The Family Education Centers of Hawai‘i (FECH) has been awarded a $10,000 grant for its Waimanalo facility by the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation. FECH was chosen for a “Friends of Weinberg” grant by the Rotary Club of Honolulu Sunrise.

FECH is a 501-c-3 nonprofit dedicated to the well-being of youth and families. Since 2004, it has been running family and youth programs that are rooted in Adlerian strengths-based psychology. In addition, FECH conducts training courses in the sustainable sciences for youth and their families. Program objectives are to help families grow their own food on small, urban plots and to help local students enroll in college and succeed in the life sciences. FECH high school interns currently run a small Community Supported Agriculture Farm in Manoa, while their families plant and care for their own gardens nearby.

FECH plans to expand to a small farm facility in Waimanalo, offering teen internships, fieldtrips for intermediate and elementary school science classes and family programs in sustainable farming and effective family leadership.

FECH work is funded by the US Department of Agriculture, the Hawaii State Department of Health, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division and the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, UHM. The Friends of Weinberg grant is an important contribution to making the program available in a rural community.

The Weinberg Foundation has supported the Rotary Club of Honolulu in the Weinberg Friends program, whereby the club designates worthy recipients for grants and makes its own contribution to community service. For the Community Service project, the Rotary Club of Honolulu Sunrise renovated the Atherton YMCA located at 1810 University Avenue, Honolulu HI 96822 (phone 946-0253). The renovation included minor repairs and a brand new paint job of the interior sections: lobby, hallways and kitchen.

The YMCA of Honolulu is grateful to the Rotary Club of Honolulu Sunrise and the Weinberg Foundation for providing this opportunity to beautify the Atherton Branch. The improvements will not only brighten the facility but will brighten the day of each student and staff member housed at our Atherton Branch.

For more information about FECH and its programs, call Dr. Mary Martini at (808) 956-2249. Our website is http://www.efetch.org/. For more information regarding the Rotary Club of Honolulu Sunrise, please call Amin Leiman at 225-4554, email us at aloha@rotaryhonolulusunrise.org or visit our website at http://www.rotaryhonolulusunrise.org

Mahalo to Steve and Dawn Okano for opening their home to us for the welcome party.

On Tuesday, the Fukushima South club attended our meeting. We were especially honored to meet Fukushima District Governor Ohasi and Fukushima South President Takahashi and District 5000 Assistant District Governor Laura Williams.

Click here for the gallery.

Aloha to our new tomodachi (friends). We wish them good health, happiness and the strength to persevere as they and their city continue to recover. Gambatte!

Fukushima singing – Wi-Fi

Dr. Ed Casella gets a cheery morning hug from Bettie Bernie.

Mark your Calendars!

This Sunday ~ Party for Fukushima visitors at Dawn Soderquist-Okano’s home, 6:00 pm.  656 Hakaka Place.  We are expecting up to 60 people so please bring a dish to share. BYOB.

Saturday, March 24 ~ Honolulu Sunrise Painting Company rises again. Weinberg Foundation work day: Painting the Atherton YMCA. No children please. The money raised from the Weinberg Foundation will be donated to the Family Education Training Center of Hawaii.

April 28th ~ Read to Me Fundraiser at KCC. Lunch is paid for. If you’re interested, let Pete know. Please bring a gift for the silent auction.

Dr. Ka'iliwai and Past President Carolyn Hiatt

February 6, 2012 ~ This week’s speaker was Dr. George Ka’iliwai III, Director, Resources and Assessment, US Pacific Command. Dr. Ka’iliwai discussed the military’s three areas of concern involving Hawaii’s energy security: 1) Energy reduction and smart grids. This includes reducing the amount of energy used as well as the ability to preserve the command and control of energy in military installations during a crisis. 2) Cyber security: How do we protect the power grid? 3) Indigenous production of jet fuel from algae and other bio mass feed stock. Their goal is to have 25%, or 32 million gallons, of fuel produced locally.

Dr. Ka’iliwai was accompanied by “Brad Pitt look-alike” Stephen Kiser, Senior Energy Analyst at the Pacific Command and former Special Assistant to the Chairman at Joint Staff (Chairman’s Action Group). Standing with them is Honolulu Sunrise’s Nancy Walden, programs co-chair.

For those who want to know more about the world’s political power as it relates to the demand for essential commodities, Dr. Ka’iliwai  recommended the book  “Turning Oil to Salt: Energy Independence Through Fuel Choice.”

Club Business

 Mahalo for to Wayne Kouchi for reminding us to “live each day as if each moment is precious.”

Carolyn Hiatt is going to Cambodia and collected Aloha Dollars for starter kits for the new arrivals at Future Light Orphanage. She will accompany Rob Hail and Madame Phaly as they drive to the countryside to pick up children who will start new lives at FLO.

Rob Hail said his “goodbyes” to the club as he prepares for six months in Cambodia. We wish him well and say a hui hou because we know he’ll be back. Rob also asked us to sign a card for Vangie, a long-time employee at the Pacific Club who is on medical leave.

Welcome to our visitors: Nancy’s guest Wayne Heisserman from Washington State, Eric Mondi and Jerry Comcowick who were invited by Joe Ferraro, and Ilan Amir who is a guest of Andrew Lanning. We hope to see you all again.

Read To Me ~ Nancy Walden, Rob Hail, Carolyn Hiatt and Jerry Hofwolt read at Lincoln School last week. Want to read in March? Contact Jerry  at jerryhofwolt@hawaii.rr.com or John Ball at johncball@hotmail.com.

Mark Your Calendars

February 13 – Stephen Miller, MD, Seva Foundation, international health programs benefiting those struggling with poverty.

February 19  – Dawn will be hosting a party for our Japanese visitors. Potluck, BYOB. Details: dawn@okanoRE.com

February 20 – Presidents’ Day

February 21 – Meeting with Rotarians from Japan

February 27 – Calabash

April 29  - 100 Tree Giveaway in Manoa. Pete Van Zile is looking for volunteers. pzile@pixi.com

New for 2012: In addition to its 97 partner agencies, AUW will open their fundraising to hundreds of new charities. Plus, they will partner with Hawaii 3Rs to repair, remodel and restore Hawaii schools. Aloha United Way is part of United Way Worldwide which has 1,400 member organizations in 34 countries. To learn more, become a workplace team leader or to donate, visit auw.org.

Inspiration
Jerry Hofwolt started off the meeting with an inspiration about learning from your failures.

Banner Exchange 

Rob Hail brought a banner (held by President Amin Leiman)  from a Cambodian Rotary Club near Future Light Orphanage, where he will soon be living. Rob started the e-Global Family program, and now will be spending half the year helping the children who have become his second family.

Special Tuesday Club Meeting February on  February 21st

In appreciation for helping a school in Fukushima, members of Fukshima South Rotary Club will be visiting our club. Since Monday, February 20th is a holiday, we will have our meeting on Tuesday. We are also planning a social activity. Stay tuned.

Get Motivated: 20 Free Tickets

On Tuesday, January 31, 2012 the GET MOTIVATED BUSINESS SEMINAR world famous soldier statesman Gen. Colin Powell, former First Lady Laura Bush, chairman and editor-in-chief of Forbes Media Steve Forbes and the NFL’s greatest quarterback Joe Montana is coming to the Hawaii Convention Center.  Additional speakers include internationally acclaimed investing expert Mary Buffett, legendary President of Microsoft negotiation Rick Belluzzo, top sales expert Krish Dhanam and other great teachers and motivators.  All speakers are live and in person.  See Carolyn Hiatt or Amin Leiman. 

UPCOMING EVENTS

January 30   Calabash Monday

February, 6 - George Kailiwai III, Director, Resources and Assessment (J8), United States Pacific Command

Dr. George Kailiwai III is the Director, Resources and Assessment Directorate (J8), Headquarters, U.S. Pacific Command (HQ USPACOM).  As the HQ USPACOM J8, Dr. Ka’iliwai leads the Command in the strategic assessment process, facilitates the development of USPACOM requirements, and translates those requirements into material and non-material solutions through advocacy, science and technology, innovation and experimentation.

Mollie Sperry. Mike Story, President Amin Leiman, visiting Rotarian Carolyn Johnson, Terry Young

January 9, 2012 ~ Honolulu Sunrise kicked off the first meeting of the year with guest speaker Mike Story, Tourism Brand and Sports Manager at Hawaii Tourism Authority. He began his talk with the three pillars of the Hawaii brand: people, place and culture. While other places around the world may have nice weather and sandy beaches, our aloha, unique destination and diverse culture are impossible to replicate.

A few quick facts: Hawaii tourism is $11.2 billion industry, or 17.4% of the gross state product, and generates 145,235 direct jobs. In the world of HTA-sponsored events, golf is a $900,000 industry and the ProBowl brings about 17,000+ people to Hawaii, who in turn open their wallets to the tune of $29 million in visitor spending. For more details, contact Mike at mstory@hawaiitourismauthority.org.

Club Business

Mahalo to Jo Archibald for inspiration. Nancy Walden recapped our successful holiday gift program with baskets of food and toiletries to 165 adults at Next Step Shelter.

Rob Hail reported on his trip to Burma with $300 in Aloha Dollars. As it turns out, their need is not as dire as feared, so the Aloha Dollars were donated to the Bangkok Metro Club to assist flood victims who are still suffering in a city that remains partly submerged.

Mark your calendar: Weinberg Project March 24 

If you know of a charity that needs 4 hours of hands-on work or $10,000, please share your ideas with Nolan Pong as soon as possible.

Annual Club Fundrasier – April

Bill Gaeth says, “It’s a party!” This year’s location will be Oahu Country Club. Mike Doss is in charge of the auction, assisted by Mei and June (insert long-running joke here). Allen Kamemoto will be the money guy. Special Note: Bill has been running our club fundraiser for about 17 years–THANK YOU BILL!!