This week, we gathered at the Outrigger Canoe Club to hear from Jennifer Ablan, Editor-in-Chief of Hawaii Business Magazine, introduced by Nalani Blaisdell-Brennan. Jennifer spoke to us about the U.S. economy under Trump and its effects on Hawaii’s economy. It was an interesting discussion, but I do apologize for the noise from the space next to ours. From my table sitting with Mitch D’Olier, Richard Hunter and Rob Hale discussing the joys and tribulations of being President of our Club, it was definitely distracting. But the great fellowship more than made up for the annoyance.
Last Saturday, I also attended NAMIwalks Hawaii with Rick Tabor, Shannon Melton and several other Rotarians from District 5000. Rick also provided us with a Mental Health Minute, encouraging us to engage with the Rotary Action Group on Mental Health Initiatives, in which he is an active participant. As our Social Media guru, Shannon is doing an excellent job of raising our profile on Facebook and Instagram. Look for pictures and stories from several of our recent events on those platforms and share them widely. Engagement increases our reach.
October 24 is World Polio Day, which represents Rotary International’s annual call to raise awareness and funds for polio eradication throughout the globe. Rotary members globally will unite for this event to highlight progress made and raise money to achieve a polio-free world. Our Club will not be holding a separate event, but I will be providing information about what other clubs in the district are doing and encouraging our members to participate with them.
Next week, we will be back at our “home base” in the Pacific Club Card Room, where we will be hearing from Matt Elliott, Athletic Director of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Elliott was selected by our previous guest UH President Wendy Hensel following a national search and began his appointment on June 30, 2025. Additionally, we will have a guest, Glen Bailey, Community Service Chair of the Rotary Club of Honolulu Sunset, who will introduce an upcoming project in which we will be working with several other Oahu clubs to provide hygiene kit donations and other services to veterans in need. We will be asking for volunteers to help collect hygiene kit donations as well as attend an event on Veterans’ Day, November 11. Normally, this would be the date of our regular meeting, but due to the holiday and the 110th anniversary gala planned for the evening before, everyone is encouraged to come out for this event instead. More details on both the Veterans’ Day project and the anniversary gala will be coming soon, managed by Nancy Youngren, Michelle Dolan and Lucci Pinoliad.
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