Aloha Rotary Club of Honolulu members and friends,
Once again, the speaker committee headed by Sam Haas provided our Club with an interesting, informative, and timely speaker with Ian Lind giving us his insight into the Mike Miske trial and results. Ian Lind is a contributing writer for Civil Beat.
Also, we had a very inspirational moment from Rick Tabor shared his "Gift of Sound Inspiration" in conjunction with Mirical Ear Foundation, please support him if you can.
Please remember that we do not have a meeting at The Outrigger Canoe Club this week however it is Restaurant Week which is a great opportunity to lunch with your fellow members and get to know them.
Many hands make for light work! Please join RCOH for a continued painting event THIS SUNDAY, July 28!
Time: 9:00 am to 2:00 pm
Location: Palama Settlement
810 N. Vineyard Blvd., Honolulu, HI 96817
Project: Painting the Teen Center
This is an indoor project, and the room is air conditioned! Cool project in a cool room! This is a well-used room for the Teens who patron Palama Settlement.
Light snacks and beverages will be provided. Always good to also bring your large water bottles!
The following was received from Sam Oun, Project Manager:
Everyone here at Volunteer Building Cambodia hopes that you are doing well.
My name is Sam Oun, and I am the project officer responsible for maintaining regular contact with our generous sponsors and providing timely reports on the house builds.
We are delighted to update you on the house build project for house # 414, Toilet #254, and Water Well #180 funded by your very kind 2023 donation through the Rotary Club of Honolulu.
I am sharing with you for your interest some great photos to illustrate how the project has progressed, together with the six-month impact assessment report for the house.
We apologize for the delay in sending this report and thank you for your patience and understanding.
On behalf of Volunteer Building Cambodia and the community, we wish to say a huge heartfelt thank you for your generosity and kindness. Your support has vastly helped to better the lives of a previously impoverished family - providing them with much-improved living conditions. This would not have been possible without your help.
Thank you so much,
If you need any more information or clarifications, please don't hesitate to let us know.
Gift of Sound Inspiration on July 23, by Rick Tabor
I’d like to thank all of you, for your Gift of sound support. We’re Still helping folks with ‘Free’ Hearing Aids, in Partnership with Miracle Ear through our Gift of Sound Program.
A few weeks ago, at The Mediation Center of The Pacific, a fellow Mediator asked,
Are you still in the Rotary?
I said, indeed I am…
A few years ago, you helped a friend of mine with hearing aids & I tell you what, it saved his life. Thank you! Can he share his story with you?
Later that day, I get a call, from a very happy sounding man. He tells me about how sad, isolated and lonely, he was until our club helped him get hearing aids.
I said I’m glad we could help. & I asked him if his family is thrilled with him being able to hear again.
He says, Shhhh, I haven’t told anyone. I just listen and learn. & I tell you what, I’m changing my will!
We laugh and laugh & I reply, well I assume you’ll let them back in your life, when the time is right!
I’d also like to give a Special Mahalo to you, who have donated your old hearing aids. They’ve been restored by Miracle Ear & helped several people. Please continue pass along your old hearing aids…
As Mark Twain said,
Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.
Your act of kindness has helped many…
Helen Keller, in her advancing years, concluded in a letter to a friend that,
‘after a lifetime in silence and darkness to be deaf is a greater affliction than to be blind… Hearing is the soul of knowledge and information of a high order. To be cut off from hearing is to be isolated.’
Studies show; Isolation increases one’s chances of dementia, mental & physical health risks. Sadly, today there’s been a 32% increase in Loneliness & Isolation comorbid early deaths.
The Gift of Sound program hopes to improve on the reality of only 18% needing hearing aids, wearing them. Please get your hearing checked annually, after the age of 55. If for no other reason, than to lessen your risk of isolation & to be safe from Falling. Falls are our #1 cause of Kupuna (Older American) accidental deaths.
In 2022, 40,919 older adults aged 65 and older died from preventable falls in the United States. This is a 60% increase from the previous 10 years. The cost of accidental Falls is expected to increase to over $101 billion by 2030 as our population ages.
Sorry to end on a downer, our hope is for everyone to hear. There’s no greater gift than the gift of sound. Like we originally called our program, Can you hear us now?
The Gift of Sound!
The Rotary Club of Honolulu's Gift of Sound Committee would like to remind folks of Rotary/Miracle Ear’s ‘Free’ hearing aid program. Please read the Generations Magazine article for more information.
Also note, the old Rotary number is in the article. Rotary’s new phone number is: 808.457.6356.
Better yet, all anyone qualifying for a free hearing aid can go to any Miracle Ear in Hawaii. Miracle Ear will contact Rotary for the application fee when needed. Simple, huh?
Best advice to everyone over the age of 55.
Please get a hearing exam every 3 years.
Just for the sake of sound mind and body.
Mahalo Nui Loa,
Rick Tabor, ‘Can You Hear Me Now’ Questions welcomed.
FYI - Please help spread the word. Only 16% needing hearing aids, wear them. We’re offering an improvement.
On Saturday, July 20th, the visitation and service was held for our dear member, Carol Sakata's husband, Merritt T. Sakata. Many came to pay respects and share their love.
LETTER OF REQUEST FROM GRANDDAUGHTER OF DENMARK ROTARIANS
HOUSING HELP NEEDED BEFORE AUGUST 20 - ATTENDING HPU
PREVIOUS HOUSING TURNED OUT TO BE A SCAM
Dear Rotary Club of Honolulu
I was recommended from my grandparents to contact you as they are both Rotary’ans in Denmark and have been members for more than 40 years. My mother has been a Rotary exchange student in New Zealand and all together, we have so many good experiences with Rotary in my whole family.
My grandfather even participated in a meeting in your club 10 years ago, during a holiday in Hawaii.
I’m studying a semester at Hawaii Pacific University this fall, and will arrive in Honolulu August 20th. Unfortunately I was just informed, that the apartment, I was expected to live in with two other girls (from Denmark and Norway) is a scam ☹
I therefore contact you in hope, that someone in your club might know someone, that knows someone, or maybe you just have some advice for me, in this unfortunate situation. At the moment everything is appreciated.
My name is Nicoline Fog Bach, I’m 22 years old and studies at Copenhagen Business School. I am calm, very orderly and 100% reliable.
I’m now trying to find an apartment for myself, and if possible, also the 2 other girls (age 28 and 23) in the area around Kaka’Ako, Ala Moana, Waikiki, or anywhere close to this. The size/number of bedrooms is not important. Everything has interest. Leasing period would ideally be from mid-August to mid or end of December 2024.
I sincerely hope that a member, or anyone in the club network might be able to help me.
Warmest regards and again, thank you very much for your big help with recommendations.
Greeters! Bring your amazing spirits and smiles! Welcome members and guests!
Pledge Leaders! Even if you are shy, this is a good way to start braving the waters to stand before your fellows and lead them for a few moments!
Inspiration!Everyone has something that has touched them, helped them, or just brought some joy. This might be through a personal experience, a quote, a poem, some wholesome laughter from a funny joke, a short story, ... whatever inspires you or whatever you feel will inspire others - we want to hear from YOU!
Please email and let me know when and what you can help with! Mahalo!
A REQUEST FROM OUR SERVICE DIRECTOR, NANCY YOUNGREN
MAGIC THROUGH COMMUNITY SERVICE
We are looking for good community service projects!
Are you affiliated with or know of a non-profit organization that could benefit from RCOH volunteers? If so, please complete the Service Project Recommendation form and give it to Lee.
The Community Service Committee will review all suggestions and will make recommendations to the Board.
Parking at the Outrigger is limited to Outrigger Canoe Club members with decals only as of June 10.
Please be patient and kind with the Outrigger staff. We will continue to keep you updated as Outrigger gives us information.
Alternate Parking: There is usually ample parking around Kapiolani Park on Kalākaua Avenue at only 25 cents per half hour (coin meters - so bring quarters!) For those who can walk a little further, Paki Avenue on the mauka side of the park has free parking with no time limit.
Please let President Tom Coyne know if you have mobility issues or need assistance with parking and he will connect you with members who can provide assistance.
Your friendly Club Administrator here with a few housekeeping requests.
PLEASE preregister to attend if at all possible. We are required to give a headcount to the venue.
ALL WALK-INS - member or not - pay $50.
Do NOT assume I know you are attending. Exception is for Members who have opted for the Prepaid Lunch Plans.
Prepaid Member Lunches: One of the perks of prepaying for your lunches is automatic registration for the meeting, even if you do not attend.
Make Up Meetings: Please email me the date and location/Club you attended. If you do not alert me, I cannot give you Attendance Credit. Many of us like to patron other clubs, so please inform me when you do so I can credit you. This also helps with our overall attendance record.
Incoming President Tom Coyne has been working closely with our current and 2025 Club Treasurer Lucci Pinoliad, as well as with current President Joanna Amberger to finalize our budget for 2025. With membership staying steady at 117 members and with inflation increasing the cost of operating the club, we have little choice but to implement an increase for our membership dues. The chart shows the current dues rate and the new dues rate effective July 1, 2024.
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