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President
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Nancy Sparacino
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This is certainly a time of growth and change for Assistance League of Hawaii. Our membership is slowly growing, including the addition of several men. Our programs are reaching more people in our community than ever before. Our rate of return to the community (expenses specifically for our programs) is at its highest level ever. Our building has been spruced up with a new coat of paint and a few projects to keep it more secure. Our Thrift Shop is becoming more well-known and busier, and that means increased funding for our programs. We are updating our Strategic Plan this year, planning for future growth and sustainability. Also our National Assistance League Chapter Visit in February will help us to make positive changes wherever necessary, to ensure our viability in the future. As the holiday season approaches, we think of those dear to us. Special thanks to all in our Assistance League "family" for your time, talents and giving spirit. You continue to help our organization to grow, change and thrive.
Mahalo for all that you do,
Nancy
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Vice President
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Gerri Migita
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This month, I am pleased to introduce three really awesome members!
Our first new member is Ron Richey who joined us as a Community Volunteer a while back and has been testing the appliances as well as processing donations to go onto the sales floor. He didn't join earlier because he thought ALH was only for women....HAH! Good thing we cleared that up. He is a joy to work with, mostly on Tuesdays and Saturdays, but hopefully we'll see him on other days now that he's a member! He can be contacted at: (808) 783-7866 or email: iamronrichey@gmail.com.
Our next new member is
Denise Kahalekulu
, a frequent shopper at the Thrift Shop. A few Saturdays ago, she found out about our programs and wanted to be a part of it. She is employed full-time at the Hawaii Visitors Bureau but is willing to volunteer on Saturdays. She attended orientation on a Friday and started volunteering the next day! We are very fortunate to have someone that has strong administrative skills, computer knowledge and loves photography. Denise can be contacted at: (808) 388-4766 or at her email address: denise.kahalekulu@gmail.com.
Our latest member, Sandy Remick, attended the November Regular Meeting. She is a fellow realtor friend of Arden Moore, however is also known to the other realtors in our chapter. Sandy has experience in teaching and education as well as being a world traveler. Although she splits her year between California and Hawaii, she is interested and wants to be a part of the Operation Wildlife and We Care programs. Sandy can be contacted at: (703) 463-0499 or email: sjremick@wavecable.com.
November STARS:
When you volunteer, you are making a commitment to share that most precious of resources, your time, to make life better for those in the community. The November meeting featured three outstanding members who have done just that!
Sharon Ehrhorn has shown kindness and caring which makes a huge difference in the Thrift Shop. She dedicates six out of seven days to manage the Thrift Shop which is our BIGGEST fundraiser. Although she puts in the long hours, she's always pleasant and easy to work with, takes care of the kitchen and even makes the coffee!
Debbie Muirhead is our knowledgeable hardworking expert upstairs. She's a world traveler which helps us in pricing foreign and fine items. She joined ALH in 2001, was a past Chairman of Operation Wildlife, and is a faithful Operation School Bell worker.
Ronnie Wassill
comes from a highly professional background to share her skills and talents to better our Chapter. This experience has led to the revamping of the Strategic Plan which is guiding us in the best direction in order to make a difference in the lives of children and individuals. She has served as ALH's Vice President, President and is currently on the Board as the Marketing and Communications Chair. She also coordinates the Operation Wildlife Neighbor Island school presentations. She works downstairs and upstairs at the Thrift Shop and is also a great seamstress! She made the blue curtains to cover the downstairs shelves. A big mahalo to our three November Stars, shown below:
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Gerri Migita, Vice President, with Sharon Ehrhorn, Debbie Muirhead and Ronnie Wassill. |
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Christmas Elves at work:
Miho Teipel, Sharon Ehrhorn, Ronnie Wassill, Debbie Muirhead, Ron Richey, Nancy Sparacino, and Margie VanSwearingen
at the Christmas Work Party in late October.
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Hospitality
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Geri Johnson
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On December 13, 2017, we will gather at the home of Laurelyn Berger in Portlock at 10.30 a.m., to celebrate the holidays and a year of working together. As this is a social event, there is no meeting. This is a pot luck affair. Based on the first letter of your last name, you will be asked to bring a salad, sandwiches or casserole, dessert or fruit.
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Please bring: |
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A to I
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a salad
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J to O
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sandwiches or a casserole
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P to Z
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a dessert or fruit
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Christmas Luncheon
December 13, 2017 at 10:30 A.M.
94 Lumahai St., Honolulu 96825 (Portlock)
Home of Laurelyn Berger
Laurelyn says her home is easy to find and google maps can help you too
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Please RSVP by December 10th, so we can plan accordingly. Call or text Geri Johnson at (808) 745 4411 or email
geri.johnson7@gmail.com
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See you at the party.
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Operation
School Bell
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Laurelyn Berger
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So far this school year, we have paid for 3,605 tee shirts and In-Store Shopping Events at Walmart have served 15 schools and bought clothes for 670 students. We still have two more In-Store Shopping Events to go. Our next event is Saturday, December 9th, at Walmart in Kapolei. Contact Nancy Sparacino (436-5305) if you would like to help. Thanks to all for your help with the In-Store Shopping Events.
Here are two photos from the November 18th In-Store Shopping Event at the Ke'eaumoku Walmart.
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| Geri Johnson, Coni Holland, Cathy Young, and Cathy Ong with three happy students. |
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| Margie VanSwearingen, Andrea Cyriacks, Nancy Sparacino, and Cathy Ong. |
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We Care
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Jane Winslow
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The Hale Kipa Project provides household items and clothing to teens transitioning from foster care to independent living.
Pat Dixon is currently coordinating assistance for three teens. In addition, vouchers, a new form of assistance, have been added. These vouchers will be redeemed at our Thrift Shop. Training is being provided to the cashiers so they know how to process the vouchers.
Melanie Wogan's order of 800 Malama Bears is scheduled to arrive in late November. These will be delivered to hospitals, hospice care, and the Honolulu Fire Department.
Mary Kay Junk has been active with the Youth Outreach Project, purchasing men's t-shirts, ladies tank tops, underwear, towels, diapers, and back packs. These are delivered to the organization that provides a safe haven for homeless teens in Waikiki.
Dot Mason continues to provide bus passes and diapers to the Domestic Violence Action Center.
Anyone wanting to help with any of these projects or gain more information on them, please contact the We Care Program Chair, Jane Winslow.
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ALH member Pat Dixon with
her husband, Bill, and Cletus Gibbs
of Hale Kipa |
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| Trish Baroody (program coordinator) and Cletus Gibbs (counselor) of Hale Kipa |
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Operation Wildlife
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Betty Parinas
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We have one more school to visit in November, Ka'ohao Elementary in Lanikai, on Wednesday November 29. Please let
Kathy Takemoto (256-1549) know if you want to come to see the presentation. The Kona Trip will be November 27 - 29 with
Andrea Cyriacks and
Ronnie Wassill. December has two Oahu schools scheduled, December 4th at Hahaione Elementary and December 11th at Ala Wai Elementary.
In January, 2018 there will be two Neighbor Island trips to Hilo so the ladies of Operation Wildlife will be busy.
We are happy to welcome
Sandy Remick to Operation Wildlife! We are so pleased she has decided to to join us! We look forward to working with her.
Kathy Takemoto and
Marge Fabre giving the Endangered Species
presentation at Palisades Elementary School.
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Betty Parinas displaying the artifacts at Palisades Elementary School.
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Tutu
Tutorial
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LaVonne
Holmberg
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The Pu'uhale Library is in full swing now working with all students K-5. New members,
Carol Hasegawa and
Gloria McGehee-Koel signed on with great ideas and elbow grease. They even brought their brother and Gloria's husband in for some heavy lifting!!!! Meanwhile,
Cathy Young and
Diana Poteet are continuing their reading help with kindergarteners at Ala Wai and Kahala Elementary Schools. Ask Diana about having fun with shadows. Now is the time to sign up to be a tutor in the New Year. If you can spend an hour or two a week, please call (422-5002); there are many needy schools.
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Strategic
Planning
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Miho Teipel
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Mahalo nui loa to all who participated with comments at our November Regular Meeting on the values and goals with regard to Assistance League of Hawaii's Strategic Plan.
Thank you to the members of our committee:
Dot Mason, Gerri Migita, Nancy Sparacino, Margie Van Swearingen, Ronnie Wassil and
Cathy Young for facilitating the discussions.
The Strategic Planning Committee will review the suggested changes to the goals. Then the revised goals will be presented to the Board for approval. At that point the goals will be passed along to the respective committee chairs for their updating of strategy to achieve the goals. Not surprisingly, no suggestions were made to change the values of our organization.
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Thrift Shop
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| Sharon Ehrhorn |
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New fencing has been installed on the Kaheka Street side of the Thrift Shop to reduce incidents of trespassing on our property. Additionally fencing was also installed on the Diamond Head side of the shop to restrict external access to the door of Bert's room where we keep large, sold items for future pick-up.
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The Thrift Shop is well stocked with merchandise for the Christmas season.
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Editor's Note: Aloha!
After this December edition, and three and a half years, I am stepping down as Newsletter Editor. New member
Mel Ah Ching will be taking over this position starting with the January, 2018 edition. Mel has a wealth of experience in this area, and I have no doubt that the Assistance League of Hawaii Newsletter will have a fresh, enhanced look going forward.
It has been a delight to learn new skills and to work with such wonderful, dedicated Newsletter contributors who were so patient and reinforcing as I worked through the challenges of Excel spreadsheets, Word for Mac, and finally arrived at Constant Contact, which has been so very user-friendly. I would like to send a special Mahalo to
Jan Howe's husband,
Tom, my computer and Word mentor, whose patience, wealth of experience and kind heart helped me through so many frustrating times early on.
Mahalo,
Coni Holland
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Thrift Shop Calendar
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Tuesday
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Wednesday
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Thursday
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Friday
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Saturday
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1
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2
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E. Dihel 9:00-12:00
K. Takemoto
D. Poteet
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Help!
S. Larman 9:00- 1:00
K. Kehoe12:00-3:30
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5
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6
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7
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8
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9
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M. Teipel 9:00-12:30
L. Berger 9:00-11:30
J. Corbett 12:00-3:30
M. Torreano 12:00-3:30
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closed
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M. Fabre 9:30-1:00
V. Fay 10:00-2:00
T. Kiladis 12:00-3:30
B. Trustin 12:00- 3:30
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E. Dihel 9:00-12:00
K. Takemoto
D. Poteet
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S
. Ehrhorn
M. Monohon
D. Poteet
OSB at Walmart Kapolei
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12
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13
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14
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15
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16
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M. Teipel 9:00-12:30
J. Corbett 12:00-3:30
M. K. Junk
M. Torreano 12:00-3:30
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Christmas
Coffee @
home of
Laurelyn Berger
10:30 a.m.
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M. Fabre 9:30-1:00
H. Taufa'asau 10:00-2:00
T. Kiladis 12:00-3:30
B. Trustin 12:00- 3:30
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E. Dihel 9:00-12:00
K. Takemoto
P.M.Help!
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Help!
S. Larman
K. Kehoe 12:00-3:30
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19
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20
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21
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22
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23
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M. Teipel 9:00-12:30
L. Berger 9:00-11:30
M. Torreano 12:00-3:30
P.M. Help!
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closed
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R. Wassill
H. Taufa'asau 10:00-2:00
Help!
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E. Dihel 9:00-12:00
K. Takemoto
P.M. Help!
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Help!
S. Larman
K. Kehoe 12:00-3:30
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26
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27
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28
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29
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30
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M. Teipel 9:00-12:30
L. Berger 9:00-11:30
M. Torreano 12:00-3:30
P.M. Help!
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closed
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R. Wassill
Help!
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E. Dihel 9:00-12:00
M. Fabre 9:30-1:00
K. Takemoto
P.M. Help!
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Help!
K. Kehoe 12:00-3:30
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