A MESSAGE FROM
PRESIDENT CAROLANN BIEDERMAN
Aloha mai kākou,
It was my pleasure to welcome back returning Rotarian Jessica Lani Rich, and to meet Leslie Allen’s son Nicholas and daughter Alexis, who are visiting from Seattle. Our guest speaker Keith Hayashi, Superintendent of the Hawai‘i DOE, along with Deputy Superintendent of Strategy and Administration Tammi Oyadomari-Chun, brought us up to date about student achievement recovery since COVID, and a few of the latest DOE initiatives designed to inspire our keiki to learn and excel.
Tuesday’s inspiration focused on Linda Coble, who has fought against sexism throughout her life. Linda was Hawai‘i’s first female news anchorwoman, the first woman allowed to join our Rotary Club in 1987, served as Club President in 1994, and in 2000, rose to the position of District 5000 Governor. Our Club honored Linda as a Rotary Treasure in 2005. At the end of October, Linda will be inducted by her alma mater, the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication, into the Hall of Achievement for her outstanding career achievements, contributions to professional journalism and to the communities she serves. Our Rotary ‘ohana salutes Linda with pride and joy.
DGE Rich Proctor spoke movingly about his experience as Rotary’s representative at the Annual Joint Memorial Service at Punchbowl last Sunday. Rich is committed to peace and sees it as a guiding light for his upcoming District Governor year. Special island moment – Rich was seated next to Superintendent Hayashi, and our September 1st speaker, Sandy Tsukiyama, who sang the National Anthem and Hawai‘i Pono'ī.
Judy Lind shared the aloha and lasting impact that Gay Tsukamaki, wife of PP Ron Tsukamaki, made on our Club and Hawai‘i. Gay’s concern for abused children led to the vision for the first O‘ahu Children’s Justice Center, founded by our Rotary Club in 1988. Today, five centers operate across the state. At Gay’s suggestion, our Club also founded Friends of Foster Kids (now Family Programs Hawaiʻi) and served as its first Executive Director. Gay passed away two weeks ago and her memorial service is by the family’s invitation.
The results of our recent Membership survey are available, and you can read the executive summary here. One big takeaway is that members value the relationships, meaningful community service and strong programs that make our Club special. Thank you, Bridget Townsend, for leading the Membership team, and to everyone who shared feedback which helps make our Club stronger.
Tomorrow morning, join our new cohort of Don Anderson Youth Leadership Fellows and Jim Harrow for a Community Service painting project that will spruce up Palama Settlement's central gathering space. Sign up today on-line or on-site at 8:00 a.m.
We’re back at The Pacific Club next Tuesday, October 6 for another informative program with guest speaker, Ed Sniffen, Director of the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation.
Have a great weekend. I look forward to seeing you at the Pacific Club on Tuesday, and at Centennial Park on Thursday, October 15 for pau hana!
Mahalo nui loa,
Carolann Biederman
President
The Rotary Club of Honolulu
801 North Vineyard Boulevard
