Comments from Regional Director Rick Lau
August 11, 2008
Welcome back from almost a 20-hour air journey from Denmark - IPRD APE Phil Sammer who attended the 68th Y's Men International Convention in Herning, Denmark. Congratulations to Phil who again won the Henry Grimes Award. The Henry Grimes award is given to the outstanding Regional Director. He is the only person in the US to win the award 2 consecutive years. And congratulations to Kalihi Y's Men Club who received Certificates for Youth, World Service, Staff Training and Membership Service; West Oahu Y's Men Club who received buttons for Youth, World Service, Staff Training and Membership Service; Club Bulletin Award went to Nuuanu Y's Men and the Central Service Club. Congratulations to Bulletin Editors Maurice Shimonishi, "Y's Up" and Phil Sammer, "The Y's Observer".
Club presidents: August is Community Service month. If you have any projects completed or being worked on, please submit a report to Community Service RSD Darryl Tupinio. September is Endowment month. We missed the submission deadline this year so Endowment RSD Brad Ishida will be sending out early reminders to you. Please respond immediately and do not put it on the back burner as you may forget.
2009 - 2010 Brotherhood Grants have been released by IHQ. In August 2009 a grant is available to visit Lagos, Africa. If you have a candidate that may be interested, please contact Brotherhood Fund RSD John Simpson. The application must be completed and submitted to IHQ by November 1, 2008. John will be sending out details to you soon about the 2010 calendar for Brotherhood grants.
Keep up your good efforts of recruiting new members to add to your club to make it stronger so you can do more for your YMCA branch and your community.
"STRENTH IN UNITY"
Y'sly yours,
Rick
July 29, 2008
I recently returned from the US Area Council meeting in St. Louis, MO. AP Fred Leonard desires all clubs to focus on membership growth and extending more new Y's Men Clubs in YMCA branches that do not have a Y's Men. The Hawaii Region is off to a great start. Congratulations to the West Oahu Y's Men Club who have added 2 new members and also to Central Y Service Club for adding 1 new member to their roster. Please continue your efforts in bringing in new members to your club.
APE Phil Sammer will be representing the Hawaii Region at the 68th International Y's Men Convention in Herning, Denmark. The convention will be from July 31 to August 3rd. The US Area convention was tentatively scheduled in Philidelphia next year but it will be relocated to probably the West Coast as lodging reservations fell through.
Dedicated Y's man Russ Lynch is putting together the Regional newsletter and it will be released soon. DG Phil Chun is putting together a New Member Recruitment Program. As soon as his committee firms things up, he will inform you. Convention Chair Walter Osakoda is also in the initial planning stages of having a great convention in Honolulu. Remember to mark your calendars for the Mid Year Cabinet meeting on Saturday November 15, 2008. APE Phil Sammer has again graciously let us use his facilities at the Ilima Hotel. --- Rick
July 13, 2008
Congratulations to all the incoming Club Presidents and Leadership Team in the Hawaii Region. Let’s all make it a concerted effort in giving them all our support and having “Strength in Unity”.
I just returned from the US Area Council meeting in St. Louis, MO. The weather was muggy and hot but our stay at the St. Joseph Motherhouse was great. Rachelle Reeg, PRD, proposed “Roll Back Malaria by 2010” project. She has proposed this project to the United Nations Council and they accepted. Now it waits the endorsement of the Y’s Men International Council. This will involve a participation of $ 7.50 from each Y’s Men in each club. AP Fred Leonard is proposing the goal of adding 9 new clubs this year. Therefore I will be working with RSD Gary Bautista to see if we can get a club started at the Leeward YMCA and also at the Waiakea YMCA also. IHQ says we tentatively will have a Brother Club visitation by a Y’s men from Africa in the year 2010 who will attend our annual convention and spend 2 weeks to 1 month of home stay.
DG Phil Chun is working at forming an Orientation Team. This ties in with what was discussed at the Area Council meeting as very few clubs conduct New Member training. The US Area Convention scheduled for next summer is up in the air. Philadelphia was tentatively scheduled but things fell through with hotel contracts and bookings. We may have to relocate to the West Coast. More details later.
Y’all continue your great support in Y’sdom. --- Rick