Happy August! Did you know that August is Rotary Membership Month? All of us are ambassadors of Rotary and of our Club. Do you remember who invited you to Rotary? Did someone call you and invite you to your first meeting or did you seek out Rotary on your own? I found it on my own and I am glad I did! At that time, I didn't know much about Rotary at all, but I've learned a lot over the last few years and it made a big impact on my life. It gave me opportunities to do good work in the community, meet interesting people and find good friends!
So this month it is a time to focus on and appreciate our members, celebrate our devotion to the club and the impact we have made locally and worldwide! The reason why we are successful in the work that we do is the passion to make a difference in the world. So, all of us share this passion and it's what drives us to work together.
I think that it is also a time for all of us to reconnect, share some stories and enjoy the fellowship, especially during these challenging times. So, join us for the "Rotary is Fun" Social Night on August 27th, and don't forget to invite your friends!(See the details below).
Mahalo,
Ary Radnaeva
2020 - 2021 President of the RCHS
Upcoming Meeting - August 6 - Zoom Only!
As the number of COVID-19 cases in Hawaii is increasing, the RCHS, following City and County of Honolulu recommendations and guidelines, is offering only virtual Zoom meetings in August. We are committed to ensuring the health and well-being of our members, guests and the community.
Please join us for our weekly meeting on August 6th. This meeting will be only on Zoom! Our usual informal happy (half) hour begins at 6:00 pm, and the bell rings at 6:30 pm to formally start the meeting.
Our speaker this week will be Jessica Lani Rich, President and CEO with the Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaii.
Have you ever wondered what you would do if you were on vacation thousands of miles from home when tragedy strikes? It’s not something most people like to think about when making plans to visit paradise, but unfortunately, adversities can happen anywhere.
Fortunately for visitors to Hawaiʻi, there is an organization there to assist when something goes array. The islands of Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi, Maui and Kauaʻi each have independently run visitor assistance programs designed to offer support services to those in need, known as the Visitor Aloha Society.
Although each island’s visitor assistance program is unique to their particular location, every program is designed to share the aloha spirit with visitors affected by adversity. VASH recognizes that even during the fun and relaxation of vacations, unfortunate events can happen. And when far from home, visitors do not usually have access to their own support systems and resources.
VASH assistance is designed to help visitors cope with, and recover from, a variety of unfortunate situations such as crime victimization, the loss of a purse or wallet, medical situations or the death of a loved one. Their vision is that every visitor touched by adversity will also be touched by the aloha spirit.
To join the meeting via Zoom, please follow this link:
Dial by your location: +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma).
Last Week's Meeting - July 30
Our speaker last week was Naomi Masuno, District Governor for D5000 for 2020-2021
Naomi told us of the extraordinary work that Rotary International and the Rotary Foundation have undertaken to help with the current Covid-19 pandemic. To date, the Foundation has provided $20 million for relief efforts, including a pending $20,000 disaster grant for D5000. Among other things, Rotary has provided masks in China, India, and Pakistan, medical supplies in Hong Kong, thermometers in Sri Lanka. Locally, Rotary and Rotary clubs have provided hygiene kits/care packages, assisted with the kupuna and ohana food program, donated to food banks, and more.
She told us of the theme of this year's Rotary International President, Holger Knaak--Rotary Opens Opportunities, and gave an overview of Holger's key messages to Rotarians and Rotary clubs. He asks us to actively work to create new, innovate club models. Expand clubs' reach by creating a satellite club or by forming a community-based Rotaract club. He asks clubs to host at least one strategic meeting each year to envision what our club should be like in five years, and what steps should we take to achieve that vision. Pay close attention to the value the club gives its members. He urges us to select new members carefully, making sure they are a good fit, and then engage them and take care of them. Finally, he urges us to continue our efforts to end polio. We must fulfill the promise that we made to the children of this world.
She told us of upcoming service opportunities in the District, and of the many webinars that are available for training.
She encouraged us to check out the many Rotary Fellowships and Action Groups that are available, and to check out the virtual House of Friendship from this year's virtual Rotary convention.
Mahalo, Naomi, for your leadership and for your terrific presentation.
Rotary Moment
Liz Kane shared a Rotary Moment:
Dr Bharat Pandya, RI Director, 2019-21, member of the Rotary Club of Borivli in India, has shared the following statement on rotarynewsonline.org:
“A trailblazer is one who is an innovator, a pathfinder, a pioneer, a person who inspires others in working towards a common, valued goal. In 2020–21 we Rotarians must be trailblazers. Change is the principle of life. It gives us the vision to succeed. Being a trailblazer means adapting to the change and implementing the change in our organisation and in ourself. And that is what Rotary leaders have done in our zones and across the world. The last three months have gone by in a flash. Meetings and more meetings. It has been the season of change and challenge — in the way we have our Rotary meetings and challenges to our membership, project implementation, fellowship activities and our health. But Rotarians have stepped up and confidently adopted the changes with a positive attitude; a can do, will do spirit.
Today we are at a pivotal point in Rotary. Rotary has an increasingly important role to play in the times ahead. As we ‘Grow Rotary’, as we reach out across borders, as we implement meaningful projects we keep discovering a new Rotary — that is changing, adapting and becoming more flexible and focuses on inclusiveness and equitable opportunity for all. But our core values — fellowship, diversity, service, leadership and integrity — remain constant. And our values define who we are and what we do as Rotarians. I am confident that Rotary will emerge stronger, vibrant and more relevant from this crisis.”
Most of you know of me but most don’t know about me. I was born in Salt Lake City, Utah with the family name of Stewart. It has long been rumored that one of my ancestors is Mary Stewart, Queen of Scotts. That being said, my ancestors immigrated to the US via Australia. No, they were not convicts… they were gold miners seeking their fortune. I was adopted by my stepfather at age five and our family moved to the Coachella Valley when I was six. The Coachella Valley is a rich farming area and I opened my first business when I was thirteen… a fruit and vegetable stand in front of my house. I got up early in the morning, visited a few farms with my dad… saved some of the profits and reinvested some in the business. The La Quinta, Palm Dessert and Indian Wells communities were filled with “snowbird” celebrities and through the business I made the acquaintance of Jack Paar and George Gobel. Many people had said I looked a bit like George Gobel. After graduating from Coachella Valley High School, I worked as a mechanic while attending College of the Desert. Somewhere in there marriage and a child joined my journey. Tessa is my only child. With a family to feed and stagflation in the 1970’s being present I joined the Navy. I attended boot camp and basic electrical schools at Naval Training Center San Diego (a facility that has been replaced with housing and a shopping complex). I attended Nuclear Power School at Naval Training Center, Orlando, Fl and A1W Nuclear Prototype training in Arco, Idaho. After completing two years of nuclear power training I was assigned to USS Batfish (SSN 681). Within days of my arrival we deployed to the North Atlantic and were gone for 110 days (a deployment for which the crew was awarded a Navy Unit Commendation). After a few years on Batfish, I transferred to Pearl Harbor and USS Tunny (SSN 682). Aboard Tunny I participated in several deployments to the Western Pacific, under ice and the Eastern Pacific. I served on six submarines in twenty-one years; retiring from USS William H. Bates (SSN 680). Upon “retiring” I opened the first and only franchise of Bubbies Homemade Ice Cream and Desserts growing sales from about $300 thousand per year to over $1 Million. I joined the Rotary Club of Honolulu Sunset March 31, 1996 and was inducted at the same time as Sandy Gaston. I served as Club President during the 1998-1999 Rotary Year-our theme was Follow Your Rotary Dream. I served as D5000 Governor twenty years later during the 2018-2019 Rotary year. I currently serve as the Zone 26 Club Extension Advocate, the District Club Extension Chair and The Rotary Foundation Endowment and Major Gifts advisor.
Please join us for the "Rotary is Fun" Social Night event on Thursday, August 27th, from 6 - 7:30 pm. This social gathering will be done via Zoom.
Come, socialize, invite at least one friend who is interested in learning more about Rotary and seeking opportunities for service work and networking! It will be a night full of fellowship, humor, good conversations and FUN!
Let's show what Rotary is all about!
President Ary Radnaeva
Thought of the Week
"Strength and growth come only through continuous effort and struggle."
Join Lieutenant Governor Josh Green in the informative discussion about Hawaii's road to reopening, sponsored by the Hawaii CCIM Chapter and Pacific Asia Travel Association Hawaii Chapter.
Rotary Club of Honolulu Sunset Weekly newsletter
Member Spotlight
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