above in mind, August is the perfect month to organize “a going forward plan” to have conversations with prospective new members

Light up Rotary!

The Rotary Fellowships Program . . .

Rotary Fellowships are not fixed in time . some are removed for not being effective and some new ones appear.

There are currently 60 Fellowships with “Rotarian Jazz Fellowship” becoming official last September, and in January “The International Fellowship of Rotarian Photographers”. (IFRP) (Could have had a shorter name!).

IFRP is not just for skilled photographers, but is for any Rotarian interested in photography at any level. Probably we all fit that category.

There are many Fellowships that would be of interest to our members, and they are detailed on www.rotary.org/fellowships, including contact advice and advice on how to join.

International Convention Month

Rotarians can now access and read The Rotarian Magazine on all Internet-connected devices! Just go to therotarianmagazine.com and enjoy the digital version on your iPad.

Last month, we celebrated literacy. 

This month, we put our reading skills to the test. 

Everything in our lives depends on consistent, accurate and constant communication.  We receive Rotary communications regularly; through our weekly meetings, club emails, club website, district website and Rotary International.    

District Governor's Message  

Aloha Energizers!

March is literacy month in Rotary. Most of you take for granted the fact that you can read this sentence but literacy is not universal either in the United States or in the world. Currently fourteen percent of adults in the USA cannot read while twenty-one percent read below the fifth grade level. World wide over seven hundred million adults are illiterate, sixty-six percent of whom are female.

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The theme for the month is “World Understanding”:

  What does this actually mean for the average Rotarian or Rotary Club?  From what I have read and have done some research on it means we are to communicate to our local communities what we are doing on an international level. We need to increase the level of awareness locally. How do we support international understanding between cultures and countries?

     If I asked every Rotarian in the District, each of you could tell me of an International Project your club was or is involved with.  

    The questions are:has this been passed along to your individual communities?

     Do we share this information with our friends, neighbors co-workers……we should.

     Rotary is doing so much good in the world. 

     Look at our 6 areas of focus, our peace centers, the 5 avenues of service, and the list goes go on and on.

     Last month was Rotary Awareness Month and this month is World Understanding….don’t they go hand and hand?

     Our communities see and read what we do on a local level. 

     Now we need to tell them what we are doing on a larger platform….the international level.

     I challenge each of you and your club to let your community know what you do on the international level.

     Feb 23 is a special day in Rotary……Do you know why?

Donate to Shelter Box

Such disasters are the reason why we entered into our partnership with ShelterBox. On Friday, I visited their website and sponsored a ShelterBox to help a family in need, and I encourage you to do the same if you’re able to do so – any level of support will help to change lives for the better. The organization welcomes help from Rotary members to identify need and provide support. You can contact them at rotaryrequest@shelterbox.org.

 We have more than 21,000 Rotary members in the Philippines. The hardest hit areas include Districts 3860, 3850, and 3830. We are working with our governors in the affected areas to determine what type of support will be most effective, and we will continue to provide updates onwww.rotary.org.

I know I can count on Rotarians around the world to come to the aid of our friends in the Philippines. If you have any questions about how you can help, please write to relief@rotary.org. 
Thank you. Sincerely,
Ron Burton

Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA)

What is RYLA?

Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) is an international youth program created by Rotary International to encourage strong leadership in youth. Young people chosen for their leadership potential attend an all-expenses-paid camp to develop and enhance leadership skills through activities conducted in an atmosphere of openness, trust and respect.

RYLA aims to teach what it takes to be an effective leader and provides for practice opportunities with one’s peers. Every RYLA includes the following topics:

• Fundamentals of leadership
• Ethics of positive leadership
• Importance of communication skills in effective leadership
• Conflict management and problem solving
• Building self-esteem and self confidence
• Elements of community and global citizenship

President Glen writes:

Mahalo to the Pahoa Sunset Rotarians for your support of the Volcano Arts Center Rain Forest Run at Volcano 8-17-13.  Our aid station set new standards for enthusiasm, colored balloons, and water distribution to runners.  And, the runners appreciated all of our enthusiastic our support and cheerfulness despite the early hours!

In particular recognition of the seven members that were able to attend the event site this morning: Dr Bobby Layman, Past President Alan Lakritz, Dr Bob Johnson, Renee Wenkam, 2014-2015 President Craig Watkins, Brady Metcalf, and 2013-2014 Club President Glen Calvert.  And let us not forget that two of our most youthful members ran in the race—Elyse Morishita 5K and Cliff Townsend the 1/2 marathon~~many congratulations are in order!  We also thank Project Dir. Alan for organizing our participation and our training in the art of manifesting an aid station at the Volcano Art Center Rain Forest Runs.

Pictured is Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi arriving at our station with a smile
 

August is Membership Month:

The first club meeting of each month will be headlined by a speaker from our club who reflects the theme of the month

Membership Month Kickoff Challenge presentation by Elyse Morishita

Bring a guest to the meeting during membership and qualify for a prize winning dinner: See Elyse for the detailed rules

Membership Committee Chair Elyse personifies and exemplifies the goals and the aspirations of The Rotary Club of Pahoa Sunset

The following is a brief history of the membership of women in Rotary Clubs

The 1989 Council on Legislation vote to admit women into Rotary clubs worldwide remains a watershed moment in the history of Rotary.

"My fellow delegates, I would like to remind you that the world of 1989 is very different to the world of 1905. I sincerely believe that Rotary has to adapt itself to a changing world," said Frank J. Devlyn, who would go on to become RI president in 2000-01.

The vote followed the decades-long efforts of men and women from all over the Rotary world to allow for the admission of women into Rotary clubs, and several close votes at previous Council meetings.

The response to the decision was overwhelming: By 1990, the number of female Rotarians had skyrocketed to over 20,000.

The Rotary Club of Pahoa Sunset continues its efforts to support the needs of the community at large, and has embarked on another  collaborative project of “ Public Bus Shelters” on the newest route of the “Hele-On Bus” in Hawaiian Paradise Park.

  At our gala event all our club members were suitably honored with certificates of acknowledgement of their service to the club and to the community.

Our Fifth Installation Banquet is on Tuesday June 18th

Rotary Club of Pahoa Sunset will install the 2013-2014 Board and its newest President: Mr Glen Calvert

We will honor with certificates and awards the club members who supported the club's activities throughout the year.

Litter is unsightly. It destroys the natural beauty of Hawaii’s highways.

Litter is expensive. The State Department of  Transportation spend $2 million a year picking up litter

— and that doesn’t count what the counties and other state agencies spend !

Beautiful highways say “welcome” to visitors and show that we care about our community and our environment.

The Rotary Club of Pahoa Sunset has adopted a section of State Highway 130  between the 6 and the 8 mile marker

We are serving the grass roots community in a relevant manner

Rotary Club of Pahoa Installs New Officers

 Pahoa Gets Legitimate Bus Stop Courtesy of the Rotary Club of Pahoa Sunset

 The new Pahoa Bus Stop located on front/side of Pahoa Auto Parts courtesy of the Rotary Club of Pahoa Sunset

With much cooperation from the local councilman (Fred Blas), the mayor (Billy Kenoi), the Department of Public Works, the county mass transit coordinator and the county engineers… the Rotary Club of Pahoa sunset has successfully installed a first class bus stop shelter on Old Pahoa Village Road adjacent to the Woodlands Center (near the new Pahoa Longs).
In the future with similar cooperation, We expect to be able to install another one of the same the high school end of town. The property for this shelter was graciously ceded by the Pahoa Auto Parts store owners. 
This is part of the pilot of our project we are working on, a plan to install shelters of our own conforming design on Leilani Ave in Puna.

Alan Lakritz
Rotary Club of Pahoa Sunset

On Tuesday April 5th,2011 at our regular club meeting time , we will be celebrating our 2nd anniversary of our Rotary Club Charter.

Our club was chartered on April 1,2009 . We will celebrate with Rotary themed ice cream treats as well as a Rotary themed sheet cake .

We will have some games and music as well as a regular club business meeting where we network and share ideas for community projects

Our Charter Anniversary Party

Our little dynamo of a club turns two and like any enthusiastic tot will celebrate with cake and ice cream! Happy birthday to Ann and Sal as well!

There is new content appearing on the site as well visit the commiitee pages for a preview. The site is still has room for growth but is coming along nicely!

"If you dont know where you are going, Any road will take you there"

~quote from Service Projects Workshop @D5000 Assembly March 26,2011

AUGUST 2015

In the 1930s, Ole Kirk Christiansen, a Danish carpenter, had a wooden sign hanging on his wall that read, Det bedste er ikke for godt: "Only the best is good enough." Today, Christiansen is remembered as the inventor of Lego, the colorful plastic bricks beloved by children around the world. But in the early days of the Lego company, its signature product was a wooden duck – one built to the highest standards, out of aged beech, with three coats of clear varnish. Lego's company history tells how Christiansen used his ducks to teach a lesson in quality to his son, Godtfred Kirk:

One evening, when I came into the office, I said to my father: "It's been a good day today, Dad. We've earned a little more." "Oh," said Dad, "what do you mean?" "Well, I've just been to the station with two boxes of our toy ducks for the Danish Co op. Normally they get three coats of varnish, but since it's for the Co-op, I only gave them two. So I saved the business a bit of money." He looked at me in dismay. "Godtfred, fetch those boxes back. Unpack them and give the ducks another coat of varnish. You're not going to bed until the work's done – and you'll do it all on your own." There was no arguing with Dad. And it was a lesson for me about what quality meant.

Today, Lego's quality standards are legendary, and its products are the most popular toys in the world: Lego pieces outnumber humans 86 to 1.

We all recognize that this success stems directly from Lego's business practices – its insistence on quality, efficiency, and innovation. I compare this with our efforts in governance and accountability in Rotary, and realize that sometimes we fall short of the standards expected.

The leaders at the Rotary International, zone, district, and club levels have to maintain the highest standards in governance. The RI president and directors must serve the membership in a meaningful manner; zone leaders must deliver on the investment Rotary makes in them; district leaders must provide dynamic leadership in the district and focus on transparency in accounting and timely reporting of financials; and club leaders must adhere to proper reporting functions and get their clubs onto Rotary Club Central.

Just as Christiansen refused to consider sending a lesser product to any of his clients, so should we refuse to consider giving a lesser effort to any of our work. We must always demand the best of ourselves – in our professional lives, and especially in our Rotary work.

For in Rotary, what is our product? It is not wooden ducks or plastic bricks. It is education, water, health, and peace. It is hope, and it is life itself. For this work, only our best is good enough. I ask you all to remember this – and to do your very best to Be a Gift to the World.

January – Rotary Awareness Month - Public Relations

This is the month for us to consider how our Rotary values – and our own actions – influence public perceptions of Rotary. Rotary’s strategic plan outlines five core values that define and guide us as we chart a course into our second century of service.

This Close – New 2012 from Rotary International on Vimeo.

 Rotary International has a nice page with video highlights from the 2011 convention, scroll through the gallery for the Penary 3 Highlights to see Bill Gates address.

http://www.rotary.org/en/MediaAndNews/News/Pages/110522_IC11_videos.aspx